Sunday, March 8, 2026
Home Blog Page 53

Google Pixel Fold Leaked Renders Suggest Thinner Hinge: All Details

0
Google Pixel Fold Leaked Renders Suggest Thinner Hinge: All Details

[ad_1]

Google Pixel Fold is expected to launch soon in the market. It is being speculated that the company may unveil the Pixel Fold at the upcoming Google I/O, scheduled for May 2023. However, Google is yet to confirm any detail officially. However, despite no official announcement, there has been a number of rumours about the purported smartphone. A recent leak by a popular tipster, displaying the design renders of the Pixel Fold, has provided new insights into the smartphone’s cover design.

The images shared by tipster Evan Blass (Twitter @evleaks) on a personal Twitter account, via 9to5Google, appear to be taken from a press render that the company could use for marketing. The leaked image shows the Pixel Fold’s outer display with a centrally aligned punch hole, the Pixel Launcher home screen with themed icons, Google’s stock apps, and a blurred At a Glance widget.

Additionally, the smartphone appears to have a wider aspect ratio and a thinner hinge. In the shared images, the Pixel Fold seems to be a lighter black colour variant.

Previously, the US pricing and full specifications of the Google Pixel Fold were leaked via a YouTube video. The phone is tipped to cost $1,799 (roughly Rs. 1,47,000) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant and $1,919 (roughly Rs. 1,57,500) for the 12GB RAM + 512GB storage option. The handset is said to be available for pre-orders from May 10 via Google Store.

Google Pixel Fold specifications (expected)

The Pixel Fold will reportedly sport a 7.6-inch inner display with a 1,840 x 2,208 pixels resolution, a 6:5 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate. The outer display is expected to be a 5.8-inch OLED panel with a 1,080×2,092 pixels resolution. The handset is tipped to be powered by Google’s Tensor G2 SoC, coupled with a Titan M2 security chip and 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

Other leaked details suggest a triple rear camera unit on the smartphone, led by a 48-megapixel primary wide-angle lens. The other two lenses on the Pixel Fold rear could include a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 10.8-megapixel dual PD telephoto lens. 

 


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.



[ad_2]

Source link

Apple is Working on USB Type-C Wired EarPods for Upcoming iPhones: Report

0
Apple is Working on USB Type-C Wired EarPods for Upcoming iPhones: Report

[ad_1]

Apple is reportedly planning to introduce wired EarPods that support a USB Type-C connector with the upcoming iPhone 15 series. The Cupertino-based tech giant is already expected to launch future iPhones with support for USB Type-C connectivity. Apple still sells wired earbuds, which either come with a Lightning connector or a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter. However, their usage has been less as compared to the wireless AirPods, launched by the tech giant in 2016.

A reliable tipster ShrimpApplePro has shared tweets revealing that Apple has started the mass production of wired EarPods with USB Type-C connectors. He added that the company is also producing MFi USB Type-C cables. The tipster earlier tweeted that Foxconn has already started mass production of accessories like EarPods and USB Type-C cables.

Apple currently sells its wired earbuds with a Lightning connector or a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, and are priced at $19 (roughly Rs. 1,550). Meanwhile, the wireless AirPods, launched in 2016, are more popular with Apple users. Now, with the introduction of wired EarPods with USB Type-C connectivity, Apple users will be able to plug in the accessory directly to the upcoming iPhones, which are also expected to switch to USB Type-C ports.

The Cupertino tech giant earlier provided a 3.5mm audio jack on iPhones for wired earbuds connectivity. However, with the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Apple started selling Lightning-powered EarPods. The smartphones also shipped along Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter.

It was previously reported, quoting TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, that the USB Type-C port on the upcoming iPhone 15 models will offer fast charging with the MFi-certified charger. It was also added that the company is reportedly optimistic about a rise in demand for 20W USB Type-C chargers in Q2, Q3 of 2023.  

 


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.



[ad_2]

Source link

Peter Pan and Wendy Review: A Classic, but Less Edgy and More Kid-Friendly

0
Peter Pan and Wendy Review: A Classic, but Less Edgy and More Kid-Friendly

[ad_1]

Peter Pan and Wendy, a new live-action reimagining of Disney’s 1953 animated classic Peter Pan, is out now on Disney+ Hotstar in India. Although Disney initially had plans to release the film in theatres before bringing it to its own streaming platform, the film benefits from a direct-to-digital release which is great news for Disney+ and Hotstar subscribers. As expected, it’s a children’s film at heart, although some adults might be drawn to it for the nostalgia of revisiting a timeless classic.

Unlike the original film which explored themes such as romance and jealousy, Peter Pan and Wendy is a lot simpler and kid-friendly, taking on more modern, positive, and generally politically correct tones. It’s still set in the same early 1900s timeline as the literature that the story itself is based on, but it takes a more contemporary and optimistic approach to the subject matter. Here’s my spoiler-free review of Peter Pan and Wendy, streaming now on Disney+ Hotstar.

Peter Pan and Wendy review: Simplified plot without romance, jealousy

While the 1953 film is more closely based on the source literature (a 1904 play by JM Barrie), the 2023 film starts with the older film as a source point, and goes from there towards making it more relatable and easier to understand for modern audiences. It’s a direct adaptation of the 1953 film nonetheless, unlike many other Peter Pan-based sequels, origin stories, or spin-offs that have come in the years between.

