Realme Watch 3 Review: Redefining Entry-Level Smartwatches

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August 30, 2022

Realme Watch 3 Review: Redefining Entry-Level Smartwatches

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The affordable smartwatch segment is picking up momentum quickly, and some of the early players in the space have already established their credentials. Realme has been hard at work trying to build an ecosystem of sorts, with a strong presence in various segments including smartphones, audio products, and tablets. The latest addition to the company’s expansive portfolio of smart wearables is the Realme Watch 3, which tries to strike a balance between fitness and health tracking, useful features, and affordability.

Priced at Rs. 3,499 in India, the Realme Watch 3 is Realme’s latest affordable smartwatch, and hopes to bring the brand back into the spotlight as it competes against similarly priced products from Noise, Fire-Boltt, and Boat. With a big screen, Bluetooth calling, and fitness tracking features, is the Realme Watch 3 the best affordable smartwatch you can buy right now? Find out in this review.

Bluetooth calling on the Realme Watch 3 works with the smartwatch functioning as a hands-free speaker and microphone

Realme Watch 3 design and specifications

At its price of Rs. 3,499, the Realme Watch 3 goes up directly against the recently launched Noise ColorFit Pro 4, which has a similar set of features and specifications. Although the Realme Watch 3 has a 1.8-inch TFT LCD touchscreen which is a bit larger than that of the Noise smartwatch, it isn’t as sharp, with a resolution of 240×286 pixels. It is claimed to be as bright with a maximum brightness of 500 nits, though.

The Realme Watch 3 is available in two colour options, black and grey, and the company sent the latter to me for review. While the strap is grey, the sides of the smartwatch are a glossy, reflective shade of silver that looks rather good, in my opinion. The front and back of the Realme Watch 3 are black, and the 22mm straps can be removed and replaced with compatible aftermarket options.

There are thick borders around the Realme Watch 3’s screen, which give it a somewhat dated look. You can reduce the visual impact of the borders by using a black background, but the somewhat poor black levels of the TFT-LCD screen mean that you’ll still be able to see the differences up close.

The Realme Watch 3 is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance

The right side of the Realme Watch 3 has the microphone along with the primary button which controls power and some navigation functions within the interface. The left side has the speaker, which is used when placing or receiving calls on the smartwatch. The bottom of the device has contact points for charging, and optical sensors for heart rate and blood oxygen readings.

The Realme Watch 3 is IP68 rated for dust and water resistance, and weighs 40g with the included strap. The device uses Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity. The sales package includes a magnetic charging cable for the smartwatch.

Realme Watch 3 software and app

As with most affordable smartwatches, the Realme Watch 3 has a simple user interface with a fixed set of apps made to operate its features and functionality. It isn’t possible to install or uninstall apps from this watch. The Bluetooth connection to your smartphone is used to synchronise fitness data and receive notifications, apart from the device’s wrist-worn speakerphone functionality.

Swiping left or right cycles through the main apps on the Realme Watch 3, including activity tracking, sleep tracking, heart rate tracking, weather, and music controls. A swipe upwards from the bottom lets you see notifications with a quick preview of the text, and swiping down from the top shows quick toggles for brightness, power saving mode, settings, and more. Pressing the side button shows the full app menu in either grid or list format.

The Realme Watch 3 has a single button which controls power and some navigation functions

There are apps for most key functions that you would expect on a smartwatch, including a stopwatch, timer, alarms, camera shutter control, heart rate and blood oxygen tracking, workouts and workout records, and settings, among others. It’s all quite easy to access and get used to.

The Realme Link app handles the connection between the Realme Watch 3 and your smartphone, and is available for both iOS and Android. The app provides a detailed and organised view of fitness data collected by the smartwatch. It also lets you customise settings and other functions on the watch, and change watch faces.

You can choose from Realme’s growing list of watch faces, and have up to four faces saved on the watch simultaneously to quickly switch between. You can also choose which apps you want to (or don’t want to) receive notifications from on the smartwatch, and create event reminders for the watch to notify you at the right time and date. Waking the watch requires you to press the button or lift your wrist; tapping the screen in standby does nothing.

If you have multiple Realme products such as earphones or IoT devices, the Realme Link app serves as a common hub for all of them, which is quite convenient. The connection with the smartwatch was stable, and notification delivery was reliable during my review period.

Realme Watch 3 performance and battery life

Affordable smartwatches often boast of many features and capabilities, but the actual experience isn’t quite what it claims to be. That said, I’ve found that most devices in this price range, including the Realme Watch 3, do a decent job as far as showing the time and notifications goes, thanks to the colour screen and ability to change watch faces.

Up to four watch faces can be stored on the Realme Watch 3 simultaneously, while more can be downloaded using the app

Bluetooth calling was particularly useful on the Realme Watch 3, and I was able to use the device for short conversations in relatively quiet places such as my home or office. I found the dialler interface on the smartwatch a bit clunky, but you can define frequent contacts to make it easier to call people you need to regularly. Receiving calls on the watch is easy, and worked without any trouble.

As for health and fitness tracking, I found the Realme Watch 3 to be fairly off the mark, but there aren’t too many other options in this price segment that are very accurate. The smartwatch measured 1,072 steps when I manually counted 1,000, similar to the identically priced Noise ColorFit Pro 4. Over longer distances, the difference rose to around 85 extra steps per 1,000 as compared to the Apple Watch Series 7 with both devices worn together.

Distance measurements were strangely under-recorded when compared to the Apple Watch, while calorie measurements were over-recorded. Heart rate readings were also fairly inaccurate when moving, but matched what I’d get on the Apple Watch or a pulse oximeter when standing still or sitting down. Blood oxygen readings were usually accurate, compared to the pulse oximeter. Sleep tracking seemed fine with regard to duration.

Battery life on the Realme Watch 3 matched the company’s claims, with the device running for just under seven days. My usage included frequent activity and health tracking, occasionally taking calls on the smartwatch, and viewing the previews on notifications. This figure also matches what most affordable smartwatches of this kind are able to deliver.

Verdict

The Realme Watch 3 offers a lot for Rs. 3,499, including good looks, reliable connectivity, decent battery life, and the big feature addition that sets it apart from its predecessors – Bluetooth calling. Fitness and activity tracking accuracy was less than ideal, but apart from that, this is a fairly well-equipped device for the price, and worth considering if you want a smartwatch but have a tight budget.

That said, the Noise ColorFit Pro 4 is worth considering as well, primarily for its sharper screen and better watch faces. It all comes down to brand and personal preferences, but you’ll largely get what you pay for (and a bit more) with the Realme Watch 3, making it a worthwhile pick.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: A Productivity Beast

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hitesh

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August 29, 2022

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Review: A Productivity Beast

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was a solid offering as far as foldables are concerned, but its ergonomics, battery life, cameras, and especially its premium pricing held it back from being a top recommendation. This year, Samsung says it has doubled down on improving these areas with its new Galaxy Z Fold 4. Along with this, we also have other useful upgrades such as a more power-efficient display and SoC. It’s time to see if all these little changes add up to a better usage experience and if it’s finally time to seriously consider this foldable as your primary smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 pricing and variants in India

Prices across variants for the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 have risen compared to the previous model. 12GB of RAM is still constant but the base variant with 256GB of storage (which is what I have) now costs Rs. 1,54,999. Next is the variant with 512GB of storage, which costs Rs. 1,64,999, and Samsung is also offering a 1TB storage variant in India for Rs. 1,84,999. The latter makes the Galaxy Z Fold 4 one the most expensive smartphones in India, besting even the 1TB iPhone 13 Pro Max (Review).

For such an expensive phone, you still don’t get a charger in the box, which is disappointing. In India, all variants of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 are available in Graygreen, Phantom Black, and Beige. Samsung also offers a Burgundy shade in some markets, which is the signature colour of the Galaxy S22 Ultra (Review).

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 design

At first glance, it’s tough to find much of a difference between the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the older model. The Fold 4 is little shorter in height but ever so slightly wider when unfolded. Its aluminium frame is flatter, with reduced bevelled edges compared to the Fold 3. The new Fold is also slightly slimmer when folded and is lighter at 263g (vs 271g). This might not seem like much but the lower weight does feel a bit more manageable when using this device. There are also other subtle design changes around the USB port and the frame near the outer display.

If you look closely, you’ll spot the slight size and design differences between the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (grey) and the Fold 3 (black)

The ports and buttons, and even the antenna bands and microphones on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 are in exactly the same spots as on the Fold 3. The outer cover screen is the same 6.2 inches in size but the HD+ resolution is a bit higher pushing the pixel density to 402 ppi (vs 387 ppi). It also supports a 120Hz refresh rate (can drop to 48Hz) and uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ for scratch and shatter protection. There’s no pre-applied screen guard on the Fold 4, like there was on the Fold 3.

The internal folding display of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is also the exact same size as on last year’s model, measuring 7.6 inches. The resolution is a bit different (2176×1812 pixels) due to the slightly wider aspect ratio but the pixel density is identical. Samsung says it has strengthened the ultra-thin glass but I noticed that it picks up superficial dents just as easily, even with slight pressure from a fingernail. It’s still best to err on the side of caution when using the main display.

You get an under-display camera in the folding screen, and it’s the same 4-megapixel unit from the Fold 3, but Samsung says it has tweaked the layout of display pixels over the camera so that the lens is less visible in the UI. While slight pixellation is still visible against bright backgrounds, it is indeed a lot more subtle compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The folding display also now has a wider range for its variable refresh rate, which goes from 1Hz to 120Hz to save power.

