I am introducing cryptography.
Cryptography is used to secure and protect data during communication. Encryption is a process which transforms the original information into an unrecognizable form. Decryption is a process of converting encoded/encrypted data in a form that is readable and understood by a human or a computer.
A budget of Rs 25,000 starts opening up doors to certain high-end features like near flagship grade processors, quality cameras with optical image stabilisation (OIS), high refresh rate AMOLED displays and ample storage. And in certain cases, all of the above. Needless to say, all the chosen phones are 5G ready. Without wasting any more time, let’s take a look at the top 5 phones you can buy under 25K in India this month.
Best phones to buy under Rs 25,000 in India
iQOO Neo 6 5G The iQOO Neo 6 5G is now available in this budget; a pleasant surprise. It is powered by a former flagship-grade Snapdragon 870 chip, and you get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage to go with it. It has a 6.62-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate for flicker-free performance in compatible apps. The screen has a peak brightness of 1300 nits. The phone runs Android 12 with FunTouch UI 12, and the company has promised two more major Android updates in the future for this device.
The rear camera department on the iQOO Neo 6 5G is helmed by a 64MP primary camera with OIS, and accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. Its 4700 mAh battery lasts close to a day and a half of moderate use, and the company bundles an 80W fast charger that promises to take it from 0 to 50 per cent in just 12 minutes, and to 100 per cent in a little over half an hour. All things considered, it is an excellent deal under 25K.
Realme GT Neo 3T The Realme GT Neo 3T is the other handset in this list powered by a Snapdragon 870 chip. And even better, its 256 GB internal storage variants with 8 GB RAM can be yours in this budget at the moment. It has a 6.62-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display that flaunts HDR10+ compliance, 120 Hz refresh rate and 1300 nits of peak brightness. It is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. There’s a 16MP camera at the top of the screen which is decent enough for selfies and video calls.
Rear camera department has a 64MP primary camera that captures some impressive shots in different modes; no OIS though. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 2MP macro camera. The Realme GT Neo 3T has a 5000 mAh battery that keeps it powered for over a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 80W SuperDart charger fills up half of it in just 12 minutes. The phone launched with Android 12 and Realme UI 3.0 and is upgradeable to Android 13 with Realme UI 4.0.
Motorola Edge 30 The Motorola Edge 30 remains a strong contender in this budget. This phone is powered by a Snapdragon 778G chip, which is pretty decent for this segment, and you get up to 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. It flaunts some truly impressive features starting with a 6.5-inch Full HD+ OLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and the capability to display over a billion colour shades. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection against scratches.
The photography department on the Motorola Edge 30 boasts of two 50MP cameras, with the primary offering OIS and the secondary camera letting you capture some high-quality ultra-wide shots. There’s also a 2MP depth sensor to keep them company. The 32MP front camera is bound to impress selfie enthusiasts. Its 4020 mAh battery lasts for a little over a day of moderate use and supports 33W fast charging. This phone runs Android 12, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface.
Poco X5 Pro 5G We have another phone in this list powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chip and also with an impressive feature list. And what’s more, you can get the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant of the Poco X5 Pro 5G in this budget. The photography department boasts a 108MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide shooter and a 2MP macro camera. A 16MP front camera takes care of selfies and video calls pretty well.
This phone has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display that’s HDR10 and Dolby Vision compliant and can display over a billion colour shades. It is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and supports a 120 Hz refresh rate for a smooth experience in compatible apps. A 5000 mAh battery keeps the phone running for close to a day and a half of moderate use, and the bundled 67W turbocharger promises to charge the battery fully within 45 minutes. The Poco X5 Pro 5G runs Android 12 with MIUI 14.
Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G retains its place in our list. This phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, and is equipped with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. It has a 6.67-inch 10-bit Full HD+ OLED display, and this one too is compliant with Dolby Vision as well as HDR10+. It has a 120 Hz refresh rate and there’s Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection against scratches.
Photography is handled by three cameras at the back, and unlike the Realme or Poco, the 50MP primary camera here does have OIS. You also get an 8MP ultrawide snapper and a 2MP macro camera to support it. There’s a more than decent 16MP selfie camera up front. This phone too has a 5000 mAh battery, and you get a 67W fast charger that claims to charge 50 per cent of it in just 15 minutes. The Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G runs Android 12 with MIUI 13.
Pros – Bright and vivid display – Awesome performance – Brilliant camera performance – Great battery life – Understated, but premium design – Speakers – Great ergonomics and feel in the hand – Long software update commitment
Cons – Cameras not as great as that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra – 45W wired charging, with no charging brick in the box – System applications take up a lot of memory
Price: Rs 94,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant Rating: 4.75/5
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is the best Android smartphone that money can buy right now if you’re looking for an option from a safe and reliable smartphone brand. On the other hand, The Galaxy S23, is the best compact smartphone in the market right now, no questions asked.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The Galaxy S23+, therefore falls straight in between these two smartphones and packs a lot of the same features as that of its elder and younger siblings. Yes, you won’t get the features of the Galaxy S Pen, and you also don’t get some of the awesome cameras of the S23 Ultra. Despite these shortcomings, the Galaxy S23+ is a brilliant smartphone.
However, because of the way it has been positioned, it has a lot of competition. In fact, we will go as far as to say that the Galaxy S23+ has taken all the competition that the S23 Ultra and the petite S23 had, onto itself.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Having said that, the S23+ is such a solid smartphone that, all things considered, it stands up to its competitors rather well.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The design Just like the other devices in the Galaxy S23 line-up, the Galaxy S23 has an unmistakable air of premiumness. Unlike most of Samsung’s competitors, there are no fancy tricks being played here – you get a device that is actually as premium as it looks. Furthermore, it isn’t as large and unwieldy as the S23 Ultra, which is a behemoth in every sense of the word, nor is it as tiny and petite as the S23 – it just strikes the right balance between the two.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
When it comes to aesthetics, the Galaxy S23+, just like the S23 Ultra and the S23 is truly a sight to behold. Sure, it isn’t as comfortable to hold as the S23, but it still is compact and wieldy enough that makes it very easy for one-handed operations. Moreover, the device has been designed very thoughtfully and scores very high on ergonomics and on giving a very easy and pleasant user-friendly experience.m
From a distance the S23+ looks exactly the same as the S23, but only slightly larger. As a result, the S23+ truly looks premium. Make no mistake, the S23+ make heads turn.
In contrast to last year’s S22 series, this year, Samsung chose to go with a cleaner design for its S series. The S23+ sports a cleaner, flat-back design, in which the rear cameras and flash merely float, unlike the S22, which had a noticeable camera housing. Similar to the S23 Ultra, the cameras are encircled by a metallic ring on all of the glass components.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The Galaxy S23+ is built like a tank and you feel that the moment you pick the device up. Our test device was a cream-coloured, which looked particularly stunning, thanks to its matte finish. However, we reckon the phantom black version looks particularly stunning. These are the only two colours that you get. Given that the rest of the S23 series has a bunch of colour options, we would have loved to see a few more options with the S23+ as well.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The placement of buttons on all three S23 models is identical, with the volume rockers and power button is situated on the right-hand side. Despite being smaller in size, the power button and volume rockers on the S23 are of the same size as the S23 Ultra and have been slightly spaced out, making them easy to differentiate.
