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Honor Choice Earbuds X5 Review: Good Sound, Reliable Battery Life on a Budget

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Honor Choice Earbuds X5 Review: Good Sound, Reliable Battery Life on a Budget

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Honor recently launched the Choice Earbuds X5 in India as the company’s latest truly wireless stereo (TWS) earphones with support for active noise cancellation (ANC). The wireless headset is claimed to offer up to nine hours of playback with the ANC feature turned off — or up to 35 hours in total with the charging case — while the earphones have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. I’ve spent a couple of weeks using the Honor Choice Earbuds X5 and here’s what I think of this wireless headset.

Honor Choice Earbuds X5 review: Design and features

The Choice Earbuds X5 are available in a single white colourway and the charging case has a rounded design that is nearly ubiquitous for stem-style TWS headsets. While the case looks similar to its predecessor, the company has changed the position of the earphones so that the stems are next to each other, while the eartips are on opposite sides. I could open and shut the case easily with one finger, and the earphones are held firmly in place while charging.

Due to the all-plastic design, the Choice Earbuds X5 are very light. It has an individual weight of 4.6g (each earphone) and weighs 50g with the charging case. There’s an acoustic vent on the rear end of the earphones, while the microphone is located at the bottom of the stem, between the charging contact points. They don’t have a dedicated sensor to detect when you take them out of your ear, so music will continue to play until you use the pause gesture.

honor choice earbuds box ndtv honor choice earbuds x5

Honor Choice Earbuds X5 are available in a single white colourway

 

The earbuds and charging case have a glossy finish that attracts dust and smudge marks, and the latter has a single LED indicator on the outside that lets you know when it’s time to charge the headset. There’s a USB Type-C port at the bottom and the headset comes with three eartips in the box. While earphone fitting can be very subjective, I found that this headset was quite comfortable to wear for around an hour without much fatigue.

Honor Choice Earbuds X5 review: App and specifications

If you have an Android smartphone, you can download Honor’s AI Space app that allows you to pair the earphones and control various settings and features. The app requires you to sign up using your phone number, with no way to bypass the login process and just use the app. The AI Space app allows you to pair the earphones with your smartphone or tablet — the earphones automatically enter pairing mode for the first time, while you can also tap and hold the touch panel on either earphone to start the pairing process.

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Once you’ve paired the earphones, you can choose from three equaliser presets — more on these in the next section — that affect the audio output on the Honor Choice Earbuds X5. You can also adjust the tap controls on the earphones that offer single tap and double tap options, along with support for a long-press shortcut. The location of the touch sensor is higher on the stem, which means you won’t accidentally trigger it when you take the earphones out of your ears.

honor choice earbuds application ndtv Honor Choice Earbuds X5

Honor Choice Earbuds X5 can be controlled via an Android application

 

Touch controls on the Honor Choice Earbuds X5 are finicky, and I found myself tapping the small area at the top of the earphones’ stem repeatedly in order to pause music or switch tracks. You can tap twice to answer or cut a call and the same gesture can be used to control playback, or summon the Google Assistant/ Bixby. The triple tap gesture lets you switch to your previous device or enable the low latency gaming mode.

However, it’s worth noting that if you have an iPhone, there’s no way to access any of these functions. You can still pair the earphones on iOS and access the basic sound modes, but you can’t change equaliser modes, modify touch controls, or download and install firmware updates.

Honor Choice Earbuds X5 review: Performance and battery life

The TWS earphones are equipped with a 10mm dynamic driver and offers support for up to 30dB ANC, according to the company. They also feature environmental noise cancellation (ENC) during calls. They have an IP54 rating and are claimed to offer up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge.

honor choice earbuds worn ndtv Honor Choice Earbuds X5

Honor Choice Earbuds X5 TWS earphones are light and comfortable

 

The Honor Choice Earbuds X5 have three equaliser modes — Bass boost, Default, and Treble boost. The default mode offers clear audio playback when listening to most music genres, but you can tell that there’s some emphasis on the bass at the expense of some detail. The company hasn’t included a graphic equaliser, which means you’re limited to these three presets.

I found myself switching to the Treble boost mode when listening to Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in F, Op. 90: III. Poco Allegretto by James Levine, and similar recordings that have a lot of detail. You’ll also want to use this preset on tracks like Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain, or Birdy & RHODES’ Let It All Go, so that the vocals aren’t affected.

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The mids are slightly muddied by the bass, and the vocals sound a little distant on some tracks, but these TWS earphones definitely punch above their weight, especially in these genres. I had no complaints with how the earphones handled Carnival of Rust by Poets of the Fall, but it was unable to handle Your Side of Town by The Killers, which is quite a busy track.