The under-display camera is less obvious on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (right) than on the previous model (left)

The lower weight and slightly smaller profile of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 can be attributed to a new hinge mechanism. This is something that you’ll never notice since the hinge behaves just like it did on the Fold 3, however rather than going with a geared mechanism with interlocking teeth, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 uses a more compact solution that relies on linear motion instead. Despite this new mechanism, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has a wedge shape when folded, which means there’s a visible gap between the two halves, and the crease where the display folds is still very evident.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 specifications and software

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, with support for 16 5G bands in total. This phone supports two physical SIMs, or you can use a single SIM and one eSIM. Wireless protocols include Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC with Samsung Pay, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). You also get all the expected sensors.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 has the same 4,400mAh battery capacity as the Z Fold 3, and supports up to 25W fast charging. You also get wireless and reverse wireless charging. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is IPX8 rated for water resistance, but we still don’t have a certification for dust protection. The phone has a capacitive fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, which works reliably. The folding display of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 also supports Samsung’s S Pen Fold Edition, with up to 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and other S Pen features such as Air view, Screen-off memo, etc. The S Pen still needs to be bought and carried separately as there’s no space to stow it in the phone.

The inner display is gorgeous and now supports a 1Hz to 120Hz variable refresh rate

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the first phone to ship with Android 12L, which is basically Android 12 but with an interface optimised for foldables and tablets. One of its key features is a taskbar. When you open any app on the large folding display, the first row of icons from the bottom of the homescreen is shrunken and pinned to the bottom. This allows you to quickly open another app in either split-screen mode or as a floating window. Two previously opened apps are also pinned at the bottom.

You can have up to eight apps pinned in the taskbar (not counting the two recent ones) but if you need to get to some other app, you can also hit the dotted grid icon to open the app drawer, all without having to leave the currently open app. The taskbar can be disabled if you want, or you can hide it with a long-press gesture.

OneUI 4.1.1 on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 looks and functions similar to what I experienced on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. ‘Cover screen mirroring’ lets you copy the app layout of the cover screen to the folding screen. You can choose which apps continue to run on the cover screen after folding the phone. The Z Fold 4 has an excellent always-on display feature, a good selection of downloadable themes and wallpapers, and plenty of shortcuts and gestures that truly make good use of the large display.

The taskbar is a useful feature on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for productivity

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 performance and battery life

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is everything you’d expect from a premium flagship when it comes to everyday use. It feels a bit lighter than the previous model, and the flatter frame and rear panels make it relatively comfortable. The matte finish of the glass back does not pick up any fingerprints, which is a relief. Both displays on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 get adequately bright when using the phone outdoors during the day, and colour saturation is top-notch.

The outer display is responsive, and is handy when you need to get some work done in a hurry. Typing on it still feels cramped, unless you use swipe gestures on the keyboard. The folding display takes smartphone multitasking to the next level. The software lets you easily switch between multiple layouts for your opened apps, making it easy to customise your workflow.

The latest Qualcomm SoC has really bumped up the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s performance compared to its predecessor. The phone posted strong scores of 949,295 points in AnTuTu and 60+ FPS in GFXBench’s graphics tests. I also noticed that the Fold 4 doesn’t get quite as hot as the Fold 3 when playing games or using the camera app. Its stereo speakers sound great and really help enhance the whole large-screen gaming experience. Speaking of which, all the usual heavy-hitters such as Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends ran just fine, with steady frame rates and very good touch response.

The flagship Snapdragon SoC in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 offers good performance and power efficiency

The under-display selfie camera is not great for selfies or even when it comes to face recognition, but image quality is good enough for video calls.

Thanks to the more efficient SoC, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4’s battery life has improved noticeably over the previous model. Our HD video loop test ran for just over 15 hours on the folding display (compared to around 12.5 hours on the Fold 3). Even with regular use, I was easily able to get an entire day’s worth of use and then some, before having to charge this device. Samsung didn’t send me its official charger, but using a standard 45W USB-PD charger, I managed to charge the Galaxy Z Fold 4 up to 48 percent in half an hour and up to 88 percent in an hour.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 cameras

Two of the rear cameras on the Samsung Galaxy Z fold 4 have gotten big upgrades. The main camera now uses a 50-megapixel sensor which pixel bins photos and saves 12-megapixel stills by default. It has optical stabilisation (OIS) and a wide f/1.8 aperture. It now supports 8K video recording which was missing from the Fold 3. The telephoto camera now has a 10-megapixel sensor (vs 12-megapixel) but higher 3X optical and 30X digital zoom ranges. The ultra-wide camera still has a 12-megapixel sensor but with no autofocus, so macro photography is not possible. The selfie cameras on the cover (10-megapixels) and folding screen (4-megapixels) are similar to those of the Fold 3.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 daylight camera samples (tap to see full size)

In daylight, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 captured slightly more realistic colours than the Fold 3. Details of distant objects in landscape shots were also sharper and more legible thanks to the higher resolution of the new sensor. Close-ups taken with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 looked very good, although it’s worth keeping in mind that the depth effect can be a bit too aggressive, so you’ll need enough of a distance from your subject to get all of it in focus. Night mode automatically kicks in when shooting at night, and here, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 captures stunning photos, with good exposure and slightly better details compared to the Fold 3.

Ultra-wide shots taken with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 had good exposure, although at times the dynamic range was a bit inadequate. In certain shots, I found that the Fold 3 captured better details in the day. Low-light shots taken with the Fold 4 also looked very good, with good dynamic range and exposure thanks to Night mode.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 telephoto camera sample (tap to see full size)

The telephoto camera managed excellent details in daylight at the native optical zoom level. Details stayed strong till 10X magnification but then began to fade a bit as I went higher. Shots were still usable even at 20X magnification, but anything beyond that made textures start to look pixellated and blurry. In low light, the phone uses 3X digital zoom with the primary camera so images are still sharp and Night mode is engaged automatically. However, photos beyond 10X magnification are taken with the telephoto camera and you don’t get Night mode.

The selfie camera on the cover screen captures decent-looking stills during the day and in low light. Night mode is present too which helps in such situations. The under-display camera is best not used for selfies since its quality is the weakest of all the Z Fold 4’s cameras, plus it’s a little awkward to take a selfie with this device unfolded. As before, you can use the rear cameras for selfies and the cover screen as a viewfinder if you need better quality or ultra-wide-angle selfies.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 low-light camera samples (tap to see full size)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 daylight camera samples (tap to see full size)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 low-light camera samples (tap to see full size)

Videos recorded with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 are very good. 8K 24fps videos shot during the day looked looked good and were also stabilised well. At night, there’s a bit of jitter when walking which is a little distracting. If you want more flexibility when shooting, 4K 30fps should be your go-to resolution. Video quality at this setting is superb, and the jitter isn’t too prevalent in low light. The best part is that you can switch between the main, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras (up to 12X zoom) at this resolution. The selfie camera on the cover screen also supports 4K 30fps video recording.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a very good iterative update over the Galaxy Z Fold 3. This new phone has a more power-efficient SoC, improved primary and telephoto cameras, and better battery life. It’s also a tad easier to handle – but make no mistake, it’s still a chunky smartphone and the folding display still needs to be used with a lot more care than a regular phone display. Prices have increased, but if you have the budget for it, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is definitely a more practical large-screen smartphone than the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

If you’re not too concerned about the improvements that the new model offers, then it’s a great time to consider the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Prices now start at Rs. 1,39,999 and you can get the 512GB variant for Rs. 1,47,999, which is less than what the Galaxy Z Fold 4 costs.

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House of the Dragon Episode 2 Review: Old Makes Way for the New

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hitesh

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August 29, 2022

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House of the Dragon Episode 2 Review: Old Makes Way for the New

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House of the Dragon episode 2 — out now on HBO Max and Disney+ Hotstar — is titled “The Rogue Prince”. That clearly refers to Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith), who has announced himself as the rightful heir to the Iron Throne and camped out on Dragonstone, after being snubbed by his brother King Viserys (Paddy Considine) at the end of episode 1. It’s a bit curious to name the episode after him though. Of all the main characters on the Game of Thrones prequel series, Daemon has the least amount of screen time on episode 2. But it’s also a clever title, “Fire & Blood” readers will know best. House of the Dragon episode 2 hints at it too, with everyone talking about how Viserys must “produce” new heirs. Spoiler alert: he will — and one of them’s also a rogue prince.

It’s been roughly six months — as promised, time jumps have begun — since the events of episode 1, when we pick up in House of the Dragon episode 2. While Daemon has made the boldest move yet, Viserys’ eldest Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) is now trying to assert herself around the Red Keep, now that she’s been named heir. At a small council meeting, where her job is to pour wine, Rhaenyra suggests to her father that he should send dragonriders to deal with the menace of the Crab Keeper, a new villain who’s taken over the Stepstones, a chain of islands east of Dorne in Westeros and west of Essos. It’ll be seen as a show of force, she notes. (This moment actually foreshadows her own actions later on House of the Dragon episode 2, in how she deals with Daemon.)

But the all-men council don’t take kindly to her “suggestions” and she’s quietly pushed out of the small council meeting. Instead, she’s told to partake in the choosing of a new knight for the Kingsguard. There too, Rhaenyra tries to assert herself by choosing a knight who’s had combat experience — Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), one of the two new main cast members on House of the Dragon episode 2 — over a more politically-savvy choice. It’s a side-effect of her own desires. While women are expected to be comely and bear offspring for their husband, Rhaenyra is more interested in dragon-riding and fighting. It’s why she leans forward and enquires about Ser Criston’s exploits in the Dornish marshes.

House of the Dragon Review: Game of Thrones Prequel Is a Thing of Beauty

Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon episode 2
Photo Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

Rhaenyra’s boldest move to assert herself on House of the Dragon episode 2 finds her acting on her own advice. After the small council is made aware of Daemon stealing a dragon egg, announcing common-born Lady Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) as his second wife and inviting the King to his wedding in two days, Viserys decides to go and face his brother himself. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), calms him down and asks to let him go in his place. But Otto fails to make Daemon see reason, precisely because Daemon has no desire to listen to reason. He’s happy to unsheathe his sword and unleash his dragon Caraxes, despite Mysaria and his unborn child being in their presence.