At the bottom, the device features a familiar setup, including a speaker grille for one of the speakers, a USB Type-C port, and the SIM tray, except for the S-Pen.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Samsung’s commitment to sustainability is evident in the Galaxy S23, with both the front and back panels incorporating a substantial amount of recycled materials like glass and plastic, as seen in the S23 Ultra. Additionally, the aluminium frame is made of recycled aluminium.
Samsung has gone to a great lengths to ensure that the exterior of the S23+is made using recycled plastic, glass and aluminium. The rear panel is made out of 80 per cent recycled PET plastic, and 20 per cent recycled ocean-bound plastic, whereas the front glass has been made using 22 per cent recycled glass.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The display and audio Samsung has some of the best displays for portable devices on the market that are also used by its competitors. Obviously, then, the Galaxy S23+, just like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 has the best display that money can buy.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The Galaxy S23+ boasts a stunning 6.6-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display, which is just excellent. With a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels and a pixel density of 393 ppi, the display is as sharp as it can get. It also has outstanding contrast, which results in vibrant colours. We also get support for a dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz, a broad colour gamut, and HDR10+. Because of this, content consumption on the S23+ is a joy. It really doesn’t get any better than this.
One remarkable feature of the display is the range of brightness. With a minimum brightness of only 0.8 nits, the Galaxy S23+ can be comfortably used in complete darkness without causing any eye strain. On the other hand, the maximum brightness is significantly higher than before, reaching approximately 1,100 nits in tests, making it one of the brightest phones available. In certain lighting conditions, the screen can even peak at an impressive 1,750 nits for short durations, providing exceptional visibility in bright environments.
The Galaxy S23+ also offers users the choice of two different colour profiles. The natural colour profile provides an sRGB-grade colour accuracy, while the vivid colour profile enhances the content viewing experience for those who want the best possible visuals.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The display produces colours that are not only rich and vibrant but also exceptionally contrasty, resulting in a beautifully saturated and immersive display. The images are displayed with impressive sharpness and clarity, providing an overall crisp viewing experience.
Furthermore, even under direct sunlight, the display performs admirably, and users should have no difficulty reading or viewing content on the screen.
All in all, the display of the device is truly exceptional, delivering a visual experience that is sure to impress.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The stereo speakers on the Galaxy S23 are an excellent addition to the already impressive screen. They are loud and deliver clear sound quality. With the Dolby Atmos feature enabled, users can enjoy a wider soundstage that provides an immersive audio experience. Additionally, gamers will appreciate the dedicated ‘Dolby Atmos for Gaming’ audio profile in the sound settings, which enhances the speakers’ performance in select game titles.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The camera The camera setup on the Galaxy S23+ is quite similar to that of the Galaxy S23. It features a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10MP telephoto camera on the rear. Additionally, the device has a 12MP front-facing camera.
The primary 50MP sensor comes equipped with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, while the 10MP telephoto camera also uses PDAF and OIS. The front-facing 12MP camera for selfies also employs dual-pixel PDAF.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The 50MP sensor on the Galaxy S23+ is set to shoot 12MP binned photos by default, which produce stunning results. However, the sensor can also be used to capture 50MP RAW photos and even try astrophotography with the Exper RAW mode, all of which can be accessed directly within the main camera app.
The primary 50MP sensor takes photos with vibrant colours, sharp contrast, and a wide dynamic range, particularly under optimal lighting conditions. The resulting images have a slightly warm tone and bold colours, although this might not be ideal for those who prefer to edit their photos later. However, for most users, the photos are ready to share on social media without any post-processing.
Switching to the 12MP ultra-wide sensor may result in some loss of detail and brightness, but the images still appear relatively sharp. The Portrait Mode, which uses the 10MP telephoto lens, produces gorgeous portrait shots with creamy bokeh and excellent edge recognition and details.
The night mode on the Galaxy S23+ performs admirably, capturing plenty of detail even in low-light conditions. While there may be some noise, overall, users will be satisfied with the device’s performance in challenging lighting situations.
The zooming capabilities of the Galaxy S23+ are noteworthy, although it doesn’t offer the 100X zoom found in the S23 Ultra. However, the 30X zoom available on the S23+ produces detailed images that are more than satisfactory.
In well-lit conditions, the 12MP front-facing camera captures decent detail and colours, although some flattening of facial features may be noticeable. The HDR feature is impressive, and the portrait mode on the front-facing camera is exquisite.
When it comes to video recording, the Galaxy S23+ can record at 8K resolution at 30 frames per second. The footage from the device features accurate colour tones and crisp images. Moreover, video stabilization has been improved compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy S22.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI The Samsung Galaxy S23 is considered the fastest Android smartphone currently available, and it may even surpass the Galaxy S23 Ultra in speed, according to some benchmark tests. The reason for this impressive performance is that the Galaxy S23 is powered by the same custom overclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset found in the S23 Ultra, making their performance comparable.
The unit that was tested had 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 internal storage. Unfortunately, none of the devices in the S23 series come with a microSDXC slot.
In day-to-day tasks, the Galaxy S23+ just glides by everything, no matter what you ask of it. And when you try to push its limits by going bonkers, it hardly breaks a sweat.
During our comprehensive testing, we did not encounter any issues such as stuttering or lagging with the Galaxy S23. The device offers quick app loading times and smooth multitasking, providing an impressive user experience. Even when subjected to demanding tasks like playing graphics-intensive games or rendering videos, the Galaxy S23 maintained stable and reliable performance.
We tried pushing the S23+ to the edge to see if it showed any chinks in the armour, if it overheated or if the SoC throttled in any way. We are happy to report that despite throwing everything at it, the S23+ just took on the punishment and performed exceptionally.
During our testing, we found that the Galaxy S23+ can handle graphically intensive games likeGenshin Impact,Call of Duty: Mobile, andApex Legendswith ease, even at the highest settings, achieving 45-60fps without any issues. Ray tracing support at a hardware level is also present, but we couldn’t test it out as there aren’t any games available for that feature yet.
The Samsung Galaxy S23+ runs on OneUI 5.1, which is based on Android 13. It comes packed with numerous features, and exploring them all may take a few days.
Like the S23 Ultra, the Galaxy S23+ has all the features of a modern-day flagship device, such as Bluetooth 5.3, USB C 3.2, and support for all the necessary 5G bands. However, it lacks WiFi 7, which is supported by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
Also, neither the S23 Ultra nor the S23 or S23+ supports satellite connectivity, even though Qualcomm demonstrated the feature on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-equipped device that could send and receive texts over satellite. However, satellite connectivity may be specific to certain regions and unlikely to launch in India due to government regulations.
As with all the devices in the S23 series, S23+ will also be getting four generations of OS upgrades for these phones and five years of security upgrades.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review:The battery life TheGalaxy S23+has the same 4700mAh battery, which is more than what we had in the S22+ last year. However, the battery life will take you by surprise. Without any sort of optimisations, we were getting around 7-8 hours of screen on time with 70 per cent brightness, with about a quarter of power still left after a 13-hour day.
The S23+ can easily be an all-day device. Thanks to its larger battery, FHD+ screen, and a super-efficient Snapdragon SoC, the Galaxy S23+ has a phenomenal battery life.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The charging speed of the Galaxy S23+ may be considered unimpressive by some, as it only supports 45W wired charging with a compatible charging block, and does not come with a charging brick, but only a USB-C to USB-C cable.