If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy tracks, the Honor Choice Earbuds X5 offers a lot of punch, even on the default setting. Drive (feat. Wes Nelson) by Clean Bandit & Topic sounds great, as do Dua Lipa’s Physical and Kylie Minogue’s Padam Padam. The earphones also handle Trampoline by SHAED and Zayn quite well, with just the right amount of detail and reverb.

honor choice earbuds case ndtv Honor Choice Earbuds X5

The Honor Choice Earbuds X5 delivered up to seven hours of battery life

 

The ANC mode on the Honor Choice Earbuds X5 keeps low frequency rumbles and sounds from household appliances like vacuum cleaners and air conditioners. While it can’t deal with high-pitch sounds, it can “muffle” them a little, which is more than acceptable for a pair of TWS earphones at this price point.

Honor says that the Choice Earbuds X5 supports both SBC and AAC codecs, which means that you can use these on a wide range of devices — I was able to pair the wireless headset with an Android smartphone, an iPad, an iPhone, and even an Apple Watch. I got about five and a half hours of battery life with ANC on, and about seven hours with ANC off.

Verdict

If you’re looking to purchase a pair of wireless earphones that cost less than Rs. 2,000, the Honor Choice Earbuds X5 are a solid option to consider. The TWS headset is currently available at Rs. 1,999 and offers decent audio quality for this price segment, along with entry-level ANC support. It is compact and lightweight and offers reliable battery life. The inclusion of SBC and AAC codecs means they will work well on both iOS and Android smartphones.

OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC Review

One major downside is the lack of an official application on iOS — while you can still pair the headset with an iPhone or iPad, there’s no way to configure any of the settings without using an Android smartphone. While there are multiple touch control options available, the limited surface means you might have to touch the earbuds repeatedly on some occasions.

While there’s no multipoint support available, you can quickly switch between the current device and the previous device with a single gesture — other budget TWS headsets in this price segment also offer the same functionality. This headset competes with the OnePlus Nord Buds 2R and Anker Soundcore R50i — these don’t offer ANC support, so if you’re looking for a pair of that comes with noise cancellation then it is worth considering the Boult Z40 Ultra and the Boat Airdopes Flex 454 which are similarly priced in India.


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Realme GT Neo 6 Allegedly Receives BIS Certification, Hints at Possible India Launch

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Realme GT Neo 6 Allegedly Receives BIS Certification, Hints at Possible India Launch

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Realme GT Neo 6 could launch in India soon as the smartphone has reportedly received a certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The next-generation Realme GT Neo series phone, which has been in the rumour mill for quite some time, is expected to debut as a successor to last year’s Realme GT Neo 5. It is expected to include features such as Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, 1.5K resolution display, and 100W wired fast charging support. In addition to the BIS certification, the Realme GT Neo 6 has allegedly appeared on the Camera FV-5 database and Indonesia’s P3DN website.

As reported by 91Mobiles, the Realme GT Neo 6 has appeared on the BIS website with model number RMX3851. The screenshots of the listing shared by the publication suggest that the phone received the certification on Wednesday (March 13). It does not reveal any specifications of the handset.

Meanwhile, the Camera FV-5 database reportedly includes reference to the Realme GT Neo 6. As per the report, the handset might have a 50-megapixel primary camera with f/1.7 aperture. The main sensor could support optical image stabilisation (OIS) and electronic image stabilisation (EIS). Additionally, the handset was reportedly spotted on Indonesia’s P3DN certification website with 5G connectivity.

Realme has not yet announced any details regarding the launch of Realme GT Neo 6. However, recent leaks suggested that Realme is working on the GT Neo 6 series. It is said to run on Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC and are tipped to get 1.5K resolution displays along with 100W wired fast charging support.

The Realme GT Neo 6 is expected to debut as a successor to the Realme GT Neo 5. The latter was launched last year in February in China with two charging options. The 240W charging variant costs CNY 3,199 (roughly Rs. 39,000) for 16GB RAM + 256GB storage, whereas the 150W variant begins at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 30,400) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage model.


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Poco X6 Neo 5G First Impressions

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Poco X6 Neo 5G First Impressions

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Poco added a Neo phone to the X6 lineup today, and it brings some impressive features at its price. According to the company, this is the slimmest Poco smartphone ever. The most interesting feature on the phone, at least the one that caught our eye, was the display. It’s got uniform and slim bezels all around, which is not something you’ll find on a phone that costs under Rs. 20,000. We’ve been using the Poco X6 Neo 5G for a couple of days, and here’s our first look at the phone.

Starting with the design, the front of the Poco X6 Neo is better than the rear. Poco has managed to slim down the bezels uniformly on all sides, which means that there’s no thick chin here. The company is advertising a screen-to-body ratio of 93.30 percent, which is quite impressive. The left and right bezels are just 1.5mm thin, whereas the top and bottom are 2mm and 2.5mm, respectively.poco x6 neo fi display poco-x6-neo-display

The display offers 120Hz refresh and full-HD+ resolution. It’s a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel that’s protected with Gorilla Glass 5. You get a hole-punch cutout at the top for the selfie camera. For content consumption and gaming, this is an excellent panel. We’ll be testing out the display thoroughly in our full review.