And were it not for Rhaenyra’s move to do a show of force — her entrance with Syrax was truly epic on House of the Dragon episode 2 — Otto would have to return to King’s Landing with his tail between his legs. Even Daemon is caught by Rhaenyra’s unexpected arrival, with Rhaenyra quickly unravelling his series of lies. Not only has Daemon not asked Mysaria to be his wife, there is no child in her belly. Daemon was simply making it all up. At the end, it’s Daemon who walks away, reluctantly handing over the dragon egg back to Rhaenyra.

A girl of 15 bested her uncle, a grown man. In a way, this is the first dance of the dragons — the famed Targaryen war of succession that we are headed towards is called “Dance of the Dragons” by those who wrote the history books — as we see two Targaryens butt heads. While their respective show of force sits on either side of the stage, the two dragonriders prance about the arena, waiting for one of them to draw first blood. Ultimately, no fire is breathed and no lives are lost, but the stage has been set on House of the Dragon episode 2.

Everything You Need to Know About House of the Dragon

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon episode 2
Photo Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

And while Otto attempts to object — be it in choosing the knight, and later, Rhaenyra’s presence at Dragonstone — he fails on both accounts in House of the Dragon episode 2. In the first, he tries to give Rhaenyra a lesson in politics, but she’s not easily swayed. And with the second, it’s Rhaenyra who ends up giving Otto a lesson in politics. If you’re going up against someone with a dragon, you better have one in your corner.

That said, there’s a much bigger and more important political lesson in store for her on House of the Dragon episode 2. That comes from Viserys’ cousin and The Queen Who Never Was, Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best). As Viserys takes a tour around the Red Keep gardens with her daughter Lena, Rhaenys tells Rhaenyra that her father will remarry someone or the other. And as he fathers new children, one of them will end up being a son. And when Viserys is gone, the realm will expect him to be the ruler, not Rhanerya, because “that is the order of things.” Rhaenys sums up patriarchy — also foreshadowing what’s to come — as she adds: “Men would sooner put the realm to the torch, than see a woman ascend the Iron Throne.”

And by the end of House of the Dragon episode 2, it’s clear that Rhaenyra won’t just be going up against boys, but also her best friend. Alicent has been charting her own way through the Red Keep, though as of now, she isn’t operating out of desire as much as expectation from her father. After the death of Queen Aemma, she’s been having talks with the King that have more to them, especially from Viserys’ side. And of course, she’s smart enough to say the right things and know what will impress him. But she’s also full of worry and anxiousness — just look at the state of her fingernails — and it doesn’t help that the King and her father have just pitted her against her best friend. Alicent doesn’t want to destroy their friendship, but she’s being manoeuvred in ways that are outside her control.

Inside House of the Dragon, the Fiery Game of Thrones Prequel Spin-Off

Paddy Considine as Viserys, Eve Best as Rhaenys, Steve Toussaint as Corlys in House of the Dragon episode 2
Photo Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO

Picking Hightower over Velaryon is going to cost Viserys. Rhaneys tells Rhaenyra when they are talking on House of the Dragon episode 2 that her father is no fool, yet this is clearly a foolish decision, on par with some Ned Stark choices on Game of Thrones, I would argue. Even though he’s king, Viserys has his “duties”, and strengthening his line is top of them. Joining the old houses of Valyria in blood — the Targaryens and the Velaryons — would have been the smart move, as everyone suggested. But in marrying for duty, Viserys has made a compromise and done it half out of affection. (And the fact that the other suitor was 12 years old, younger than his own daughter.)

But by picking Alicent as wife, Viserys has burnt the bridges he was trying to rebuild both with Rhaenyra, his only heir, and Lord Corlys “Sea Snake” Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), who owns half the fleet’s ships. No wonder then that the Sea Snake turns to Daemon to find his worth, with the rogue prince doing his own plotting. House of the Dragon episode 2 leaves us with a promise that it’ll address the Crab Feeder in the near future, possibly with fire and blood.

House of the Dragon episode 2 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India, and HBO Max wherever available. New episodes release every Monday at 6:30am IST/ Sunday at 9pm ET.

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LG C2 55-Inch Ultra-HD Smart OLED evo TV (OLED55C2PSC) Review: The OLED Champ

By

hitesh

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August 26, 2022

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LG C2 55-Inch Ultra-HD Smart OLED evo TV (OLED55C2PSC) Review: The OLED Champ

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If you’re spending big money on a television, you’ll naturally want to do your research and make sure you’re getting the best. However, that choice is a lot more complicated now than it was a few years ago, particularly with the introduction of new screen technologies such as Mini-LED changing the classic dynamics of the premium TV space. That said, OLED televisions still command a premium, both in terms of capabilities as compared to the competition, as well as price.

The television I’m reviewing here is part of a series that has long been among the most popular options among OLED televisions in India. The LG C2 range is the successor to the popular C1 and CX ranges, and promises improved performance and capabilities, along with the benefits that OLED screen technology typically brings to televisions. Is this the best premium (around Rs. 2,00,000) 55-inch television you can buy in India right now? Find out in this review.

The LG C2 OLED TV is available in various sizes, including a 55-inch variant on review here

LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) design and specifications

The LG C2 series is available is various sizes, ranging from 42 inches (priced at Rs. 1,39,990) to 83 inches (priced at Rs. 11,74,990). The variant sent to me for review is the 55-inch option, which is officially priced at Rs. 2,19,990. All televisions in the range, regardless of size, are Ultra-HD (3840×2160 pixels) OLED TVs with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and have largely similar specifications and features. Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos are supported on the TV.

LG’s C-series of televisions aren’t typically known for flourishing, premium design, and the 55-inch C2 TV is nowhere as impressive to look at as the similarly-priced Samsung 55QN95B. However, it’s still a well put together television with a slim profile at the edges, easy-to-reach ports and sockets, and narrow borders around the display that allow you to focus your attention on what’s playing on the screen.

There are no markings at the front of the TV, not even an LG logo. At the bottom, there is just the power button, located on a module that also has the status light and IR receiver. All of the ports and sockets are to the left of the screen and are easily accessible even with the TV wall-mounted. The speakers are bottom firing, and on the whole, the design is as straightforward as it gets.

The LG C2 55-inch television weighs 12.7kg without the stand, and 14.4kg with the centre stand which is included in the box. This stand design ensures that the TV can be placed on even a relatively small table and doesn’t have a large footprint. I had the television wall mounted for my review, using a VESA-standard low-profile wall-mount kit of my own; the wall-mount kit for the TV isn’t included in the box, but can be availed of during the free installation by the brand.

The ports and sockets on the LG C2 55-inch TV include four HDMI ports (all supporting 4K at 120Hz resolution, one of which support eARC), three USB Type-A ports, LAN, Optical Digital Audio-out, a single-socket AV-in to be used with an adapter, antenna and cable sockets, and an analogue socket for an IR blaster. Notably, there is no wired headphone connectivity on the TV.

In addition, there is NVIDIA G-sync, variable refresh rate (VRR), and AMD FreeSync support for gaming. The LG C2 supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 for connectivity, and has a rated sound output of 40W for its 2.2-channel speaker system. The television is powered by LG’s a9 Gen 5 AI processor 4K, which enables various AI-based features that’s claimed to optimise the viewing experience.

LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) remote and features

LG’s magic remote concept has been a popular one, and the C2 55-inch TV has this unique remote included. It’s a full-sized unit, and is designed to be bottom-heavy for better grip and manoeuvrability, which is needed for its wand-like functions. The remote creates a floating cursor on the screen of the TV, and you can wave the remote around to point and click. You can also stick to the traditional d-pad, scroll wheel, and button controls, if you prefer; either way, the remote is easy to use and gets you around the interface quickly.

LG’s magic remote uses ‘wand-like’ gestures to let you quickly navigate the interface, but you can choose to stick to the D-pad and scroll wheel if you prefer

The remote has hotkeys for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar, along with separate buttons to invoke Google Assistant and Alexa. Usefully, it’s possible to use both voice assistants simultaneously on the TV, which isn’t something I’ve seen too often. The rest of the remote is fairly standard, with buttons to control power, volume, source selection, and open the settings menu from anywhere within the UI, or even when content is playing.

Other features on the LG C2 television include support for Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, hands-free voice control, and LG’s AI ThinQ suite, which is able to sense the surroundings including daylight and other conditions, to set up the picture and sound for the conditions. It’s also possible to link the TV to the LG ThinQ app on your smartphone, which lets you use the phone as a remote for the TV and adjust certain settings, among other things.

LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) software and interface

LG’s webOS platform has come a long way over the years, from originally being built for Palm smartphones to being the default operating system for its TVs. It’s even changed a fair bit in the past year or so, with a growing focus on content curation and recommendations. Some elements of the interface continue to appear as overlays, such as the Settings and Source selection menus, but much of the interface covers the entire screen.

This includes the Home Dashboard, which shows a tile display of connected devices, and allows for quick access to AirPlay and any IoT devices you have connected through the LG ThinQ app. The main smart TV interface is now a full-screen affair, with tiles for weather, content recommendations, apps, and the web browser, so pressing the home button will pause what’s playing, unlike before.

Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos are supported on the LG C2 evo OLED TV

Many of the popular apps that you’d usually want on a smart TV are already installed, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar. Others can be installed through the app library, which have been optimised for the big screen. There are also various games, social media apps, and tools to choose from. Although not as well put together and extensive as the Google Play store for Android TV, the app library on webOS is decent enough, and apps work just as well on the platform as on other popular TV platforms.

I found the overall software experience a bit cluttered and unpredictable on the whole, and things sometimes took a bit too long to load. That said, there were no significant issues, and webOS is entirely usable as it is.

LG C2 55-inch OLED TV (OLED55C2PSC) performance

At over Rs. 2,00,000, the LG C2 55-inch television is firmly a premium option and would naturally be expected to perform at a level that justifies the price. LG’s OLED televisions have typically delivered on this and the C2 is no different; this is among the best televisions in its segment right now when it comes to picture quality and overall performance.