Other manufacturers are offering higher wattage fast charging options, with some budget midrange phones even supporting over 100W fast charging. It would have been ideal for the S23+ to support at least 80W fast charging, considering the charging technology offered by other competitors. However, it does compensate with support for wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S23+ 5G review:The verdict The Galaxy S23 is a top-notch smartphone that’s difficult to fault when you consider it as a complete package. The only drawback we could find is the lack of a fast-charging technology that’s suitable for a flagship device. Samsung should come up with a better charging solution, particularly for their high-end smartphones, as 45W charging doesn’t seem to be sufficient.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Despite this, the Galaxy S23+ excels in all other areas that are essential for a flagship smartphone. While the S23 Ultra has gained a lot of attention and rightfully so, the regular S23+ is a great choice for most people. It’s much cheaper, has the best battery life in its class, superb speakers, excellent performance, and a stunning display. The cameras are also fantastic and more than enough for most users’ needs.
The S23+ has a lot of competition, especially from Xiaomi and OnePlus. There are areas where devices from these manufacturers are slightly better than what the S23+ has to offer. However, they make some glaring omissions as well, which spoil the experience of the user.
Moreover, Samsung has made a name for itself with stable OS releases and updates – then there’s the fact that Samsung has a very robust after-sales service, something that most Chinese smartphone manufacturers still haven’t been able to crack.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
If you want us to summarise our experience of the Galaxy S23+, it would be this – unless you absolutely need the S23 Ultra’s smart pen, are planning to get the best Android smartphone on the market, and are not very keen on getting a compact smartphone, the Galaxy S23+ has to be at the top of the list. Barring a few instances, it is just as good as its more expensive and gargantuan elder brother, the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
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Studio-ready laptops are a different breed from gaming laptops. Where games simply require raw power from powerful CPUs and GPUs, Studio laptops are meant to be used in a professional setting where certain features like colour-accurate displays and reliability are non-negotiable. MSI understands these needs very well, and chose this need as the starting point of the design of their Studio-ready laptop lines.
MSI, though, goes a few steps further. These laptops not only offer a certain minimum guarantee of performance and features that creators would want, but also provide the perfect balance of performance and portability for new age consumers who happen to need no-compromise flexibility and adaptability. These laptops are thin, very light, and still manage to offer all-day battery life. And it’s not just work and no play, these laptops make for fantastic gaming machines thanks to cutting-edge cooling tech and fast displays.
Large trackpads ensure that you stay productive even without a mouse, and svelte design and per-key RGB lighting give you that visual oomph that helps you stand out among other creators.
What is a Studio laptop?
When it comes to specs, NVIDIA Studio-validated laptops will always have an NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU, at least 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD storage, fast CPUs, and high-resolution, colour-accurate monitors. NVIDIA GeForce RTX support is especially important as it lets creators take advantage of NVIDIA Broadcast — a suite of AI accelerated streaming tools — and compatibility with creator programs like OBS, Unity, DaVinci Resolve and Blender that take full-advantage of the advanced RT cores in NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs.
In addition, these laptops use NVIDIA Studio Drivers. Studio drivers undergo extensive testing with various hardware configurations and creative applications to virtually guarantee performance and uptime.
The idea is that creators get all the power and features they need for no-limits creativity. It won’t be the laptop that’s holding them back.
What do content creators get?
MSI’s latest Studio-ready laptop include the Creator Z16 and Z17 HX Studio, CreatorPro Z16 and Z17 HX Studio, Stealth 14, 16 and 17, and the Prestige 16 Studio. These laptops are all, and without exception, incredibly thin and very well built. Their powerful hardware is cooled by cutting edge tech like CoolerBoost 5 and Vapour Chambers, and they all boast of TruePixel 16:10 displays designed specifically for creative professionals and picky gamers.
The Prestige 16 Studio is particularly impressive in this regard as it boasts of one of the few miniLED laptop displays in circulation today. It also happens to have a QHD+ resolution and CalMan certification for MSI’s signature TruePixel colour accuracy. If you deal with HDR workflows, you really can’t get a better laptop. The other laptops in the line boast of similarly great TruePixel colour accuracy, high pixel densities, 16:10 aspect ratios, and support for the various professional colour spaces — AdobeRGB, DCI-P3, etc. — that creators need to work in.
These laptops are powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel CPUs, some of which can boost to 5.6 GHz on two cores for unmatched single-threaded performance in creative apps like Photoshop. Dual-channel DDR5 RAM gives you a 20% performance boost over previous gen, mitigating your performance bottlenecks and ensuring that creative apps can have a large, fast pool of memory to access.
The most important feature is of course the fact that all these laptops are powered by NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 40 series cards. Why does that matter? How about an 8th Gen NVIDIA encoder that can directly stream in AV1, or 4th Gen Tensor Cores that give you a significant boost in AI accelerated tasks like stabilisation, rendering, and noise reduction? You even get 3rd Gen Ray-Tracing cores — the best in the business — that support real-time path-tracing and ray-tracing in games and rendering applications, allowing you to generate photo-real renders on the fly. Apps like Blender even take advantage of NVIDIA Optix to render 3D scenes at incredible speed.
It’s an impressive feat of engineering indeed that MSI has succeeded in squeezing 13th Gen Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 power into such slim form factors. It’s even more impressive when you look at the exceptional cooling performance and battery life that these laptops can deliver.
As mentioned earlier, NVIDIA Studio drivers ensure stability and NVIDIA Broadcast support ensures quality streaming. Throw in support for the NVIDIA Omniverse tools for unrestricted creativity and collaboration, and even Canvas — which turns brush strokes into AI-generated art — you basically have the power of a supercomputer in the form factor of a thin-n-light laptop.
What do gamers get?
Gamers aren’t left behind either. MSI Overboost tech, for example, lets you pump additional power into the CPU and GPU to boost frames, as does the dedicated MUX switch that directly connects your laptop’s GPU to the display for up to a 10% boost in performance.
Throw in high-refresh rate displays (at least 120 Hz) for fast-paced gaming, powerful Intel H series processors, and NVIDIA RTX features like real time-ray-tracing in games and you’re in for a wonderful time.
Laptops with NVIDIA GeForce RTX Series GPUs gain an additional benefit in the form of DLSS 3, which uses AI to vastly boost frame-rates in even the most demanding PC games, allowing you to crank up settings to the max and enjoy buttery smooth gameplay with no discernible loss in visual quality.
Creativity unleashed!
Buying a Studio-ready laptop from MSI is the easiest way to boost your creative abilities. MSI’s Studio laptops are certified for professional use and offer an unmatched feature-set and performance in a thin-n-light package that is simply too good to ignore. Book your MSI laptop today and unleash your creative potential!
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Our list of smartphones under Rs 20,000 this month has undergone a complete overhaul as compared to our previous list from last quarter. Most phones are now equipped with 8 GB RAM and at least 128 GB internal storage. You get decent processing power with quite a few handsets going beyond the uber popular Snapdragon 695 chip. We have a phone with 108MP camera, one even with optical image stabilisation (OIS), high refresh rate displays, fast charging, 5G compliance and more. Here are your top 5 phones under 20K this month.