This means that the plot elements that revolve around jealousy and romance have been done away with or toned down a bit, which admittedly helps in making the movie more appealing to children. Conflicts are portrayed as mere innocent misunderstandings, rather than scheming by particular characters. Themes of violence are explored but have been considerably softened by corny humour, while the concept of death is largely ignored, unlike in the original movie.

peter pan and wendy review ship Peter Pan and Wendy  Hotstar

Many elements of the story remain unexplained, particularly if you’re completely new to the story of Peter Pan. For example, Peter’s origins, the idea of Neverland, the magic behind why he won’t grow up, and the origins of the Lost Boys (Peter’s group of friends who live with him on Neverland) aren’t properly explained. However, this doesn’t hold back the story, which immediately distracts you with the fantastic landscapes of Neverland (shot in Newfoundland, Canada), the conflicts, and the concepts of growth and adulthood that make up the core of Peter Pan and Wendy.

At its heart, Peter Pan and Wendy is a story meant for kids, explaining that growing up is part of the adventure of life. Wendy’s parents want her to act her age, be a role model for her younger brothers, and go off to boarding school where she can get the education she deserves, while she prefers to spend the time at home playing games. It’s a concept that will appeal to many young viewers, and it’s handled delicately and tastefully in the film.

There are also strong changes in the way female characters are handled, and small hints at Peter Pan’s (Alexander Molony) privilege playing a part in his position in the hierarchy of Neverland’s residents. The biggest change is, of course, in the title itself; it recognises the important role that Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson) plays in the story, and even portrays her as a strong character who does not need rescuing, and can get herself out of various fixes.

This also makes for more wholesome and meaningful friendships between Wendy, Tinkerbell (Yara Shahidi) and Tiger Lily (Alyssa Wapanatahk), devoid of the attraction that each of these characters have for Peter in the original source material, and therefore, the jealousy that it leads to. It’s definitely a more contemporary approach, putting women at the front and centre of the heroics, while also pointing out how Peter himself is often helpless without the magic of Tinkerbell, the skills of Tiger Lily, and the maturity and understanding of Wendy.

The native tribe of Neverland (which Tiger Lily is a part of) simply exists in this version, playing no significant role in the plot of the film beyond Tiger Lily’s own involvement. This is perhaps for the better, as it doesn’t leave any room for criticism about the portrayal of an indigenous culture, and largely lines up with the Edwardian timeline of the film itself, suggesting that Neverland is indeed a place on Earth, albeit remote and magical.

Peter Pan and Wendy review: Jude Law gets Captain Hook right

Although the younger actors are fairly adept in their roles, it is Captain Hook – played capably by Jude Law – that truly steals the show. Excellent costume design is aided by impressive acting from Law, who not only commands the authority of his pirate crew, but also comes across as truly fearsome in the eyes of the protagonists and audience.

peter pan and wendy review captain hook Peter Pan and Wendy  Hotstar

Jude Law plays Captain Hook in Peter Pan and Wendy

 

A bit later in the film, Law switches it up rather nicely to portray pain and anguish, showing the traditionally villainous Captain Hook in a much more human form. His origin story explains how he was just a victim of bad circumstances, having ‘grown up wrong’ according to Wendy, but not beyond redemption. It’s also shown that Peter Pan himself is to blame for much of what’s wrong in Neverland, portraying the titular character’s immaturity and refusal to grow up as something that is holding everyone else back.

Perhaps the most wasted casting choice in Peter Pan and Wendy is that of Captain Hook’s first mate Mr. Smee, played by stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan. Mr. Smee, who served as comic relief in the original film, barely does any of that in this movie despite a genuinely funny actor being cast in the role. Notably, the Lost Boys now also includes some young girls, although their origin story and how they came to be in Neverland isn’t really touched upon, perhaps in keeping with the general tone of positivity in the film.

Peter Pan and Wendy review: Verdict

It isn’t often that a big-budget film with a top-notch star cast from a big studio goes direct-to-streaming, but recent times have changed viewing habits. Just a few years ago, Peter Pan and Wendy would have seen a proper theatrical release, before eventually making it to streaming. Given that this is made for kids, it perhaps makes sense for this to release directly on Disney+ (Disney+ Hotstar in India), and also sends the message that streaming subscribers are being favoured in some cases.

The movie itself is firmly meant for kids, but there’s something in it for everyone to enjoy. It’s also firmly lacking in complications and controversy, and has plenty of subtle and not-so-subtle nods to modern ideas, despite its old-world setting. Disney+ Hotstar subscribers in India can watch Peter Pan and Wendy now.


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

[ad_2]

Source link

Tecno Camon 20 Pro 4G Tipped to Feature MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, 6.67-Inch AMOLED Display; Could Launch in May

0
Tecno Camon 20 Pro 4G Tipped to Feature MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, 6.67-Inch AMOLED Display; Could Launch in May

[ad_1]

Tecno is reportedly planning to expand its Camon series of smartphones with Camon 20 Pro 4G. The smartphone is expected to hit the market soon as a reliable tipster has leaked the launch timeline as well as key specifications for the phone. The handset is likely to be powered by a MediaTek chipset and could sport a triple rear camera setup. The phone is expected to succeed Tecno Camon 19 Pro, which was launched last year in June. The Tecno Camon 19 Pro is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM.

