Google has finally launched the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro in India. When was the last time we saw the flagship Pixel devices in India? We tested both these phones, and here are our impressions on the 60K Pixel 7 and the 89K Pixel 7 Pro.
Finessed design
As Indians, we did not get a chance to experience the immediate predecessor to these newer Pixel devices apart from the Pixel 6a, which is a brilliant smartphone for the price. The Pixel 7 is a more mature design than the 6a, with a brush metal finish on the uniform camera housing, albeit with a noticeable depth. Put these phones anyhow, and they will never wobble, infact they rest at a very comfortable glance for anyone who uses the Pixels. The Pixel 7 Pro takes a modern approach and brings curved edges on the relatively larger display with improved hardware.
The interesting parts include the symmetrical band design on the metal edges of the camera bands and a contrasting finish on the buttons. The glossy metal band of the Pixel 7 Pro has matte-finished buttons, and the matte-finished camera band on the Pixel 7 has shiny metal buttons. We still miss the accented buttons, but this is a nice touch nonetheless. Overall the design is very well thought out and brings a level of sophistication expected from a tech giant. We still are unaware of the abrupt cutout on the Pixel 7 Pro. Let us know if you know anything about it, as we cannot access the same.
Gorilla glass Victus and IP68 ratings protect both these phones, allowing flagship-grade protection. The OLED display differs on both these phones as the Pixel 7 has an FHD+ 90Hz panel, whereas the Pixel 7 Pro gets a QHD (1440P) LTPO display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both these displays can get sufficiently bright with 1000+ nits brightness and, even more, viewing HDR content. Both felt super smooth in their leagues with the beauties of Android 13 optimisations and added features on the Pixel devices. For flat-screen lovers, the Pixel 7 makes a compelling choice. Still, a slightly curved larger display with additional camera hardware and software turns the Pixel 7 Pro into a flagship competitor from the house of Google. Surprisingly, the Pixel 7 packs a smaller battery than the Pixel 6a at 4355mAh, while the Pixel 7 Pro packs a 5000mAh battery. Both these phones support 20-23W charge speeds with wireless and reverse wireless charging capabilities. Battery life is decent and lasts through a day with ease. AI Adaptive battery optimisation increases battery life within a week of usage.
Balanced performance
Google has updated the Tensor SoC with a new processor named G2. Compared to the earlier 5nm chip, this new chip brings an updated privacy core T2 with slightly overclocked cores and a better GPU. We found that the Mali GPU upgrade from G-78 to G-710 brings stable performance even when gaming. Even when gaming, smooth animations and balanced performance make these genuinely feel like flagship contenders. The fingerprint sensor is quick to identify, and Google allows basic face unlock like most Android devices.
UI animations and memory management are on par with most flagship devices, with no performance hiccups. Overall, the performance is better than the older SoC and brings a balanced performance update. Camera sensor performance and clicks process faster, and the overall experience of using a Pixel is slightly overclocked. An additional rear light sensor makes the sensor count 35 compared to 34 sensors on the Pixel 6a.
Best camera algorithm on any phone
Apart from iPhones, Samsung and other flagships, the only series of phones that prove to be excellent camera-centric options is the Pixel series from Google. More than the hardware, the years of machine learning and AI algorithms make a Pixel phone appealing. Google has finally moved from the 12MP sensors to improved hardware with a 50MP primary sensor on both phones, a slightly better 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and an additional 48MP telephoto sensor on the Pro. Google hardware and software algorithms work in tandem to click some mind-blowing images in any lighting conditions. All the images and videos are top-notch, with improved post-processing and better hardware. These are one of the best camera-centric smartphones of the year. Pixel post-processing retains details and contrast, sometimes better than phones that cost almost twice as much. For photos, these are top-tier, but for videos, although better with additional Cinematic blur (portrait mode in videos) and OIS with EIS options, Google needs to bring a few OTA updates to improve video quality.
Verdict
At the prices for the Pixel series, these phones are definite contenders for your money. If you are someone who wants a no-nonsense, iPhone-like experience using an Android, the Pixel series brings the best of Google hardware and software experience. Additional features are built-in smaller packages across the UI of these Pixel phones. Software features like unblur a blurred photo, magic eraser, location tagging other Android devices and dozens of small but intuitive animations and unique Pixel features hard to find on a feature-loaded flagship are interesting, to say the least. The Pixel 7 Pro brings the best of all worlds in a stylish package. It’s an entire Pixel experience enhanced for Android users.
Specs:
Pixel 7 – 6.1-inch 90Hz AMOLED FHD+ up to 1400nits
Pixel 7 Pro – 6.7-inch 120HZ LTPO AMOLED QHD up to 1500nits
Tensor G2 SoC
Android 13
Camera Pixel 7 – 50MP primary, 12MP Ultrawide, 10.8MP front camera
Camera Pixel 7 Pro – 50MP primary, enhanced AF 12MP Ultrawide/Macro, 48MP 5x Optical telephoto, 10.8MP front camera
Price – Pixel 7 – INR 59999
Pixel 7 Pro – INR 84999
Good – Best Pixel iteration, upgraded cameras
Bad – Limited memory options
Ugly – Tensor G2 falls short against SD 8+ Gen 1 and Apple Bionic SoC
Most of us already use phones, and the upgrade cycle seems like a constant change we all must endure. Either the phone gives up, or you are simply bored of using something daily that feels dated! If you are in the market with a midrange budget and want something different from most others, your options are still plenty. We have three amazing new phones, all launched a few months ago and all of which have received their share of OTA updates. Contenders demanding your hard-earned money are as follows.
Google Pixel 6a – The first phone in India to officially get the Android 13 update, albeit with beta program enrollment.
Nothing Phone (1) – The first phone from Nothing and one of the most astonishing phones money can buy.
OnePlus 10 T – OnePlus’s latest offering cuts the costs associated with additional hardware while providing a sensational nostalgic experience of the OnePlus from the past.
Disclaimer – All these phones are different from one another. From their choice of chipsets to hardware and software, these are one of the only phones with a bloat-free near-stock Android experience out of the box.
The whole design truth
Pixel 6a – I love the form factor, and with the clever use of good-quality polycarbonate plastic at the rear, the phone feels lightweight. The front glass is Gorilla glass 3, one of the best iterations of Gorilla glass, to be honest. The camera bump is less pronounced compared to most phones. The emission of a headphone jack feels unnecessary but encourages wireless audio accessories. Overall the Pixel 6a form factor and feel are second to none, and adding the IP67 rating; this phone is built to age gracefully.
Nothing Phone (1) – Interesting looking smartphone, isn’t it? The overall silhouette resembles an iPhone 13 pro max, albeit with lighter weight in comparison, and a whole conversation starter of a rear. Getting a call with the Glyph interface is like enhancing the flashlight effect on most phone ringtones and amplifying it to the next level. The edges are smooth, and the overall feel is sturdy and dense though slippery. Unlike most phones, this phone does not get an oleophobic coating on the touch Gorilla glass 5. The transparent back is an eye-catcher, and cases with lights shining through add to the appeal of using this phone. Nothing phone (1) gets an IP53 rating.
OnePlus 10T – No alert slider, duck move! The chrome bezels may appeal to bling lovers, while the subtle curves on the camera bump make this design feel like a polished version of the OnePlus 10 Pro. Gone is the hideous text neat the cameras, and this phone feels like an excellent OnePlus reboot with the essentials done perfectly.
