Best phones under Rs 60,000 (Mar 2022): Apple iPhone 12, Asus ROG Phone 5s to OnePlus 9 Pro

Some of the handsets from our list of phones under Rs 60,000 from last quarter have retained their place in this list too. However, in most cases, you now get a higher capacity variant or a more lucrative deal, which is great if you were dreaming about owning those phones. Powerusers, gamers, photography enthusiasts, all have a lot to look forward to in this list. Check it out.

Best phones to buy under Rs 60,000 in India

Apple iPhone 12

The iPhone 12 was available for a Rupee under Rs 60,000 last quarter too, but now you get its 128 GB storage variant for the same price as opposed to 64 GB. The iPhone 12 has just the perfect size for single handed operation. Its 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen is compliant with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, and protected against scratches and smudges with a ceramic glass and oleophobic coating respectively.

 

Powering it is Apple’s previous flagship A14 Bionic chip that is still quite a powerful processor for any task you intend to perform on this phone. You get the two trusted 12MP cameras at the back with the primary lens offering OIS, and the secondary capable of capturing ultra-wide shots. You already know that the performance is top notch in different lighting, and it can shoot some excellent videos too. The Apple iPhone 12 launched with iOS 14, and is easily upgradable to iOS 15.

Apple iPhone 12 price in India: Rs 59,999 for 128 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

We are fond of compact flagship phones, and hence we added one more to this list from an equally premium brand. Just like the iPhone 12, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G too has IP68 ingress protection. It has a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits, HDR10+ compliance and 120 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2100 chip which can be found in most of their high-end phones in recent times. You get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage here. The phone runs Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.x.

Photography department on the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G has a combination of three cameras at the back starting with a 12MP primary camera with OIS, 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 64MP telephoto camera with OIS that provides up to 3X Hybrid zoom. The camera performance is impressive with excellent detail, close to natural colours and wide dynamic range. Its low light performance is commendable too. This phone can also record videos up to 8K resolution. A 4000 mAh battery keeps the phone running for over a day of moderate use and supports wireless charging too.

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G price in India: Rs 51,900 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

OnePlus 9 Pro

The OnePlus 9 Pro is another great option under 60K, and you can save as much as another Rs 10,000 on Amazon India if you have the right credit card. It is a pretty good buy even without the offer. A metal frame and a glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back makes the phone elegant and sturdy. It has a 6.7-inch LTPO Fluid AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a higher than usual resolution of 3216 x 1440 pixels. The HDR10+ compliant screen can display a billion colours and get up to 1300 nits bright.

The photography department is highly versatile with a combination of 48MP primary camera with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus, 8MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3.3X optical zoom and a 2MP mono camera. Hasselblad’s colour tuning lends a natural tone to the colours as compared to its predecessors. The cameras manage to capture impressive shots in different lighting and modes. The 16MP front camera located in a tiny punch-hole at the top of the screen is more than decent for selfies and video calls.

The 5G ready OnePlus 9 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship grade Snapdragon 888 SoC, and you get the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage variant in this budget. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 65W Warp charger juices it up in just about half an hour. The phone also supports fast wireless charging and has IP68 rated ingress protection. It runs OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. Android 12 update with a lot of bug fixes is already available for this phone.

OnePlus 9 Pro price in India: Rs 59,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Asus ROG Phone 5s

While the top variant of the Asus ROG Phone 5 was hard to find, there are no such issues with the 5s, at least for now. You can get the 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage variant comfortably in this budget. Needless to say it is a great option for gamers in this segment. You may also consider its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant. Except for the memory numbers, the rest of the stuff remains the same, and you can save a good Rs 8,000 too. The phone offers several optimisations and enhancements to give the gamers a superior gaming experience.

The Asus ROG Phone 5s is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888+ SoC, and has a 6.78-inch Full HD+, HDR10+ compliant, 10-bit AMOLED display with 144 Hz refresh rate. The rear camera department consists of a 64MP primary camera, 13MP ultra-wide snapper and a 5MP macro camera. It has a large 6000 mAh battery that facilitates longer gaming sessions, and the bundled 65W fast charger can charge it fully in less than an hour. This phone runs Android 11 with ROG UI.