Best phones to buy under Rs 20,000 in India
iQOO Z7 5G Let’s start with our top pick this month, the iQOO Z7 5G which is packed with impressive features. It is a rugged phone with IP54 dust and water resistance and yet measures just 7.8 mm in thickness. It is powered by a capable Mediatek Dimensity 920 SoC and is accompanied by 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage that can be expanded further up to 1 TB with a microSD card. This phone has a 6.38-inch Full HD+ HDR10+ compliant AMOLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate and 1300 nits peak brightness.
Another specialty of this device is its 64MP primary camera with OIS; a rare feature in this segment. Support cast is limited to a 2MP depth sensor. You get a more than decent 16MP selfie camera though. Battery capacity stands at 4500 mAh and lasts for a day and a half of moderate use. The bundled 44W fast charger promises to charge half of it in 25 minutes. The iQOO Z7 5G runs Android 13 with FunTouch OS 13.
Motorola G73 5G The Motorola G73 5G is another new addition this month. It is probably the first phone with Mediatek Dimensity 930 SoC in India. Here too you get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage with an option to expand it further up to 1 TB with a microSD card. This phone has a 6.5-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. This phone claims to have a water resistant design but there is no IP rating. You also get stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos compliance.
Its 50MP primary camera boasts of 2um larger pixels to capture more detail even in low light. You do get an 8MP ultrawide camera here, along with a 16MP selfie camera at the front. The Motorola G73 5G has a 5000 mAh battery that keeps it powered for close to a day and a half of moderate use, and is accompanied by a 30W fast charger. The phone runs Android 13, and like most Motorola phones, you get a near-stock user interface.
Poco X5 5G If you are looking for loads of storage space in this budget, the Poco X5 5G is the phone for you. This is the only phone in this list to offer 256 GB internal storage, and there is scope for further expansion too. This phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip and comes with 8 GB RAM. And that’s not it, this phone flaunts a 6.67-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1200 nits and 120 Hz refresh rate. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
The Poco X5 5G has three cameras at the back with the combination of a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 2MP macro camera. A 16MP camera is located in a punch-hole at the top of the screen. This phone too has a 5000 mAh battery that lasts over a day and a half of moderate use. And the company bundles a 33W fast charger with this phone that promises to take it from 0 to 100% in an hour. The phone runs Android 12 with a layer of MIUI 13.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Time to bring up the phone with a 108MP camera. Say hello to the new OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G. Generally, I am not fond of OnePlus phones with too many suffixes, but this one is a decent option in this budget. Megapixel count aside, the primary camera is surprisingly good and does most of the heavy lifting. It has a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor to keep company. You get a 16MP front camera for selfies and video calls. This phone too is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chip, and you get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant in this budget.
This entry-level Nord 3 series phone has a 6.72-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and is noticeably bright even outdoors. The battery backup is similar to most phones in this list with a 5000 mAh battery keeping it powered for over a day and a half of moderate use. The company bundles a 67W fast charger that can charge over 75% of the battery in less than half an hour. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G runs Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.
Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G The Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G is pretty much the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G in many ways barring the presence of OIS on its main camera, and of course a lower price tag. The main camera here has 48 megapixels instead of 50 as on the 9 Pro+. The support cast remains the same with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. The 16MP front camera is more than decent for selfies and video calls. The phone launched with Android 12 and Realme UI 3.0, and is upgradeable to Android 13 with Realme UI 4.0.
The Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 920 SoC, and you get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant in this budget. It has a vibrant 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with 90 Hz refresh rate. It is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Battery capacity has been bumped up to 5000 mAh, and it can keep the phone powered for a day and a half of moderate use. The company bundles a 33W fast charger that promises to charge 50% of it in a shade over half an hour.
The OnePlus Pad has had an unusual launch: the tablet is official, pre-orders have begun, but the pricing will not be announced until April 25. Over in India, Flipkart rushed the gun and placed two listings for OnePlus’ debut tablet before quickly deleting them. Nonetheless, cached copies of the pages are still accessible.
According to Flipkart, the OnePlus Pad would be available in two variants in India. The base model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will cost INR 37,999 ($461 or €421 translated), while the variant with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage will cost INR 39,999 ($486 or €443 converted).
Both of those costs are before any discounts are applied. The tablet will be offered in only one colour, Halo Green. If you are not in India, bear in mind that pricing for such items may be lower there than elsewhere. Don’t be shocked if the base model costs at least €499 in the EU.
The OnePlus Pad is set to feature an 11.61-inch 2000×2800 144 Hz LCD touchscreen, a 13 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front-facing camera, and a 9,510 mAh battery with 67W charging capabilities. It is powered by Android 13 with OxygenOS 13.1 on top.
The OnePlus Pad will be available on multiple platforms, including Amazon. in, Flipkart, OnePlus.in, and offline stores. According to Amazon and Flipkart, pre-orders are expected to start soon, most likely on the day of the price reveal i.e. April 25. It is expected that the OnePlus Pad will go on sale on April 28.
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Gigabyte has added new laptop models to its Aorus, Aero, and G5 gaming hardware portfolios. These high-end laptops have Intel 13th Generation Intel Core CPUs and the newest Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU. The Aorus 17 BSF, Aorus 15 BKF, Aorus 15 9SF, Aorus 15 9KF, Aorus 15 9MF, Aero 14 OLED BMF, Aero 14 OLED 9MF, G5 KF, and G5 MF are among the new models.
Gigabyte’s Windforce cooling technology is used in all of the laptops, ensuring effective and silent cooling while also making the laptops more small and portable for on-the-go operations. These laptops will be available in India beginning in May on prominent online marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart, and others.
Sunil Grewal, Director of Gigabyte, stated, “As a brand, Gigabyte has long recognised the enormous potential of the gaming market in India.” The quick acceptance of popular esports titles in the nation, as well as the estimated number of more than 100 million social media content makers this year, have supported this idea.”
“Gigabyte is committed to providing the right tools to fuel the growth and success of creators, gamers, and streamers in the country,” Grewal added. The latest laptops from Gigabyte cater to all their needs by providing peak performance in a compact package, enabling them to excel in their craft.”
Gigabyte Aorus series laptops: Key Specs and Pricing The Aorus 17 and Aorus 15 are portable gaming laptops featuring up to Intel Core 13th-generation i7 H series CPUs and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU with a TGP of 140W. Both devices claim to be able to handle high workloads. The Aorus portfolio also includes 17.3- and 15.6-inch panels with up to QHD resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz.
The Aorus series starts at Rs 1,11,999 for the base Aorus 15 9MF, which will feature a previous-gen Intel i5 12500H, 8GB of DDR5 RAM and an RTX 4050, and goes all the way up to Rs 1,79,599 for the Aorus 17 BSF which features the latest gen Intel i7 13700H, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and an RTX 4070
Gigabyte Aero series laptops: Key Specs and Pricing The Aero 14 OLED weighs 1.49 kg and is powered with up to 13th generation Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series laptop GPUs. Nvidia Studio certification ensures that the laptops have been improved for stability and performance.
It supports commonly used creative software. The Aero 14 OLED’s display is factory-calibrated with X-Rite 2.0 and verified by Pantone for exact colours right out of the box. Delta E is the average colour deviation.