Performance
Pixel 6a uses Samsung architecture to make their Tensor SoC with an additional Tensor processing unit for the camera, privacy, AI and machine learning. The processor is paired with 6GB DDR5 RAM, and overall, the performance is decent unless you start pushing this setup while gaming. The phone manages to throttle and warm up considerably during long gaming sessions. Other than that, the Android 13 update has improved the overall experience on the Pixel 6a by many folds. The battery drain is now optimised when idle, and currently, the phone manages a day with ease.
Up to 12GB DDR5 RAM powers nothing Phone (1), and the Snapdragon 778+ is a balanced mix of performance and stamina. The phone has gotten almost six updates since our time with the phone, and the overall UI, camera performance and gaming performance have only improved over time. Excellent work, team Nothing!
OnePlus 10T – Hell yeah! This is the OnePlus that most OnePlus fans were waiting for! Flagship internals paired with decent above, average hardware makes the 10T an excellent choice for someone who wants to best of Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 in a relatively budget package. Games run at top levels of graphic fidelity with smooth and overall operations are snappier than ever before. Camer processing in low light takes a couple of seconds, making it an excellent phone for performance lovers. Also, this is the only one of the three that comes with a charger, a freaking 150W charger that charges 0-100% in less than 20 minutes. Pixel 6a lacks charging versatility with only 18W charge capabilities and is adamant about using good cables and chargers. Nothing phone (1) charges at 45W!
Cameras
In daylight, all these phones click amazing pictures with rich details, OIS and EIS goodness with good contrast and saturation. The ultrawide sensors are also pretty decent on all the phones. The Pixel wins hand down on most post-processing thanks to Google algorithms. The thing to note is that in low light conditions, the Pixel viewfinder is noisy AF. Still, post-click image processing does wonder! Both the Nothing Phone (1) and the OnePlus 10T use the same Sony IMX766 sensor, and this sensor is no joke. In fact in low light, the sensor beats the 12MP sensors of the Pixel 6a in pure details thanks to added information with more megapixels.
Conclusion –
All three phones appeal to different target audiences. If you already use the iPhone and want a decent Android phone as your second phone, the Pixel 6a, with the absolute best of Google and Android, is a great option. The camera sensors are tried and tested 12MP sensors found on the Pixel 5 series with years of algorithmic trickery, the phone is relatively compact, and an additional magic eraser in the photos app makes editing images a breeze. The Internet has proven this to be a 90Hz display with a 60Hz lock for system stability. Maybe a future OTA update might unlock a smoother refresh rate.
The OnePlus 10T is an example of the quintessential OnePlus of the past. It does away with things that add to the price while performing like a flagship smartphone of this era. Let’s not forget that the 10T packs hardware rivalling the best smartphone worlds at a relative midrange price. For gamers, this is the phone of choice and being the largest proves to be a great multi-media companion. The Nothing Phone (1) brings a cool factor to midrange smartphones and, at this price, is one of the only ones that get wireless and reverse wireless charging. The iPhone-like wrapped OLED display is top-notch and makes for a fantastic smartphone experience. You cannot go wrong with either of the phones in this era. Let us know your favourite among the three and which one would be your weapon of choice.
Gamescom 2022 had a lot of announcements. We are not including the Lies of P, Callisto Protocol, or Outlast trials, as these were announced way before the show. Nonetheless, the number of games teased is plenty to desire a current-gen console or upgrade one’s PC for that crisp detailed game plays.
Dune Awakening
The trailer that we got for dune awakening doesn’t give us anything in terms of gameplay, we do know it’s an open-world survival MMO, and apparently, that’s going to put thousands of players on every instance of the planet. the trailer showcases a hero taking on a giant sandworm. it was a pretty impressive piece of, well, probably CGI, to be completely frank. Still, Dune Awakening could be an intriguing title if it indicates what it may look like. We don’t have an official release date for this game; we do know it’s coming to pretty much all major platforms, so we will keep our eyes open.
Everywhere
The ex-GTA producer Leslie Benzies’s new company announced a game called Everywhere. Everywhere is a pretty vague concept, isn’t it? So, of course, they would issue a press release clarifying what the game is! Everywhere seamlessly blends gameplay, adventure, creativity and discovery in an all-new multi-world gaming experience that redefines how players connect in the digital world around them, which is crystal clear now. In the course of the trailer, you see a large number of different things that seem like third-person shooting, a lot of sci-fi, and maybe even a little racing. There’s a lot when they say Everywhere. Let’s not get hyped over something vague. There’s a lot of top-notch talent on top of Leslie Benzies, a former GTA producer, and it seems like they’re not shying away from colour and possibly genre.
Moonbreaker
A new miniature building turn-based digital tabletop strategy game. this one comes to us from Unknown Worlds, the developers behind Subnautica. It’s a tabletop game like Warhammer 40k, and you get to make miniatures and paint them. And the painting is a big part of Moonbreaker like there’s some element that is just weird in a good way. Somebody interested in that would be more attracted to building miniatures, so there’s a kind of tactile inertia or life that they give the figurines in a battle. Which is appealing, but again it’s quite weird. It’s got a different charm and is landing in early access on September 29th.
7. Atlas Fallen
The gameplay actually kind of reminded me of final fantasy xv. I don’t know if the entire game will take place in a desert, but I do like the desert setting combined with the characters. The character design is just fantastic it reminds me of old-school final fantasy; that’s probably why, obviously with a completely different, more modern style sensibility. What we saw within this little CGI movie is something that could play out within the game. It could end up being a really interesting take on a sort of fast-paced magical action game where you’re holding up bridges and fighting big monsters.
6. Lords of the Fallen
A kind of soft reboot sequel to the 2014 Lords of the Fallen. The original was a pretty successful game, and you’d think it’d be a sequel. It’s kind of been up in the air, so it’s also probably not the project that was announced as Lords of the Fallen two back in 2014. The Lords of the Fallen takes place a thousand years after the original, so it’s an effective reboot for the most part. It’s definitely got the look of a souls/borne type game. The story will involve exploring interconnected realms. Umbrella and axiom, apparently the realms of the living and the dead, the original was also a souls-born souls-like type. It looks like we’ll have to wait to find out when the game hits all major platforms sometime in 2023.
Killer Clowns from outer space
The producer of Friday the 13th, the game it’s a multiplayer horror game. First, Killer Clowns, outer space is a silly franchise. It’s a horror franchise but a silly one, and it should, in all actuality, make for a silly horror experience. Let’s be clear: the weapons in Killer Clowns from outer space could be a lot more fun than the weapons on Friday the 13th. it’s going to land on all major platforms in early 2023.
4. Destiny 2 – Lightfall
To be frank, now we know what the next expansion for destiny will be; it’s a cyberpunk one. The final battle in the light versus dark saga has Kallus coming back, fighting side by side with the witness attempting to destroy the traveller, and apparently, it’s on Neptune in a cyberpunk city. There is also the addition of a grappling hook in the strand subclass. It seems like an attempt to breathe a little bit of life into Destiny 2 after it’s been going on for a long time.
Where winds meet
This looks like a game looking to compete with the ghosts of Tsushima. It is a very different-looking game like it evokes the idea of the ghost of Tsushima, but the aesthetic is also very Chinese. You can actually choose occupations in this game. Like becoming a doctor, or an architect, you can even become a very good orator, a public speaker who can convince NPCs to follow them. These are intriguing additions to an open-world stealth combat game. it sounds like there’s a lot of freedom, and that’s what the developers kept emphasizing when various other people interviewed them. If this turns out to be something where you can do a whole bunch of stuff, and the combat turns out to be as good as it looks in the trailer, take my money!