Flipping over to the back, the rear panel is plastic and has a marble-like finish that looks unique when light hits it. We’re using the Martian Orange variant of the Poco X6 Neo, and it appears that the pattern on the rear panel is supposed to resemble the surface on Mars (it doesn’t).poco x6 neo fi cameras poco-x6-neo-cameras

There’s a dual camera setup with a primary 108-megapixel sensor. I did try out the camera, and it appears to take good photos in daylight. Once again, we’ll be testing the cameras in our full review, so stay tuned for that. The cameras are placed atop a rectangular module that’s similar to what we’ve seen on the other Poco X6 series phones. The handset has flat sides with a slight taper that makes it comfortable to hold despite its large size. The frame also appears to be made from plastic.

As for connectivity, the smartphone has a USB Type-C port at the bottom, an IR blaster at the top, dual-band Wi-Fi, 5G dual SIM support, GPS, and Bluetooth 5.3. It also gets an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance. The volume and power buttons are placed on the right side of the phone, with the power button also acting as a fingerprint scanner. The scanner registered my fingerprint quickly and worked well. Poco has included a single speaker on the X6 Neo, but you do get a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top.poco x6 neo fi design poco-x6-neo-design

In terms of hardware, the Poco X6 Neo is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC that’s paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. In the few days we’ve been using the phone, things were mostly snappy, with the occasional lag. However, we’ll have to run some games and benchmarks and use the phone more to find out how it performs in day-to-day tasks. Will it heat up during intensive gaming sessions? You’ll have to wait for the full review to find out.

On the software side, the Poco X6 Neo comes loaded with MIUI 14, based on Android 13. The company is offering two years of Android updates and four years of security patches. When most phones, including the other phones in the Poco X6 series, are running Android 14, it’s disappointing to see the Neo on Android 13. There’s also plenty of bloatware on the phone, but we’ll dive deep into or run away from them in the full review.

Poco has packed a 5,000mAh battery on the X6 Neo, which supports 33W fast charging. You also get the charger in the box, which is nice. The standout features at this price range—the phone starts at Rs. 15,999—are the display and the 108-megapixel rear camera. How will the phone fare against its competition? We’ll find out in the full review, which should be out soon.


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OnePlus Ace 3V Confirmed to Launch Later This Year, Company President Teases AI Features

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OnePlus Ace 3V Confirmed to Launch Later This Year, Company President Teases AI Features

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OnePlus Ace 3V will be unveiled later this year. The model was previously spotted online with rumoured specifications. Several leaks and reports suggested the expected features as well as the price of the upcoming handset. The company has now officially announced the moniker and confirmed the launch of the phone. It could be rebranded outside China as the OnePlus Nord 4 and is said to succeed the OnePlus Ace 2V, which was launched in March 2023 and remodelled into the OnePlus Nord 3.

OnePlus China President Li Jie announced via a Weibo post that the OnePlus Ace 3V will be unveiled in 2024. He did not confirm a specific timeline for the launch but said that it is expected to arrive in the markets “soon.” He also teased that it will be a model equipped with AI-backed features.oneplus ace 3v weibo louis inline ace3v

The OnePlus Ace 3V has previously been tipped to come with Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset likely to be paired with up to 16GB of RAM. It is also likely to feature a 1.5K resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 5,500mAh battery with support for 100W charging. The handset may also carry an optical fingerprint sensor.

An earlier leak also suggested that the OnePlus Ace 3V could be priced in China under CNY 2,000 (roughly Rs. 23,400). After its launch in the Chinese markets, it may also be introduced in global markets with the moniker OnePlus Nord 4. Notably, the older OnePlus Nord 3 is a rebadged version of the OnePlus Ace 2V.

Recently, a tipster claimed that the OnePlus Nord 4 could have the codename “Audi” and may launch soon. It is also speculated that the model may launch with the moniker OnePlus Nord 5, and skip the number 4 because in some cultures the number is associated with bad omens. However, this speculation should be taken with a pinch of salt, and we can expect to hear more about the purported handset in the coming weeks or months.


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Xiaomi 14 Review: Good Things Come in Small Packages

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Xiaomi 14 Review: Good Things Come in Small Packages

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Xiaomi 14 is one of the best examples of how collaborations should work. Here, Xiaomi and Leica have worked together, and we talked in detail about why this is not just a marketing partnership. 2024 is an important year for Xiaomi, not only because it completes 10 years of operations in India but also because this year, plenty of Xiaomi devices will be upgraded to HyperOS, the company’s next big move to bring the human x car x home smart ecosystem a reality. We will get into that later in this review. The all-new Xiaomi 14 ticks all the boxes on paper that one expects from a new-age flagship Android smartphone – a top processor, solid camera system, excellent display and cameras, and a likeable and practical design in every way. 