Asus ROG Phone 5s price in India: Rs 57,999 for 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage; Rs 49,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Motorola Edge 30 Pro

The new Motorola Edge 30 Pro actually sells in the sub-50K bracket, but the phone is good enough to give the phones in this budget a run for their money, courtesy of its processing muscle and some premium features. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s fastest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. It has a 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display that flaunts 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and capability to display over a billion colour shades. There is Corning Gorilla Glass protection against scratches at the front and back.

The photography department consists of a 50MP primary camera with OIS. You get another 50MP camera for ultra-wide photography and a 2MP depth sensor. The selfie enthusiasts are in for a treat too thanks to its 60MP front camera. Its 4800 mAh battery lasts for over a day of moderate use and supports 68W fast charging as well as 15W fast wireless charging. It runs Android 12 out of the box, and like most Motorola phones, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro has a clean and near-stock user interface; another big plus.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro price in India: Rs 49,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

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Best phones under Rs 50,000 (Mar 2022): Apple iPhone 12 Mini, Asus ROG Phone 5s to iQOO 9 5G

Our list of phones under Rs 50,000 this month is loaded with handsets with top of the line processors, premium designs and high quality cameras — basically pretty much everything one expects from a flagship smartphone. There are quite a few new entrants in this list as compared to the one from last quarter. Time to meet them.

Best phones to buy under Rs 50,000 in India

Apple iPhone 12 Mini

The smallest of Apple’s iPhone 12 series phones is still available under Rs 50,000; its 64 GB storage variant. The Apple iPhone 12 Mini is great for single-handed operation. And it’s not just about a smaller size but the availability of a proper flagship device in a compact form factor without skipping any key feature from its larger sibling is what makes it special. It is powered by the A14 Bionic chip that powers the entire iPhone 12 series.

The Apple iPhone 12 Mini is pretty much the iPhone 12 in a smaller body. In fact, its display is even sharper than the 12 in terms of pixel density, thanks to its compact Full HD+ 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen. Two 12MP cameras (primary with OIS and an ultrawide shooter) at the back offer top notch performance in different lighting, and can shoot some excellent videos too. It launched with iOS 14, and is easily upgradeable to the latest iOS 15.

Apple iPhone 12 Mini price in India: Rs 49,999 for 64 GB storage

Asus ROG Phone 5s

The Asus ROG Phone 5s is pretty much the ROG Phone 5 with an even faster processor, and sells for the exact price. Other than a powerful processing hardware, the phone has several optimisations and enhancements to give the gamers a premium gaming experience. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888+ SoC, and you get the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant in this budget. This phone runs Android 11 with ROG UI.

Its large 6.78-inch Full HD+ 10-bit AMOLED display has a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and can get up to 1200 nits bright. Though this phone is targeted primarily at mobiler gamers, the rear camera department is more than decent. It consists of a 64MP primary camera, 13MP ultra-wide shooter and a 5MP macro camera. The Asus ROG Phone 5s retains the large 6000 mAh battery for long, uninterrupted gaming sessions, and even better, the bundled 65W fast charger can juice it up fully in under an hour.

Asus ROG Phone 5s price in India: Rs 49,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Motorola Edge 30 Pro

The newly launched Motorola Edge 30 Pro is another mighty impressive option in this budget that offers some top features. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s fastest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip and comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. Its 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display flaunts a 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and capability to display over a billion colour shades. There is Corning Gorilla Glass protection against scratches at the front and back.

The photography department on the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is helmed by a 50MP primary camera with OIS. You get another 50MP camera for ultra-wide photography and a 2MP depth sensor. If that wasn’t enough, Motorola has opted for a 60MP front camera to woo the selfie crowd. Its 4800 mAh battery lasts for over a day of moderate use and supports 68W fast charging as well as 15W fast wireless charging. This phone runs Android 12 out of the box, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface.

Motorola Edge 30 Pro price in India: Rs 49,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

OnePlus 9

The price of the OnePlus 9 has dropped significantly and you can score even its top variant with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage within our budget. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship grade Snapdragon 888 chip. It has a 6.55-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance. The phone has an elegant design with a glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 at the front and back.