In terms of specifications, the LG C2 55-inch TV is well equipped for all kinds of content with support for various HDR formats up to Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Atmos audio, and the pixel-level dimming feature that comes with an OLED display. What truly stood out about the C2’s picture performance was its ability to almost intuitively adapt to the content and lighting conditions in the room, making practically everything I watched look as good as it could be.

Ultra-HD Dolby Vision content was first on my list, and I watched various shows and movies on the TV, including Obi Wan Kenobi, The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, Uncharted, and Man Vs Bee, to name a few. Across content and genres, the LG television delivered excellent performance, particularly when it came to contrast levels.

The true pixel-level blacks of an OLED television mean that contrast is virtually infinite, but getting it right is often a challenge. The LG C2 aces this aspect, delivering a picture that never looked like it was trying too hard and didn’t seem to need to highlight the deep blacks, as is usually the case with more affordable OLED televisions.

The LG 55C2 OLED TV gets the colours and black levels right, and never feels like its trying too hard

The colours felt understated, going more for accuracy and realism than the kind of bright, sometimes excessively vibrant picture, that many mid-premium and high-end televisions usually offer. Dolby Vision’s excellent handling of colours was made significantly better by the LG C2 55-inch TV, particularly with the visually stunning locations in The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.

The brightness was usually on point for the lighting conditions in the room, with LG’s AI ThinQ functionality doing a surprisingly good job at reading the content and lighting to set up the picture properly, getting the picture calibration right with the dark, detailed scenes of Obi Wan Kenobi. That said, the television did sometimes take a couple of minutes to react to changes in lighting conditions (such as turning a light on), but when it did, picture quality was impressive.

OLED televisions aren’t known for very high brightness levels and although LG claims to have enhancements in place to make the C2 brighter than previous models in the series, it doesn’t quite get there. This wasn’t often a problem for me as I usually watched television at night with the room dimly lit, but on the occasions that I tried to watch something during the day, it proved to be a bit of a challenge.

Unlike the very bright Samsung QN95B Mini LED TV, the LG struggled to adjust to even overcast conditions during the day, and I needed to draw the curtains for a watchable experience. This can be a challenge even in brightly lit rooms, so it’s something you should consider if ambient lighting can’t be quickly and easily adjusted.

While Dolby Vision and HDR10 content was viewable in a brightly-lit room thanks to the brightness of the TV being bumped up automatically, non-HDR content was a bit difficult to watch in anything but a dimly lit room. Episodes of Better Call Saul were detailed thanks to the Ultra-HD resolution, but the dull nighttime scenes of this iconic show were occasionally challenging to watch. The black levels were handled well, but skin tones and the nondescript suburban setting of the show seemed to lack character and feel at times.

Although I did face some issues with brightness levels, sharpness and motion handling were rarely ever an issue with the LG C2 55-inch OLED TV. The television’s seemingly intuitive ability to tweak the picture for the content was on full display here. During the slow scenes of Man Vs Bee, the LG C2 kept the focus on Rowan Atkinson’s priceless range of facial expressions, while the fast, exciting action sequences of Uncharted saw clean, flowing motion, with the right amount of blur and barely any noticeable artefacts.

As you’d expect from an OLED TV, black levels on the LG 55C2 are excellent

With lower-resolution content, the LG C2 did reasonably well with bright, colourful content. However, the brightness issues meant that generally dark content tended to affect the picture quality a fair amount. The Batman on Amazon Prime Video was occasionally disappointing to watch, with the TV unable to do much with the low resolution and generally bad quality of the stream. However, it was considerably better than on the (much more affordable) Philips Ambilight 7900 series TV on test, suggesting that the LG C2 is trying a lot harder to upscale and process lower quality content.

Sound quality on the LG C2 55-inch TV was decent in certain situations; Dolby Atmos made for a good soundstage, and even standard audio encoding was clear enough provided the volume was turned up. However, this itself was an issue for me; I often had to have the TV at the 90 percent volume level to hear anything properly in an otherwise quiet room, so I couldn’t quite get the loud and impactful sound that movies such as Uncharted and The Batman deserved. You will likely want to get a soundbar or speaker system to go with this television.

Verdict

Premium televisions come with big expectations and the Rs. 2,19,990 LG C2 55-inch television largely delivers the kind of flagship experience that you’d expect from it. With excellent colours, contrast levels, black levels, sharpness, and motion, the television offers a truly enjoyable viewing experience with high-quality content.

There are some fairly significant drawbacks though, and if these clash with your requirements and viewing conditions then it might make it worth considering competing options. These include weak brightness levels, inconsistent performance with lower-resolution content, and a built-in speaker system that isn’t very loud. It might perhaps make sense to consider the Samsung QN95B as an alternative.

However, good design and features, along with decent software, make the LG C2 55-inch OLED a winning pick on the whole. If you’re shopping for a new premium TV right now, this should be on your shortlist.

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For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2024 hub.

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Logitech MX Master 3S Review: Like No Other

By

hitesh

-

August 25, 2022

0

Logitech MX Master 3S Review: Like No Other

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Logitech’s MX Master series of computer mice has had only a few upgrades over the years. Logitech usually adds one new feature every now and then that we never knew we wanted (or needed), and this ends up becoming the norm in future iterations. Most recent was the MagSpeed electromagnetic scroll wheel which made an appearance on the MX Master 3 and is also present in the MX Master Anywhere 3.

With the latest MX Master 3S, Logitech has added a new Quiet Click feature, which promises to reduce the clicking sound of the mouse buttons to a bare minimum. It’s something I never knew I would want from a productivity mouse, but now that I have been using it for a few weeks, I’ve realised that it’s hard to get accustomed to anything else, and here’s why.

Logitech MX Master 3S price and box contents

In the box, the Logitech MX Master 3S comes with a USB Type-A to Type-C charging cable, user documentation, and the Logi Bolt USB receiver. Priced at Rs. 10,995, the Master 3S is definitely expensive and I am happy to see that the receiver is included in the package. However, it still costs more than what it’s sold for in the US, which is $99.99 (roughly Rs. 7,900). What I also would have liked to see is a carry case bundled with the Indian unit, which is included with units sold in the US.

Logitech MX Master 3S design

The Logitech MX Master 3S’ design has not changed by much. Placed next to the MX Master 3, it’s very hard to tell the difference between the two, especially if you’ve used the previous model. The texture of the left and right click buttons is new, but it also has a plasticky feel versus the rubber-like texture on the Master 3. The rest of the upper surface of the Master 3S gets the similar rubberised material as the old one.

The Logitech MX Master 3S has an ergonomic design that suits medium and large-sized hands well

Another change is a new colour option called Pale Grey, which is very different from the Mid Grey finish available on the MX Master 3.

In terms of ergonomics, the new MX Master 3S is still as good as the MX Master 3, with the same level of grip thanks to the silicon upper layer. The mouse is quite large for small hands, but fits medium-sized and large hands comfortably. The placement and feel of the customisable side buttons is the same as before. Yes, it still takes some effort to press down on the gesture key which rests below the thumb.

The main MagSpeed electromagnetic scroll wheel on the Logitech MX Master 3S is also the same as before. It is a delight to use and is super silent. There were times where I forgetfully left the scroll-wheel spinning while scrolling through long web pages, only to realise until I rested my finger on it. It stops quickly too thanks to the magnets biting on the well-crafted aluminium roller, like the callipers of a disk brake on a motorcycle. The scrolling works great on Windows computers but on macOS, I’d still prefer Apple’s Magic Mouse as the scrolling is a lot more accurate.

The Logitech MX Master 3S offers two scroll wheels and seven buttons in all

The thumb scroll wheel is still available and is quite useful for those who scroll horizontally through large excel sheets. Logitech should have implemented the same scrolling mechanism from the main scroll wheel as it still feels quite tight and rigid and lacks any momentum whatsoever. Since it is a lot smaller compared to the main scroll wheel, you have to repeatedly flick it to get to where you want and this can get really tiring if you have a massive data sheet or timeline to side-scroll through.

Since the design of the Logitech MX Master 3S is clearly made for right-handed users, there’s really no option for left-handed users. The MX Anywhere 3 should be a good alternative, which is a lot smaller and has an ambidextrous design.

Logitech MX Master 3S software

The Logitech MX Master 3S now works with the Logi Options+ app that is available for Mac and Windows systems. It’s a robust piece of software and has been improved in terms of reliability over the previous Logi Options app. The software is at the heart of the whole MX Master experience as it is the control centre for all the customisations that you can perform with the mouse.

In terms of operation, the software mostly remains the same as the Logi Options app, so the level of customisation is also the same as before. However, the possibilities are immense and almost feel infinite to an extent. When customising the functions of the mouse buttons, there’s an option to go with global settings which are basically the functions that work across apps, or you can customise the button’s functions for individual apps. You can pick an application from the list and set the mouse buttons to behave differently when the app is in use.

The buttons on the Logitech MX Master 3S are highly customisable

There are predefined customisations which are basically preselected options made by Logitech, or you can simply customise things to your liking. For example, the side buttons can be used to switch between desktops on macOS, but when Safari is open, the same buttons can be used to move back and forth between pages. The thumb scroll wheel which is normally used for side-scrolling in apps, will allow you to switch between tabs when Safari is open and will go back to its default setting when you use it anywhere else. It all works seamlessly and flawlessly no matter how many layers or customisations you add.

The Logi Options+ app, like before, also enables the Flow feature that allows the Logitech MX Master 3S to work with two to three devices simultaneously. All that is needed is for the software to be installed on all the devices and for all of them to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. From there on, you can simply move your mouse pointer to the edge of your main display to start controlling the system sitting next to it. It all works naturally, similar to what’s now possible when using macOS’s Universal Control feature, just that instead of being limited to one platform, Logitech’s solution works across operating systems. You can also copy and paste files (transfer time varies by file size) between two devices (and platforms), but you cannot drag and drop.

