Tag: premium smartphones

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review: Style and substance at a stiff price- Technology News, Firstpost

Post By Science And Technology , , , ,

Ameya DalviMay 08, 2023 10:55:48 IST

Pros:
– Premium design and rugged build
– IP68 ingress protection
– Excellent performance across all cameras
– Topnotch video quality
– Sharp OLED display with a variable refresh rate
– A16 Bionic chip is a solid performer
– Multiple OS updates guaranteed

Cons:
– No bundled charger, no real fast charging
– Telephoto camera underwhelms in low light
– Expensive

Rating: 4/5
Price: Rs 1,19,999 onwards

The most popular Apple product in India currently is the Apple Store they recently opened here amid a lot of fanfare. Now that all the random clapping and selfies have subsided on my social timeline, it is time to look back at a slightly older product from the company, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro. We have been using the device for a good six months and would like to share the experience with you through this long-term review.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Design: Elegant, sturdy, and compact but feels heavy
You already know what the iPhone 14 Pro looks like, so I will skip the details like the placement of buttons and ports. Barring the dated notch at the top of the screen being replaced by a Dynamic Island here (more on that later), the design is pretty much identical to that of the iPhone 13 Pro. The phone is built like a tank when it comes to sturdiness, thanks to its stainless steel frame. You also get IP68-rated protection against dust and fluids.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Design
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

It weighs in excess of 200 grams and does feel heavy in hand due to its compact size. It should be able to survive a few drops, though I did not test that aspect given its price tag. I did drop it accidentally on my toe from a foot above, and the swelling took a day or two to subside.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Back
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The glass back and the rounded corners give it a touch of elegance that you associate with Apple devices. Even better, the matte finish at the back makes it smudge resistant. However, the glossy metal frame does attract a lot of fingerprints and smudge marks and needs to be wiped from time to time.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Display: Sharp high-res display with a variable refresh rate
The screen size is the same as its predecessor, and the resolution is only marginally higher, but you now get an LTPO display with a variable refresh rate.

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro sports a 6.1-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels and a peak brightness of 2000 nits. It is HDR10 and Dolby Vision compliant with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz for flicker-free operation. 

The refresh rate automatically throttles between 1 Hz to 120 Hz depending on the content being displayed on the screen. For instance, the screen refreshes faster when scrolling through content for a smoother motion, and the refresh rate drops in the lower two digits when watching a still image on the screen to save battery.

It probably drops closer to 1 Hz when using the always-on display on the lock screen, which explains why the battery reserves aren’t impacted much even when the feature is switched on.

The screen sharpness, colour reproduction and contrast are excellent. Given the size of the screen, a single-handed operation is still an option; I don’t get to say this about most phones these days… for the past few years actually.

One thing missing here, and something nobody will miss is the famous notch at the top of the screen which was introduced in the iPhone X. Well, it hasn’t vanished completely but has transformed into a pill-shaped cutout on the screen called Dynamic Island. 

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Dynamic island
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

Such a fancy name for an aberration; only Apple can pull off something like this, and pull it off it does. Technically, the Dynamic Island is pretty much the notch with some parts missing which detaches it from the top edge and makes it an ‘island’.

While it is an improvement over the dated notch, Apple could have come up with something more innovative after half a decade. But instead, they have tried to make this limitation cool and fun, and believe it or not, it actually works. More on that in the OS section.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Performance: A16 Bionic chip is potent with ample headroom for the foreseeable future
Unlike the non-Pro models from the 14 series, the iPhone 14 Pro is powered by Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chip and is accompanied by 6GB RAM and a choice of internal storage ranging from 128GB to 1TB.

Unlike Android phone makers, Apple has never played the specifications card when it comes to processing hardware, and I won’t bore you with synthetic benchmark scores and stuff like that. But I would like to add that the Bionic A16 is an incredibly powerful processing hardware with ample headroom for the foreseeable future.

There has been absolutely no slowdown after six months of use. Day-to-day tasks like browsing, chatting, switching between multiple apps, photography or gaming are simply as smooth as they were on day one. It looks well poised to handle another 3 or 4 major OS updates that the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to receive over the years. The phone runs perfectly cool during general use. 

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Bottom edge
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

It does get a little warm after half an hour of gaming, but there’s no cause for concern. The hardware is powerful enough to let you play all the recent games on it at the highest settings at a solid frame rate. You get two speakers on this phone – one behind the earpiece and the other along the bottom edge.

They are amply loud and offer good clarity with acceptable stereo separation. You don’t get a 3.5 mm headphone jack here, and you will need a separate adapter if you intend to use your old wired headphones. 

Alternatively, there’s Bluetooth 5.3 here to connect wireless earphones and speakers. High-end codec support is still limited to AAC; this really needs to change soon. You get dual-band WiFi with support for a/b/g/n/ac/6 standards. The call quality and reception have been perfectly fine on this phone; well, as good as your network provider can manage these days. 

Like all Apple flagship phones over the past several years, the iPhone 14 Pro does not have a fingerprint scanner, and Face ID takes care of your biometric security needs. Face ID is easy to set up, and is brisk at its job.

You can even configure it to recognise your face with a mask on; a useful addition during and after the pandemic era. I cannot say for sure if it is better than its previous generation in reality, but it is certainly more secure than the face unlock feature on most Android phones.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Battery performance: Decent battery life, slow charging, no bundled charger
The battery life of the iPhone 14 Pro sees a marginal improvement over the 13 Pro, probably because of a slightly higher capacity battery used here, among other things. The 3200 mAh battery keeps the phone powered for over a day of moderate use comfortably.

When at home on WiFi all the time, it even lasted close to two days with standard use and no gaming involved. Your mileage may vary depending on your usage pattern. The battery’s health is still 100 per cent after six months of use, which is great.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Charger
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro supports wired and wireless charging but the company does not bundle a charger in the package; no surprise there! The charging speed is nowhere close to what some of the Android phones (not sold under the Google brand name) offer these days. The peak fast charging supported using a USB-PD charger stands at 27W. Thus, chargers offering more than 30W output won’t charge it any faster. 

We tried a handful of compatible chargers over a period of time, and the fastest charging time we recorded was about 90 minutes to take the phone from 5 per cent to 100 per cent. We achieved that using a 30W USB-PD charger and the bundled USB-C to Lightning port cable (yes, Apple provides one in the package).

Half an hour of charge fills up about 55 per cent of the tank. We also tried a Raegr RapidLink 1160 charger with 65W output, and the charging time was in the same ballpark as what a 30W charger clocked. We didn’t stop at that. We also borrowed a not-so-old Apple 20W charger. 

The good part is it only takes about 10 to 15 extra minutes to charge the iPhone 14 Pro fully. So in case you have that one already, there is no need to invest in a new charger right away. If not, a good 30W USB-PD charger from a reliable brand is advisable. Older Apple chargers and those offering less than 20W output take forever to charge this phone.