For increased productivity, the laptop has a 2.8K QHD+ resolution display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
The Aero series has two variants. The Aero 14 OLED 9MF or the base variant starts at Rs 1,51,999 and comes with a previous-gen Intel i5 12500H, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and an RTX 4050. The top tier variant Aero 14 OLED BMF, features the latest gen Intel i7 13700H, 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and an RTX 4050, and will start at Rs 1,69,999.
Gigabyte G5 series laptops: Key Specs and Pricing The G5 series laptops are powered by an Intel Core i5 CPU from the 12th generation, together with Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series laptop GPUs. These laptops also include a 144Hz high refresh rate display, which is ideal for mid-range gaming. The new G5 Range is designed to be 22% smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and it promises a lot of performance in a little box.
The G5 series has three variants. The G5 MF or the base variant starts at Rs 90,999 and comes with a previous-gen Intel i5 12450H, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and an RTX 4050. The top tier variant G5 KF, features the latest gen Intel i5 12500H, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and an RTX 4060, and will start at Rs 1,07,999.
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Pros: – Punchy sound output – 6-band equaliser to tweak the sound further – Comfortable in-ear fit, good passive noise isolation – IP55 dust and fluid resistance – Impressive battery backup, fast charging – Good call quality
Cons: – Average ANC – No wear detection sensors or volume control on the earbuds – Bulky charging case, though it looks better than before
Price:Rs 2,999 Rating: 4/5
The first OnePlus Nord Buds was an interesting pair of TWS earbuds that introduced a few firsts from the brand despite being their most affordable then. It had a unique design and was the first time that OnePlus provisioned custom audio presets, a feature that was later added to their more expensive audio products. The sequel has arrived that looks a bit more polished and offers active noise cancellation (ANC) at a similar price point. Time to take a closer look.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
OnePlus Nord Buds 2: Design and Comfort (7.5/10) OnePlus took a different design approach with the first Nord Buds with the unique pill-shaped stems, and they have stuck to that design language here too. In fact, the Nord Buds 2 earbuds have the same shape, just with different colour options and finish. We got the Thunder Gray variant for review and it has a smooth matte finish on the buds and the case. It is a big improvement from the glossy finish of its predecessor that made it look too plasticky.
While the case is smooth to the touch, the finish looks a tad grainy due to the ‘tasteful speckled accents’ that OnePlus has added. Tasteful is a matter of individual taste; I mistook it for dust and tried to clean it in vain. The good part is the charging case is pretty much smudge-free and now has rounded edges all around making it look much better than that of the first Nord Buds. It is marginally smaller and lighter too but still far from pocketable (over an inch in thickness), unless you don’t mind a big bulge in your pocket.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
Battery capacity is still the same at 480 mAh, but it promises better backup. A charge indicator LED is located at the front of the case, while a USB-C charging port along with a perfectly camouflaged Bluetooth pairing/reset button are present at the back. The buds are fairly light too at 4.7 grams each. The fit is snug and comfortable, and they don’t pop out of the ear during a workout or a jog. The right-sized silicon tips offer good passive noise isolation and eventually, help in improving ANC too.
The touch-enabled zones at the back aren’t marked with metallic paint and elevation like before but are more subtle with a bit of gloss. The touch sensitivity is good and the buds produce a small beep every time you tap in the zone. The Nord Buds 2 are IP55-rated dust and fluid resistant, which is good. But unlike more premium OnePlus TWS earbuds like the Buds Z2 or Buds Pro 2, the charging case does not have any ingress protection.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2: Features and Specifications (8/10) Each earbud is fitted with a 12.4 mm dynamic driver with titanized diaphragm; same size as the original Nord Buds. They still have two microphones each despite the addition of active noise cancellation here. Yes, ANC is the biggest change in these new buds. OnePlus has kept things simple in this department by not bothering with varying degrees of noise cancellation like in the Buds Pro series. You get to choose between ANC On, ANC Off and Transparency mode that lets ambient noise through. More on this in a bit.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
While the company has added ANC, wear detection sensors continue to be absent on the Nord Buds 2, something I would have preferred to see here. While codec support remains the same – SBC and AAC, the Bluetooth version has been upgraded from 5.2 to 5.3. There’s support for Dolby Atmos too when paired with compliant devices. You don’t need to install any app if you use these buds with a OnePlus 6 or a more recent OnePlus phone running OxygenOS 11 or later. You get access to various settings of the buds in the Bluetooth settings itself.
For other phones, you will need to install the HeyMelody app and sync the earphones to access the same features. The app is available for Android and iOS both. You get to alter the sound profile, configure the controls and update the firmware. You can assign play/pause, previous/next track, voice assistant or nothing to single tap, double tap and triple tap gestures. Touch-and-hold lets you switch between the ANC profiles. Just like all OnePlus buds, volume control cannot be assigned to any of the gestures on the Nord Buds 2 either.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2: Performance (7.5/10) For starters, loudness won’t be an issue on these buds as they are perfectly audible close to 50% when indoors, and I don’t remember pushing the volume beyond 60% too often even in noisy areas outdoors. Similar to its predecessor, the default sound signature of the Nord Buds 2 on the ‘Balanced’ preset is clearly bass-heavy. If anything, the treble is a bit more distinct in this mode this time. However, the excess bass impacts the midrange frequencies and causes noticeable auditory masking.
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And yes, we are still talking about the Balanced preset and not ‘Bass’, that’s also one of the four options available here; one that needs to be ignored. The ‘Bold’ preset actually offers better balance, and the ‘Serenade’ preset tends to lower the bass further and offers a brighter sound which isn’t very enjoyable in music but can be useful in voice heavy content like podcasts. As we learnt from the first Nord Buds, the sound presets are just a formality and the real deal is the Sound Master EQ (Equaliser) that lets you tweak the audio to your liking, which is available here too in the companion app.
You get a 6-band equaliser, two each for lows, mids and highs, that lets you readjust the sound profile and create your own audio presets. While it doesn’t turn things on its head, it does make a noticeable difference to the sound output. Pushing the 1KHz and 4KHz bars up by a few units improves the vocal clarity and certain midrange sounds. Similarly, you can reduce the bass EQ to your liking. Feel free to play with the equaliser till you get the best possible results. You also get a BassWave slider here that’s best left untouched.
After a few sound tweaks, the Nord Buds 2 produce a punchy sound output with a better balance and sharpness, and still with ample bass. The soundstage here is not too broad but fine for the segment. The latency is low enough as there was no noticeable lag between the video and audio when streaming videos from OTT platforms. The wireless range is as advertised with a strong connection up to 10 metres with a clear line of sight.