Phantom Hellcat
An absolutely fantastic-looking hack-and-slash. There’s a ton of visual style here in phantom hellcat. It’s a 2d platformer that transitions into this 3d really close quarters, almost like platinum games looking hack and slash stuff, and that sounds fantastic to me. That is a combination of two types of games, and again it’s something that looks absolutely great.
Dead Island 2 and High on Life
This game was announced almost eight years ago. It would be easy to assume that a game announced eight years ago wasn’t happening, even though there have been few clues that it’s still being developed throughout the years. It looks like a hack-and-slashy type of first-person shooter with zombies. We know what Dead Island is at this point, and if they managed to wow us with Dead Island 2, nothing like it.
Sharing the number one spot is High on Life, a Rick and Morty-voiced and world-based Sci-Fi first-person shooter. The world is filled with interactive sarcasm, and the most intriguing part of the gameplay is talking weapons with a personality of their own. For instance, the starting pistol is based on Morty, while the crazy knife, which does multiple other things like grappling, etc., has a personality like a death-crazed Rick. Great to see this level of interactive madness getting one High on Life.
Ex: How was your first experience while playing international-level cricket?
Shubman: I was in New Zealand, and the first experience of playing international cricket was great, except for the fact that we, as a team, got all out for 90 odd runs while playing against New Zealand. The game was very short as they chased down the target very quickly. We lost the match, but the experience was definitely worth it.
Ex: At what age did you start playing cricket? And what is your best memory of playing cricket in your childhood?
Shubman:I started playing cricket when I was three, and my father saw me while I was playing the game, and that’s when he realized my potential and decided to work on my game. About my favourite memory – there was this game called BEAT where you play in a net and don’t need any ground. When I was a kid, I used to play that a lot with my friends.
Ex: What kind of struggles did you have while growing up as a budding cricketer?
Shubman:The struggles that I had while growing up were mostly about facilities, and that’s when my dad decided to shift along with me to Chandigarh, which was predominantly a much better city in terms of facilities. I was very young when we moved to Chandigarh, and I used to play most of my cricket in older groups. The struggle didn’t end here; sometimes, I had to travel by bus alone, going to different cities, and when you don’t have your friends on the team, it gets a bit intimidating. Also, there weren’t many places where I could practice on my own, so I usually used to wake up at three in the morning and practice for a couple of hours from 4-6 in the morning before the academy hit the ground.
Ex: What is your opinion about the current bench strength of the Indian cricket team?
Shubman: I think the current bench strength of the Indian cricket team is magnificent. We have almost two to three players competing for the same position, which makes us one of the strongest cricket teams in the world. However, for a player, it is a very challenging scenario because if you don’t perform well in a couple of games, or a series, there are always two to three players waiting for their chance. I think that keeps you on your toes all the time, and you don’t take any game lightly. You play with all you have and give your everything every time you play for the nation.
Ex: What sort of a relationship do you have with Rahul Dravid? And how would you describe the team culture since he joined as a coach?
Shubman: I have a special bond with Rahul Dravid sir, and my relationship with him has been quite honest and splendid because he’s been with me from my U19 days. He is someone that doesn’t hesitate to tell me anything, be it about my cricket or anything off the field. Since he’s taken over as a coach, the team culture is more communicative regarding what he wants from the players and what players want from themselves.
Ex: You recently won your first one-day international man of the series award; how was that feeling? And in the last couple of years, where exactly do you think you have improved as a batsman overall?
Shubman: The feeling was quite good when I won the man of the series against West Indies, and talking about my improvement as a batsman, I would say I have gained a lot of experience over the past couple of years while playing international cricket and it has helped me a lot.
Ex: What do you do to motivate yourself when you go through a bad patch?
Shubman:I try to stick to the process, and I try to think about things, what I was doing when I was performing well, and try to go back to the basics and get back into the process.
Ex: What is it like opening with and playing under Shikhar Dhawan, with whom you’ve had a 119-run opening stand?
Shubman: Shikar Bhai has a flamboyant personality and is very encouraging. No matter the situation, he would tell the other person or the other batsman to be patient, and there’s always more time than you think there is. So in terms of that, it’s very helpful when you are under the pump sometimes.
Ex: How would you describe the importance of tech in modern-day cricket?
Shubman: I think it’s helpful if you want to see anyone’s recent performances, what they’ve been doing, and where they have been bowling. In terms of that, it’s pretty useful — me as a player and a batter, I don’t go too much into it, but it is definitely worthwhile.
Ex: I believe you’re strict about your diet. What do you eat to stay fit and fine?
Shubman: I don’t have a set plan, but there are certain things that I definitely avoid. Like, when I’m at home, I prefer Bajra rotis over Wheat. Then, I don’t eat anything gluten and try to eat as many vegetables and fibres. I would probably eat red meat, grilled vegetables or fish twice or thrice a week.
Ex: How much consistency is required to be on top of your game? And do you think being a sportsperson has changed your life?
Shubman: Yeah, I think being a sports person has definitely changed my life in terms of discipline. About consistency, you can never really be on top of your game. So, it’s all about being consistent, even if it’s your diet, even if it’s your performance, your process, or your practice. If you’re consistent, you will get the results sooner or later.
Ex: Do you have any advice for young people who want to start a sports career, particularly cricket?
Shubman: I feel hard work and being consistent in that hard work is one thing that gives you an edge over others who are not as consistent. I don’t consider practising too much as hard work because it’s something that I love doing and want to do. So, if you are willing to put in a lot of effort and like something from your heart, the sky’s the limit.
Quickies:
What’s your favourite shot? – Pull
Three gadgets you can’t live without? – iPad, my phone and my smartwatch
A historic cricket match you would have loved to play in? – 2011 World Cup final
How would you describe your batting style in three words? – Aggressive, Flawless and Flamboyant
The Pixel ‘a series is one of Google’s most loved products. The last Pixel ‘a series from Google in India was the Pixel 4a, a good value proposition back then. Thanks to our overall population, India is one of the world’s largest smartphone markets. Companies value this market to a point where midrange smartphone categories introduce flagship-level features and more. Google takes a safe calculated approach with their latest Pixel 6a, hardware that has stood the test of time paired with the newest Tensor processor optimised for the phone and the latest Android software. Our test results are a mix of impressive and unimpressive opinions.
Cut to curve
The Pixel 6a is unmistakably a Pixel, thanks to similar design choices as the elder siblings Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The front is protected with a tried and tested Gorilla Glass 3 coupled with matte finish metal edges, while the back of the phone is good quality multi-tone plastic. The camera bump is less pronounced thanks to older sensors used on earlier Pixels. Thanks to the clever choice of materials, with a comparatively mid-size 6.1-inch FHD+ 60Hz OLED display, this phone can be wielded in one hand with ease. Don’t let the images fool you. This may look like a rectangle but holding the phone reveals neat curves around the edges, making it pleasing.
Heart of the matter
With the elimination of the 3.5mm headphone jack, the new Pixel 6a brings better SOC in the form of a 5nm Tensor chip. Consider this to be equivalent to Snapdragon 860, if not better. The processor performs decently with 6GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 ROM. Android 13 promises to optimise the processor further, but as with Android 12, the 6a is not the best ideal napper. It drains the battery like everyday light use when idle. The battery performance is average but could have been better, considering this phone only supports 60Hz or 60FPS display refresh rate on an OLED that can do decent HDR content viewing.
Apart from pure Android OS with regular fixes and security updates, the highlight of using the Pixel algorithm-based camera sensors and added features in Google apps like a magic eraser, an AI-powered erase and fill tool in Photos. It uses the reliable 12MP sensor used in the past Pixels and another 12MP ultra-wide sensor. Like in the past, these sensors are ultra-reliable when taking a shot and 9/10 times, you will get a perfect shot with mindboggling software trickery that converts noisy night shots into miracle light captures. The pictures and videos with OIS and software stabilisation are one of the best. Colours, contrast, details, saturation and brightness are spot-on and absolutely social-media or memory worthy.