However, the all-new Xiaomi 14 enters a price segment where many brands fight to get some share – from Samsung to Google to OnePlus. But how well does the Xiaomi 14 perform in our in-depth review? Let’s find out.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Design that gives you confidence

At a time when smartphone brands want to offer the biggest possible display on their devices, Xiaomi probably took a more practical approach. Featuring a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display, the Xiaomi 14 perfectly sits between devices sporting 6.7-inch and 6.1-inch displays. At 193 grams and 8.2mm thickness, Xiaomi 14 is designed for one-hand use. In a very long time, we haven’t reviewed a device that’s convenient to use for everyday tasks, so in aesthetics, Xiaomi 14 sets a benchmark. 

xiaomi 14 review2 Xiaomi 14 rear panel

We like phones with flat sides, and Xiaomi has gone a step further by opting for a curved back for the Xiaomi 14. This initially looks and feels odd, but you get used to it steadily. With no sharp edges, the phone perfectly sinks into your palm. It offers excellent grip for everyday use and is very convenient for long text typing and other tasks. In fact, we wrote most of our articles on the Xiaomi 14 because, within a week, it became our primary device for most things. 

The aluminium frame feels solid in hands and offers confidence in everyday usage. The minimal top frame ensures minimum bezel and maximum screen real estate. The Xiaomi 14’s weight distribution is so perfect that the large square-shaped camera placement never felt unnecessary. 

xiaomi 14 review4 Xiaomi 14 matte black

The Xiaomi 14 has launched in Matte Black, Jade Green, and Classic White. We got the Black one, which has a matte finish, making it suitable for use even without a case. However, the same cannot be said for the Jade Green and White colour variants, as both are extremely slippery. 

We loved the attention to detail on the 14, and long-time Xiaomi fans would appreciate that the company hasn’t forgotten the IR blaster on its premium device. The company has moved the IR blaster to the back and placed it inside the squarish camera placement. 

xiaomi 14 review8 Xiaomi 14 camera placement

The display panel on the Xiaomi 14 is bright and offers 3000nits peak brightness. It features 460PPI pixel density and offers a 1200×2670 pixels screen resolution. There’s a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Talking about real-world usage, the Xiaomi 14’s display is excellent in any lighting condition – even under direct sunlight. The viewing angles are also good, and the colours are rich. To enhance the multimedia experience, Xiaomi has added Dolby Atmos with Dolby Vision, which adds to the overall package. The front also features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and Xiaomi has added DC dimming to manage the flickering. The Xiaomi 14 comes with Widevine L1 security level for streaming high-quality videos on streaming services. 

Xiaomi 14 Review: Leica-ble Cameras!

 The rear cameras are the biggest highlight of the Xiaomi 14, and that’s after extensively using it for almost three weeks. The primary 50-megapixel sensor with f/1.6 aperture can click amazing shots – even when clicking in harsh lighting conditions. The colours are on point, and there are a ton of details in every shot. In some comparison shots, we noticed that the Xiaomi 14 images have more natural colours than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which looked slightly warm in tone regardless of the light situation. 

xiaomi 14 review10 Xiaomi 14 cameras

Below are some samples that speak for themselves. If you love to use your smartphone as a point-and-shoot camera on the street, then the Xiaomi 14 is the best option. 

IMG 20240222 142139 Xiaomi 14

Shot using Xiaomi 14 primary camera

Shot using Xiaomi 14 primary camera

Shot using Xiaomi 14 primary camera

IMG 20240226 170543 Xiaomi 14 camera sample

Shot using Xiaomi 14 ultra-wide camera

Shot using Xiaomi 14’s telephoto camera

Shot using Xiaomi 14’s telephoto camera

Xiaomi 14’s long exposure option Neon Trails in play

Another highlight is the 50-megapixel telephoto sensor. It can capture subjects as close as 10cm, and we captured one fantastic shot in very challenging lighting conditions. The 50-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor offers a 115-degree field of view, a step up from the one we saw on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. All three rear sensors are leaps and bounds better than any Xiaomi smartphone we have used.

Xiaomi 14’s Leica BW filter used

IMG 20240223 150004 Xiaomi 14 camera sample

Shot using Xiaomi 14’s 75mm portrait mode

Xiaomi 14’s 35mm Documentary portrait mode, along with the BW filter used here

Users can choose between the Leica Authentic or Vibrant styles. We liked the Authentic style of most of our samples. Compared to the Vibrant style, the Leica Authentic captures images in the original image quality, keeping the colours and details closer to reality.

Then, there’s the Leica watermark to flaunt the images you take. The portrait is another department where Xiaomi 14 takes the lead against most of its rivals. You can choose between standard, documentary (35mm), swirly bokeh (50mm), portrait (90mm), and soft focus (90mm). To spice up your shots further, you can choose from an array of filters made in collaboration with Leica, like Leica Natural, Leica Vivid, Leica Natural, Leica Sepia, Leica Black and White High Contrast, and Leica Black and White Natural. We had a lot of fun with the camera during the review. 

There are tons of additions for videos, like the all-new Movie Mode, which comes with Dolby Vision Recording in Video Mode. 