Tipster Paras Guglani (@passionategeekz) has shared the key specifications as well as global launch timeline of the Camon 20 Pro 4G. The smartphone is expected to hit the global market in May 2023. The handset is expected to launch in India later, but no timeline has been hinted for the same. Expected to be offered in Serenity Blue and Predawn Black colourways, the phone will reportedly sport a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone is likely to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor as well.

The smartphone is tipped to come with a triple rear camera setup comprising a 64-megapixel primary main sensor and dual 2-megapixel sensors. The phone is expected to house a 32-megapixel front camera. It is likely to be powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 SoC. Additionally, the phone is said to run on Android 13 out-of-the-box and is said to support 33W fast charging.

Previously, the design renders of the phone were leaked, suggesting a centrally aligned hole-punch cutout on top of the display. The report suggested that the phone could be backed by a 5,000mAh battery, up to 8GB of RAM along with 8GB virtual RAM and an internal storage of up to 256GB.

The handset’s predecessor, the Tecno Camon 19 Pro, features a 6.8-inch full-HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the phone is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM. The Tecno Camon 19 Pro ships with a triple rear camera setup led by a 64-megapixel sensor. On the front is a 32-megapixel shooter for selfies and video calls. The smartphone houses a 5,000mAh battery with 33W Flash Charge technology.


Xiaomi launched its camera focussed flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone, while Apple opened it’s first stores in India this week. We discuss these developments, as well as other reports on smartphone-related rumours and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.



[ad_2]

Source link

Vivo X90 Pro Review: Meeting Expectations?

0
Vivo X90 Pro Review: Meeting Expectations?

[ad_1]

The Vivo X90 Pro is the latest Android flagship smartphone to launch in India. The company has also launched the Vivo X90 along with it. In India, the X90 Pro is positioned as the successor to the Vivo X80 Pro (Review), since it is priced upwards of Rs. 80,000. Technically, the Vivo X90 Pro+ would be the true successor to last year’s X80 Pro, but Vivo hasn’t announced that for other markets other than China. With the X90 Pro, Vivo is now the second smartphone brand in India to launch a phone with a 1-inch camera sensor. The Vivo X90 Pro (and the X90) are the only two smartphones in India currently to feature the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC.

With all that is on offer, should you consider buying the Vivo X90 Pro? Here is our full review to help you decide.

Vivo X90 Pro price in India

Vivo has launched the X90 Pro in India in a single storage option. The phone packs 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, and is priced at Rs. 84,999. It competes against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 (Review), iPhone 14 (Review), and the Xiaomi 13 Pro (Review). The X90 Pro is about Rs. 5,000 more expensive that last year’s X80 Pro. However, with the pre-booking offers, you could get it for as low as Vivo’s advertised price of Rs. 76,999.

Vivo X90 Pro design and display

The Vivo X90 Pro has received some design tweaks over last year’s model. The phone uses vegan leather for the rear panel, and the textured surface does help offer a better grip and in-hand feel. The choice of materials also ensures that the X90 Pro does not attract any fingerprints or smudges. The phone also gets an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

There is a massive camera module on the back of the X90 Pro for the triple-camera setup. The LED flash along with some text and the Zeiss logo are placed at the top-right corner of the rear panel. What reduces the premium appeal a bit for me is the shiny chrome strip below the camera module which has the “Xtreme Imagination” text on it, in a not-so flattering font.

The metal frame is curved on the sides, whereas the top and bottom edges are flat. Despite weighing about 214g, the weight distribution is done well as the Vivo X90 Pro can stand upright without requiring any support when kept on a flat surface. However, you will feel the heft when you hold it.

Vivo X90 Pro 6 Vivo X90 Pro

Vivo X90 Pro has a massive camera module on the back

The Vivo X90 Pro has a curved-edge AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Sadly, it is not an LTPO panel like the X80 Pro and instead, you only get three variable options for the refresh rate — 60Hz, 90Hz and Smart Switch. The display, which is 6.78 inches, produces vibrant colours and has good viewing angles. However, the resolution is now lower at 2800×1260-pixels from WQHD+ (3200×1440) on the X80 Pro.

Since most of the content that I consume on the phone is in full-HD, I never found this to be an issue but it would have been nice to have that higher resolution especially since some of the competition such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro offers it. The X90 Pro’s display still gets a pixel density of about 453ppi, which is plenty.

The display is claimed to offer up to 1,300 nits of peak brightness, which I found to be more than sufficient for indoors and outdoor use. There is support for HDR10+ playback and Widevine L1 DRM, which is useful in popular apps such as Netflix and YouTube. 

The Vivo X90 Pro features an optical in-display fingerprint sensor which is quick to authenticate and unlock the device. That being said, the Vivo X80 Pro came with an ultrasonic sensor which provides a wider recognition area and is quicker. The loud and crisp dual-speaker setup on the X90 Pro helps provide a great multimedia experience.

Vivo X90 Pro specifications and software

The Vivo X90 Pro features a MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC which is based on a 4nm fabrication process. The phone packs a slightly bigger 4,870mAh battery compared to the X80 Pro, and supports 120W fast wired charging and 50W wireless charging. There is support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC.