Another thing to note is ‘USB-PD’ is the keyword, so popular 30W/65W/100W+ fast chargers that charge certain Android phones in no time may only offer 10W output when used with an iPhone, and won’t charge it fast enough.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Camera performance: Good variety, great performance in photos and videos both
You get three cameras at the back that cover all the key bases. You get a new 48MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and dual-pixel PDAF, a 12MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3X optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degrees FOV and dual-pixel auto-focus.

The ultra-wide camera also doubles up as a macro camera. You also get a 12MP front camera for selfies and FaceTime. Each of the cameras has a distinct KRA, and they excel in their respective departments.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Cameras
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The main camera captures impressive shots in bright as well as low light conditions. The colours feel slightly saturated at times, which has been the case with iPhones over the years, but a lot of users prefer it that way.

In comparison, similar images captured on the Google Pixel 7 Pro have colours a lot closer to the actual subject, but ironically when you compare images from the two phones side by side, many may vote in favour of the iPhone 14 Pro, unless they have the subject in front of them.

The contrast is excellent, and the same goes for the level of detail and dynamic range. The low-light performance is equally impressive with great detail and low noise. When the light drops below a certain level, the phone automatically switches to Night Mode which brightens up the image just enough without compromising on the details.

That is applicable to the ultra-wide camera too, which happens to be one of the finest around. In good light, the image quality is comparable to the main camera, and it can hold its own in low light too.

As I mentioned earlier, the ultra-wide camera lets you capture macro shots too from up close. When you get closer to a subject, the phone automatically switches to macro mode. The macro shots come out quite well with very good detail, colour and exposure. This is one area where you can see a noticeable improvement in comparison to the iPhone 13 Pro.  

The portrait shots have always been impressive on iPhones over the years, and they are great here too with near-perfect foreground and background separation. You now get 2X and 3X zoom options that are worth a try.

I quite liked the 2X option in addition to the standard 1X mode for portraits. It works well not just with humans but also flowers, other objects and birds. Furry animals can be a hit or a miss though. Also, it is best to take portrait shots in well-lit conditions.

On the subject of zoom, it is time to move on to the telephoto camera that provides you with up to 3X optical zoom. The presence of OIS compensates for minor shakes quite well, resulting in impressive clicks, especially in good light.

The colours and details are excellent in captured shots in well-lit conditions. The results aren’t as impressive when the light drops. While it is still usable in low light, the images feel noisy and have average detail. 

You also get digital zoom up to 15X but I wouldn’t bother going beyond 5X. This is an area where the Pixel 7 Pro wins with its 30X digital zoom backed by crazy good AI and ML algorithms. The 12MP front camera does a very great job with selfies, with fairly natural skin tones and a broad FOV. Needless to say, it excels in FaceTime and video calls. Just like the rear cameras, the front camera can also record videos in 4K resolution at up to 60 fps.

Video recording has been the forte of iPhones for years now and the iPhone 14 Pro carries the legacy forward with excellent video capture across the board that’s best in the segment. Each camera can record 4K videos at 24, 30 or 60fps, and can shoot 1080p slow motion videos up to 240fps.

While I tried using all the cameras for videography, I settled on the main camera for the best results. In addition to OIS and EIS, you also get 10-bit HDR and Dolby Vision support. The captured 4K footage is sharp, with lively colours and wonderfully stabilised.

Click here for lots of unedited photos clicked on the Apple iPhone 14 Pro.

OS and user interface: Love it or hate it, it’s still iOS
This can be a separate series of articles in itself if time permits. But I will try and keep it short here. Nor will I get into the Android vs iOS debate. Both are perfectly polished operating systems and people like what they like at the end of the day. I will just touch upon a couple of things that caught my eye while using this device.

For starters, iPhone 14 Pro launched with the iOS 16 and now runs the latest version of the OS – 16.4.1. For iPhone users, there is no new learning curve here as you get the standard user interface. 

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review User interface
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The UI is smooth and lag-free as it has been. While iOS 16 doesn’t bring forth anything drastically different as compared to its predecessor, there are some evolutionary updates in several departments. The OS combined with the aforementioned Dynamic Island presents something fresh on the 14 Pro.

I already told you about the island bit, and iOS 16 takes care of the dynamic part. It smartly adds things on either side of the screen cutout with a black backdrop and even below it to create an optical illusion of the island growing bigger or smaller or changing shape. 

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Long-term (Six Months) Review Always-on display
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

Certain apps like the music player use a black background to encompass the island, giving an impression that the phone has a completely notch-less display; that’s quite smart! You now get an always-on-display for the lock screen that isn’t power-hungry at all.

It dims the screen brightness, drops the refresh rate and displays the basic info without draining the battery much. Notifications management has also seen an improvement in the new OS. I still miss an app drawer though to clear the clutter on the screen.

Final words: 
The overall experience with the Apple iPhone 14 Pro over the past six months has been positive and enjoyable. Would I buy the phone for myself? Well, I am not that rich yet. The iPhone 14 Pro debuted at Rs 1,29,999 for the 128GB storage variant going all the way up to Rs 1,79,999 for the top variant with 1TB storage. The selling price has come down by a good 10K over the past six months, which is good, but it’s still a stiff price tag.

So should you buy it? If you have that kind of money to spend on a phone, then why not! The Apple iPhone 14 Pro is equipped with a powerful A16 Bionic chip that should take care of things for close to half a decade with new OS updates coming in.

Then you have the rugged and signature Apple design, stutter-free software experience and last but not the least, the cameras. The camera department has all the key bases covered from macro to ultra-wide to optical zoom, and the cameras excel in capturing photos and videos both.

Though you will be paying a huge sum, you do get something special to brag about. And as weird as this may sound, it actually makes better sense to spend those tens of thousands extra and buy the 14 Pro instead of buying the iPhone 14 at its current price. The iPhone 14 is pretty much the iPhone 13. All the novelties were reserved for the Pro models this time. 

As for alternatives, you have the usual suspects from the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and the Google Pixel 7 Pro with comparable performance. In fact, the Pixel 7 Pro is going for Rs 69,999 at the moment, which is a great price for what it offers, but you will have to make do with 128GB of internal storage.

You will end up saving a good Rs 50,000 in comparison to an iPhone 14 Pro with similar storage, and the camera performance of the two is equally impressive (photos, not videos). For a better deal on the iPhone 14 Pro, you may have to wait for the festive sales, but the wait might be worth it.