The selfie camera, for us, was the biggest Achilles heel of Xiaomi 14. The company added so much to the cameras, including Leica-tuned features, and we believe the selfie camera should have got something. The daylight selfies have good details; however, the low-light selfies were slightly inconsistent. 

xiaomi 14 review5 Xiaomi 14 rear

Xiaomi 14 Review: Excellent performance

Xiaomi and Leica haven’t just made the 14 a camera-focused smartphone only but ensured that it is an all-rounder in every other department. Before diving into the performance, we must add that Xiaomi 14 is the company’s first in India to launch with HyperOS out-of-the-box. HyperOS is a term you will hear a lot about this year because it’s part of a bigger strategy for the brand. 

HyperOS looks familiar over the top, so read MIUI. However, there are features that we absolutely loved, like the new lock screens with tons of customisation options. HyperOS will play a vital role for Xiaomi in interconnectivity for cross-device dynamic networking, where users won’t be required to download separate apps for specific devices like bands, Smart Lights, CCTV Cameras, Air purifiers, and more. 

xiaomi 14 review12 Xiaomi 14 screen

Coming to the smartphone, the Xiaomi 14 feels snappy. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC ensures top-notch performance in your hands. 

Not many people may have noticed, but we have steadily reached a point where differentiating between flagship processors on mobiles is getting harder every year. Like in real-world usage, the Snapdragon Gen 2 is as good as the processor for all tasks, but the Gen 3 improves efficiency. Anyways, back to the review. We ran some synthetic benchmarks and found that Xiaomi 14 is up on the list compared to other Gen 3-powered flagships this year.

xiaomi 14 review13 Xiaomi 14 home screen

On AnTuTu, the Xiaomi 14 scored an impressive 1973937, while in GFX Bench, it scored 121fps in T-Rex and 121fps in Manhattan 3.1 tests. On GeekBench 6, the 14 scores a good 2210 in single-core tests and 6808 in multi-core tests. In 3D Mark’s Wild Life Extreme test, 14 scored a decent 4818. After running a bunch of these benchmarks, we realised that the Xiaomi 14 is among the top phones utilising the best of the Gen 3 chipset. 

Xiaomi promises four major software updates and five years of security patches. The Xiaomi 14 gets Android 14 out of the box, which means users will get support for up to an Android 18 update until 2028. That’s not bad, considering many smartphones launch with Android 13 and promise four updates, while Android 14 is also counted. 

xiaomi 14 review7 Xiaomi 14 lock screen

Xiaomi 14 may be a compact-looking smartphone, but it packs a loud stereo speaker setup that delivers crisp audio. The four-mic array ensures that calls and audio recorded during videos are decent. The dual-SIM Xiaomi 14 can support a combination of two nano SIMs or a nano SIM and an eSIM. The call quality is top-notch, and we encountered no issues during the review period. 

The in-display fingerprint scanner is quick. However, the thumb placement is slightly on the lower side of the screen, which could be an issue for some during the initial days. After spending one or two days with the Xiaomi 14, we preferred the in-display fingerprint over face unlock for convenience. However, face unlock is also reliable and has a quick turnaround. Overall, the Xiaomi 14 is a well-rounded smartphone considering performance metrics.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Battery that can last a day

Xiaomi 14 ships with a 4610mAh battery, which, on paper, doesn’t look huge. But, thanks to the company’s all-new HyperOS and Qualcomm’s flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the battery performance does impress. During the review period, the Xiaomi 14, with all that shooting, editing images, gaming, and browsing, lasted for a full day, which was impressive. In our video loop test, we got 11 hours and 20 minutes before the phone powered down, which is fantastic.

xiaomi 14 review11 Xiaomi 14 sides

The Xiaomi 14 ships with a 90W charging adapter, the maximum charging speed we have seen in this price segment. From Apple to Samsung devices, ship without a charging adapter and support lower charging speeds. From 0 to 100%, the Xiaomi 14 can fully charge in 36 minutes – which we could replicate twice during the review process. Overall, the battery performance of the Xiaomi 14 impresses, and there’s also 50W wireless turbo charging support.

Xiaomi 14 Review: Verdict

Good things come in small packages – where Xiaomi 14 may be compact, but it offers more than a regular flagship smartphone, from best-in-class aesthetics, flagship performance, and a versatile camera that’s hard to beat in challenging lighting conditions. Ironically, we are not getting a Pro version this year in India because Xiaomi 14 has the most Pro features in the segment. 

Long thing short, if you want an Android device that can click the best possible shots while on the go with a Leica touch, offers consistent performance, delivers decent battery output, and a design that will make you ask why companies are not making phones this size, then Xiaomi 14 is for you. Yes, much like, as they say, nobody is perfect; the 14 also has a few issues like bloatware, which could be unacceptable to some consumers at this price. But, with HyperOS, a lot on the software front is about to change, and that’s for good. 

If you’re looking for alternatives, the Google Pixel 8 (Review), retailing around Rs 76,000, is a good option, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S24, priced around Rs 80,000. There’s also the OnePlus 12 (Review), which is the same price as the Xiaomi 14.