If you don’t want to control different devices, there’s also an Easy-Switch feature which basically lets you switch between controlling an iPad, a MacBook or Windows laptop by pressing the Easy-Switch button at the bottom of the mouse. These devices can be connected via Bluetooth or via the Bolt receiver. You can also pair the same mouse via Bluetooth and Bolt, and it will show up as two different mice in the Logi Options+ app.

Logitech MX Master 3S performance

While the Logi Options+ app worked beautifully with the MX Master 3S, especially when it came to managing customisations, I would not say the same for Bluetooth connectivity, which seemed to mar the whole MX experience from time to time. Using the mouse via Bluetooth seemed to work fine for a few weeks until it randomly started getting disconnected from my 2018 MacBook Pro.

The mouse also has many reported issues with Apple’s M1 SoC when using Bluetooth, so if you still want or need customisations but are heavily invested into the Apple ecosystem, using the Logitech Unifying or Bolt receiver seems to fix most of the issues. The only problem with this solution is that you end up losing a port on your machine which is not a big deal if it’s a desktop or a laptop with many ports. However, if you’re using a thin and light such as a MacBook Air, then you’ll need to remember to bring your USB hub along for a Type-A port.

There’s an Easy-Switch button for switching between devices at the bottom just like on the older MX Master 3

These connectivity issues with Mac computers were also present on the old MX Master 3 so it is a known problem that seems to have no solution, yet. On Windows, I faced no problems whatsoever when connected to an old Dell Inspiron laptop.

As for the highlight feature of this year’s MX Master mouse, it’s something that I never really thought I needed… until I used it. Logitech has somehow managed to quieten the click sound of its left and right click buttons. When enabled, it’s hard to hear the sound of the silent click, even in a quiet room. It feels more like a quiet tap instead of a click and you can only hear it if you hold the mouse up to your ear.

It’s not just about the sound though (or the lack of it), but the clicking experience as well. After using the Logitech MX Master 3S for a few weeks, I switched to my go-to mouse which is the (new) Apple Magic Mouse and I realised how much actuation force is actually needed to press down on a mouse button. I even tried out a regular Logitech M170 mouse and never realised how much pressure is actually needed to press down on the left and right click buttons.

Switching back to the MX Master 3S and this clickless wonder now feels even more premium as it’s silent with no audible clicks and requires minimal force. It is a very satisfying experience in all, and kind of what you experience when you find that right mechanical keyboard with the right amount of thock.

The gesture button which sits under the thumb and below the side buttons still feels quite stiff

All seven buttons of the mouse have good tactile feedback but I do wish that the Gesture button and the middle-click (available on the main scroll wheel) get softer with the next version of the MX series.

Logitech has also cranked up the DPI from 4,000 on the MX Master 3 to 8,000 on the MX Master 3S. I ended up using the mouse at 1,000 DPI which felt sufficiently accurate for regular work tasks and while editing images. The higher DPI does come in use when using multi-monitor setups. This is something I did not get to test, but it should work better in theory provided you find the right sweet spot as per your setup. I had no problems using the mouse on a polished wooden table or even a glass surface as the tracking was quite accurate.

Battery life was quite solid during the testing period. The Logitech MX Master 3S has a 500mAh battery which Logitech seems to have optimised really well. I ended up using the mouse for a work day (about nine hours), five days a week and it has been a month and 22 days since the last full charge, with the battery level still at 50 percent as I write this review. In short, the mouse should easily last about two months or so on a single charge, which is close to Logitech’s claim of up to 70 days. When the battery does die, Logitech claims that the MX Master 3S can work for about three hours with just a minute of charging.

Verdict

The Logitech MX Master 3S is in an odd spot as it isn’t a big upgrade over its predecessor, the MX Master 3 which is now available for about Rs. 8,000. The 3S is mainly for those who need the 8,000 DPI tracking or desire the Quiet Click experience.

Apple’s new Magic Mouse (Rs. 7,500 onwards) is not exactly an alternative to the MX Master 3S, but will be the go-to mouse for many on macOS as it works really well when it comes to gestures. Logitech’s MX Anywhere 3 (Rs. 7,495) gets you the Flow feature, software customisations, and also includes the same MagSpeed electromagnetic scrolling experience, minus a few buttons and the thumb-scroll wheel. It’s also ambidextrous, so it works well for left-handed users.

The Razer Pro Click is another productivity mouse with customisable buttons but works well only with Windows, and is priced at Rs. 6,699. There’s also Logitech’s G502 (Rs. 10,234) which seems well-equipped for some productive work even though it’s primarily a gaming mouse. There’s plenty of customisation in terms of lead weights for getting the feel just right, but the software is geared more towards gaming.

Once you take a look at the competition, the MX Master 3S does not feel abnormally expensive for what it offers. But the price bump is huge when compared to the previous MX Master 3. If you don’t care much for the new features in the Master 3S, there’s always the MX Master 3 which pretty-much gets the job done at a more reasonable asking price.

Pros:

Ergonomic design
Long battery life
Highly customisable buttons
Accurate tracking
Quiet Click is unique
Good companion app

Cons:

Bluetooth connectivity issues with macOS
Gesture button is a bit hard to press
Thumb-scroll wheel could be better

Ratings (Out of 10)

Design: 10
Performance: 8
Value for Money: 7
Overall: 9

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

For details of the latest launches and news from Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus, Oppo and other companies at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, visit our MWC 2024 hub.

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MacBook Air (M2, 2022) Review: Is It the Best Air Yet?

By

hitesh

-

August 24, 2022

0

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) Review: Is It the Best Air Yet?

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The Apple MacBook Air has arguably been one of the most popular slim and light laptop series for both professionals and students for more than a decade. Apple gave it a major design overhaul in 2018 and this year, it has received yet another major update. Announced in June during the WWDC 2022 conference, the new MacBook Air looks like an extension of the current-gen MacBook Pro family and boasts of a brand new Apple-designed processor called M2. This new SoC is said to be faster and more power-efficient than the M1, while still delivering great battery life.

The M2 MacBook Air is also costlier than the previous generation, but Apple is still keeping the M1 Air around, at least for now. The new M2 Air has plenty of little upgrades and couple of big ones over its predecessor, and it’s time to find out whether these changes indeed make it worth the hefty premium it commands.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) price in India and variants

The new MacBook Air starts at Rs. 1,19,900 in India and this variant gets you the M2 SoC with an eight-core GPU, a 256GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, and a 30W Type-C power brick. Apple sent me the second pre-configured variant, which is priced at Rs. 1,49,900 and features a 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and a 35W dual-port Type-C power brick.

You can configure the RAM and storage of both these variants if needed, but these aren’t upgradeable later so you’ll need to choose wisely. If you want to go crazy, you can spec the new MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, but it will cost a whopping Rs. 2,49,900. Prices will be slightly lower if you are eligible for a student discount.

The M2 MacBook Air is not available in Gold like the M1 Air, but it gets two new finishes called Midnight and Starlight, in addition to Space Grey and Silver. In the box, you get a USB Type-C power adapter, a Type-C to MagSafe 3 cable, and the laptop.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) design

The M1 MacBook Air was indistinguishable from the previous Intel-based version, but that’s not the case with the new M2 Air. It looks like a more compact 14-inch MacBook Pro, with fewer ports. The iconic wedge-shape of the MacBook Air is no more but instead, we get this uniformly thick base and flat lid. I think it looks quite nice and is a lot more comfortable to use on the lap since the edges of the body are less sharp. The all-aluminium chassis feels very sturdy and the fit and finish are top-notch, as you’d expect from a Mac. Oddly, Apple has removed the ‘MacBook Air’ inscription from below the display and in fact, there’s no mention of it anywhere on the laptop.

The new M2 MacBook Air looks like a leaner version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro

The M2 MacBook Air has a MagSafe charging port which leaves you with two free Thunderbolt ports. These support the USB 4 standard with a maximum bandwidth of 40Gbps (the same as Thunderbolt 3). The new MacBook Air is able to power up to a 6K external display at 60Hz. There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack on the opposite side of the ports that supports high-impedance headphones.

The bezels on the top and the sides of the display have shrunk, allowing Apple to squeeze in a slightly taller and larger 13.6-inch LED-backlit panel which has a resolution of 2560×1664 pixels. The brightness has also been increased by 100 nits compared to the M1 Air’s 400 nits. The display still has a 60Hz refresh rate and other Apple features such as True Tone and P3 wide-colour gamut coverage.

The M2 MacBook Air’s display also has a notch, just like the MacBook Pro models, to accommodate an improved 1080p FaceTime camera. The notch takes a bit of getting used to at first but thankfully MacOS is better optimised now so items in the menu bar for most apps automatically wrap around the notch and are no longer hidden behind it.

(1) The M2 MacBook Air has a MagSafe 3 charging port (2) The groove for opening the lid is redesigned (3) Sound is channeled via the multiple vents between the display and the base (4) The notch houses an upgraded 1080p Face ID camera

The advantage of the taller display is that there’s more keyboard space on the lower half of the MacBook Air. Apple has gone with full-sized function row keys, including the power/Touch ID button, without having to compromise on the size of the trackpad. In fact, the Force Touch trackpad is a bit wider on the new M2 Air. The perforated speaker grilles on either side of the keyboard are gone and Apple has switched to a four-speaker (vs two-speaker) system that outputs audio through vents between the hinges of the display.

The new MacBook Air has a clean and minimalist design with just four exposed screws on the base. Just like the M1-based Air, this model doesn’t have a fan so you can expect completely silent operation even when running stressful workloads.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) specifications and software

Apple says it designed the new MacBook Air around the M2 SoC, which is a generational update over the M1 but still positioned below the M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra. While the initial shift from Intel CPUs to in-house ones resulted in massive performance and efficiency upgrades, this new chip offers more modest improvements in comparison.