In terms of software, the Vivo X90 Pro runs the latest Android 13-based Funtouch OS 13 out of the box. The new version of Funtouch OS is said to focus more on refinement while continuing to offer a bunch of customisation and personalisation options. We have detailed all the new features in our Vivo V27 Pro review.

Regarding the software experience on the Vivo X90 Pro, it was smooth and seamless. There were no stutters while scrolling through the user interface. The phone did get the April 2023 Android security patch, which also fixed a few issues. There are a few third-party apps preinstalled, but you can choose to uninstall these if you want.

Vivo X90 Pro 4 Vivo X90 Pro

Vivo X90 Pro’s curved-edge displays has 1,300 nits of rated peak brightness

Vivo has maintained a good track-record of late when it comes to rolling out timely software updates. For the X90 Pro, the company has promised to provide three years of Android and security updates, which is good but some of the competition offers slightly better support.

Vivo X90 Pro performance and battery life

The Vivo X90 Pro is capable of handling almost any task you throw at it. Be it using the phone for basic things such as scrolling through social media or performing more intensive tasks like playing games, I found the experience to be good. I played Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 Legends, and both games ran smoothly with high graphics settings. Call of Duty: Mobile ran well even on the ‘Max’ framerate and ‘Very High’ graphics settings. The phone did get warm quickly, just below the camera module area, after about 20 minutes of gameplay. That being said, I did not notice any negative impact on the performance.

Vivo X90 Pro 2 Vivo X90 Pro

Vivo X90 Pro is promised to get three years of Android updates

I also ran some benchmarks on the Vivo X90 Pro. In AnTuTu, the device scored 12,14,804 points, whereas in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core tests, the phone scored 1,694 and 4,315 points, respectively. In comparison, the Xiaomi 13 Pro scored 12,46,431 points, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 with its customised Snapdragon SoC scored 11,86,610 points in AnTuTu. The new Dimensity SoC gives stiff competition to Qualcomm’s flagship offering and that shows in real-world performance too.  

In terms of battery life, the Vivo X90 Pro delivered up to seven hours of screen-on time (SoT) on a single charge with my usage. If you use the camera more often or play games a lot, you should expect the average SoT to drop to about six hours. In our HD video battery loop test, the phone lasted for 18 hours and 12 minutes, which is good. You can charge the phone fully in 29 minutes using the bundled charger.

Vivo X90 Pro camera

The Vivo X90 Pro features a 50-megapixel 1-inch Sony IMX989 main camera on the back. The latter is also found in the Xiaomi 13 Pro. The X90 Pro also features a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 50-megapixel portrait camera. The phone also gets Vivo’s V2 imaging chip, which was also seen in the iQoo 11 5G. While the main and portrait camera sensors have received some promising upgrades, the ultra-wide camera has reduced resolution compared to the X80 Pro. There’s also no periscope telephoto camera on the X90 Pro, which has been reserved for the X90 Pro+.

Vivo X90 Pro 3 Vivo X90 Pro

Vivo X90 Pro’s camera app is quite neat

The main camera has an eight element lens, of which, seven elements now have the Zeiss T* coating compared to just two on the previous model. However, this sensor misses out on the gimbal stabilisation system. Vivo has instead provided its custom-developed optical image stabilisation (OIS), which it claims meets the CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) Level 4 standards. Thankfully, the main camera, despite having a large sensor, does not have any shutter lag.

Images shot using the main camera offer great details and dynamic range. Colours are a bit more saturated to offer a pleasing look, something that we have seen in many Vivo phones in the past. The larger sensor, coupled with a wide aperture of f/1.75 ensures that enough light hits the sensor even in dim lighting. Images shot with the main camera have no noticeable noise in general, and there’s also good control over exposure in the highlights and shadows.

Vivo X90 Pro primary camera samples(tap to see full size)

Images shot using the 2X portrait camera offer a good bokeh effect and edge detection. The six software filters that Vivo and Zeiss have offered, including a new Cine-Flare Style, add a fun element to the shooting experience. That being said, I noticed that the software tends to smoothen the texture of hair on a person’s head at times.

Vivo X90 Pro 2X portrait mode samples (tap to see full size)

The ultra-wide camera is a bit weak in terms of performance compared to the previous model. While daylight performance is good, there is a noticeable loss of details in low-light shots, especially around the edges of the frame.

Vivo X90 Pro ultra-wide camera samples(tap to see full size)

For selfies, there is a 32-megapixel front camera. The camera app, by default, beautifies selfies by applying a bunch of filters to make you look slim and fair. Portrait mode images are a hit or miss in my experience when it comes to edge detection. There are instances where the software missed blurring out the background and in some cases, it also blurred out parts of my face.

In terms of video, the Vivo X90 Pro’s main camera can record 8K 24fps or 4K 60fps videos. Camera performance during both day and night time is quite impressive. The V2 imaging chip, along with the camera hardware, ensures that the videos captured during the night are well-lit and offer good details. The dynamic range performance of the rear camera in videos is also quite impressive. That being said, there were a couple of instances where I noticed stutters when recording videos.