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Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 5G With Triple Rear Cameras, 5,000mAh Battery Debut in India: See Details

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Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 5G With Triple Rear Cameras, 5,000mAh Battery Debut in India: See Details

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Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G were launched in India on Monday (March 11). The latest Galaxy A-series smartphones feature 6.6-inch AMOLED screens with up to 120Hz refresh rate and are equipped with triple rear camera units led by 50-megapixel primary sensors. The Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G ship with Android 14 and are confirmed to get four generations of Android updates and five years of security patches. Both models feature a hole-punch display and are backed by 5,000mAh batteries with 25W charging support.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 5G price in India

Pricing details for the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G were not available on Samsung’s India website at the time of writing. The company is expected to announce the prices during the Samsung Live event on March 14 at 12:00 PM IST.

The Galaxy A55 5G is offered in 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256GB, and 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage options. It is listed in Awesome Iceblue and Awesome Navy shades. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A35 5G is available in 6GB + 128GB, 8GB + 128GB, and 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage configurations. It is offered in Awesome Iceblue, Awesome Navy, and Awesome Lilac colours.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G, Galaxy A35 5Gspecifications

The dual-SIM (Nano) Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G run on Android 14-based One UI 6.1. As mentioned, Samsung has confirmed to provide four generations of Android OS upgrades, One UI upgrades, and five years of security updates for the new handsets. They feature a 6.6-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,408 pixels) Super AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nits of peak brightness, and Vision Booster feature. They have a hole punch cutout on the display to house the selfie shooter and the screen has Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.

Samsung’s Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A35 are powered by unknown octa-core chipsets. The former might have an Exynos 1480 SoC, while the latter could have an Exynos 1380 SoC under the hood. The Galaxy A55 comes in 8GB and 12GB RAM options while the Galaxy A35 is offered in 6GB and 8GB RAM options. Both are available in 128GB and 256GB storage options.

For optics, the new handsets are equipped with triple rear camera units. The Galaxy A55 gets a 50-megapixel primary camera with autofocus, f/1.9 aperture and optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with f/2.2, and a 2-megapixel tertiary sensor with f/2.4 sensor. It has a 32-megapixel front camera with f/2.2 aperture.

The Galaxy A35 5G’s camera setup comprises a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, autofocus and f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, and a 5-megapixel macro shooter with f/2.4 aperture. It flaunts a 13-megapixel front camera. They pack up to 256GB of onboard storage that can be expanded up to 1TB through a microSD card.

Connectivity options on the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G include 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a USB Type-C port. Sensors onboard include an accelerometer, gyro sensor, geomagnetic sensor, hall sensor, light sensor, and virtual proximity sensor. Both models come with a fingerprint sensor for authentication. They also come with Samsung’s Knox Vault security feature. They have IP67 water and dust resistance build.

Samsung has packed 5,000mAh batteries with support for 25W fast charging on the Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G. The battery units are said to deliver up to 83 hours of audio playback time on a single charge. The Galaxy A55 5G measures 161.1×77.4×8.2mm and weighs 213 grams. The Galaxy A35 5G measures 161.7×78.0x8.2mm and weighs 209 grams.


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Vivo X Fold 3 Series Key Features Tipped via Leaked Posters; May Get Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC

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Vivo X Fold 3 Series Key Features Tipped via Leaked Posters; May Get Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC

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Vivo X Fold 3 is expected to launch soon alongside the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro model. Several leaks surrounding the purported foldable handsets have hinted at many expected features of the models as well as their probable launch timeline. Now, some promotional posters of the handsets have leaked and suggested several key specifications. The Pro model could be one of the first foldable smartphone to launch with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC.

A Weibo user leaked (via) alleged promotional posters of the anticipated Vivo X Fold 3 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. The phones are claimed to be light and slim with one of the posters also comparing the weight of the purported foldables with the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, suggesting that the foldable will be lighter than the latest Apple handsets. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models weigh 187g and 221g, respectively.

The posters also suggest that the Vivo X Fold 3 series handsets will arrive with an IPX8 rating for splash resistance. The base model is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, while the Pro model is likely to get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. The phones are also likely to ship with Vivo’s in-house V3 imaging chips and Android 14-based OriginOS 4. 

Both Vivo X Fold 3 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro are expected to carry 8.03-inch Samsung E7 AMOLED primary displays with 3,000 nits peak brightness level. The outer screens are likely to measure 6.53-inch in size and both inner and cover panels are expected to be equipped with ultrasonic fingerprint scanners for security.

For optics, the Vivo X Fold 3 handsets are said to come with a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a second 50-megapixel sensor with an ultrawide lens, and a 64-megapixel periscope shooter, all with support for optical image stabilisation (OIS). The phones are likely to be backed by 5,500 mAh batteries with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging support. 

A GSMArena report says that the base Vivo X Fold 3 is rumoured to be priced in China at CNY 7,999 (roughly Rs. 92,100), while the Pro model could start at CNY 9,999 (roughly Rs. 1,15,100). An earlier report suggested that the models may launch on either March 26, 27, or 28. The vanilla handset has also been tipped to be offered in black and white colour variants.


Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 alongside the Galaxy Tab S9 series and Galaxy Watch 6 series at its first Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea. We discuss the company’s new devices and more on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G Retail Package Surface Online, Hints at Charging Capacity

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Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G Retail Package Surface Online, Hints at Charging Capacity

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Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G is expected to launch later this year. The model may join three other models in the Infinix Note 40 lineup, which includes the base Infinix Note 40, Infinix Note 40 Pro 4G, and Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G. Previously, the 4G variant of the Infinix Note 40 Pro was spotted on a certification site. Now, a report shared a leaked image of the retail packaging of the Note 40 Pro+ 5G model. This suggests some charging details about the purported handset.

According to a Gizmochina report that shared a leaked image of the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G retail box, the phone will be equipped with All-Round FastCharge 2.0 technology and support 100W wired fast charging. The image also suggests that the handset will support MagCharge wireless charging which uses a magnet and is said to be more efficient than standard wireless charging. The box also shows that the handset will support NFC connectivity.

Meanwhile, a MySmartPrice report noted that the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G was spotted on Indonesia’s SDPPI site with the model number X6851B. It is said to feature a curved AMOLED display. The report adds that the base Note 40 and Note 40 Pro models were previously spotted on Google Play Console, which listed the phones with the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. The handsets are also tipped to sport a display with a resolution of 1,080 x 2,436 pixels and a pixel density of 480 ppi.

The report also claims that the base Infinix Note 40 and Note 40 Pro models were spotted on the FCC website. These listings reportedly suggest that the vanilla model will come with support for 45W wired and 5W wireless charging, while the Pro model is said to support 70W wired charging.

Further, the base and Pro models have also reportedly been spotted on Bluetooth SIG listing that suggests Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. They are also expected to carry a 5,000mAh battery each. Previously, the Infinix Note 40 Pro was also listed with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.

The Infinix Note 30 Pro comes with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 68W wired fast charging and 15W wireless charging. Meanwhile, the Infinix Note 30 VIP launched with support for 50W wireless fast charging.


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5 Things We Like About the Vivo V30 Series and One Thing We Didn’t

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5 Things We Like About the Vivo V30 Series and One Thing We Didn’t

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Vivo has finally launched its next-generation of V-series smartphones in India. The brand has introduced the Vivo V30 Pro and the Vivo V30 in the country. The Vivo V30 has a starting price of Rs 33,999, while the Pro variant starts at Rs 41,999. The Vivo V-series has been known for providing good camera performance, and the latest addition offers solid features in this department. However, is it enough to give stiff competition to other phones in a similar price segment? Here are five things we like about the all-new Vivo V30 series and one thing we didn’t. 

5 Things We Like About Vivo V30 Series

Here are five features that we absolutely admire about the new Vivo V30 series. 

Powerful Cameras 

The Vivo V-series is known for its camera capabilities, and the new Vivo V30 series is no different. The company has collaborated with Zeiss to improve the cameras of the Vivo V30 Pro. The phone offers a triple-camera setup with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX920 sensor with OIS support, a 50-megapixel Zeiss portrait camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. The phone offers six different kinds of portrait-like bokeh effects. Moreover, it also features video bokeh, which claims to deliver a cinematic experience. 

 

7 Vivo V30 Pro

Coming to the Vivo V30, it offers a dual-camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor with OIS support and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. Another interesting feature of the Vivo V30 series is the new group portrait photo that uses the wide-angle camera to take 92-degree wide-angle shots. For the front, both the models are loaded with a 50-megapixel Eye AF selfie camera. Furthermore, both smartphones are also support 4K video recording on both front and rear cameras. 

Sleek Design 

The Vivo V30 series is set to be one of the slimmest smartphones of 2024. The phone is 7.45 mm thick and has a borderless curved display that claims to enhance the in-hand feel. The phones have a reinforced middle frame, metal edge, and customised aluminium alloy corners for added durability.

6 Vivo V30 series

The Vivo V30 has three colour options: Andaman Blue, Peacock Green, and Classic Black. The Vivo V30 Pro comes in Andaman Blue and Classic Black colour options. The special focus this time is on the Andaman Blue colour option, which is said to give hues representing the Andaman Sea. 

Sharp Display 

The Vivo V30 series offers some good displays as well. The phones are loaded with a 6.78-inch 1.5K curved AMOLED display that provides a resolution of 2800 x 1260 pixels. Both the phones also feature a 120Hz refresh rate along with 2800 nits of peak lock brightness.
 

5 Vivo V30 series

The Vivo V30 series comes with Schott Xensation glass for display protection. Moreover, you get  HDR10+ support, 100 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut, and SGS eye-protection certification. 

80W Fast Charging 

The latest models come with some solid battery specs. The Vivo V30 series offers a large 5,000mAh battery with 80W FlashCharge support. Moreover, the company claims that the battery on the new models can last twice as long as compared to previous generation models. Also, the company claims that the battery health will remain above 80- percent for up to 4 years, thanks to 1,600 charge-discharge cycles.