Coming to the final point about the new addition to the Nord Buds series – active noise cancellation. These buds can reduce ambient noise up to 25 dB, which used to be the mark for entry-level earphones with ANC over a year or two ago. Numbers aside, the ANC here is far from impressive and just about functional. It does reduce certain ambient sounds but doesn’t come close to cutting you off from your surroundings when ANC is turned on. Even indoors, it cannot eliminate the sound of the fan entirely.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
Thankfully, the passive noise isolation is good here, and that plus the ANC helps you reduce some background chatter when in public transport once the audio starts playing. The Transparency mode is decent but could have done with a bit of boost to the vocal frequency range. Now, while the ANC here is not something I would recommend these earphones for, one must factor in its sub-3K selling price, which is close to that of its predecessor that did not offer ANC. So some degree of noise reduction is better than none at all when you aren’t paying a big premium for it.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2: Call quality (8/10) The OnePlus Nord Buds 2’s call quality is quite good indoors as well as outdoors. People on the line were clearly audible to each other. When outdoors, the AI noise reduction does a more than decent job of isolating your voice from the ambient noise, and though it cannot eliminate the background noise entirely, it doesn’t impact the conversation much. Even in noisy areas your voice is transmitted with very good clarity. The Nord Buds 2 can be a good option for those looking for budget TWS earbuds primarily for calling.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2: Battery life (8.5/10) Just like its predecessor, the battery backup remains impressive. The company claims 5 and 7 hours of audio playback for the buds with ANC on and off respectively, and 27 and 36 hours overall with the charging case in similar operating conditions. With the loudness mostly under 60% during the test process, the earbuds actually managed to match those figures with the buds going on for close to 5 hours with ANC on and a shade over 7 without ANC. The case could recharge them four more times.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
That translates into an overall battery backup of about 30 hours for the buds and case combined with intermittent use of ANC, and close to 35 hours if you do not use ANC or Transparency at all, which is quite impressive and even better than the first Nord Buds. And they support fast charging too! A 10-minute charge promises close to 5 hours of playtime with the buds and case combined without ANC, which is not bad at all. The buds can be charged fully in less than an hour, while the case takes 30 more minutes for a full tank.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2: Price and verdict The OnePlus Nord Buds 2 can be purchased for Rs 2,999 with a one year warranty. That makes it just Rs 200 more than the first Nord Buds, and you get some form of ANC, a better looking case, marginally improved sound quality, better battery backup and much better call quality for that tiny premium. Good elements like a custom equaliser, configurable controls, fast charging and that striking buds design have been carried forward here. All things considered, the Nord Buds 2 is a feature-rich pair of TWS earbuds that’s fairly easy to recommend under 3K.
As for competition, there isn’t much except for two of its ever-present not-so-distant cousins – the Realme Buds Q2 and the Realme Buds Air 2. They both offer slightly better ANC in this budget, comparable sound quality, customisable touch controls, three sound profiles but no custom EQ. Their battery life and call quality is pretty decent but not as good as the Nord Buds 2. The Buds Air 2 that sells for a similar price has wear detection sensors. The Buds Q2 is more affordable at Rs 2,499 and even cheaper during online sales. Choose one depending on the features that matter to you most.
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I will confess that Tecno is not a brand I have been tracking closely in recent times. And out of nowhere, they beat a lot of more popular brands to the market with a foldable phone in India. Yes, we did hear about them showcasing a foldable device at MWC 2023, but didn’t expect it to launch here so soon. But here it is, and we would like to share all the information we have about the device with you along with some product images and our hands-on inputs.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi
Tecno Phantom V Fold design and display This phone has a design similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold with a large squarish 7.85-inch foldable display on the inside and a 6.42-inch screen on the outside when the phone is folded. Both are 10-bit LTPO AMOLED displays with 120 Hz refresh rate and 1100 nits peak brightness. The outer screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus and has a resolution of 2550 x 1080 pixels, while the one on the inside flaunts 2296 x 2000 pixels.
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Typically foldable phones have a noticeable crease on the inside where the screen folds. Techno claims that they have kept the gap to a miniscule 0.11 mm. We can confirm that it wasn’t visible to the naked eye in the demo units. Both the displays looked sharp and bright with lively colour reproduction. One thing we noticed is that the hinges on this phone don’t let you partially fold this device like its Samsung counterpart. It does stay that way for a few seconds before opening up fully.
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Again, this observation was based on the demo units available at the launch event and remains to be seen if it works better in retail units. The back of the phone is made of recycled plastic waste, and actually feels great to touch and provides a good grip. The phone is 14.5 mm thick when shut, which is a bit too thick for my liking; yes, I know it’s a foldable phone, but still. However, it is less than 7 mm thick when open which is great. The Tecno Phantom V Fold weighs close to 300 grams, and feels that heavy in hand.
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Tecno Phantom V Fold cameras, battery, specifications The phone is powered by a potent Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ SoC and comes with 12 GB RAM and 512 GB internal storage. It runs HiOS 13 Fold based on Android 13. Battery capacity stands at 5000 mAh and supports 45W wired fast charging that promises to charge the phone fully in under an hour. The phone flaunts five cameras; two at the front and three at the back. You get a 16MP and 32MP shooter respectively on top of each screen.
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The rear photography department consists of a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP telephoto camera for 2X optical zoom and a 13MP ultrawide camera with 120 degrees FOV and PDAF. Neither cameras have optical image stabilisation, something I was hoping to see on at least one of the 50MP cameras. We would like to reserve our opinion on the camera quality for the Phantom V Fold review as the lighting at the event wasn’t ideal to pass judgement.
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Tecno Phantom V Fold price in India and offers This is where things get interesting. The Tecno Phantom V Fold is priced in India at Rs 88,888 with a one-year warranty. You can get it for an early bird price of Rs 77,777 on Amazon India starting today. That makes it the most affordable foldable phone in India at launch.
And there are a bunch of pre-launch offers too. You can get a one-year extended warranty on the device if you book it soon enough. There are other bank offers and 24 months of interest-free EMI on different platforms to choose from.
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Then there’s a one-time screen replacement option too, however, that is applicable only if you happen to damage the screen in the first six months from purchase. All said and done, the Phantom V Fold looks like an interesting option for those looking for a foldable large-screen phone south of a lakh Rupees. Whether it is worth the asking price is a question we will answer in our detailed review of the phone. But no matter what, this should be enough to start a price war in the foldable phones segment in India.
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Our list of phones under Rs 15,000 this month feels a little strange. Frankly, it doesn’t look like one from 2023. Mind you, these aren’t outdated devices by any stretch, but most of them barring a couple are over a year old. Of course, they used to sell for a higher price before, and we can assure you that they offer better value for money than some of the newer phones under 15K. We have phones with good cameras, high refresh rate displays, some with 5G compliance too and all with 6 GB RAM. Here are your options.
Best phones to buy under Rs 15,000 in India
Poco M5 / Poco M4 5G The new Poco M5 is the most recent of the lot, and also the most affordable. It is quite stylish too, courtesy of a leather-like texture at the back. Powering this phone is a Mediatek Helio G99 chip with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal (expandable) storage. It has a 6.58-inch Full HD+ display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, 240 Hz touch sampling rate and Widevine L1 certification. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
It flaunts a 50MP camera at the back, which is accompanied by a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. It has a 5000 mAh battery that should comfortably last for close to two days of moderate use. It supports 18W fast charging with a 22.5W fast charger included in the package. The Poco M5 runs Android 12 with a layer of MIUI 13 on top.
If you want a similar phone, but one that’s 5G ready, then you should consider the Poco M4 5G. Is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip and the rest of the specs are quite similar to the Poco M5. It misses out on a 2MP macro camera (which is fine) and you will have to shell out 3K extra for it. All things considered, if you can do without 5G, the M5 offers far better value for money at its current price.
Infinix Hot 20 5G The Infinix Hot 20 5G is the other 5G-ready phone in this list and offers an impressive feature set. It sports a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate which is good to have in this budget. This phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 810 SoC, which is a great choice for this segment. You get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage that can be expanded further up to 1 TB with a microSD card. There is a dedicated card slot along with two slots for SIM cards.