The rear camera department isn’t as versatile as its Pro variant, but you do get Hasselblad colour calibration here too that does make a difference. Photography is handled by a 48MP primary camera, a 50MP ultrawide camera with auto-focus -- one of the best ultrawide cameras on phones, and a 2MP mono camera. The cameras manage to shoot some impressive images in different lighting conditions with natural colours.

A 16MP front camera located in a tiny punch-hole at the top of the screen does a good job with selfies and video calls. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts over a day of moderate use comfortably, and the bundled 65W Warp charger juices it up in just about half an hour. The phone launched with OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11, and the Android 12 update with OxygenOS 12 is already available.

OnePlus 9 price in India: Rs 44,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 49,999 for 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

iQOO 9 5G

Here’s another fully loaded device from the Vivo sub-brand. The new iQOO 9 5G too is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888+ chip, and you get either 8 GB or 12 GB RAM and 128 GB or 256 GB internal storage to go with it. Its 6.56-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display has 120 Hz refresh rate and can display a billion colour shades. The phone runs Android 12 with FunTouch OS 12.

The rear camera department here is quite interesting. You get a 48MP primary camera with Gimbal stabilisation, accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 13MP 50 mm professional portrait camera, which is particularly interesting. You get a handy 16MP front camera for selfies and video calls. The iQOO 9 5G has a 4350 mAh battery that lasts for a day of moderate use, and the bundled 120W fast charger claims to charge it fully in just 18 minutes. Yes, you read that right!

iQOO 9 5G price in India: Rs 42,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 46,990 for 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

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Oppo Enco M32 Review: A decent wireless neckband with a wrong model number

What’s in the name, you ask? In this case, probably everything if you happen to know its predecessor well. The Oppo Enco M31 wireless neckband was a cult classic courtesy of its detailed and balanced sound output. The audio quality was exceptional for its selling price close to Rs 2,000, unlike its bass heavy competitors. And it’s not like it completely ignored those who preferred extra bass (a vast majority of users in the segment) either.

The neckband had two sound profiles built in, and one could switch between balanced output and bass boost at the click of a button. A smart way to appeal to a broader audience. On top of that, the neckband supported Sony’s LDAC codecs for better throughput and flaunted a Hi-Res certification too. The only real drawback was its average battery backup south of 10 hours. All that Oppo needed to do with its successor was fit the Enco M31 with a larger battery and leave everything else untouched.

When the Oppo Enco M32 was announced with 28 hours of battery backup, we thought the company was looking to do exactly that. M31 with almost thrice the battery life was a tempting proposition indeed. Unfortunately, that is not what the company had in mind. Now there are two ways of looking at the Oppo Enco M32, one as a successor to the M31 and other as a completely non-related product saddled with a wrong model number. We will explore both routes in this review.

Price: Rs 1,499 to 1,799

Rating: 3.5/5

Oppo Enco M32: Design and Comfort (8/10)

The build quality of the Oppo Enco M32 is pretty good. The earbud shells, battery pods and the rubberised neckband are made of quality materials. It has a nice even matte finish across with just a hint of gloss at the back of the earbud shells. We received the new green variant for review, which looks quite elegant, and is good enough even for someone like me who generally prefers black.

The Oppo Enco M32 weighs less than 27 grams, and the flexible neckband causes no discomfort around the neck even after hours of use. The angled silicone ear tips sit well in the ear canals and the U-shaped wings at the back of the buds provide a more reassuring fit, especially during a jog or a workout. Speaking of exercising, the Enco M32 is IP55 rated dust and splash resistant, and should easily survive a bit of sweat or a light drizzle.

Other than the preinstalled medium sized silicone eartips, the company bundles two more pairs to choose from to achieve good passive noise isolation. A volume rocker and a multifunction button located on the right module let you access all the key functions of this neckband, ranging from playback to calling. A USB-C port is placed under a protective flap for charging this neckband. A tiny multicoloured LED indicates the pairing status of these earphones and also gives you a rough idea about its battery level.

Oppo Enco M32: Features and Specifications (7/10)

‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix’, but who’s listening! Oppo made far too many changes to the product to a point where it barely feels like M31’s successor. The support for Bluetooth codecs is now limited to SBC and AAC; no LDAC support here. Oppo hasn’t even bothered to upgrade the Bluetooth version from 5.0 with several brands now offering version 5.1 or 5.2.