The gaming performance is decent, but the software lacks optimisation on Android 12. The phone’s metal circumference dissipates heat evenly but can get uncomfortable over 45mins of continuous gaming. The display may be 60Hz, but the colour reproduction, contrast at all brightness levels and viewing angles are apt for regular users. If you’re using a 90Hz or above display, it might feel stuttery at first until your brain retrains itself. Call quality is good, and speakers perform better with crisp audio quality. Also, charging a 4410mAh battery with a maximum of 18W charge capabilities is not fast charging in this era. The compatibility issue adds to the frustration, where the Pixel 6a refuses to charge with most smartphone chargers or after-market chargers and cables. Haptic feedback and physical button presses have fantastic feedback.
Verdict – If you are looking for a good camera phone or a significant decent additional phone apart from your iPhone, the Pixel 6a is a timeless pick. With nineteen 5G bands and support for years to come, this is an excellent midrange phone from Google.
Lexus ES 300h, a self-charging hybrid electric luxury sedan, is one of many electrified cars from the luxury car maker Lexus, a pioneer in the field of hybrid electric technology. Lexus has over 2.3 million electrified vehicles on the roads globally as of today. Powered by Lexus Hybrid Drive, a seamless, optimal combination of electric power and fuel, this luxurious sedan was our abode on wheels on the beautiful roads of Kovalam, Kerala, where the Exhibit InfluencEX Awards 2022 was held to felicitate the best of best influencers across India.
Kerala, well known as God’s Own Country, is one of India’s most beautiful states with lush, scenic landscapes and a rich culture that befits the title. Adding inimitable charm to the experience was the Lexus ES 300h, which took us in luxurious comfort through picturesque Kovalam, stopping at the arts and crafts village, Shiva Stupa and finishing off with a magnificent Sadya feast at Taj Green Cove Resort and Spa, Kovalam. As we found out, the Lexus ES 300h was indeed a refined companion to explore this stunning city.
A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship
Kovalam is an idyllic destination, the perfect setting for the elegant Lexus ES 300h. Starting in absolute silence in pure EV mode, the car is capable of unleashing all its power with a simple toggle of the drive selector. Courtesy of the MacPherson Strut suspensions upfront and rigid rear double-wishbone suspension-member braces on the ES 300h, changing direction while on the highway or in the streets of Kovalam was a breeze. Add to that, the signature Lexus spindle grille design, and slender and beautiful silhouette, made the ES 300h a true head turner.
Our first destination was the Kovalam arts and crafts village, an 8-acre sustainable property dedicated to showcasing the vibrant art and skilled craftsmanship of the state. The Lexus ES 300h felt right at home as it cruised silently, enhancing the sense of serenity in the tranquil village. If you are yet to visit this place, the craftsmanship offered here is second to none – recycled wood, metals, textile, and many other elements of nature are beautifully carved into striking art pieces created by skilled and traditional craftsmen. Lexus draws a great parallel as the craftsmanship is at the brand’s heart. Consider the Lexus Takumi masters, the skilled craftsmen behind every Lexus. Takumi dedicates their lives to the perfection of an individual skill set, and precisely apply their highly trained senses to refining every detail.
“THE ARTISTIC ELEMENT & CLASS-LEADING JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP MAKE THE LEXUS ES300h A PIECE OF ART ON WHEELS.”
This is apparent in the design of the ES, from the subtle touches of crafted luxury in the interiors to the distinctive and refined styling of the exteriors. This class-leading Japanese craftsmanship makes the ES 300h a perfect blend of elegance with luxury.
The Perfect Drive Partner
Our next stop took us across Kovalam to Kerala’s tallest Shiva sculpture, which stands at 58 feet in the form of Gangadeshwara on the cliff of Azhimala beach in Kovalam. This massive statue, which took six years to create, dwarfs the Azhimala temple and is visible across Kovalam’s expansive beaches from miles away.
The Lexus was a perfect partner for the journey, with a quality of excellence and a finish that stands tall. Everything in the ES 300h, including the extensive 12.3-inch widescreen crisp touch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, is oriented towards the owner’s comfort and within arm’s length for efficient operation. The multiple tones of pure luxury inside the cabin add to the experience cocooning you in comfort. The wireless charger and 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround sound system amp the cabin experience to even greater heights.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s more: the three-eye bi-beam LED headlamps, stylish rear L-shaped LED lamps, panoramic sunroof, acoustic glass on the windows which insulates the cabin from outside sounds along with active noise cancellation which further adds to the Lexus ES 300h experience. The engaging driver’s 7-inch MID and an even more astonishing heads-up display provide all the necessary information required by one in the driver’s seat. Pairing this opulence with active noise cancellation inside the cabin made the drive a truly serene experience that only a Lexus could deliver.
Luxury Made Personal
From Azhimala beach, our drive continued to the Taj resort consolidating further the driving pleasure the ES 300h is capable of. A dedicated drive mode selector features Eco, Normal and Sport modes for enhanced driving options making the most of both powertrains. The silhouette is not just attractive but also functional, with underbody and rear fins optimizing aerodynamics. The improved engine paired with batteries and motors makes for an unprecedented experience of instant acceleration and dynamic performance at all speed levels without any compromise on the fuel efficiency – along with a step towards a carbon neutral drive.
Along with our co-passengers, we were entranced by the Lexus climate concierge, 3-zone climate control with rear door and window shades for added privacy and luxury made personal. Further enhancing the back seat experience is an integrated central console, which lets you control the audio system, 8-degree rear seat recline, ambient illumination and other settings neatly integrated for a seamless experience. Reaching our destination, we were just in time to relish Kerala’s famous Sadya feast with multiple authentic signature delicacies served on a banana leaf.
IT’S ASTONISHING TO WITNESS A SELF-CHARGING HYBRID ELECTRIC LUXURY VEHICLE SEDAN AS POWERFUL AND YET EFFICIENT
The ES 300h offers the best of the best driving pleasure and excitement served in a sustainable package. Kerala was a great destination to test the Lexus ES 300h, and a beautiful hybrid-electric sedan explored the best each had to offer. Kerala’s lush greenery, beautiful clean beaches, and great food and culture are mesmerizing. The ES 300h reflects that ethos and class perfectly, the absolute partner to wow your senses in a tranquil, luxurious experience. Brilliant and trusted by millions, the hybrid-electric technology makes this car a joyous driving experience while contributing toward carbon neutrality.
Lexus is redefining the meaning of abundance with comfort, technology and a sustainable approach to crafting a better tomorrow. Lexus plans to go carbon neutral by 2050, and if the ES 300h is the starting point of that journey, we are very excited to see what the future holds.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Every invention is a birth of an idea that was once considered vague and impotent. However, some inventions bring about major changes in everyone’s life and gradually knits themselves closely with our routine and habits. Every invention is a prop for a man to advance his own life and to teach future generations how to be more creative and independent. Why 75 gadgets, in particular, you would ask? Well, it’s the 75th year of Independence for India. To celebrate this occasion, we have brought together 75 gadgets that changed the world for the better and made our lives easier as a country and as individuals.
Toaster
The first electric toaster was designed by Alan MacMasters in London. The electric filaments used in it had a large amount of nickel in their composition, which led them to overheat easily. This discovery came as an accident, and now all we do is just toast and drink.