The M2 is a physically larger SoC with four billion more transistors than the M1 (20 billion in total), but is still built on a 5nm fabrication process. Some of the notable improvements include up to a 10-core GPU, support for up to 24GB of unified memory (RAM) with higher memory bandwidth of 100GB/s, and a hardware-level encode and decode engine for ProRes video at up to 8K. The CPU, GPU and neural engine cores in the M2 have also been upgraded for better performance.

The M2 MacBook Air gets a full-sized function key row and power/Touch ID button

It has been reported that the base model of the M2 MacBook Air with the 256GB SSD has slower read/write speeds compared to the 512GB model and even the 256GB M1 Air. The reason for this has been confirmed to be the use of a single, denser NAND storage chip in the 256GB model of the M2 Air, versus two, resulting in reduced bandwidth. I wasn’t able to verify this myself but it’s something worth keeping in mind.

The M2 MacBook Air features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and a slightly larger 52.6Wh battery but with the same claimed runtime of up to 18 hours of video playback. The M2 MacBook Air ships with macOS Monterey which boasts of features such as spatial audio for FaceTime calls, Tab Groups in Safari, and more recently, Universal Control. It will also be eligible for Apple’s upcoming macOS Ventura update in the coming months.

MacBook Air (M2, 2022) performance and battery life

For this review, I used the M2 MacBook Air as my daily driver for a few weeks to see how it copes with a mix of work and leisure activities. My workflow isn’t too demanding – other than using Photoshop, most of my work tasks are carried out in Safari. Transferring all my data (over 200GB) from the M1 MacBook Air to the M2 Air was seamless and quick. Even wirelessly, the transfer was nearly as quick as having a wired connection between the two laptops.

The taller screen of the M2 MacBook Air was the only thing that threw me off a little during my first few days of use, but after that, it was easy to get used to. In fact, I like the increased vertical space when viewing or reading content. The downside however is that there are usually thicker black bars when watching videos, but this isn’t too distracting or noticeable.

The display on the M2 MacBook Air is crisp and bright, making it great for work and play

When using basic apps such as Slack, PDF readers, Safari, Spotify, or even Photoshop, I did not notice much of a performance difference between the M2 MacBook Air and the M1. MacOS was just as speedy to boot up or wake from sleep, apps loaded quickly, and editing photos felt just as fluid as they did on the older M1 Air, which also had 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The keyboard on the M2 Air is excellent for typing, the trackpad is very precise, and the display produces superb colours and brightness.

The new four-speaker system in the M2 Air sounds a bit warmer and fuller compared to M1, but it’s not drastically different. Low-end frequencies have a decent amount of thump for a laptop this slim, and vocals and the mid-range frequencies are faithfully reproduced, with good clarity. Both laptops have a similar maximum volume level too.

According to Apple, the performance difference between M2 and M1 MacBook Airs should be most visible in heavier tasks such as video editing or transcoding ProRes RAW video files. I tried encoding a one-minute ProRes 4K (422 HQ) clip shot on an iPhone 13 Pro Max (Review) to 1080p (H.264), and the M2 Air completed this in 31.9s while the M1 Air took 47.8s. However, when converting the same file to 4K (H.264), the difference was negligible. The M2 Air’s performance improvement is noticeable in benchmarks, which you can see in the table below.

		MacBook Air (M2) (10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)	MacBook Air (M1) (8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
		MacBook Air (M2) (10-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)	MacBook Air (M1) (8-core GPU, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
Blackmagic Disk Speed Test (higher is better)
5GB	Read	2,703.7MB/s	2,853.7MB/s
5GB	Write	2,405.7MB/s	2,655.3MB/s
1GB	Read	2,824.3MB/s	2,847.4MB/s
1GB	Write	3,032.7MB/s	2,875.3MB/s
Cinebench R23 (higher is better)
Single-core		1,584 pts	1,500 pts
Multi-core		8,242 pts	7,686 pts
Geekbench 5 (higher is better)
CPU (Apple silicon)	Single-core	1,787 pts	1,749 pts
CPU (Apple silicon)	Multi-core	8,356 pts	7,728 pts

Compute	Metal	29,953 pts	20,798 pts
Compute	OpenCL	27,620 pts	18,712 pts
Browser benchmarks (higher is better)
WebXprt 4		201 pts	190
Basemark Web 3.0		1,179.2 pts	1,126.2 pts
Jetstream 2		222.8 pts	201.8 pts
Final Cut Pro (lower is better)
ProRes 4K (422 HQ)	to 1080p (H.264)	31.9 sec	47.8 sec
ProRes 4K (422 HQ)	to 4K (H.264)	42.1 sec	41.85 sec

Casual games from Apple Arcade ran quite well on the M2 MacBook Air. I tried a couple such as Asphalt 9: Legends and Jetpack Joyride 2, which were fun to play. The Mac is not the best platform for AAA titles but a few big names such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Metro Exodus are available. I tried the Steam version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the M2 MacBook Air, to see it was at least playable. With the resolution set to 1920×1200 and using the ‘High’ graphics preset, the built-in benchmark averaged 29fps, which is surprisingly decent. The M1 Pro SoC in the MacBook Pro 14-inch is still a lot more powerful, managing 48fps at the same settings.

The M2 MacBook Air has an upgraded 1080p FaceTime HD camera compared to the M1 Air, but with the same three-mic array. With enough natural light in the room, the M2 Air’s webcam produced better facial textures, and highlights were exposed better. In low light, the video feed was a lot less grainy compared to what the M1 can produce, but still nowhere near as good as the front camera of an iPhone 13 Pro.

I have a feeling this was a deliberate move. When iOS 16 and macOS Ventura arrive, you’ll be able to use your iPhone’s camera as a webcam wirelessly with a MacBook, and also take advantage of other features such as Centre Stage, Portrait Lighting, etc in video calls. It’s also an opportunity for Apple to sell you special mounts to clip your iPhone to your MacBook.

The M2 MacBook Air with the 10-core GPU ships with a dual-port 35W power adapter

Battery life has been one of the hallmark advantages of using a MacBook, even in the Intel days, and this has only gotten better since Apple shifted to its own silicon. The new M2 MacBook Air promises similar battery life as the M1 Air and it definitely delivers on this. Using it for work for about seven to eight hours on a typical day, the battery would usually have about 40 percent still remaining. This was enough for some light gaming or movie-watching after work, plus I usually had some power left for the next day too, as there’s minimal battery drain in standby.

The dual-port 35W power brick sold in India looks similar to the previous 30W brick, unlike the more compact version bundled with units sold in the US. With the battery at 10 percent, I managed to charge the M2 MacBook Air up to 39 percent in half an hour and up to 66 percent in an hour using the MagSafe cable. Apple also sells a 67W power adapter for Rs. 5,800 which is said to be able to charge the M2 Air from 0-50 percent in about half an hour. This adapter, oddly, has just a single Type-C port.

Verdict

The new M2 MacBook Air is a class act and a good upgrade over the older M1 MacBook Air in pretty much every way. It is more expensive by about Rs. 20,000 which is on the steeper side for sure, but it might be worth it if you want the latest MacBook design, a better webcam, MagSafe charging, and a newer processor. I would suggest choosing at least a 512GB SSD in order to avoid any potential bottlenecks. If your budget permits, spring for the 10-core GPU variant which automatically gets you that much storage plus the higher-wattage power adapter.

Apple’s new M2 SoC is a decent incremental update over the M1 but if you’re expecting a dramatic improvement like we got going from Intel to Apple silicon, then that’s not the case. Depending on your video editing or transcoding workflow, you may or may not see an improvement going from M1 to M2.

If you’re getting a MacBook Air strictly for casual use or lighter workloads, then 2020’s M1-based model is still more than capable. In fact, it’s far better value for money.

The M2 MacBook Air is a superb laptop if you want something that looks like a MacBook Pro, but don’t necessarily need the extra pressing power or want to pay the higher price. For everyone else, the M1 MacBook Air is still a great value option that shouldn’t be ignored.

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Future-Proofing Your Business Against Global Uncertainties

By

hitesh

-

August 23, 2022

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Future-Proofing Your Business Against Global Uncertainties

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Every business is vulnerable to threats like running out of cash or getting outcompeted and can be affected by natural calamities, but only a few become irrelevant as new age technology and trends advance. The COVID-19 pandemic further created more uncertainties that made businesses realise the imperative need to address various issues and ensure their assets and businesses are future-proof, particularly amid the unprecedented time of business volatility. While business environments are always evolving, the new technologies on the horizon and constantly changing consumer demands and preferences wreak havoc even on the best-laid plans. So, how can we try our best to future-proof businesses?

Stay connected

While all businesses are distressed about their capital, the major priority should always be people. The reason being if you are able to put a people-first business, revenue opportunities are most likely to follow automatically. And to make people a first priority, make sure you have an open communication channel with your customers, which will allow you to respond to their evolving needs – be it by digitising service or via any other tech-enabled means. Empower your employees to work from anywhere they feel safest and ensure they have all the necessary access required to work effectively and collaboratively. Businesses should also understand that brand identity is more than just about products, but about its people. Successful brands are now taking a balanced approach to clear identity and voice to fuel their marketing efforts at the same time remaining true to their core values while also adapting to environmental shifts.

Embrace Digital Transformation

Digital Transformation has become a driving force for many organisations and is driving a culture of innovation and preparing businesses to face any disruption. In a broader perspective, the term represents expediting business processes, activities, and competencies to leverage opportunities proposed by digital technologies. It is not just about leveraging technology or digitising your data, rather brings all that together, utilising new processes and technologies to make your business more efficient. Once a business is ready from a digital transformation standpoint, it will allow companies to gather important insights quickly which will also increase the speed of decision making.