The photography department consists of a 50MP primary camera along with an AI lens which is also used as a depth sensor. The 8MP front camera gets the job done with selfies and video calls. The Infinix Hot 20 5G has a 5000 mAh battery that can keep it running for a day and a half of normal use. It supports 18W fast charging. This Infinix phone runs Android 12 with XOS 10.6 UI.
Motorola G40 The Motorola G62 and G72 that we included in our previous sub-15K list are a lot more expensive now and not available in this budget. As a result, we have opted for the Motorola G40 instead, which is now available for a great price. It is a neat choice for those looking for a large-screen phone with a near-stock Android UI. And that’s not all, the photography department here is quite impressive too. You get a 64MP primary camera, along with an 8MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP depth sensor. Its 16MP front camera will have the selfie crowd interested.
You get a large 6.8-inch Full HD+ LCD display with HDR10 compliance and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The Moto G40 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 732G SoC which is still quite potent and is accompanied by 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal (expandable) storage. Battery backup is impressive too with a 6000 mAh battery keeping the phone powered for close to two days of moderate use. It supports 20W fast charging with QuickCharge 4. Last but not the least, the G40 runs Android 11, and you get a near-stock Android user interface.
Realme Narzo 50 Just like the G40, the Realme Narzo 50 is now available for under 13K and ticks a lot of boxes. It has an elegant design and sports a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 chip, which is decent enough for this budget. And of course, you get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage that can be expanded further using a microSD card. This phone launched with Android 11, and an Android 13 update is expected soon.
The photography department here is mainly about the 50MP primary camera that does most of the heavy lifting. The 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro camera make up the numbers. The 16MP front camera is pretty good for selfies and video calls. The Realme Narzo 50 has a 5000 mAh battery that keeps it running for over a day and a half of moderate use. Even better, the company bundles a 33W fast charger to juice it up quickly.
Samsung Galaxy F41 The Samsung Galaxy F41 can also be purchased under 15K currently. It offers a good mix of features, in addition to the brand name. The striking features of this phone are its sharp 6.4-inch sAMOLED Full HD+ display and a mammoth 6000 mAh battery that can last for two full days of moderate usage. It is powered by an Exynos 9611 SoC, and you can purchase its 6 GB RAM and 128 GB (expandable) storage variant in this budget.
The Samsung Galaxy F41 offers three cameras at the back – a 64MP primary, 8MP ultrawide camera and a 5MP depth sensor. Not to forget the 32MP front camera located in a drop notch that will have the selfie enthusiasts hooked. The phone launched with Android 10 and is upgradable to Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1, which is another big plus. All these factors make the F41 a very good option in this budget for brand-conscious buyers, despite being close to two years old.
Pros: – Phenomenal AMOLED Display that is very responsive to touch – Solid build quality despite being a thin and light – Top-notch performance in productivity tasks – Solid-sounding speakers – Sleek design – Keyboard and trackpad combo is a joy to use – A whole suite of software features – Integrates well with other Samsung devices
Cons: – On the more expensive end of the spectrum – Battery life can be a hit and a miss at times.
Price:Starts at Rs 1,55,990/- Rating: 4.5/5
From an engineering standpoint, a thin and light ultrabook is one of the most difficult pieces of tech to make. Not only does the device need to be ultraportable, sleek and magnificent to look at, it also cannot compromise on performance, the very thing that makes it an ultrabook, a machine fit for the pros.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
In this regard, the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 truly lives up to the word “Pro” in its name. In our regular day-to-day office work, there was hardly anything that made it break a sweat – editing videos, editing photos, tons of writing – it did all of it and did it well.
What makes the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 so special is its suite of software features. Samsung is really going all out in making its own ecosystem as robust as that of Apple. While it may be hard to believe for some, they are doing a pretty incredible job in that regard. With the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, they certainly get one step closer to perfection.
Make no mistake – if you’re looking to replicate the Apple ecosystem on Android and Windows, Samsung is your best bet as of yet. As for the laptops, there are certain aspects to it that actually makes the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 a better option than the best MacBook you can think of. Read on to find out why.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: Specifications The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 we assessed was equipped with the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, which has a total of 12 cores comprising 4 Performance cores and 8 Efficiency cores. The CPU operates at a base core frequency of 2.2GHz and offers Performance cores that can reach up to 5Ghz and Efficiency cores that can reach up to 3.7Ghz.
In terms of memory, our unit featured an integrated 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and Intel’s Iris Xe graphics. The device sports a 16-inch 3K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, touch input capabilities, and an S Pen. Samsung refers to this as the Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display.
Our unit also boasted top-of-the-line storage with a 1 TB PCIe 4.0-based NVMe M.2 SSD and a 76Wh battery. It provides various ports, including one USB 3.2 Type-A port, two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, one 2-in-1 audio port, and a microSD card slot.
The device is equipped with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: Design and Build The design of the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is understated, minimalist and elegant. It is a versatile device that can transform from a laptop to a tablet with ease, thanks to its convertible 2-in-1 design. This feature offers users the flexibility to switch between a traditional laptop setup and a tablet-like configuration for creative tasks, especially with the inclusion of the S Pen stylus.
For those who enjoy streaming content, the tent mode is an ideal option as it provides a convenient viewing angle that can be adjusted to suit individual preferences. With the display flipped around and propped up, the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 can be used for streaming movies or TV shows, making it a perfect choice for entertainment on the go.
The S Pen stylus also adds a new dimension to the device, as it provides a comfortable and natural way to write, draw or take notes directly on the screen. This feature is particularly useful for artists, graphic designers, or anyone who needs to jot down their ideas quickly and conveniently.
The ultrabook looks humongous in size, but at 1.6 kilograms, it is pretty light and easy to carry around. The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 boasts an aluminium build that not only adds durability but also creates a high-end appearance that makes the device feel more valuable.
What’s really impressive is the fact that there is virtually no deck flex, even when you’re typing away furiously. The screen has very little wobble; the hinges have great travel, feel solid and have a very smooth feel when opening or closing.
This sophisticated look is consistent in both laptop and tent modes. Whether you’re working in a coffee shop or a professional office, this ultrabooks aesthetic is sure to impress anyone who takes even a cursory look at it – it looks expensive and sophisticated.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 boasts an impressive array of ports. On the right, you get a USB-A port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone/mic jack. On the left, we find an HDMI port, two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports.
We really like the fact that Samsung has bothered to include a USB-A port at all. Most thin and lights have practically ditched the humble, but mighty USB-A port.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The full-sized HDMI port is also a useful addition, as it allows users to connect the device to an external monitor, and is a port that we usually don’t see on a thin and light ultrabook.
We also like the fact that the vents of the display are tucked away and are usually not visible when you have the device in its laptop orientation and are using it regularly.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: The Keyboard and trackpad Despite being somewhat shallow, the keyboard on the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 offers a comfortable typing experience thanks to its well-sized keycaps and ample spacing, which remain unaffected even with the numeric keypad included.