Refrigerator
Before the early 19th century, people relied on ice, snow, and naturally cool areas in their houses to preserve food. Refrigeration raised the expectations of what food would taste like. People no longer expected that the old food would still taste fresh.
Smartphones
When one thinks of an invention that took over the whole world, numerous things come to mind. However, nothing brought a revolution as a smartphone did. Think of anything, and your smartphone might be capable of pulling it off.
Mobile phones
Cell phones have also changed the way that people interact with each other. When we call someone, we are actually calling the person and not a place. Unlike the telephone, which was mostly at homes or offices, cellphones could now be carried around at our own convenience.
Cars
When one thinks of an invention that took over the whole world, numerous things come to mind. However, nothing brought a revolution like a car did, as it gave people more personal freedom and access to jobs and services.
Geysers
The history of water heaters accelerated quite extremely around the time of the industrial revolution. Fire-heated methods that had been in use for thousands of years quickly went the way of the dodo, while newfangled technology was invented and subsequently popularized as a mainstay of home construction and domestic life.
Laptop
There’s no question that laptops have changed the world. They’ve made it possible for people to work from anywhere, and they’ve given us a whole new way to connect with each other. The first laptops were introduced in the early 1980s and were bulky, expensive, and not very powerful.
Computer
Thanks to computers, space exploration came true, new designs of vehicles and other transportation were made, entertainment became more entertaining, medical science made more cures for diseases, etc.
Video Games
As video arcades and home video game consoles gained in popularity, youth culture quickly adapted to this type of media, engaging in competitions to gain high scores and spending hours at the arcade or with the home console.
3D Glasses
In the mid-19th century, Charles Wheatstone discovered that simply viewing a pair of similar (but not exact) images side-by-side can give the impression of three-dimensionality. The images are taken by two cameras that are slightly separated. This way, the photographs mimic what each one of our two eyes would see in reality.
Glasses
The invention of glasses is considered a crucial step forward in humanity’s cultural history: suddenly, people suffering from visual impairments could not only play an active role in day-to-day life, but also study for longer, expand their knowledge and then pass it on to others.
Watches
Explorers needed the time to navigate at sea. The latitude could already be accurately determined on the basis of the stars, but the longitude was the local time needed. If the clock was one minute wrong, that was already a deviation of 28 km in the tropics. So the origin of the watch stemmed from the need for a precise navigation tool.
Hard Drives
The fact that every year scientists have managed to compress more and more information on hard drives for less and less cost, has led to a revolution just as dramatic as the one triggered by the much more celebrated microprocessor.
Television
Not not only did television re-envision our sense of the world, it remains, even in the age of the internet, Facebook, and YouTube, the most powerful generator of our collective memories, the most seductive and shocking mirror of society, and the most virulent incubator of social trends.
Light Bulb
The invention of the lightbulb was a big one for the people living in the period. It enabled them to work longer days, go home late, and still have supper and do unfinished work, attend social gatherings like meetings and parties, even though it was dark outside.
come in a range of sizes from large Megawatt sizes, which store the power from solar farms or substations to guarantee stable supply in entire villages or islands, down to tiny batteries like those used in electronic watches. However, the term was first coined by Benjamin Franklin in 1749 when he was doing experiments with electricity using a set of linked capacitors.
Voice Assistants
Apple introduced Siri in 2011. Siri was the first Voice Assistant to reach a wide audience. Then in 2014, Amazon introduced the Alexa Voice Assistant and Echo smart speaker. A.I.-based chatbots provide interactions that are far from being capable of having a conversation with a real-life human assistant.
The Printing Press
Before the printing press, books in Europe were hand-scribed, and thus they were costly. Granted, these books often contained beautiful calligraphy and artwork, and illuminated manuscripts were real works of art. The mass-produced books made information more accessible to a middle class that was becoming increasingly literate.
Steam Engine
The simultaneous perfection of the steam engine and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution is a chicken and egg scenario that historians have long debated. The world was becoming industrialized before the advent of steam power, but it would never have progressed so quickly without it.
Guns
The invention of guns followed the development of explosive black powder in China. The first guns were simple tubes from which to shoot explosive charges, but gradually they were made easier to load, aim, and fire. Guns revolutionized warfare and effectively ended the age of the armoured knight and the castle stronghold.
Bike
Motorcycles played an important role in World War I and World War II, as they were a quick, efficient way of transporting important communication to the front lines. Since then, motorcycles have been capturing the enthusiasm and excitement of riders all over the world.
Switches
The first ever switch used on a mechanism is called ‘The quick break mechanism’. It was invented by John Henry Holmes in 1884. The time taken to get together the circuit was reduced which increased the life of the switches.
DVD Player
Home video changed the entire business model of film, giving movies a second life and another chance at turning a profit, from right inside people’s homes. From the beginning, DVDs have had menus and other interactive content, but producers were driven to find more ways to use that space.
Electric Razor
The idea of creating an electric razor came to Jacob Schick while he recuperated from an injury in the early 1910s and found it difficult to shave. Schick drew up crude plans that featured a shaver with a shaving head driven by a flexible cable and powered by a grapefruit-sized external motor.
Binoculars
Honestly, binoculars seem to be one of the coolest things to exist. Credit for the first real binocular telescope goes to J. P. Lemiere, who devised one in 1825. The modern prism binoculars began with Ignazio Porro’s 1854 Italian patent for a prism erecting system.
Smoke Detector
In 1964, Duane D. Pearsall was developing an ionization chamber and found his invention detected smoke particles better than ones made earlier. Since 1964, the low-voltage electronics market has developed electronic smoke detector and smoke alarm models. National awareness of their importance to life safety has propelled them to the head of many “top 100 inventions of our time” lists.
Sony Walkman
In 1979, the new device forever changed the way we listened to music and launched a cultural revolution. All thanks to Walkman, now you could walk down the street, and the music altered the very experience of looking at the world.
Polaroid Camera
The Polaroid camera bypassed the entire process of film development, thus providing photographers an immediate look at their work. Released for sale in 1948, the first version was an “instant” hit.
Calculator
The calculator has profoundly impacted the world, making computations quicker and more exact. In the classroom, calculators have allowed many students to learn about and put complex formulas and concepts into practice more easily.
Wi-Fi Router
The freedom it has afforded is immense, changing how people interact, socialize and form relationships. Wireless connections and Wi-Fi are now central to how governments work with technology, information exchange, finance, and commerce.With the invention of the microphone, news spread quicker, people were also able to communicate easier and quicker. People didn’t have to rely on letters or telegraphs. Microphones also greatly influenced the music industry, allowing recordings to be made and amplification of artists.
Computer Mouse
The computer mouse you use today had humble beginnings back in the 1960s. American computer engineers Douglas Engelbart and William “Bill” English were working on something bigger when the idea of a “computer-aided display control” was realized.
LED
Without blue LEDs, the world wouldn’t have backlit smartphones, TV and computer LCD screens, Blu-ray players, many forms of lighting and countless other technological marvels.
Pager
Long before email and texting, pagers and portable mini radiofrequency devices allowed instant human interaction. Invented in 1921, pagers—or “beepers” as they are also known—reached their heyday in the 1980s and 1990s. To have one hanging from a belt loop, shirt pocket, or purse strap was to convey a certain kind of status.
Electric Guitar
By making music performance more accessible and allowing for more rebellious music, the electric guitar provided much of the soundtrack for the social revolution of the 1960s. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and others all sang about radically new concepts not often heard on the radio at the time.
Radio
For just 5 years short of a century, radio has shaped and advanced society like nothing that came before it. Radio has changed the way we communicate with each other, how we share and promote our thoughts, opinions and creations — and ofcourse enjoy good music.