Source link

#Apple #iPhone #Pro #Longterm #Months #Review #Style #substance #stiff #price #Technology #News #Firstpost

Samsung Galaxy S23+ review: The perfect all-rounder that balances the best of both worlds- Technology News, Firstpost

Post By Science And Technology , , , , ,

Mehul Reuben DasApr 25, 2023 19:29:50 IST

Pros
– Bright and vivid display
– Awesome performance
– Brilliant camera performance
– Great battery life
– Understated, but premium design
– Speakers
– Great ergonomics and feel in the hand
– Long software update commitment

Cons
– Cameras not as great as that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra
– 45W wired charging, with no charging brick in the box
– System applications take up a lot of memory

Price: Rs 94,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant
Rating: 4.75/5

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best Android smartphone that money can buy right now if you’re looking for an option from a safe and reliable smartphone brand. On the other hand, The Galaxy S23, is the best compact smartphone in the market right now, no questions asked.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The Galaxy S23+, therefore falls straight in between these two smartphones and packs a lot of the same features as that of its elder and younger siblings. Yes, you won’t get the features of the Galaxy S Pen, and you also don’t get some of the awesome cameras of the S23 Ultra. Despite these shortcomings, the Galaxy S23+ is a brilliant smartphone. 

However, because of the way it has been positioned, it has a lot of competition. In fact, we will go as far as to say that the Galaxy S23+ has taken all the competition that the S23 Ultra and the petite S23 had, onto itself. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (11)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

Having said that, the S23+ is such a solid smartphone that, all things considered, it stands up to its competitors rather well.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The design
Just like the other devices in the Galaxy S23 line-up, the Galaxy S23 has an unmistakable air of premiumness. Unlike most of Samsung’s competitors, there are no fancy tricks being played here –  you get a device that is actually as premium as it looks. Furthermore, it isn’t as large and unwieldy as the S23 Ultra, which is a behemoth in every sense of the word, nor is it as tiny and petite as the S23 – it just strikes the right balance between the two.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (4)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

When it comes to aesthetics, the Galaxy S23+, just like the S23 Ultra and the S23 is truly a sight to behold. Sure, it isn’t as comfortable to hold as the S23, but it still is compact and wieldy enough that makes it very easy for one-handed operations. Moreover, the device has been designed very thoughtfully and scores very high on ergonomics and on giving a very easy and pleasant user-friendly experience.m

From a distance the S23+ looks exactly the same as the S23, but only slightly larger. As a result, the S23+ truly looks premium. Make no mistake, the S23+ make heads turn.

In contrast to last year’s S22 series, this year, Samsung chose to go with a cleaner design for its S series. The S23+ sports a cleaner, flat-back design, in which the rear cameras and flash merely float, unlike the S22, which had a noticeable camera housing. Similar to the S23 Ultra, the cameras are encircled by a metallic ring on all of the glass components. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (8)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The Galaxy S23+ is built like a tank and you feel that the moment you pick the device up. Our test device was a cream-coloured, which looked particularly stunning, thanks to its matte finish. However, we reckon the phantom black version looks particularly stunning. These are the only two colours that you get. Given that the rest of the S23 series has a bunch of colour options, we would have loved to see a few more options with the S23+ as well.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (7)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The placement of buttons on all three S23 models is identical, with the volume rockers and power button is situated on the right-hand side. Despite being smaller in size, the power button and volume rockers on the S23 are of the same size as the S23 Ultra and have been slightly spaced out, making them easy to differentiate.

At the bottom, the device features a familiar setup, including a speaker grille for one of the speakers, a USB Type-C port, and the SIM tray, except for the S-Pen.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (6)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

Samsung’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the Galaxy S23, with both the front and back panels incorporating a substantial amount of recycled materials like glass and plastic, as seen in the S23 Ultra. Additionally, the aluminium frame is made of recycled aluminium.

Samsung has gone to a great lengths to ensure that the exterior of the S23+is made using recycled plastic, glass and aluminium. The rear panel is made out of 80 per cent recycled PET plastic, and 20 per cent recycled ocean-bound plastic, whereas the front glass has been made using 22 per cent recycled glass.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The display and audio
Samsung has some of the best displays for portable devices on the market that are also used by its competitors. Obviously, then, the Galaxy S23+, just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 has the best display that money can buy.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (5)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The Galaxy S23+ boasts a stunning 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, which is just excellent. With a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels and a pixel density of 393 ppi, the display is as sharp as it can get. It also has outstanding contrast, which results in vibrant colours. We also get support for a dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz, a broad colour gamut, and HDR10+. Because of this, content consumption on the S23+ is a joy. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

One remarkable feature of the display is the range of brightness. With a minimum brightness of only 0.8 nits, the Galaxy S23+ can be comfortably used in complete darkness without causing any eye strain. On the other hand, the maximum brightness is significantly higher than before, reaching approximately 1,100 nits in tests, making it one of the brightest phones available. In certain lighting conditions, the screen can even peak at an impressive 1,750 nits for short durations, providing exceptional visibility in bright environments.

The Galaxy S23+ also offers users the choice of two different colour profiles. The natural colour profile provides an sRGB-grade colour accuracy, while the vivid colour profile enhances the content viewing experience for those who want the best possible visuals. 

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (9)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The display produces colours that are not only rich and vibrant but also exceptionally contrasty, resulting in a beautifully saturated and immersive display. The images are displayed with impressive sharpness and clarity, providing an overall crisp viewing experience. 

Furthermore, even under direct sunlight, the display performs admirably, and users should have no difficulty reading or viewing content on the screen. 

All in all, the display of the device is truly exceptional, delivering a visual experience that is sure to impress.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (2)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The stereo speakers on the Galaxy S23 are an excellent addition to the already impressive screen. They are loud and deliver clear sound quality. With the Dolby Atmos feature enabled, users can enjoy a wider soundstage that provides an immersive audio experience. Additionally, gamers will appreciate the dedicated ‘Dolby Atmos for Gaming’ audio profile in the sound settings, which enhances the speakers’ performance in select game titles.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The camera
The camera setup on the Galaxy S23+ is quite similar to that of the Galaxy S23. It features a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera on the rear. Additionally, the device has a 12MP front-facing camera.

The primary 50MP sensor comes equipped with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, while the 10MP telephoto camera also uses PDAF and OIS. The front-facing 12MP camera for selfies also employs dual-pixel PDAF.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (3)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The 50MP sensor on the Galaxy S23+ is set to shoot 12MP binned photos by default, which produce stunning results. However, the sensor can also be used to capture 50MP RAW photos and even try astrophotography with the Exper RAW mode, all of which can be accessed directly within the main camera app.

The primary 50MP sensor takes photos with vibrant colours, sharp contrast, and a wide dynamic range, particularly under optimal lighting conditions. The resulting images have a slightly warm tone and bold colours, although this might not be ideal for those who prefer to edit their photos later. However, for most users, the photos are ready to share on social media without any post-processing.

Switching to the 12MP ultra-wide sensor may result in some loss of detail and brightness, but the images still appear relatively sharp. The Portrait Mode, which uses the 10MP telephoto lens, produces gorgeous portrait shots with creamy bokeh and excellent edge recognition and details.