Scale to meet every demand

There are various ways in which cloud computing and a hybrid IT infrastructure can prove beneficial to an organisation in unprecedented times. Leveraging Cloud computing, both public and private, has enabled the global workforce to work from anywhere during the pandemic. And by utilising hybrid cloud infrastructure, businesses would be able to utilise both public and on-premises solutions to store and share data and manage workloads. Additionally, since a vast majority of workforce and customer interactions have become online, it has also become essential for businesses to secure and protect everything that moves through the internet. According to industry reports, cyberattacks and data fraud are the third biggest threats that risk professionals identified; thus, organisations should have proper safety measures in place to protect data.

While the future continues to be uncertain, brands must always plan for the survivability of their organisation beyond any present crisis such as COVID-19 times. What this translates to is striking a pragmatic balance between operational survivability and ensuring that your brand does not lose the momentum it had before any uncertainty.

Minimising risk

The risks could be internal to an organisation such as failure in manufacturing plants, strikes, or external to an organisation such as a change in regulatory policies, market breakdown, etc., or being encountered by a pandemic or a war. The best example of risk management can be derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. As it sent shock waves putting a big jolt to the global economy, the companies struggled through unpredictability while adjusting to unprecedented events to make themselves survive. Across the globe, businesses are still battling to endure that downturn.

Thus, in order to survive and make themselves profitable, businesses should look to minimise risk as soon as possible in unprecedented times. Businesses should continue to think in a broader perspective about the risks that would bring a downturn ultimately affecting you and your industry. Truly evaluating a risk exposure requires a business to not only look at what will happen but also how you and your competitors might respond. All of us including businesses and now living in an ever-changing world that puts forth new challenges often. Thus, businesses and processes must be incorporated in a way to meet modern demands and evolve to adjust the approaches to risk assessment.

The author is the CEO, Realme India, VP, Realme, and President, Realme International Business Group.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Gadgets 360 is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Gadgets 360 and Gadgets 360 does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

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Gadgets 360 Insights articles are written by industry leaders, analysts, researchers, and experts in various fields related to personal technology, exclusively for our readers.

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Sony HT-S400 2.1-Channel Soundbar Review: Straightforward and Capable

By

hitesh

-

August 22, 2022

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Sony HT-S400 2.1-Channel Soundbar Review: Straightforward and Capable

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Sony is among the biggest names in the soundbar and home entertainment speaker segment, but most of the Japanese brand’s mainstream options are in premium price brackets. Buyers with a budget of around Rs. 25,000 or less usually need to look at options from brands such as JBL and Polk Audio, or very affordable products from Blaupunkt, Zebronics, and the like. Sony’s latest soundbar, the HT-S400, gives it a solid presence in the somewhat affordable soundbar space, and promises capable performance at a reasonable price.

Priced at Rs. 21,990, the Sony HT-S400 is a 2.1-channel soundbar that focuses on the important stuff, including design, connectivity, and ease of setup. With a wireless subwoofer, a rated sound output of 330W, and both wired and wireless connectivity options, is this the best reasonably-priced soundbar system you can buy right now? Find out in this review.

The 2.1-channel Sony HT-S400 has a two-driver soundbar and a wireless subwoofer

Sony HT-S400 design and specifications

Although considerably more affordable than the Sony HT-S40R soundbar, the newer HT-S400 looks and feels better, thanks to a nicer grille at the front, and an interesting texture on the body. That said, it’s still discreet and rather easy to miss entirely, which is exactly what a soundbar should look like. The size of the bar speaker suggests that it’s best used with a 43-inch television, although I tested it with a 55-inch television for this review.

Of course, the lower price of the Sony HT-S400 is because of the considerably different key specifications. Unlike the 5.1-channel HT-S40R, this is a 2.1-channel soundbar, with a single two-channel bar speaker, and a separate wireless subwoofer. The rated sound output is also a fair bit lower at 330W, split between the 130W subwoofer and 200W bar speaker. The subwoofer weighs 7.3kg and only supports wireless connectivity with the 2.4kg bar speaker, with the latter serving as a master device and handling connectivity with external devices.

The sales package of the Sony HT-S400 includes power cables for the bar speaker and subwoofer, an optical (Toslink) audio cable for wired connectivity, and a small remote (along with batteries). The bar speaker has a small monochrome OLED display at the front, which displays basic information, including the audio source and volume levels.

At the top of the bar speaker are the touch-sensitive buttons, which can be used to control power, volume, and audio source even without the remote. The back of the speaker has two ports — HDMI and Optical (Toslink) — for wired connectivity, and there is also Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity, with support for the SBC codec.

The remote of the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system is small and rather convenient, is powered by two AAA batteries, and has just a few buttons on it to control the basic features and customisations. This includes core functions such as power, volume, and source selection, along with the ability to adjust the subwoofer volume level to adjust the bass, and a couple of selections to optimise the sound for voice or Sony’s Sound Field mode.

The remote of the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system is small and convenient, and lets you adjust the subwoofer volume to tweak the bass level

The Sony HT-S400 is quite easy to setup. The bar speaker and subwoofer did, of course, need to connect to separate power sockets, but the wireless connectivity meant that there was no wire between the two components themselves. Sony’s proprietary wireless connectivity protocol worked reliably, with the subwoofer immediately connecting to the bar speaker when the latter was powered on, and maintaining a stable connection. I used HDMI ARC for connectivity with the TV for my review, along with occasional Bluetooth connectivity to listen to music from my smartphone.

Other features on the Sony HT-S400 include HDMI CEC, TV Wireless Connection (which allows for wireless connectivity with Sony Bravia TVs without using Bluetooth), and support for the Dolby Digital audio format. HDMI CEC worked well, and I was able to control the Sony HT-S400 (basic functions such as volume) even with the remote of the Chromecast with Google TV that I had connected to my television, while turning the TV on or off similarly controlled the power of the soundbar system when using HDMI ARC for connectivity.

Sony HT-S400 performance

The Sony HT-S400 is not a particularly complicated or heavily-equipped soundbar system. The 2.1-channel setup means that it has to downmix higher-resolution audio formats to stereo for output, and the actual length of the bar is the only differentiator between the HT-S400 and an ordinary three-piece stereo speaker system. However, despite its technical shortcomings, the Sony HT-S400 delivers surprisingly straightforward performance which is a considerable improvement over most television speakers.

The speaker arrangement also means that the Sony HT-S400 is particularly good with music, and does a fair job of making even movies and television shows sound louder and better. I found the sound to be clean, the soundstage to be reasonably spacious, and the sonic signature to be fairly balanced. The subwoofer wasn’t too powerful for the bar speaker, and the two components worked well together.

Connectivity options on the Sony HT-S400 include HDMI, Optical (Toslink), and Bluetooth

Of course, the somewhat basic driver arrangement means that the Sony HT-S400 is unconcerned by advanced audio formats, having to even downmix the basic 5.1-channel encoding that most modern content on streaming services provide. It did a decent job with this nonetheless, regardless of the kind of content I watched. The spaciousness of the soundstage was particularly nice to listen to, especially with movies such as The Gray Man and The Batman where the background score and sounds made a big difference to the viewing experience.

Where the Sony HT-S400 really makes a difference is in how loud it can get. With a rated output of 330W between the bar speaker and subwoofer, the soundbar system is considerably louder than what most televisions — budget or premium — are able to deliver. With the volume turned up, the HT-S400 soundbar system was able to produce a loud, wide, and straightforward sound that worked with all kinds of content. Voices were sharp, background scores were distinct and clean, and there were no significant volume spikes that needed frequent adjustment.

I tended to have the Sony HT-S400 system at a relatively high volume level most of the time, but there was always room to go further if needed. At very high volumes, the sound tended to lose a bit of refinement, but this isn’t a volume level you’ll often, if at all, need to get to. The 60 percent volume level was adequate for most content for me, but I did push it to up to 75 percent for certain dialogue-focused content such as Better Call Saul and Masaba Masaba.

The buttons at the top of the bar speaker control the basics, including power, volume, and source selection

The sound also felt very balanced, with the subwoofer feeling like the optimal size and output for the bar speaker. The bass never felt too aggressive as is often the case with budget and mid-range soundbars, yet it didn’t feel held-back or inadequate either. It is possible to adjust the volume of the just the subwoofer using the remote, but I found the default level to be fine for the most part, and I adjusted it only occasionally when I needed to keep the volume low and couldn’t hear dialogue very clearly .

The Sony HT-S400 has something the brand calls ‘S-Force Pro Front Surround’, which is said to offer a virtual surround sound effect with only the front-facing speakers. This wasn’t really the case in my experience, with no significant effect of sound coming from the rear or even the sides, even from the Sound Field mode. The Voice and Night modes (which can be selected via the remote) made the sound more voice-focused and softer respectively, but not by much.

The 2.1-channel setup meant that the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system performed reasonably well with music, whether from the connected smart TV or over Bluetooth. The loud output, spacious soundstage, and balanced sound were enjoyable for a moderately sized room even at low volume levels, and the ability to tweak the subwoofer volume for a bit of extra attack and punch was quite useful.

Verdict

The Sony HT-S400 soundbar might be a bit under-equipped and lacking in features, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Where the soundbar shines is in its simplicity of setup and use, loud and balanced sound, and sensible price for what’s on offer. That said, the lack of advanced audio format support and surround sound (real or virtual) are things to keep in mind, as is the fact that this is really a 2.1-channel speaker system built to work like a soundbar.

Get the Sony HT-S400 if you have a budget of around Rs. 25,000 and need something that adds volume, attack, and drive to your home entertainment setup. You can also consider options from brands such as Polk Audio and JBL, but Sony’s straightforward approach and focus on the core functionality makes the HT-S400 worth looking at.