TV Remote Control
Remote controls completely changed the way consumers interacted with their electronic devices. Now people could remain glued to their chairs for hours on end instead of getting a bit of exercise every time they wanted to change a radio station or TV channel.
Handheld GPS
GPS has made the human environment safer and easier to live in by keeping track of the children, helping people locate their destination, and knowing the estimated time to reach a particular place.
Electric Kettle
The invention of the electric kettle has, directly and indirectly, impacted society since the ‘supermarket convenience foods’ concept became a thing and companies started making their own version, leading to new jobs. Soon after the invention of the automated kettle, in 1958, Instant noodles were invented in Japan.
Helicopter
Choppers have become a modern mainstay – saving lives in rescue operations, and ending many more in wars from Vietnam to Afghanistan. With private jets, helicopters are the ultimate object of prestige travel, carrying world leaders to key meetings or to their golf courses.
Thermometer
The first crude temperature measure was created by the Italian inventor Galileo Galilei. His invention could show if it was getting hotter or colder but did not have a scale. The invention is now known as a thermoscope and led to the creation of the thermometer.
Vacuum Cleaner
The impact of the vacuum cleaner on society is significant, as electricity was becoming available, and our cultural need to keep things clean was beginning to develop. The vacuum cleaner would increase the frequency of cleaning to once a week and involve fewer people.
Solar Cooker
Not only have solar cookers changed the world, but it has the potential to save the world too. With catastrophic environmental effects, some three billion people worldwide rely on dung, wood and charcoal to cook their food. Cookers powered by the sun provide a cheap and clean alternative.
E-Readers
The increasing availability of e-content is prompting some to read more than in the past and to prefer buying books to borrowing them. The prevalence of e-book reading is markedly growing, but printed books still dominate the world of book readers.
Robots
Although the concept of robots has existed for many years, it’s only been in the last few decades that they’ve grown in complexity and use. Today, robots are used everywhere in industries, military, services, exploration, medical, and entertainment – you just name it.
Virtual Reality and AR
VR is the perfect tool for raising awareness of social and environmental issues and goes beyond the traditional 2D depiction of the situation by putting users in someone else’s shoes. Users are no longer passive spectators but are now capable of taking part in real-time without actually being present.
Digital Currency
Digital currency might be the closest thing we have come to retaining economic freedom. If these are regulated, it could lift many countries out of poverty, improve the lives of billions, and accelerate the pace of innovation.
Water Purifier
In the 1700s, the first water filters for domestic application were applied. These were made of wool, sponge and charcoal. In 1804 the first actual municipal water treatment plant designed by Robert Thom was built in Scotland. The water treatment was based on slow sand filtration, and the horse and cart distributed the water.
Hearing Aid
Hearing aids have not only helped people in hearing better but, to an extent, reduced anxiety and depression. Hearing aids trigger the ability to learn, speak, be understood, belong to a community, and pursue one’s dreams.
Sunglasses
Well, the Chinese invented the first sunglasses in the 12th century. They were crude slabs of smoked quartz that was made to block out the sun’s rays. The primitive frames were roughly framed to hold them against a user’s face. These darkened lenses were however not vision corrected, unable to protect against harmful UV rays and made only for the rich.
Chain Saw
Did you know that chainsaws were initially invented to assist in childbirth? You are probably clenching your teeth right now, but facts are facts. It then evolved into a woodworking tool when people noticed how quickly and easily it was to get through, well, anything.
VCR
The story of the VCR as we know it began much later in the 20th century. By the 1970s, companies began competing with each other by releasing premium in-home video recording systems, which sent Hollywood in a tizzy over copyright concerns.
Electric Toothbrush
It all started when navy submarines thrived on mushy canned food that got almost zero gum stimulant. The electric toothbrush solved that problem in 1959, and this invention inspired another vibrating device (that’s an article for some other day.
Lantern
When W.C. Coleman debuted his Quick-Lite lantern in 1916, he marketed the device to farmers looking to stretch the workday. Until electricity and light bulbs became prevalent in every rural home, lanterns were the way to go.
Old lantern or Old lamp isolated on white background
Hair Dryer
The concept for the handheld hairdryer was developed during the 1920s in Racine, Wisc., where engineers at Hamilton Beach–tasked with developing motorized mixers for making malted milkshakes. They realized the potential utility of a handheld device capable of blowing heated air. Early models were heavy, though, and susceptible to overheating.
Lawnmower
It took over 100 years until the first mechanical lawn mower was invented and patented by engineer Edwin Beard Budding of Gloucestershire, England, in 1830. Budding got the idea after seeing a machine in a local cloth mill. The machine used a cutting cylinder with a bladed reel to trim the irregular nap from the surface of woollen and velvet cloth in order to give it a smooth finish.
Gameboy
Today, portable gaming is a fact of life–most people have games like Angry Birds and Bejeweled on their smartphones. But when the original Nintendo Gameboy was released in 1989, there had never been a successful cartridge-based portable game system.
Bicycle
For a few heady years in the 1890s, the bicycle was the ultimate must-have—swift, affordable, stylish transportation that could whisk you anywhere you cared to go, anytime you liked, for free. For the first time in history, the masses were mobile, able to come and go as they pleased. No more need for expensive horses and carriages.
Answering Machine
Released in 1971, the Phone-Mate Model 400, the first widely used answering machine, was a blessing and a curse. Its tapes could capture 20 messages, enabling selective communication. The downside: phone tag, screening calls, and annoying recorded messages.
MP3 Player
Although iPod wasn’t the first MP3 Player, it was certainly the most successful. The device debuted in 2001 and sold more than 300 million units. The iPod and iTunes helped create a new MP3 era and made listening to music cool.
Cassette Tape
Cassette tapes mostly gather dust these days. But back in their heyday, they fundamentally changed how we communicate in ways we’re still making sense of today. On this week’s On the Media, hear how the cassette tape fueled the Iranian revolution, helped pierce the Iron Curtain, and put the human connection in the palm of our hands.
Car Jack
Richard Dudgeon invented the compact, portable hydraulic jack in 1851 when he was 32. Now available at every auto shop and pit row on the land, its original habitats were shipyards and railroad repair shops.
Old Car Jack over white background
Sewing Machine
The sewing machine shifted the burden of sewing from housewives and seamstresses to large-scale factories, providing greater productivity and lower prices. Women who had been busy at home could now find employment in these factories, increasing their family’s income.
Fitness Watches
What’s better than wearing a watch? Wearing a personalized watch that tracks your fitness and tells you how much more you need to push through. Watches today can tell not just the physical well-being but the mental well-being too, representing how far we have come with technology.
Helmet
The motorcycle helmet that we wear has its own rich history that started almost 80 years ago. It seems inseparable as it is the most important gear that helps keep us safe. It has been guarding our heads against potential damage and made people more sensible on the road.
Stapler
I believe staplers are the most used gadget in the office after pen and paper. An unknown artisan made the first-known stapler for King Louis XV of France in the 18th century. Each staple bore the royal seal, and the King could use the device to hold his decrees and documents together.
Fishing Rod
The history of fishing rods goes back to ancient Egypt and China. When people started to fish in prehistoric times, they used bare hands to catch the fish in shallow water. This method was not practical in deeper water, so someone invented a fishing hook and a line. Thanks to this, fishing has become a sport now.
Lighter
Think about a backyard barbecue, a candlelit bubble bath, or cigars with the boys at a bachelor party. What do all these things have in common? You need a lighter to make them happen! It was a simple act, but it had a monumental impact on the survival of the entire human race.