The night mode on the Galaxy S23+ performs admirably, capturing plenty of detail even in low-light conditions. While there may be some noise, overall, users will be satisfied with the device’s performance in challenging lighting situations.

The zooming capabilities of the Galaxy S23+ are noteworthy, although it doesn’t offer the 100X zoom found in the S23 Ultra. However, the 30X zoom available on the S23+ produces detailed images that are more than satisfactory.

In well-lit conditions, the 12MP front-facing camera captures decent detail and colours, although some flattening of facial features may be noticeable. The HDR feature is impressive, and the portrait mode on the front-facing camera is exquisite.

When it comes to video recording, the Galaxy S23+ can record at 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. The footage from the device features accurate colour tones and crisp images. Moreover, video stabilization has been improved compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S22.

Check out some unedited photo samples from the Galaxy S23+ here.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is considered the fastest Android smartphone currently available, and it may even surpass the Galaxy S23 Ultra in speed, according to some benchmark tests. The reason for this impressive performance is that the Galaxy S23 is powered by the same custom overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset found in the S23 Ultra, making their performance comparable.

The unit that was tested had 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 internal storage. Unfortunately, none of the devices in the S23 series come with a microSDXC slot.

In day-to-day tasks, the Galaxy S23+ just glides by everything, no matter what you ask of it. And when you try to push its limits by going bonkers, it hardly breaks a sweat. 

During our comprehensive testing, we did not encounter any issues such as stuttering or lagging with the Galaxy S23. The device offers quick app loading times and smooth multitasking, providing an impressive user experience. Even when subjected to demanding tasks like playing graphics-intensive games or rendering videos, the Galaxy S23 maintained stable and reliable performance.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (16)

We tried pushing the S23+ to the edge to see if it showed any chinks in the armour, if it overheated or if the SoC throttled in any way. We are happy to report that despite throwing everything at it, the S23+ just took on the punishment and performed exceptionally. 

During our testing, we found that the Galaxy S23+ can handle graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Apex Legends with ease, even at the highest settings, achieving 45-60fps without any issues. Ray tracing support at a hardware level is also present, but we couldn’t test it out as there aren’t any games available for that feature yet.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (15)

The Samsung Galaxy S23+ runs on OneUI 5.1, which is based on Android 13. It comes packed with numerous features, and exploring them all may take a few days. 

Like the S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23+ has all the features of a modern-day flagship device, such as Bluetooth 5.3, USB C 3.2, and support for all the necessary 5G bands. However, it lacks WiFi 7, which is supported by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. 

Also, neither the S23 Ultra nor the S23 or S23+ supports satellite connectivity, even though Qualcomm demonstrated the feature on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-equipped device that could send and receive texts over satellite. However, satellite connectivity may be specific to certain regions and unlikely to launch in India due to government regulations.

As with all the devices in the S23 series, S23+ will also be getting four generations of OS upgrades for these phones and five years of security upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The battery life
The Galaxy S23+ has the same 4700mAh battery, which is more than what we had in the S22+ last year. However, the battery life will take you by surprise. Without any sort of optimisations, we were getting around 7-8 hours of screen on time with 70 per cent brightness, with about a quarter of power still left after a 13-hour day. 

The S23+ can easily be an all-day device. Thanks to its larger battery, FHD+ screen, and a super-efficient Snapdragon SoC, the Galaxy S23+ has a phenomenal battery life.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (10)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The charging speed of the Galaxy S23+ may be considered unimpressive by some, as it only supports 45W wired charging with a compatible charging block, and does not come with a charging brick, but only a USB-C to USB-C cable. 

Other manufacturers are offering higher wattage fast charging options, with some budget midrange phones even supporting over 100W fast charging. It would have been ideal for the S23+ to support at least 80W fast charging, considering the charging technology offered by other competitors. However, it does compensate with support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The verdict
The Galaxy S23 is a top-notch smartphone that’s difficult to fault when you consider it as a complete package. The only drawback we could find is the lack of a fast-charging technology that’s suitable for a flagship device. Samsung should come up with a better charging solution, particularly for their high-end smartphones, as 45W charging doesn’t seem to be sufficient.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (12)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

Despite this, the Galaxy S23+ excels in all other areas that are essential for a flagship smartphone. While the S23 Ultra has gained a lot of attention and rightfully so, the regular S23+ is a great choice for most people. It’s much cheaper, has the best battery life in its class, superb speakers, excellent performance, and a stunning display. The cameras are also fantastic and more than enough for most users’ needs.

The S23+ has a lot of competition, especially from Xiaomi and OnePlus. There are areas where devices from these manufacturers are slightly better than what the S23+ has to offer. However, they make some glaring omissions as well, which spoil the experience of the user. 

Moreover, Samsung has made a name for itself with stable OS releases and updates – then there’s the fact that Samsung has a very robust after-sales service, something that most Chinese smartphone manufacturers still haven’t been able to crack.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus Review (14)
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

If you want us to summarise our experience of the Galaxy S23+, it would be this – unless you absolutely need the S23 Ultra’s smart pen, are planning to get the best Android smartphone on the market, and are not very keen on getting a compact smartphone, the Galaxy S23+ has to be at the top of the list. Barring a few instances, it is just as good as its more expensive and gargantuan elder brother, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. 



Source link

#Samsung #Galaxy #S23 #review #perfect #allrounder #balances #worlds #Technology #News #Firstpost

OnePlus 11 5G Long-term Review: The most loaded OnePlus non-Pro phone to date- Technology News, Firstpost

Post By Science And Technology , , ,

Ameya DalviMar 20, 2023 18:47:58 IST

Pros:
– Sturdy build, feels great in hand
– Certain features are even better than OnePlus 10 Pro
– Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC – as fast as they come
– Excellent QHD+ LTPO3 AMOLED display
– Good main camera performance even in low light
– Capable support cast in photography department
– Good battery backup, charges fully in less than half hour

Cons:
– RIP OxygenOS
– No ingress protection
– Bulky charger, no wireless charging

Rating: 4/5
Price: Rs 56,999 to Rs 61,999

At the start of 2022, a lot of techies and OnePlus fans were excited about what the company would bring to the table in the supposed OnePlus 10; a number that fascinates many. By the end of year, the excitement turned into disappointment as the phone was a no-show. To make matters worse, the OnePlus 10T that the company released towards the end of the year seemed more like a R series phone, thus fueling rumours that the iconic series was on its deathbed.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

Come 2023, OnePlus put to bed all those rumours with the launch of the OnePlus 11 5G, a fitting representative of the series (non-R/non-Pro). In fact, the new phone is packed with certain features that one would generally associate with the Pro series. So much so that it creates an existential crisis for the OnePlus 10 Pro. After having used the OnePlus 11 5G for over a month, it is time to see if it is indeed worth its not-so-modest asking price and also a better alternative to the 10 Pro.