Vivo X90 Pro selfie camera samples: (top) Portrait mode, (bottom) Photo mode

 

The camera app offers Standard and Ultra stabilisation options, but the latter crops the frame a bit. You can use Ultra stabilisation when shooting up to 1080p or 4K at 30fps. On the other hand, the camera switches to Standard stabilisation when you shoot at 1080p or 4K 60fps. There’s not a major difference between the two modes if your subject is in the centre of the frame, however, when you have a wider frame in focus, that is when you’ll see the benefit of the Ultra stabilisation mode. There is no stabilisation option when shooting in 8K.

The front camera can only shoot 1080p 60fps video and the overall video quality is decent. The subject is well-exposed and you also get a good amount of details. That being said, the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 and the iPhone 14 series offer 4K 60fps video recording using the front camera.

Verdict

Vivo’s X series has a reputation of offering a unique photography experience and the new X90 Pro is no different. The rear primary and portrait camera sensors deliver excellent performance. Photos taken by the main camera at times felt like they were captured using a dedicated camera. System performance, display quality and battery life with quick charging are very good as well. The phone has a premium design and comes with an IP68 rating. 

However, there are a few misses along the way in the Vivo X90 Pro which do stack up, especially when you factor in the price. The ultra-wide camera is not very impressive and we feel that the X80 Pro did a much better job. We weren’t too happy with the processed images from the selfie camera either when using Portrait mode. Other misses would be the lack of a periscope camera, a lower-resolution and non-LTPO display, and an optical fingerprint sensor instead of ultrasonic — all of which are present on the Vivo X80 Pro, which is still available and is a bit cheaper.   

The competition has also caught up. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review) has set a benchmark when it comes to providing a versatile camera experience, but it’s also quite a bit more expensive. The Xiaomi 13 Pro (Review) is probably the closest competitor to the X90 Pro right now and apart from not having an official IP rating in India, it easily matches (and exceeds in some areas) the performance of the X90 Pro while costing a bit less. There is also the Google Pixel 7 Pro (Review) which offers an excellent camera system and a unique software experience.


Xiaomi launched its camera focussed flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone, while Apple opened it’s first stores in India this week. We discuss these developments, as well as other reports on smartphone-related rumours and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

[ad_2]

Source link

Tecno Spark 10 4G With 50-Megapixel Main Camera, 90Hz LCD Screen Launched: Price, Specifications

0
Tecno Spark 10 4G With 50-Megapixel Main Camera, 90Hz LCD Screen Launched: Price, Specifications

[ad_1]

Tecno Spark 10 4G has been unveiled in the Philippines as the latest model in the company’s Spark 10 lineup. The latest Tecno handset comes with dual rear cameras, headlined by a 50-megapixel primary sensor. The Tecno Spark 10 4G has a 6.6-inch HD+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and packs a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G37 SoC and runs on Android 13-based HiOS 12. The phone also has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.

The smartphone also features Memory Fusion technology that allows users to borrow up to 8GB of storage and use it as additional RAM (effectively 16GB).

Tecno Spark 10 4G price, availability

The newly launched Tecno Spark 10 4G is an entry-level smartphone priced at PHP 4,999 (roughly Rs. 7,400) in the Philippines. The handset is being sold in META Black, META Blue, and META White colour options. The phone comes in a single 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration. Any details on its India availability are yet to be shared.

Tecno Spark 10 4G specifications, features

The dual-SIM (Nano) Tecno Spark 10 4G runs on Android 13-based HiOS 12 out-of-the-box. The phone sports a 6.6-inch HD+ (720 x 1,612 pixels) LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek Helio G37 SoC paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The smartphone also has a Memory Fusion technology that let users expand the RAM by 8GB.

On the optics front, the TecnoSpark 10 4G packs a dual rear camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor and an unspecified AI lens. The phone also has an LED Flash module on its rear panel. On the front, there is an 8-megapixel selfie shooter housed in a centrally aligned hole-punch cutout.

The Tecno Spark 10 4G has up to 128GB of UFS 3.1 inbuilt storage. The connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port for charging. The Tecno handset includes a gravity sensor, an e-compass, an ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. The smartphone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. Additionally, it also sports a fingerprint scanner. It measures 163.89 × 75.39 × 8.40mm. 


Xiaomi launched its camera focussed flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone, while Apple opened it’s first stores in India this week. We discuss these developments, as well as other reports on smartphone-related rumours and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

[ad_2]

Source link

Vivo T2 5G Review: Best Phone Under Rs. 20,000?

0
Vivo T2 5G Review: Best Phone Under Rs. 20,000?

[ad_1]

The Vivo T2 5G is the company’s latest mainstream offering in India, whose base variant has been launched for less than Rs. 20,000. The smartphone is an upgrade to the Vivo T1 (Review), which launched in 2021. Some of the changes include the camera setup, charging capability, and the design and build. The direct competition to the Vivo T2 5G is the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, Redmi Note 12 5G, Moto G73 5G, and its own cousin, the iQoo Z7 5G.

Has Vivo delivered enough upgrades in the latest model, and should you be considering it in the sub-Rs. 20,000 price range? Here’s our review.

Vivo T2 5G price in India

The Vivo T2 5G has been launched in two configurations in India. The base variant offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage which costs Rs. 18,999. The top variant has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which costs Rs. 20,999.