MediaTek Dimensity 8200 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC

The Vivo V30 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 processor and Mali-G610 MC6 GPU. The phone packs up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. On the other hand, the Vivo V30 comes loaded with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor with Adreno 720 GPU. The model features 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. 

3 Vivo V30 series

Both models offer a large VC cooling chamber and 11 built-in temperature sensors that improve thermal performance. Moreover, the phones will have three generations of Android and four years of security updates. 

1 Thing We Didn’t Like About Vivo V30 Series

Not all things are perfect, and the same can be said for the Vivo V30 series. Here’s one thing that we think can be improved. 

Bloatware 

4 Vivo V30 series

The FunTouch OS 14 is undoubtedly a heavy skin over the Android 14 operating system, and it does come with its fair share of bloatware, which can be off-putting, provided the price tag. You still get several third-party apps, the un-popular V-appstore and more. However, you can delete some applications from the phone with ease. 

To conclude, the Vivo V30 series seems to be an interesting phone that offers a premium and sleek design, a bright and sharp display, decent performance, and some good cameras. However, the company still needs to work on the user interface to align it more with the competition. 


Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company’s new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Realme 12+ 5G First Impressions

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Realme 12+ 5G First Impressions

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Realme is on a roll. After unveiling the Realme 12 Pro series earlier this year, the company is back with the Realme 12 5G series. The newly announced phones include the Realme 12 5G and the Realme 12+ 5G. We spent some time with the Plus variant, which already looks like a good-budget phone. The Realme 12+ carries a design similar to the more expensive Realme 12 Pro lineup. You get a vegan leather finish and a primary rear camera with OIS support. That’s not a common feature you’ll find in this price segment. Before we thoroughly test the phone, here are our first impressions.

From the back, the Realme 12+ 5G looks like the Realme 12 Pro. It has a vegan leather finish on the back that’s soft to the touch and doesn’t attract fingerprints. This is much better than a plastic or even a glass panel, for that matter. Realme has kept the branding to the minimum, with a simple Realme logo on the bottom left. Apart from the vegan leather finish, which costs 50 percent more than the plastic back, you also get a circular triple rear camera setup.realme 12 plus fi 3 realme-12-plus-camera

The rear triple camera design is also borrowed from the Pro series but lacks the golden ring. However, the Realme 12+ 5G still has the watch-like sunburst dial and a golden line running through the centre of the back panel. What’s completely different is the frame of the phone. Realme has given the handset flat sides with rounded corners. It’s made from plastic, but one can easily mistake it for metal. The sides are super reflective, and I prefer the boxy design over the curved edges that were seen on the Realme 12 Pro series.

Realme has managed to make a good-looking smartphone once again. As for the button placement, both volume and power buttons are on the handset’s right side, with the bottom housing the USB Type-C port, speaker grille, microphone, and SIM tray. At the top, the Realme 12+ 5G has a 3.5mm headphone port, another microphone, and a second speaker. I love that Realme has included a headphone port on the handset. The phone also gets an IP54 rating. 

Coming to the front, the Realme 12+ 5G has a big 6.67-inch AMOLED display with slim bezels on three sides and a chin that’s slightly thicker than the rest. The display is vibrant and offers HDR 10+ support, 120Hz refresh rate, and a full-HD+ resolution. Realme also claims the display has a Rainwater Smart Touch feature that allows you to use the touchscreen even during rain or with wet hands. We’ll test this out in the full review. You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner on the phone.realme 12 plus fi 2 realme-12-plus-front

Now, let’s talk about that camera setup. This is probably the only phone in this price range to offer a Sony LYT-600 50-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilisation. The Realme 12+ 5G’s main selling point is this camera, which the company claims can take really good photos. We’ll be checking the camera out in the full review, but in my few hours with the phone, I found that the software tends to oversaturate the photos. Apart from the 50-megapixel primary camera, you also get an 8-megapixel ultra-wide unit and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. There’s a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies, which takes decent selfies in adequate lighting conditions.

On the inside, the Realme 12+ 5G is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC that I found snappy initially. I’ll obviously be running some benchmarks and playing some games to see how the phone performs under stress. You get up to 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage on the handset. The phone supports both RAM (virtual) and storage (microSD card) expansion. For connectivity, you get dual SIM, 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and the usual set of GPS satellite connectivity.

Lastly, the Realme 12+ 5G has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging. Luckily, the charger is provided in the box. Realme claims that the phone can be fully charged in just 48 minutes, but we’ll have to test that. In the software department, the phone runs Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0 out-of-the-box, and yes, there’s a lot of bloatware to deal with. Realme has promised two years of Android OS upgrades and three years of security patches.

Realme 12+ 5G Initial thoughts

For the starting price of Rs. 20,999, the Realme 12+ 5G seems like an excellent budget phone. I’ll test the camera, performance, software, and battery life to see how it fares. The Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS is surely rare in this segment. The phone will compete with the recently launched Nothing Phone 2a(Review), a really good budget smartphone.

Stay tuned for our full review to find out if the Realme 12+ 5G is something to consider in your quest to buy the best budget phone.

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