LG’s Gram series of laptops was always known for its insane lightweight laptops. Not only did they defy their perception of weight, but they were also excellent productive machines. Continuing their legacy, LG has improved their Gram series for 2022. This laptop tends to defy physics at 1.4kgs for the LG Gram 17-inch. We test the LG Gram 17, and an additional Type-C powered 16-inch WQXGA (2560×1600) IPS View Display.
Productivity perfected
LG Gram 17 weighs a mere 1.4 kgs and comes with a relatively small 65W Type-C charger. The minimal bezels and bright IPS panel dominate the display area with WQXGA (2560×1600) resolution. Sharp enough for a display this size. Complementing the Gram 17 is a WQXGA (2560×1600) IPS panel called View Display. In an era of a multi-monitor setup, the Gram with View Display makes for an attractive matte-finish mobile workstation. The styling is subtle, with a gram logo on the lid and LG branding below the massive display. The gram logo on the LHS below the keyboard and subtle Intel Evo logo keep things minimalistic yet classy.
LG Gram 17
Above the display sits a 720P camera alongside an IR camera. LG has done some software trickery with the Glance feature. More on that later. The keyboard is a full-fledged backlit chiclet keyboard with three levels, off, low and high. Ports include an HDMI 2.0 port, two Thunderbolt 4 (type-C) ports, and a headphone jack on the left. There’s a Micro-SD card reader, two USB Type-A 3.2 ports and a Kensington lock on the right. A pair of stereo speakers are placed facing the bottom and could easily get blocked on soft surfaces but sound decent for the laptop size.
Lightweight chassis with heavyweight performance
Powered by the latest 12th generation Intel Evo i5-1240P octa-core processor with 16 threads, a blazing fast 5200Mhz 8GB DDR5 RAM, quality 1TB SSD, Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 powered by an 80Wh battery, the LG Gram 17 is a beast wearing a well-fit suit. Everyday productivity is handled like a breeze. Iris(R) Xe graphics unit does a decent job when required. The hardware is more than capable of running Windows 11 Home edition efficiently and comes bundled with Office applications for easy productivity.
The key press is satisfying on the laptop, and a sizeable gesture-supported touchpad makes the right moves. The View Display is 16-inches and super styled with a brush metal finish; it supports the exact same resolution as the laptop and has seamless connectivity through its thunderbolt 4 ports. The Gram 17 and View Display is configured in a 16:10 ratio, making them apt productivity combinations. The laptop has some additional features and applications to make it ready to use immediately.
LG Gram 17
The most exciting feature is Glance, a privacy tool that uses LG Merametrix hardware and software to blur the display when someone else is peeping at your display or when you are not looking at your laptop. It’s an interesting take on privacy and security. There are other features in Glance, including Smart Pointer that tracks your eyes to bring the pointer where you’re looking, Snap Window that moves your privacy to the display you are staring at, smart player to pause media when you’re not paying attention and many other smart features. Considering this series is usually preferred as productivity machines, this is an excellent tool for professional and personal use. The View Display gets an Alcantara finish case that doubles as a stand.
Verdict
LG’s latest Gram series brings better hardware, software and design in a similar yet fantastic lightweight package with updated ports. Couple that with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a slim, stylish View Display with sturdy built, and this combination is a perfect multi-monitor mobile setup.
Tecno has expanded its product portfolio in the Indian market to cater to a larger audience with smartphones at different price ranges. The Pova series still happens to be sitting at the sweet spot of the budget segment smartphone, a hot category among young buyers. So, does this latest iteration live up to its hype, and should you consider it?
How does it look and feel?
Tecno Pova 3 is a little hefty considering the battery it packs within. The phone feels sturdy with substantial character around it. It is also fairly big, with a 6.9-inch display. We had the tech silver model which definitely looks premium and feels above its category. The phone is IPX2 splash resistant, which protects it from drizzle and light splashes of water. It’s a handy feature to have on a phone that costs this much. Keeping up with its gaming-centric approach, there are subtle yet practical touches that have been given to the smartphone. For instance, the sides of the Pova 3 have inverted edges for placing your index fingers while you are gaming.
A design feature missing in the Tech Silver variant is an LED strip that chimes in three different colours for notifications and battery capacity. Other design elements are generic, we get a volume rocker on the left, which is tactile, and right next to them is a SIM tray. It is a hybrid slot that supports 2 Nano SIM cards and a micro SD card. To the right, you will find the power lock and unlock button with an integrated fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor is quick in its response. The bottom comprises the USB type-C charging port, speaker grill and an old-school headphone jack.
How’s the screen?
Tecno Pova 3 features a 6.9-inch FHD+ display with a 1080 x 2460 pixel resolution which is pretty nice considering the category of the phone. Most colours on the Pova 3 look natural, and the screen is able to project decent clarity.
The display has a peak brightness of 500 nits, which is sufficient for indoor usage but moves outside on a good sunny day and one might find it difficult to glance at the screen.
But all’s not bad, especially if you are a gamer. Tecno Pova 3’s screen has a max refresh rate of 90Hz. These figures might not be as phenomenal as the 120Hz that we see on other phones, but combined with the 180Hz touch sampling rate, the performance is pretty satisfactory.
A good highlight of the Tecno Pova 3 is the haptic feedback on the device which you receive while playing games. It is apt and adds a lot of character to your gaming experience. It won’t numb your hands, but the subtle vibration adds a more of personalized touch.
How does it sound?
While the display makes up for gamers, a casual user will be engrossed in consuming content. Packing in dual speakers, the Tecno Pova 3’s hidden USP is its audio prowess. The audio output is loud, sharp and clear. Be it the effects while playing games or binge-watching on social media apps or simply streaming a YouTube video, it sounds well.
What’s inside?
Tecno Pova 3 runs on Android 12 out of the box which is paired together with HiOS 8.6. It is powered by a Mediatek Helio G88 processor, an almost a year-old SoC, the G88 is a 4G chipset. The variant we tested, packs in 6GB of RAM which can be bumped up to 11GB using RAM fusion if you are gaming intensively. That being said, the default 6GB of memory is sufficient for most of the tasks and holds up applications pretty well. The internal storage on the device is 128GB out of which 20GB is used by the OS. This is ample for most of the users. But you can expand it to 1TB with a micro SD card if you need more storage.
The massive 7000 mAh battery is very well optimized and for light usage, should easily last well over 2 days.For gamers, playing graphic-intensive games continuously won’t affect much and the battery will last for at least a day. The 33W power adapter in the box charges the Pova 3 to 50% in about 45 minutes. But a full 0-100% charge needs at least 2.5 hours, which is considerable given the battery size.Tecno also provides a reverse charging feature on the Pova 3, which means it can charge up other devices with a 10W voltage. The best practical usage is charging your TWS or Bluetooth headphones if they run out of juice during a commute.
How’s the camera?
Tecno Pova 3 features a triple rear camera set-up with the primary one being a 50MP shooter with F1.6 aperture. The second one is a 2MP depth sensor and finally an AI lens for all the gimmicks it packs within. The colour grades can go off sometimes, especially if you have the AI beauty filter on. Dark colours like Red, or Navy blue look undersaturated and with the AI filter and seem to shift further away from the natural tones a bit. There is a super night mode on the camera, which aids when you are clicking pictures at night. There is no ultra-wide lens on the phone, so you cannot open up the frame and are just limited to zooming in.
The 10X zoom can be considered a feature, but it is better to be left off. The video performance is decent. The camera shoots a maximum resolution of 2K. The video stabilization is not impressive and the output can be shaky sometimes. So if you are a creator looking for a device to Vlog or just shoot in general then this camera can be considered but for a light usage. Audio recorded by the in-built mic though is pretty decent. The real charm is actually the 8MP front camera. Unlike the primary camera which can deceive you sometimes, the front camera is pretty consistent for that matter. The images look sharp and are worthy of your social media selfies. The front camera also features dual flashlights which are a talking point.