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House of the Dragon Review: Game of Thrones Prequel Is a Thing of Beauty

By

hitesh

-

August 20, 2022

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House of the Dragon Review: Game of Thrones Prequel Is a Thing of Beauty

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House of the Dragon — premiering August 21 on HBO Max, and August 22 on Disney+ Hotstar — is in an odd position. Through no fault of its own, a cloud hangs over the Game of Thrones prequel spin-off. The eighth and final season of Thrones left a bad taste in nearly everyone’s mouth, owing to a series of odd and rushed creative decisions. At the same time, Thrones’ massive success over the years — it was arguably the biggest TV show of the 2010s — is the reason House of the Dragon even exists. It would never get the chance, and there wouldn’t be more spin-offs in the works, if its big brother didn’t pave the way for epic fantasy series on television. (In fact, Thrones is also to thank for Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings TV show, that’s due in 10 days or so.)

But beyond that raison d’être, House of the Dragon has nothing to do with Game of Thrones. It’s still set in Westeros, but it takes place roughly two centuries earlier. That means no Thrones characters are going to show up, though there are plenty of family dynasties that you’ll recognise. While there’s no continuation in front of the screen, individuals behind the scene do carry on. Don’t worry, Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, who were rightly blamed for the season 8 mess, aren’t involved.

Ramin Djawadi, the composer on Game of Thrones, returns in that capacity on the prequel series, riffing off his own themes. House of the Dragon earns your love and respect before it rolls out a modified version of the GoT theme at the end of the first episode. (I haven’t seen the title sequence, so I can’t say if that’s similarly epic.) More importantly, Miguel Sapochnik — who directed some memorable Thrones episodes, including season 5’s “Hardhome”, and season 6’s “Battle of the Bastards” and “The Winds of Winter” — is co-showrunner alongside Ryan Condal (Colony).

All You Need to Know About House of the Dragon

Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) True Wireless Earphones Review: Unconventional Design, Reliable Performance

By

hitesh

-

August 19, 2022

0

Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) True Wireless Earphones Review: Unconventional Design, Reliable Performance

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True wireless earphones can be broadly categorised into two kinds of fit. These are the in-canal style which offers better noise isolation and active noise cancellation, and the outer-ear fit popularised by the original Apple AirPods, which offers a bit more comfort and the ability to hear your surroundings better. Sony’s latest true wireless earphones in India, the LinkBuds (WF-L900) don’t particularly fit into either category, with a radical and unconventional design that sets it apart from the competition.

Priced at Rs. 19,990 in India, the Sony LinkBuds promise a comfortable all-day fit, the ability to hear your surroundings naturally and unobstructed, and good call and audio performance. Pitched as the kind of true wireless earphones you can wear all day and use reliably for various purposes, the Sony LinkBuds claims to be quite different from the typical premium TWS headset. Does it live up to these promises? Find out in this review.

The Sony LinkBuds unique design means that there is a clear passage for ambient sound to be heard even when the earphones are worn

Sony LinkBuds design and features

The design of the Sony LinkBuds is its most eye-catching aspect; many might not even realise these are earphones at first glance, if they don’t already know. The earpieces have an obvious outer-ear fit since there is no part that goes in the ear canal, and there are no stems either. In the middle of the driver chamber of the earpiece is a donut-like hole, which ensures that there is a clear way for ambient sound to be heard even with the earphones on.

This meant that even with the Sony LinkBuds on (with no audio playing), I could hear my surroundings nearly as well as with no earphones on at all. As a result, it’s a natural and entirely organic hear-through, with the obvious caveat that it’s ‘on’ all the time and without a choice. If ambient awareness is important to you, you won’t find a better designed pair of earphones than this right now.

The unique design also made for a comfortable fit, aided by what Sony calls arc support fittings. There are five pairs of these fittings of different sizes included in the sales package for a customisable fit. I found the smallest size to be the most comfortable for my ear shape, but this affected the security of the fit itself. Shaking my head around a bit would dislodge the earpieces, so you’ll want to try and find one that combines comfort with a secure fit.

The earpieces of the Sony LinkBuds weigh 4.1g each, and are IPX4 rated for water resistance. The outer sides have an interesting texture and aesthetic, and are touch-sensitive for controls. Interestingly, you don’t necessarily have to tap the earpieces themselves for the controls, thanks to a feature called Wide Area Tap.

When enabled through the app, this lets you tap the area on your cheek in front of your ear, just as you would on the earpiece for the same effect, and this worked reliably for me. It also meant that I didn’t have to blindly feel for the rather small touch area on the earpieces, and this made using the on-device controls a lot easier.

The Sony LinkBuds’ charging case has USB Type-C charging, but no wireless charging

The charging case of the Sony LinkBuds is notably smaller than those of most true wireless headsets in its price range, making it considerably more pocketable. There is a lid release button and indicator light at the front, and a pairing button and USB Type-C port at the back. Notably, the earpieces need to be snapped into place to start charging, but simply closing the lid will do that, so it isn’t too complicated to get used to. Also worth noting — there’s no wireless charging, which is disappointing at this price point.

Other features on the Sony LinkBuds (WF-L900) include support for voice assistants, Google Fast Pair, Spotify Tap, and 360 Reality Audio. There is no active noise cancellation, but given the positioning of the headset and the rather deliberate nature of the design, I wouldn’t call it a shortcoming.

Sony LinkBuds app and specifications

As is usually the case with Sony headphones and earphones, the LinkBuds work with the Sony Headphones Connect app, available for iOS and Android. For the Sony LinkBuds, the app has a fairly large list of features that can be tweaked and customised, including Speak To Chat, equaliser, 360 Reality Audio configuration, customisation for the tap controls, adaptive volume control, auto play and pause when the earphones are put on or removed, and firmware updates.

Although sound quality with music is good, I found the sub-bass levels quite inadequate

Some of these features are already present on older Sony headsets, such as Speak To Chat and 360 Reality Audio. Of particular note on the Sony LinkBuds is Adaptive Volume Control, which adjusts the volume according to the intensity of ambient noise, and the Wide Area Tap toggle, which as mentioned, allows you to use the on-device controls without actually touching the earpieces.

The Sony LinkBuds use Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity, with support for the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs; there’s no advanced Bluetooth codec support here, which is disappointing at this price. The earphones have a frequency response range of 20-20,000Hz. Apart from the five pairs of arc support fittings, there is also a USB Type-C cable included in the box of the Sony LinkBuds.

Sony LinkBuds performance and battery life

The unique positioning of the Sony LinkBuds means that it can’t really be compared to anything else in and around its price segment. There is no passive noise isolation or active noise cancellation, but what Sony does offer is comfort, awareness of your surroundings, and all-purpose usability across functions and use cases.

While it initially felt a bit too radical to fathom, the LinkBuds do deliver a reasonably good overall experience that I found myself often choosing over the handful of other, arguably better options I had on my work desk. Sony’s pitch of the LinkBuds being all-day and all-purpose has some merit, and the ambient awareness indeed made it my favoured pair of earphones when at my usually quiet home workspace, and while working out or walking on the street.

The ability to clearly hear what’s playing on the earphones without any passive noise isolation sounded like a big ask at first, but the Sony LinkBuds delivered a pleasant listening experience in terms of volume and listenability. That said, the sonic signature was a bit awkward, with barely any audible sub-bass frequencies, and somewhat dull mid-bass frequencies as well.

The design and fit of the Sony LinkBuds is completely different from the in-canal and outer-ear fits which are common on true wireless earphones

Listening to White Horse by Croatia Squad and Frey at home with the volume turned up reasonably high wasn’t too bad, given the decent tonality and pace of the Sony LinkBuds. However, the thump and attack in this aggressive house track were practically non-existent, and the deep, rhythmic beats of the track sounded a bit hollow and underwhelming.

Although the sound felt fairly balanced and the capable mid-range made for a good amount of detail, it nonetheless sounded far from good compared to similarly priced headsets such as the Sony WF-1000XM4. This is perhaps deliberate given the form factor and the need to be able to hear ambient sound alongside what’s playing on the Sony LinkBuds, but it definitely won’t suit many genres of music.

Outdoors, the Sony LinkBuds tended to struggle a bit as compared to indoors. Turning the volume up to the 80 percent level ensured that I could hear what was playing just fine, but at no point was it able to drown out what was going on around me, even if it wasn’t particularly loud. This wasn’t as much of a problem in relatively quiet areas, but the sounds from a busy main road in Mumbai were quite distracting.

The tuning of the Sony LinkBuds meant that the headset worked well for voice-based content such as audio books, movies and TV shows, and YouTube videos. Voices were clear and refined, which naturally also extended to the earphones’ performance with calls. Provided the volume was sufficiently high, I had a great experience with calls on the Sony LinkBuds, despite the lack of noise isolation. If anything, the free-flowing hear-through made taking calls on the earphones feel more natural.

Battery life on the Sony LinkBuds was fairly average for the segment, and somewhat disappointing given the lack of energy-consuming features such as active noise cancellation and advanced Bluetooth codec support. The earphones ran for 4 hours, 35 minutes at moderate volumes, while the charging case added two full additional charges for a total run time of around 13 hours per charge cycle.

Verdict

Sony arguably makes the best wireless headphones and earphones you can find, and has a varied range of products that suit various use cases, some of which tend to be quite niche and radical. The Sony LinkBuds is among the company’s more adventurous and unique products. It goes against many design aspects that might have been considered the norm for the segment, in order to deliver the specific kind of user experience that was envisioned.

For the large part, the Sony LinkBuds succeeds at this, offering comfort, unmatched ambient awareness, and sound that is geared around overcoming the natural hurdles of being able to hear clearly what’s around you. This can be distracting in particularly noisy environments, and the weak sub-bass levels in the sound can make some genres of music sound a bit weird. However, I found myself often favouring these earphones for uses such as calls, outdoor walks, and general everyday use at my work desk.

That said, the Sony LinkBuds is expensive at Rs. 19,990, and even at the pre-order price of Rs. 14,990, given that the design is the biggest feature here. The LinkBuds will suit users who want good performance with voice-based sound and the unmatchable ambient awareness it offers, but for the musically inclined, I’d recommend the similarly priced Sony WF-1000XM4.

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