Vivo T2 5G design and display

In terms of design, the Vivo T2 5G is quite different from its predecessor. The new smartphone features a completely different camera module, and gets a flat polycarbonate body and frame. The two big camera modules at the back houses the primary camera and the secondary sensor, along with an LED flash.

Vivo sent us the Nitro Blaze colour of the T2 5G and as we mentioned in our first impressions article, it has a glossy finish and a dual-tone effect (blue to orange) when light falls on it at different angles. It also get a unique gradient pattern which hides fingerprints well. I personally found this colour option to look quite premium. If you prefer the classic black colour, then you can choose the Velocity Blaze option.

The flat frame and slightly rounded edges of the Vivo T2 5G makes the smartphone easy to hold. With a weight of 172g and a thickness of 7.8mm, even extensive usage is comfortable. The placement of the volume and power buttons on the right side of the frame is good and the buttons are easy to reach. Overall, I quite like the in-hand feel of the T2 5G.

h2271lsg vivot25greviewreflectionlarge 625x300 23 April

The Vivo T2 5G’s Nitro Blaze colour is quite eye-catching

 

While most of the competition these days opt for a hole-punch cutout in the display in this segment, the Vivo T2 5G looks a bit dated with its relatively thick display bezels, prominent chin and a water-drop notch. Vivo doesn’t mention this anywhere (at least at the time of publishing this review) but it has confirmed to Gadgets 360 that the T2 5G has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. 

The Vivo T2 5G uses a 6.38-inch AMOLED display, which is a step up from the IPS panel seen in the T1 5G. The new model also offers better brightness levels than before. It has a 90Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and a claimed peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The display supports HDR10 with the Widevine L1 certification for HD and above video playback through streaming apps. I had a good experience streaming content from OTT platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, although these apps didn’t seem to detect the display’s HDR capability. Colours are vibrant and punchy, and back levels are deep.

The Vivo T2 5G has a ‘smart switch’ function for the refresh rate, which automatically adjusts it between 60Hz and 90Hz depending on the content on the screen. I didn’t face any lag in animations, transitions or even while scrolling through menus.

The Vivo T2 5G retains the 3.5mm headphone jack for those who still prefer using wired earphones. However, if you are someone who prefers using the speaker, then you might be disappointed with the lack of stereo speakers. The single speaker in the T2 5G is not loud enough for enjoying content. The phone features an AI-based face recognition and in-display fingerprint scanner, and both are accurate and quick in terms of authentication.

s432jgu8 vivot25greviewbottomlarge 625x300 23 April

The Vivo T2 5G has a 3.5mm headphone jack

 

Vivo T2 5G specifications and software

The Vivo T2 5G uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, which was also available on last year’s T1 5G. The T2 5G supports 44W fast charging compared to the previous model, but the battery capacity has been reduced to 4,500mAh (from 5,000mAh). This phone also features a hybrid-SIM slot, USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6 and GPS.

The Vivo T2 5G runs on Funtouch OS 13 which is based on Android 13. Vivo has made several improvements to Funtouch OS over the years, but the software is still loaded with plenty of bloatware. You get many native and third-party apps by default, out of which, you can uninstall the latter but the option to disable many of the native apps is not available. The good news is that folders such as Hot Apps and Hot Games can be disabled through the V-App Store.

Even with many native apps preloaded, I noticed that the notification spam from these apps has reduced a bit, but I would still get around four to five push notifications daily which was annoying. One area where there seems to have been an improvement is in RAM management. I noticed that most of the previously opened apps remained active in the background and didn’t reload when I went back to them.

Vivo T2 5G performance and battery life

We tested the 6GB RAM variant of the Vivo T2 5G, which returned an AnTuTu score of 410,346 points. The phone scored 869 and 1,879 points in the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench 6. In graphics benchmark GFX Bench’s T-Rex and Car Chase tests, the phone managed 77fps and 17fps respectively. I did not face any performance issues with everyday usage. The phone handles almost all basic tasks very well, be it social media apps or casual games.

cqa3p95o vivot25greviewdisplaylarge 625x300 23 April

The Vivo T2 5G has a bright and vivid AMOLED display

 

Talking about gaming, I tried some graphics intensive games such as Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile, which initially took a while to load but ran quite well at low and medium settings. Call of Duty: Mobile ran well at the ‘High’ graphics setting and ‘High’ framerate combination by default. However, as soon as I increased the settings to ‘Very High’ graphics and ‘Very High’ frame rate, I did notice occasional stutters during gameplay. The Vivo T2 5G also did not heat up much even after about 30 minutes of gaming.

The Vivo T2 5G impressed me a lot in terms of battery life. It delivered about nine hours of screen-on time. Vivo claims that the smartphone can be charged up to 60 percent in 25 minutes. In our tests, we found that the phone charged from one to 40 percent in 30 minutes, and up to 100 percent in about 1 hour, 17 minutes via the adapter provided in the box. In our HD video battery loop test, the T2 5G managed to run for 20 hours, 52 minutes, which is very good.

Vivo T2 5G cameras

The Vivo T2 5G gets a dual-camera setup at the back, which includes a 64-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS), and a 2-megapixel portrait lens. The phone has a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies. However, it does not have an ultra-wide camera.