OnePlus 11 5G Design: Premium build; smart design makes the phone feel compact
The OnePlus 11 5G looks a lot like the 10 Pro with a curved display, slim bezels and a punch-hole at the top left of the screen for the selfie camera. The same applies to the back of the Titan Black variant that we got for review, with a matte glass that is a neat little throwback to the sandstone finish of the first OnePlus phone, and it also remains smudge-free. For the first time since the OnePlus 8T/9R, you get an Aluminium frame on a non-Pro OnePlus device. The frame is a touch glossy here as compared to the matte finish on the 10 Pro. 

OnePlus 11 Review
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The alert slider is back, which inexplicably went missing on the 10T. While the position of the rear cameras remains similar to the 10 series phones, the squarish camera island now makes way for a circular one on the 11. It is hard to say which one looks better, but neither look bad, so no complaints. It does blend nicely into the frame just like the display. The display is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, while the back has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection against scratches.

The OnePlus 11 5G is 0.3 mm slimmer than the 10T, but the weight is quite similar, and tilts the scale at 205 grams. I wouldn’t term this phone compact or light, but courtesy of its smart design and even weight distribution, the phone neither feels too big nor too heavy in hand. The volume rockers are placed along the left edge while the power button and alert slider are on the right. A SIM tray, speaker and a USB-C port can be found along the bottom edge. The in-display fingerprint scanner is located a good inch and a half above the bottom edge, which makes it ergonomic. 

OnePlus 11 5G Display: Non-Pro goes QHD with a LTPO3 AMOLED display
One of the big changes here is the display, and it’s not just the curved edges I speak of. For the first time ever on a non-Pro OnePlus phone, we have a QHD+ display with a resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels, as opposed to a Full HD+ screen. That’s similar to what you get on the 10 Pro. The display on both phones has an adaptive refresh rate of 120 Hz, but while the Pro uses a LTPO2 AMOLED display, the OnePlus 11 5G flaunts the new LTPO3 standard with a variable refresh rate ranging from 1 Hz all the way to 120 Hz for better power efficiency. 

OnePlus 11 Review
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

Both phones have 6.7-inch HDR10+ compliant displays, but the one here offers Dolby Vision compliance too; a welcome addition. The 10-bit display on the OnePlus 11 can get up to 1300 nits bright, and is bright enough even under direct sunlight. You get four screen colour modes – Vivid, Natural, Cinematic and Brilliant, along with a slider for colour temperature adjustment. Natural mode lives up to its name, but if you find the output a tad dull, you can always try Vivid or Brilliant and move the colour temperature slider a bit to the warmer side for good results.

OnePlus 11 5G Performance: As fast as it gets at the moment
OnePlus has opted for the latest and the most powerful Qualcomm SoC around, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; the first phone in India with that SoC. You get two variants of the phone here, one with 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage and the other with 16 GB RAM and 256 GB UFS 4.0 storage. Needless to say, it is blazing fast, and the scores are consistently higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip found in the OnePlus 10T and 10 Pro.

We ran a few synthetic benchmarks to gauge the difference in performance between the OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 10 Pro. In Geekbench 5, the 11 5G scored 1079 and 4077 in the single-core and multi-core tests respectively, while the 10 Pro managed to score 968 and 3377 in the respective tests. Thus the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip delivers a 11.5% and 20.7% jump in single-core and multi-core performance respectively, which is impressive. The PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark score was neck and neck with the two phones scoring 10355 and 10374 respectively. 

OnePlus 11 Review

To test the gaming capabilities, we ran the Wild Life and Wild Life Extreme tests from the 3DMark suite, and both phones were too powerful for the Wild Life benchmark and maxed it out. In the Wild Life Extreme benchmark, the OnePlus 11 5G managed to score 3623 with 21.7 average FPS, while the 10 Pro scored 2581 with 15.5 average FPS. That is a massive 40% jump in performance for the Adreno 740 GPU over the Adreno 730, which is mighty impressive. Needless to say, the OnePlus 11 5G managed to run every game we tried on it smoothly without a stutter at the highest setting.

This phone has two speakers, one behind the earpiece and the other at the base of the phone. Collectively they produce a fairly loud sound output with good stereo separation. The phone is Bluetooth 5.3 compliant and has dual-band WiFi with support for a/b/g/n/ac/6/7 standards. We had no reason to complain about the call quality or reception during the course of our testing. 

OnePlus 11 5G Battery performance: Good battery life, brisk 100W charging
The battery capacity has seen a slight increment from 4800 mAh on the 10T to 5000 mAh here. It lasts for almost a day and a half of moderate use thanks to the powerful yet power efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Of course, long hours of gaming will drain the battery faster. But worry not, the bundled 100W charger takes the battery from 1% to 100% in the promised 25 minutes. Charging speed is the only area where its predecessor, the OnePlus 10T has the upper hand, thanks to its 150W SuperVOOC charger. 

 

OnePlus 11 Review
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The bundled charger here is relatively slower in comparison and takes 5 additional minutes to charge the OnePlus 11 5G as compared to the 10T, which is perfectly acceptable. Since I had an older 65W OnePlus charger at hand, I tried using that with the 11 too. Interestingly, it takes just 30 minutes to charge this device fully. Now, the bundled 100W charger is quite bulky and heavy, so if you have an older 65W charger lying around, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use that during travel, leaving the big guy at home.

OnePlus 11 5G Camera performance: Smart choice of rear cameras, very good image quality
You get three cameras at the back of the OnePlus 11 5G, and no, it is not that typically boring 50MP+8MP+2MP combination that the company slapped on most of their phones over the past year or two right from the Nord series to the 10R to even the 10T. The choice of cameras here is far more sensible and versatile; no unnecessary units to fill up marketing sheets. The star of the show is a 50MP primary camera with a Sony IMX890 sensor and optical image stabilisation (OIS). 

The second camera is a 48MP ultra-wide shooter based on aSony IMX581 sensor with 115-degrees FOV and auto-focus. This is probably the first time since the OnePlus 7T that auto-focus returns to the ultra-wide camera on a non-Pro OnePlus phone. That lets this camera double up as a macro camera too. And lastly, there is a 32MP telephoto camera with Sony’s IMX709 sensor and 2X optical zoom that can also be used for clicking high quality portrait shots.

OnePlus 11 Review
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The OnePlus 11 5G benefits from Hasselblad’s colour tuning as well as their expertise in portrait photography. Moving on to image quality, the primary camera clicks some excellent shots with very good detail and impressive dynamic range. Colours are indeed close to natural in most cases, though not as natural as the Google Pixel 7 Pro’s images. The hint of extra saturation is something several users may actually prefer for social media posts. 

The low light photography here sees a big improvement over its predecessors, especially on the main camera. It preserves a great amount of detail in low-light captures with minimal noise. Even the colours look natural. When the light drops further, the Night mode kicks in automatically. I quite liked the Night mode here as it makes things just a tad brighter without making the image overly bright, which is the case with several other phones.