How much on my Pocket?
The Tecno Pova 3 is available in 2 variants. The base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage is priced at ₹11,499 and the other variant packs in 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage and retails at a price of ₹12,999.
Time machines exist! They’re popularly known as telescopes. NASA’s new space telescope can see through time, and we just got our first images from billions of years ago. These are the very first images captured by the James Webb space telescope, the deepest we’ve seen into the universe with alien planets, far-off galaxies, and the birth and death of distant stars, but this is just the start. We are going to break down everything you need to know about the James Webb space telescope. From those first images to how it uses infrared light to see the past and what it could teach us about the universe? On the 12th of July NASA released the first five images from the James Webb space telescope showing us the most profound and most detailed look into our universe ever. The first big reveal was Webb’s first deep field, an image of thousands of galaxies 4.6 billion light years away. This is the furthest into our universe we’ve ever seen, and all that detail is in an area of sky as big as a grain of sand. Next up, we saw science data spectroscopy from an exoplanet captured when it passed in front of a distant star. This data shows us evidence of water on an alien planet a thousand light years away. Our third image was the stunning southern ring nebula. A dying star 2500 light years away captured by two instruments on the telescope NIRcam and MIRI (Mid-infrared instrument). It shows shells of gas and dust ejected from a dying star. Next was a group of five galaxies called Stephan’s Quintet. This is Webb’s largest image yet, with more than 150 million pixels showing us what NASA calls a cosmic dance of galaxies, stars being born and even outflows from a black hole. And finally, the most phenomenal image of them all, the cosmic cliffs of the Carina nebula. This stunning vista reveals new details about this vast stellar nursery for the first time.
We’re seeing brand-new stars that were previously completely hidden from our view. In this view, we see some great examples, of the hundreds of new stars that we’ve never seen before. We see examples of bubbles and cavities and jets that are being blown out by these newborn stars. We even see some galaxies sort of lurking in the background. Up here, we see examples of structures that, honestly, we don’t even know what they are! What’s going on here? The data is just so rich! These spectacular images really represent the dawn of a new scientific era, one powered by the world’s most powerful telescope.
What is the James Webb space telescope?
Well, it’s essentially a giant observatory orbiting the sun a million miles away from earth that examines space through infrared light after decades of development by NASA’s Goddard space flight centre, the Canadian space agency and the European space agency. It was launched from French Guiana on Christmas day in 2021. It’s on a decades-long mission to look at our whole universe. This telescope was initially designed to look back in time and see the very first galaxies that were born after the big bang. We’re talking about looking back in time over thirteen and half billion years into the past. It will study how galaxies change throughout cosmic history. We’ll learn more about how stars and planets are born. We’ll learn about exoplanets, planets orbiting other stars, and then we’ll also learn about objects within our own solar system. This fantastic new telescope is really going to be able to study our universe from our sort of own cosmic backyard of the solar system all the way out to the most distant objects in the universe and everything in between space and time.
The telescope orbits the earth around the sun in a fixed position on the dark side of our planet; staying away from the sun which is very important for its mission. Its sensitive instruments are on the hunt for infrared light, which is essentially heat energy; that’s the reason behind that massive diamond-shaped sun shield the size of a tennis court. The telescope collects infrared light from space using its giant honeycomb-shaped mirror, which is covered in actual gold! Why infrared light? Well, infrared is the key to seeing distant parts of our universe, and that’s because of the way those light waves travel through space. The fact that the universe is expanding all the time and accelerating, thereby as light travels through space, that expansion of the universe literally stretches the light waves. Light waves that are longer in length stretched out show different waves and so are the most distant galaxies, the ones we’ve never seen at all. They’re so far away, their light has been stretched so much that it no longer appears in the optical at all. It’s all in the infrared. Hence, to see into deep space we need to observe those infrared light waves. The light waves that James Webb can see have travelled a long way from 13.6 billion light years away, to be exact in deep, deep space.
This is where it starts to get very cool because the universe is so large by the time this light reaches us from that distance, it’s taken billions of years to get here. When we see the light from that far away, we actually see 13.6 billion years into the past. As astronomers often say, telescopes are time machines, and that’s actually true. We’re able to see into the past with telescopes, and the reason for that sounds very dramatic and sci-fi, but it’s actually based on the straightforward fact that light takes time to travel through space in the same sense light from the sun takes about eight minutes to get to the earth. So you’re seeing the sun as it was about eight minutes ago, and it’s because of this simple nature of the way light works that we’re able to look back in time and see how the universe was in the distant past. And by that, we can sort of put together a story of how the universe has changed over the last 14 billion years of cosmic history.
How far can we look back into our past?
How does this telescope time machine actually capture this ancient light? Well, the primary way is with the near-infrared camera or NIRcam built by Lockheed Martin Space in silicon valley. It’s like any other camera, except it’s way more complex and it sees invisible light. The whole optics to collect that light is quite a bit of departure from a little lens that we would have on a regular camera. It’s more based on lenses that let the light through and then modify the light in a particular way. Navcam has several different filters. So it doesn’t look at just infrared or just one wavelength; it is a range. We have a number of filters that allow you to look at the different regions of this spectrum to extract even more information than just a simple image. One of the big benefits of measuring infrared light is that NIRcam can see through clouds of dust and space things that would normally block visible light from reaching us. This helps scientists find whole galaxies that might otherwise be hidden.
We saw that with James Webb’s predecessor, the Hubble space telescope, and now we’ll be able to see even more. NIRcam can also do what’s known as Coronography. Essentially blocking light from bright stars to get a better view of the planets orbiting them, and it can measure the way the light from stars passes through the atmospheres of alien planets. All of this could potentially help us find habitable planets. Coronography is all about what’s the composition of these planets, and what’s in their atmosphere. Potentially can we find carbon or water traces and so on, which don’t prove that there’s light, but these are the building blocks for life. There are three other instruments alongside NIRcam on the telescope – MIRI captures longer wavelengths of infrared light. Then there’s NIRspec (Near-infrared spectrograph) which has tiny mechanical shutters that open and close to collect data on things like the temperature composition and mass of distant objects. Finally, there’s NIRISS (Near-infrared imager and slitless spectrograph) and the FGS (Fine guidance sensor). NIRISS observes planets around bright stars by diffusing the light of the stars over a lot of pixels while the fine guidance sensor keeps Webb perfectly steady in space.
Game changer?
The big question is, why is the James Webb space telescope such a game changer? Well, unlike Hubble JWST can see further and dig deeper into the origins of space. Its light-collecting mirror is six and a half meters wide compared to Hubble’s two and a half meters. All that light collecting power means it can look further back in time seeing fainter and more distant objects capturing more data, and taking us closer to the very origins of our universe. As for what’s next, well, the first batch of images took just five days to capture, and NASA says the telescope could have enough fuel to last for 20 years.
So, this is just the beginning. We can expect more discoveries, more unknown galaxies and more beautiful images, letting us peek deeper into the universe and learn more about the very dawn of time. This first look data that we’re getting shows us the power of this incredible instrument in terms of really our next big step in our search for life in the universe. We think the most exciting thing about this incredible new telescope is the idea that there are surprises in the universe. To say that this is a pivotal moment in the history of science is an absolute understatement. We are about to look into the past further than we’ve ever seen before and that thrill itself makes up for this $10 billion gold-clad space telescope.