Daylight performance of the main camera is quite good. The exposure and colours in photos were accurate and the details were also plentiful. HDR did its job and exposed both the subject and background well even in backlit shots. A ‘64MP’ mode is also available in the camera app, which takes pictures at the native resolution of the sensor. Exposure and colours were accurate in the photos taken in this mode, but details were weaker and noise was noticeable when zooming into the photo.

Vivo T2 5G main camera samples (tap to see full size)

Low-light performance of the main sensor was also above average. Photos were properly exposed and the colours were accurate. Night mode worked well to add details, improve exposure, and reduce noise in the darker parts of the photos.

Portrait mode with the rear camera also worked well in both day and night conditions. Natural background blur is available in shots. However, at times the camera failed to capture the edges of the subject accurately. I did notice a blur-like effect on the subject in some shots, but it was rare.

Vivo T2 5G cameras samples (top to bottom): Low-light landscape, Night Mode (tap to see full size)

Skin tones were accurate in pictures taken in portrait mode with the selfie camera. However, at the default settings, the camera smoothens skin textures slightly, but this can be adjusted in the beauty mode settings. Even with the front camera, edge detection was not accurate at times in portrait mode.

The rear main camera sensor of the Vivo T2 5G can record videos at up to 1080p resolution at 60fps. Most competitors, including iQoo Z7 55, supports 4K video recording. Videos taken with the T2 5G were quite shaky without stabilisation, but with it enabled, motion was smoother but with some crop to the frame. Video quality was good with decent dynamic range and colours. The front camera can record videos at 1080p 30fps, which resulted in decent quality footage.

Verdict

The sub-Rs. 20,000 price tag for the base variant makes the Vivo T2 5G a good competitor in its segment. The smartphone does not compromise much on performance for its class and things such as the bright AMOLED display, 3.5mm headphone port, long battery backup, and fast charging makes T2 5G an ideal smartphone for content consumption for this budget. The rear camera setup is good and it can capture some decent looking shots in day and at night. The selfie camera also manages suitable quality photos for Instagram, in good lighting conditions. However, I missed an ultra-wide camera in the setup.

Some of the things that put the T2 5G a step behind the competition is the lack of stereo speakers. Overall, the Vivo T2 5G is a good option in this price range, if you don’t mind the bloated nature of Funtouch OS.


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

[ad_2]

Source link

Oppo A98 5G Render, Specifications Leaked, Could Feature Snapdragon 695 SoC

0
Oppo A98 5G Render, Specifications Leaked, Could Feature Snapdragon 695 SoC

[ad_1]

Oppo A98 5G has been part of leaks and rumours for quite a few months now. Now, alleged render and specifications of the Oppo smartphone have surfaced online. It is shown with a centrally-aligned hole-punch cutout and a 64-megapixel triple camera setup at the rear. The Oppo A98 5G is said to be powered by a Snapdragon 695 SoC, coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. It could be backed by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.

Tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore, in a report by Appuals, has leaked the render and specifications of Oppo A98 5G. The render showcases the handset’s front design and it is seen with a centrally-aligned hole-punch cutout, housing the selfie camera. It seems to have power and volume buttons on the left spine.

As per the leak, the Oppo A98 5G will run on Android 13 based ColorOS 13 and feature a 6.7-inch (1,080×2,400 pixels) LTPS LCD display with 120Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio, and 391ppi pixel density. It is said to come with Panda Glass protection. As mentioned, it could be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G SoC, coupled with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of storage. The onboard storage could support expansion of up to 1TB via a microSD card.

For optics, the Oppo A98 5G is tipped to carry a triple rear camera unit, comprising a 64-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture, and another 2-megapixel macro lens with an f/3.3 aperture. For selfies and video chats, there could be a 32-megapixel camera sensor at the front. It is said to come with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for authentication. It is expected to have an IPX4 rating for water resistance as well.

Connectivity options could include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 and USB Type-C port. Oppo is expected to provide a 5,000mAh battery on the Oppo A98 5G with 67W SuperVOOC fast charging support. It is said to measure 165.6×76.1×8.2mm in dimension and 192 grams in weight.


The newly launched Oppo Find N2 Flip is the first foldable from the company to debut in India. But does it have what it takes to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.


Big Tech Investors to Scrutinise Profits After Industry-Wide Layoffs, Firms to Highlight AI as Growth Driver



YouTube Case at US Supreme Court Could Have Implications for ChatGPT and AI



[ad_2]

Source link

Apple CEO Tim Cook Concludes His India Visit, Says ‘Can’t Wait to Return’

0
Apple CEO Tim Cook Concludes His India Visit, Says ‘Can’t Wait to Return’

[ad_1]

After a five-day long visit, Apple CEO Tim Cook left India with a note that he can’t wait to return to the country.

The visit of Cook coincided with 25 years of the iPhone maker’s presence in India. Cook arrived in India on Monday. The visit started with the launch of the first official Apple store in Mumbai on April 18 followed by a second in the national capital on April 20.

“What an incredible week in India! Thanks to our teams across the country. I can’t wait to return,” Cook tweeted.