The key switches are soft yet snappy, giving a satisfying tactile response while typing, which provides enough precision to prevent accidental keystrokes. While it may not be the best keyboard ever to be built into a laptop, it surely ranks near the top as it provides a rather comfortable and pleasant experience even for extended periods of typing. The keyboard also has a fingerprint reader, which is integrated into the power button.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The touchpad, on the other hand, is on a completely different level. Without a doubt, it is one of the best in its class. It takes up the entirety of the available space on the palm rest, making it large enough to allow for easy gesture control. Additionally, the touchpad’s buttons have a quiet but firm response, providing a satisfying clicking sound without being too noisy. It’s not that the trackpad is just huge in size – it is pretty accurate as well. Palm rejection on the trackpad also works really well.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: The Webcam and Speakers The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 comes with a 1080p HD webcam that is pretty decent. It isn’t the greatest webcam in the world, but as far as integrated webcams are concerned, it is pretty impressive. It gets the colours right and works well in some challenging situations. It will do just fine for most of your video conferencing needs. There is no physical shutter for the webcam, as some other brands have, but there is a quick keyboard shortcut to turn off the camera and microphone electronically.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The audio experience on the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is quite impressive, thanks to its four speakers comprising two 5-watt woofers and two 2-watt tweeters. These speakers provide ample volume without any noticeable distortion even when turned up to maximum. The mids and highs are distinct and well-defined, and the bass is more pronounced than one would expect from a laptop.
However, some users may find that the bass lacks the punch and depth they desire, though this is not a significant issue for most use cases. Overall, the quad speakers on the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 produce solid audio that is clear and balanced across the spectrum.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: The Display The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 boasts an impressive 16-inch 3K (2,880 x 1,800) AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, making it suitable for both work and play. Samsung has stated that the display can reach a maximum brightness of 400 nits, which is quite apparent when viewing the screen.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
There were times when the display felt a little better than what we get in the 16-inch MacBook Pro – at other times, it seemed almost at par. Yes, the specs would suggest that Apple’s display is of a higher resolution, but honestly, so far, we really haven’t been able to discern much difference in terms of resolution.
The display covers 100% of the sRGB colour gamut and 85.2% of the more demanding DCI-P3 colour space, which is an excellent achievement. The display is as stunning as OLED panels can be. The blacks are deep, and the colours are vivid without appearing oversaturated. At 3K the display is impressively sharp. Additionally, the display is VESA DisplayHDR 500 certified, which makes it capable of playing HDR content with solid performance.
So good is the colour performance of this display, that we can confidently edit photos and colour grade videos on this, without any worry.
As for the construction, there are virtually no bezels around the display, apart from a chin at the bottom. The chin, sort of curves into the laptop, which gives it a premium look.
All in all, whether you’re using the laptop for your work, or for content consumption (or even content creation) it is a joy to use the display.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: Performance The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 comes with a powerful Intel 13th-generation Raptor Lake Core i7-1360P processor, which operates at a 28-watt power consumption. This processor boasts 12 cores, including four Performance cores and eight Efficient cores, and 16 threads to handle multiple tasks with ease.
With a maximum Turbo Frequency of 5.0 GHz, the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 offers lightning-fast performance, making it ideal for demanding applications such as video editing, gaming, and 3D modelling. Its high-performance processor ensures smooth multitasking, faster data processing, and quick app launching. The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is a great choice for power users who need a powerful and versatile laptop.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Do keep in mind that you’re only getting Intel’s Iris Xe graphics on the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360. Because of this, it isn’t really suited to carry out graphics-intensive tasks, nor is it suited for heavy gaming. Yes, you can play a few indie games, and games such as Rocket League, but that’s about it.
On paper, the Intel Core i7-1360P may look a little underwhelming to some, but this 28W beast is more than capable of pulling its punches. The Core i7-1360P does pretty well in most synthetic benchmarks. We did all of our testing in its Optimised or balanced setting.
According to the results of Geekbench 5.4 and 5.5 the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 achieved a commendable score of 1,882 on the single-core test and 8,450 on the multi-core test. The single-core test evaluates the performance of a processor while performing a single task, while the multi-core test measures the processor’s ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 delivers a solid performance and is a great option for users who require a fast and reliable laptop for their work or entertainment needs.
Despite its impressive performance, the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 does have one minor issue that is common among thin and light laptops. The device tends to heat up a little, particularly under heavy loads that require sustained usage. This was observed during benchmarking and an extended period of colour correction.
While the laptop does get a bit warm under these circumstances, it’s not to the point where it should be a cause for concern. Additionally, even during these thermal peaks, there was no sign of thermal throttling, which is a mechanism that reduces the processor’s speed to prevent overheating. Therefore, although the laptop may get a little toasty, it does not appear to affect its performance or longevity.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: Software features As we stated earlier in our review, Samsung is trying to build out its own ecosystem, which means that there are quite a few niche features that really drive up the value proposition of the device if you already are using a premium Galaxy device.
For example, there’s the Samsung Multi Control feature, which allows you to control your Galaxy smartphone using the laptop’s keyboard and touchpad. Additionally, Multi Control enables you to copy, paste, or drag and drop files between your laptop and smartphone, making it easier to transfer data and files seamlessly.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
Another useful feature of the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is the Second Screen feature, which turns Galaxy tablets into an additional monitor. This feature allows you to expand your laptop’s screen real estate by using your Galaxy tablet as a second display, increasing productivity and multitasking capabilities.
Another feature of the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is its compatibility with the S Pen. The device comes with an S Pen included in the box, which is comfortable to hold and works exceptionally well. The S Pen provides a natural and intuitive way to interact with the device, particularly when it comes to drawing or taking notes.
Additionally, the S Pen’s menu system is the same as the one found on the Galaxy Note, which has been ported over to Windows. This provides a seamless experience for users who are familiar with the Galaxy Note’s features and functionality.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
The ability to launch a hotspot on your phone from the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is another useful feature on the go. It’s a little tricky to set up the first time because it’s not enabled by default, but the feature works well once it’s done.
Photos from Samsung’s Expert RAW app can be automatically transferred to Adobe Lightroom on your laptop. You can also use Samsung’s Quick Share tool to transfer files directly from your phone to your PC and vice versa.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: Battery Life The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is powered by a 76Wh battery and comes with a 65W charging adapter. One of the shortcomings of the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is its battery life. In our typical usage, which involves a ton of writing, some photo editing, and watching a few videos on YouTube and Netflix, with 80% screen brightness, the battery would last us about 7 hours before the 20 per cent battery warning would pop up.
If we let it drain out completely, it manages to just touch 8 hours of battery life.
Although this might not look shabby you have to consider that similar laptops at this price point provide slightly better battery life. Having said that the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360’s battery life is still workable and not something that actively holds you back.
During our harder battery testing, where we replayed a 4K video on loop, the laptop lasted just over 6.5 hours.
Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 review: Verdict The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 is a pretty impressive 2-in-1 convertible laptop that is well-suited for everyday use. It provides reliable performance and is lightweight, making it easy to carry around. Furthermore, the device’s responsive touchscreen allows it to double as a decent Windows tablet, providing an additional level of versatility.
Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das
However, the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360’s battery life is its only real shortcoming. While it’s not terrible by any means, it falls short when compared to other devices on the market.
And that OLED display, is really something that would make you want to ignore any shortcoming that you may see – it is that good. Then, there are a ton of exclusive software features that work in Samsung’s own ecosystem.
Samsung has made a pretty solid laptop, even for people who are not yet integrated into Samsung’s ecosystem. For those who are, those who already have a flagship-level Samsung device, this is almost a no-brainer, especially if you’re usage involves using a touch screen and a stylus.
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