The ultra-wide camera is equally impressive in well lit conditions. The colour reproduction and dynamic range are comparable, and the images have a good amount of detail. But as the light drops, the images tend to get softer, and I would suggest switching to the main camera in low light. As I mentioned earlier, the ultra-wide camera has auto-focus, and lets you capture macro shots too. When you get closer to a subject, the phone automatically switches to macro mode. 

Phone back
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

The macro shots can be a hit or a miss as it tends to struggle with the focus at times. So best to click a couple of extra shots in this mode with steady hands. When it focuses right, the captured images are quite good and way better than most ‘dedicated’ 2MP and 5MP macro cameras that you get on several phones. The telephoto camera does a good job, and 2X zoomed shots look sharp enough. Anything beyond 2X is digital zoom and up to 5X zoomed shots are usable. Beyond that they look washed out.

The real purpose of the telephoto camera here is to capture ‘professional grade’ portrait shots, somewhat on the lines of Hasselblad cameras with XCD 30 mm and 65 mm lenses.  Yes, the 2X optical zoom is quite handy when capturing portrait shots. Since I haven’t used the above lenses, I cannot compare the results here with what they are capable of, but the portrait shots here are quite impressive, especially with human subjects. It works well with animals too if they stay still long enough, but the edge detection isn’t as smart with other subjects.

The 16MP fixed focus front camera remains unchanged for a while now. It does a decent job with selfies with natural skin tones when the face is well lit. While the front camera is limited to 1080p video recording, the main camera can now record 8K videos at 24 fps. You also have an option for recording 4K videos at 30 and 60 fps, and can go as high as 240 fps for 1080p videos. You get OIS and EIS support to compensate for shaky hands. Best results are obtained with 4K videos and the footage is sharp and stabilised. You get quite a few modes to play with.

Click here for unedited camera samples.

OS and user interface: OxygenOS 13, who?
Don’t get me started! I will try and keep it short. The OnePlus 11 5G runs Android 13 with ColorOS… OK fine, OxygenOS 13, if you say so. When OxygenOS 12 was criticised for having quite a few elements of Oppo’s ColorOS, OnePlus had promised that the next iteration would restore the popular UI’s past glory, but they have clearly gone in the other direction. If OxygenOS 12 had shades of ColorOS, version 13 has sucked the Oxygen out of it completely and is very much ColorOS itself. 

If you have never used an older OnePlus phone with OxygenOS 11 or prior, or are willing to let go of the past, OxygenOS 13 is perfectly usable. It remains free of ads and excess bloatware. The UI is smooth, lag-free and fairly easy to comprehend even for a novice. For the fans of the older interface, you can either live with that or live in hope for the coming of ‘the UI that was promised’. The good part being, OnePlus has promised three major Android updates on this phone along with regular security updates over the next few years. That’s more than handy.

Final words: Oh so pro… almost!
The OnePlus 11 5G can be purchased for Rs 56,999 for the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant and Rs 61,999 for the one with double the RAM and storage, with a one year warranty. That would make it probably the most expensive non-Pro OnePlus phone to date. But then, it is also their most loaded, and does offer certain features that are comparable and some even better than the OnePlus 10 Pro. It does miss out on a couple of features like IP68 rated ingress protection and wireless charging that is available on the Pro, but what you get here far outweighs what you don’t.

You get a phone with the most powerful SoC around, ample RAM and storage with a faster interface, an excellent LTPO3 QHD+ display, good battery backup with fast charging and last but not the least, versatile and competent rear cameras. User interface aside, one can expect OS and security updates for another three years keeping the phone relevant for a lot longer. All things considered, the OnePlus 11 5G is a good all-round phone and easily the best from the company in the past two years. As for alternatives, check this out.



Source link

#OnePlus #Longterm #Review #loaded #OnePlus #nonPro #phone #date #Technology #News #Firstpost

Best phones under Rs 60,000 (March 2023): OnePlus 11 5G, Google Pixel 7 to Apple iPhone 13- Technology News, Firstpost

Post By Science And Technology , , ,

Ameya DalviMar 16, 2023 17:59:49 IST

Our list of phones under Rs 60,000 this month is full of aspirational handsets. It includes a couple of last-generation stars that are now available in this budget and a couple of new releases that just waltzed into this list on the merit of their performance. Rest assured, you will get flagship-grade processors, displays and cameras among other things. So without further ado, let’s meet the hot half-dozen that made it to this list.

Best phones to buy under Rs 60,000 in India

Apple iPhone 13
The Apple iPhone 13 is currently available in this budget. Its 128 GB variant can be purchased for a Rupee under 60K. The phone feels great in hand due to its compact size, and is rugged with an IP68 rating for dust and fluid resistance. It launched with iOS 15, and is upgradable to iOS 16, with more OS updates to follow over the years. If you are not into numerology, this phone is almost identical to the iPhone 14, just more affordable.

The Apple iPhone 13 has a  6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels, and is compliant with HDR10 and Dolby Vision. At its core is Apple’s previous flagship A15 Bionic chip that also powers the iPhone 14. There are two 12MP cameras at the back with the primary lens offering optical image stabilisation (OIS), and the secondary capable of capturing ultra-wide shots. The performance in photography and videography is excellent, as one expects from an iPhone. 

Apple iPhone 13 price in India: Rs 59,999 for 128GB storage

Google Pixel 7
The Google Pixel 7 was launched for 60K in India and is currently going for 5% cheaper on Flipkart. The Pixel 7 is powered by Google’s next-gen Tensor G2 processor and offers 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. It sports a 6.3-inch Full HD+ OLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate and 1400 nits peak brightness. The HDR10+ compliant screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and the phone has an IP68 rating for ingress protection.

Google Pixel 7 Long-term Review Back

As you expect from a Pixel phone, you get the purest version of the latest Android 13 with the Material You design language. Other than speedy OS updates, the Pixel phones are known for their camera capabilities, and the Google Pixel 7 delivers strongly in that department courtesy of two cameras at the back. You get a 50MP primary camera with OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide camera that do a great job in different lighting and modes. Some software tricks like the Magic Eraser is a great addition.

Google Pixel 7 price in India: Rs 56,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G retains its place in our sub-60K list this month. This phone too has an IP68 rating for dust and fluid resistance along with a compact design. The phone sports an aluminium frame and has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ at the front and back. It has a 6.1-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits, HDR10+ compliance and 120 Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy S22 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s previous flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, and you get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant in this budget comfortably.

Samsung-Galaxy-S22

Photography department is packed with a 50MP primary camera with dual pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with Super Steady video support and a 10MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3X optical zoom. The camera performance is flagship grade as expected, and can record videos in 8K resolution too. A 3700 mAh battery keeps the phone powered for a day of moderate use and supports 25W fast charging as well as 15W wireless charging. It launched with Android 12 and Samsung’s One UI 4.1, and the Android 13 update has started rolling out.