The company has been selling products in India through exclusive Apple Premium Reseller (APR) stores, large format retail chains like Reliance Digital, Croma etc, multi-brand retail stores and through e-commerce platforms.

Apple has over 100 APR stores in India.

One of the APR stores was located in the Select CityWalk Mall which had to shift to a nearby mall to pave the way for the Apple Store.

Apple started making iPhones in India in 2017 after Cook’s last visit in 2016 with low-cost iPhone SE to suit the requirements of the local market. The company now exports “Made in India” iPhones.

Industry sources estimate that Apple exported iPhones in the range of USD 5-5.5 billion in the just-ended financial year 2022-23.

On his last day of the visit to India, Apple CEO met Bharti Group founder and chairman Sunil Mittal and both of them reaffirmed their commitment to work more closely in India and Africa, Bharti Group said on Friday.

“Tim Cook and Sunil Bharti Mittal had an hour-long meeting this morning. While expressing their satisfaction on the ongoing long relationship that Apple and Airtel have had, (they) reaffirmed their commitment to work more closely in the Indian and African market,” Bharti Group said in a statement.

On Day 1, Cook visited the richest Indian Mukesh Ambani’s house Antilla for a business meeting and is said to have met other top industrialists, including Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran.

After opening the first official store in Mumbai, Cook arrived in the national capital on the second leg of the visit on Wednesday.

Ahead of the opening of the Apple store at Saket, he visited the mesmerising artistic lanes of Lodhi Art District.

“Delhi’s Lodhi Art District is a remarkable public space. Congratulations to the St+art India Foundation and so many amazing artists for capturing Indian life so powerfully. And thank you to Dattaraj Naik for showing me how you design your murals on iPad,” 62-year-old Cook tweeted.

The walls of buildings lined up in the entire area don beautiful murals that the city is famous for.

During his Delhi trip, Cook met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the iPhone manufacturer is looking to invest more in the world’s second-largest smartphone market.

According to government sources, the iPhone maker is likely to double the employment base at its contract manufacturers in India to around 2 lakh soon.

Looking to replicate what China did to Apple’s business in the last 15 years, the tech giant is eyeing India’s massive market with an expanding middle class to power sales growth, and potentially make it a home base for the production of millions of Apple devices.

Cook during his visit met Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

As per the sources, Cook has sought government support to widen its components supplier base in India.

Apple CEO is learnt to have also discussed manufacturing facilities and app design and development accelerator in Bengaluru with both ministers.

Like in 2016, Cook again took out time to watch an IPL cricket match. He spent his evening in Delhi watching an IPL cricket match with Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and others. Cook had watched an IPL cricket match with Shukla in Kanpur during his previous visit.

“Thank you so much for an unforgettable evening!” Cook retweeted Ahuja’s tweet in which she shared his photo.

On the last day of his trip, Cook visited some app developers to experience their technology.

“It’s great to see so many developers across India pursuing their passion and sharing their ideas with users around the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Hitwicket, India’s top-rated cricket app, Prayoga, an AR-based yoga app, and LookUp, an easy-to-use dictionary app,” Cook tweeted.

He also shared his experience of “rangoli and kolam designs” made of flower petals, rice, and coloured sand that were captured on the iPhone.


Xiaomi launched its camera focussed flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone, while Apple opened it’s first stores in India this week. We discuss these developments, as well as other reports on smartphone-related rumours and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

[ad_2]

Source link

Samsung Faces $303 Million Jury Verdict for Patent Infringement

0
Samsung Faces 3 Million Jury Verdict for Patent Infringement

[ad_1]

Computer-memory company Netlist convinced a federal jury in Texas on Friday to award it more than $303 million (roughly Rs. 2,500 crore) for Samsung Electronics‘s infringement of several patents related to improvements in data processing.

The jury in Marshall, Texas determined after a six-day trial that Samsung’s “memory modules” for high-performance computing willfully infringed all five patents that Netlist accused the Korean tech giant of violating.

Representatives for the companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Netlist stock was up 21 percent following the verdict on Friday afternoon.

Irvine, California-based Netlist sued Samsung in 2021, alleging Samsung memory products used in cloud-computing servers and other data-intensive technology infringe its patents. Netlist said its innovations increase the power efficiency of memory modules and allow users to “derive useful information from vast amounts of data in a shorter period of time.”

A Netlist attorney told the jury that Samsung took its patented module technology after the companies had collaborated on another project, according to a court transcript.

Netlist had asked the jury for $404 million (roughly Rs. 3,300 crore) in damages.

Samsung had argued that the patents were invalid and that its technology worked in a different way than Netlist’s inventions.

The case is Netlist v. Samsung Electronics, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, No. 2:21-cv-00463.

In another news, it was reported that Samsung Electronics was considering replacing Google with Microsoft-owned Bing as the default search engine on its devices. The report, published by the New York Times over the weekend, underscores the growing challenges Google’s $162-billion (roughly Rs. 13,29,477 crore) a-year search engine business face from Bing — a minor player that has risen in prominence recently after the integration of the artificial intelligence tech behind ChatGPT.

© Thomson Reuters 2023


Xiaomi launched its camera focussed flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone, while Apple opened it’s first stores in India this week. We discuss these developments, as well as other reports on smartphone-related rumours and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

[ad_2]

Source link