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G price in India: Rs 52,990 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

OnePlus 11 5G
After a lacklustre 2022, OnePlus is looking to turn things around in 2023, and at the forefront of the revival is the OnePlus 11 5G. It is loaded with a lot of features that are generally reserved for the Pro variant. This stylish phone has a 6.7-inch curved LTPO3 AMOLED display with a resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels. This HDR10+ and Dolby Vision-compliant screen supports 10-bit colour depth, up to 120 Hz variable refresh rate and can get up to 1300 nits bright. The phone runs OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 and one can expect several OS and security updates going forward. 

OnePlus 11

The OnePlus 11 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and you get the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage variant in this budget. The rear camera department is loaded to the brim. It is helmed by a 50MP primary camera with OIS and Hasselblad’s colour tuning. The support cast is equally impressive with a 48MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus that also doubles up as a macro camera and a 32MP telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom. Its 5000 mAh battery can last for a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 100W charger promises to juice it up in just 25 minutes.

OnePlus 11 5G price in India: Rs 56,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

iQOO 11 5G
We have another fully loaded device based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. The iQOO 11 5G comes with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage to go with it. It has a sharp 10-bit 6.78-inch HDR10+ compliant E6 AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels and 144 Hz refresh rate. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone’s 5000 mAh battery lasts for a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 120W fast charger claims to charge 50% of it in just 8 minutes, and fully in well under half an hour. 

iQOO 11

The rear camera department here comprises a 50MP primary camera with a Samsung GN5 sensor and OIS, accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Giving them company is a 13MP telephoto camera that provides 2X optical zoom, and also doubles up as a portrait camera. The 16MP front camera takes care of selfies and video calls. The iQOO 11 5G runs Android 13 with FunTouch OS 13.

iQOO 11 5G price in India: Rs 59,990 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage

Motorola Edge 30 Ultra
The top variant of the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is another great option here. This Moto flagship is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and is accompanied by 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. You get a 6.67-inch Full HD+ 10-bit P-OLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and 1250 nits peak brightness. The HDR10+ compliant display is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The phone runs Android 12, and like all Motorola phones, you get a near-stock user interface.

Motorola Edge 30 Ultra

The camera department is quite impressive here too. You get a 200MP primary camera (that’s right!) with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter and a 12MP telephoto camera for 2X optical zoom. Thus, you have all the key bases covered. The selfie enthusiasts aren’t ignored either; you also get a 60MP front camera to cater to that audience. The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra’s 4610 mAh battery keeps it powered for well over a day of moderate use, and supports 125 Watts wired and 50 Watts wireless fast charging. 

Motorola Edge 30 Ultra price in India: Rs 59,999 for 12GB RAM/256GB storage



Source link

#phones #March #OnePlus #Google #Pixel #Apple #iPhone #Technology #News #Firstpost

Best phones under Rs 50,000 (Feb-March 2023): OnePlus 11R 5G, Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G to Realme GT 2 Pro- Technology News, Firstpost

Post By Science And Technology , , , , , ,

Ameya DalviFeb 28, 2023 16:00:36 IST

From the latest to a couple of generations-old legends, we have it all in our list of phones under Rs 50,000 this month. On top of that, the price of certain more premium smartphones has dropped under 50K now, and offer even better value for money. So if you have Rs 50,000 to spare on a new smartphone, here are your best options at the moment.

Best phones to buy under Rs 50,000 in India

OnePlus 11R 5G
After a lacklustre 2022, OnePlus finally has something promising right at the start of 2023. While the more expensive OnePlus 11 5G is loaded with all the bells and whistles, the more affordable 11R 5G is no pushover, and borrows a lot of goodness from the company’s new flagship device. This stylish phone looks just like the 11 5G from the front and back barring the placement of the front camera. 

The OnePlus 11R has a curved display too, measuring 6.74-inch with an unusual (but higher than Full HD) resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels. You get a standard Fluid AMOLED display here instead of the more premium LTPO3 variant on the 11. This HDR10+ compliant screen supports 10-bit colour, 120 Hz refresh rate and can get up to 1450 nits bright. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s previous generation flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, and you get a whopping 16 GB RAM and 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage.

The photography department is helmed by a 50MP primary camera with OIS, but without Hasselblad’s colour tuning. The supporting cast is a bit modest with an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro camera. There’s a 16MP selfie camera too. Its 5000 mAh battery can last for a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 100W charger promises to juice it up in just 25 minutes. The phone runs OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13 and one can expect several OS and security updates going forward.

OnePlus 11R 5G price in India: Rs 44,999 for 16GB RAM/256GB storage

Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G
We were pleasantly surprised to find the Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G in this budget. Probably an effect of its successor arriving shortly, but no complaints. The phone is packed with great features starting with its 6.73-inch LTPO 2.0 10-bit AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a QHD resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels. The screen is compliant with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision and can get up to 1500 nits bright. It is protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, and you can now get its 8 GB RAM and 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage variant under 50K.

Xiaomi-12-Pro

The rear camera department has three 50MP cameras with the primary module offering OIS, the ultrawide providing you with 115 degrees FOV and a telephoto camera for 2X optical zoom. The 32MP front camera handles selfies and video calls quite well. The Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G also boasts of features like a quad-speaker system tuned by Harman Kardon and superfast charging. Its 4600 mAh battery lasts over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 120W charger claims to take it from 0 to 100% in just 18 minutes. The phone also supports 50W fast wireless charging. The phone runs Android 12 with MIUI 13.

Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G price in India: Rs 46,490 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage

Realme GT 2 Pro
The Realme GT 2 Pro comfortably retains its place in this lineup courtesy of some great features and performance. This phone too is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and is accompanied by 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. The design is quite soothing too, thanks to its paper-like biopolymer back. Another striking feature of this phone is its 6.7-inch QHD 10-bit LTPO 2.0 AMOLED display with an adaptive refresh rate ranging between 1 to 120 Hz and 1400 nits peak brightness. The HDR10+ compliant display is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.

Textured-back-Realme-GT-2-Pro-Long-term-Review

The rear camera department here has two 50MP cameras – the primary with OIS and an ultra-wide camera, that do an excellent job in different modes and lighting. A 3MP micro camera is quite unique and provides 20X to 40X magnification. The 32MP front camera handles selfies and video calls quite well. A 5000 mAh battery keeps the phone running for a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 65W SuperDart charger juices it fully in just 37 minutes. The Realme GT 2 Pro launched with Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0, and an Android 13 update is now available.

Realme GT 2 Pro price in India: Rs 45,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

iQOO 9T 5G
The iQOO 9T 5G is another powerful device with versatile cameras. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, and you get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant in this budget. Its 6.78-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display has 120 Hz refresh rate, 1500 nits of peak brightness and can display a billion colour shades. The phone has a 4700 mAh battery that can last over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 120W fast charger claims to charge it fully in less than 20 minutes.

iQOO-9-1

The rear camera department here is quite loaded. You get a 50MP primary camera with OIS, accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degrees FOV and auto-focus that doubles up as a macro camera too. And lastly, there’s a 12MP telephoto camera that provides 2X optical zoom and takes some great portrait shots as well. The 16MP front camera is more than handy for selfies and video calls. The iQOO 9T 5G runs Android 12 with FunTouch OS 12. 

iQOO 9T 5G price in India: Rs 49,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

Apple iPhone 12 Mini
A couple of generations old iPhone is still very much buyable if available at a good price. And the smallest of Apple’s iPhone 12 series phones with 128 GB storage is currently selling well under Rs 50,000. The Apple iPhone 12 Mini is great for single-handed operation, and despite the smaller size, it does not skip any key feature of its larger sibling. It is powered by the A14 Bionic chip that powers the entire iPhone 12 series and is still fairly powerful when it comes to processing power.

Apple iPhone 12 Mini

The Apple iPhone 12 Mini flaunts IP68-rated ingress protection. Its display is even sharper than the 12 in terms of pixel density, thanks to its compact Full HD+ 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen. Two 12MP cameras (primary with OIS and an ultrawide shooter) at the back deliver impressive performance in different lighting and can shoot some excellent videos too. It launched with iOS 14 and is easily upgradeable to the latest iOS 16.

Apple iPhone 12 Mini price in India: Rs 46,999 for 128 GB storage



Source link

#phones #FebMarch #OnePlus #11R #Xiaomi #Pro #Realme #Pro #Technology #News #Firstpost

Best phones under Rs 40,000 (Nov-Dec 2022): Motorola Edge 30 Fusion, OnePlus 10R to Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G- Technology News, Firstpost

Post By Science And Technology , , ,

Ameya DalviNov 30, 2022 13:54:13 IST

This is a segment of flagship killers. While you get certain flagship features in smartphones under 30K, you can expect far more when you increase the budget by a few thousand Rupees. Powerful processors, very good cameras, excellent displays, all of them together… ask and you shall receive. So let’s take a look at what our lineup of smartphones under Rs 40,000 looks like this month.

Best phones to buy under Rs 40,000 in India

Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
I may have forgotten to add ‘stylish design’ to the intro, but Motorola hasn’t when it comes to the Edge 30 Fusion. It is easily the best-looking phone in this list courtesy of its curved display (around the edges) and just 7.5 mm thick aluminium frame. You get a 10-bit 6.55-inch P-OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance. There is Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection against scratches at the front and back. Despite its sleek exterior, it has ample muscle thanks to a flagship-grade Snapdragon 888+ chip which is accompanied by 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 internal storage.

The camera spread on the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion may not seem elaborate but is quite effective. It is helmed by a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS). The 13MP ultra-wide camera with auto-focus is quite versatile and also doubles up as a quality macro camera. A 2MP depth sensor completes the pack at the back. The 32MP front camera is bound to impress the selfie crowd. Its 4400 mAh battery can go on for over a day of moderate use and a 68W fast charger is bundled along. This phone runs Android 12, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface.

Motorola Edge 30 Fusion price in India: Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

iQOO 9 SE 5G
With enough going for it, the iQOO 9 SE 5G from the Vivo sub-brand retains its place in this list. It is powered by Qualcomm’s previous flagship Snapdragon 888 chip, which is still highly relevant and extremely powerful for any task you plan to perform on the phone. You can get the phone’s top variant with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage easily in this budget. It has a 6.62-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits and 120 Hz refresh rate.

iQOO-9-SE

The rear camera department comprises a 48MP primary camera with OIS, along with a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The 16MP front camera does a good job with selfies and video calls. The iQOO 9 SE 5G has a 4500 mAh battery that lasts over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 66W fast charger promises to charge it fully in under 40 minutes. The phone runs Android 12 with FunTouch OS 12. Expect more OS updates in the future.

iQOO 9 SE 5G price in India: Rs 37,990 for 12GB RAM/256GB storage

Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G
Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G has received a price cut and is comfortably available in this budget now with a few bucks to spare. It is another loaded smartphone you can get your hands on under Rs 40,000. This too is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, and you can choose between its 8 GB RAM /128 GB storage variant or the one with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. The 108MP camera at the back captures some impressive shots in different modes and lighting, and is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 5MP macro camera. A 16MP front camera handles selfies and video calls quite well. 

Xiaomi 11T Pro (1)

Its sharp display is one of its standout features. You get a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1000 nits. The 10-bit display is compliant with HDR10+ as well as Dolby Vision. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. A 5000 mAh battery keeps it running for a day and a half of moderate use, and even better, the company bundles a 120W super-fast charger that claims to charge it fully in just 17 minutes! Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G launched with Android 11 with MIUI 12.5, and an Android 12 update with MIUI 13 is available for this device.

Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G price in India: Rs 34,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage; Rs 38,999 for 12GB RAM/256GB storage

Realme GT Neo 3/ OnePlus 10R
We have two phones from different brands with the exact hardware and design. We are talking about the Realme GT Neo 3 and the OnePlus 10R. They are powered by Mediatek’s flagship Dimensity 8100 chip, which is comparable in performance to a Snapdragon 888. The 256 GB internal storage variants of both phones are available in this budget, but the 10R offers 12 GB RAM as opposed to 8 GB on the Neo 3. You get a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display that supports 10-bit colour depth, flaunts HDR10+ compliance and 120 Hz refresh rate.

Realme-GT-Neo-3-150W-Launched-in-India-1

The camera department has a 50MP primary camera with OIS that captures some impressive shots in different modes. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 2MP macro camera. The 16MP front camera is decent enough for selfies and video calls. Both phones have 5000 mAh batteries that keep them going for over a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 80W fast chargers juice them up fully in a little over half an hour. The Realme GT Neo 3 and the OnePlus 10R run Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 and Oxygen OS 12 respectively. Well, that’s not too different either now, is it?

OnePlus 10R

Realme GT Neo 3 price in India: Rs 38,999 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage
OnePlus 10R price in India: Rs 38,999 for 12GB RAM/256GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G has been around for a while but remains a good option in this budget. You get a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED HDR10+ compliant display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It also has an IP68 rating for dust and fluid resistance. It is powered by Qualcomm’s older flagship chip, Snapdragon 865. You get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage that can be expanded further with a microSD card; an extremely rare feature in premium phones these days. The phone now runs Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.0. 

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

The photography department has a combination of a 12MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS for up to 3X optical zoom. The camera quality is excellent across different modes and lighting. There’s also a 32MP front camera to cater to selfie enthusiasts. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for well over a day of moderate use. It supports regular fast charging as well as fast wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE price in India: Rs 32,990 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage



Source link

#phones #NovDec #Motorola #Edge #Fusion #OnePlus #10R #Xiaomi #11T #Pro #Technology #News #Firstpost