The dual sound profiles have been given a skip too, and you have to make do with the default sound signature which isn’t as good as the M31’s. There is no companion app to tweak it either. The size of the dynamic drivers has increased, which is fine. Each earbud is now fitted with a 10 mm unit. The back of the buds have magnetic tips that hold the earbuds in place when not in use, and also act as an on/off switch, just like its predecessor. The magnets are powerful enough to hold them in place and avoid accidental separation with minimal force.

Battery backup is the only area where it shines brighter than the M31, much brighter. Battery capacity has been increased significantly from the measly 88 mAh on its predecessor to 220 mAh on the M32. Even better, this significant increase in battery reserves has led to only a 5 grams weight gain, that is not even noticeable. The neckband doesn’t look bloated either. So a job well done on this front.

Oppo Enco M32: Performance (6.5/10)

Pairing the Oppo Enco M32 is a standard process. All you need to do is separate the buds to enter pairing mode, find the neckband in the list of Bluetooth devices and pair. Wireless range is perfectly fine with the neckband retaining a strong connection up to 10 metres with a clear line of sight, and half of that with a concrete wall in between the source device and the listener.

Moving on to the sound quality, gone is the balanced sound signature of the Oppo Enco M31. It is now replaced with the typical V-shaped sound on the M32 to please the masses. And even that is a little imbalanced on either side of 40 to 60% volume level. Chances are you won’t even notice the issue as more often than not you will play the audio in that loudness range. But let me explain.

The earphones get sufficiently loud at 45 to 50% volume, and even outdoors, I didn’t have to go beyond 60% often. When you listen to music on these earphones below 40% loudness, the sound is largely bass dominated. The excess bass overshadows the midrange frequencies and lower midrange frequencies get majorly impacted. Even vocals feel recessed in bass-heavy tracks. Closer to the halfway mark, there is a lot more balance between the lows and highs with a good amount of sparkle.

As you go beyond 60% volume, the highs start to dominate and the bass feels inadequate. Beyond 70%, these earphones sound sibilant and far from pleasant. Hence, it is advisable to play the Oppo Enco M32 in the 40 to 60% loudness range for best results. The imaging is decent but the soundstage feels more centred than broad here; passable for the segment.

Oppo Enco M32: Call quality (6/10)

Calling is not one of the strong points of the Oppo Enco M32. The call quality is average, especially when outdoors. It is perfectly fine when indoors with both people on the call perfectly audible to each other. But outside in a noisy area, the environmental noise cancellation circuitry (if any) barely works. The omni-directional microphone picks up a lot of ambient noise that impacts the conversation.

Oppo Enco M32: Battery life (9/10)

The battery backup is supposed to be the most striking feature of this neckband and it delivers in abundance. The company claims a battery backup of 28 hours. During my testing, at 50 to 60% loudness, the neckband went on for close to 24 hours with roughly 3 hours of daily usage, mainly music playback and movies and very little calling. These are excellent numbers, and way higher than those of the Oppo Enco M31.

As I mentioned earlier, the M32 has a USB-C port for charging. What’s more, it supports fast charging and the numbers are mighty impressive. A mere 10 minutes of charging gave me over 15 hours of play time, which is topnotch. This neckband can be charged fully in about 35 to 40 minutes, which is quite brisk. All in all, Oppo has managed to do a great job in the battery department on every front.

Oppo Enco M32: Price and verdict

The Oppo Enco M32 was launched at an introductory price of Rs 1,499 with a one year warranty, but later bumped it up to Rs 1,799. But it often sells for its launch price even now, which is fair for what it offers. Close to 2K, it would run into competition it won’t be able to handle. By now we know that the M32 is not the ideal successor for the M31. The company could have called it anything else and the complaints would have been far fewer.

If you keep the model number aside for a moment, you get a wireless neckband with good finish and build, decent sound output in the right loudness band, excellent battery backup and even better fast charging. And let’s not forget, it is a good 25% cheaper than its predecessor, which is almost impossible to find these days. The Oppo Enco M32 also has other competitors under Rs 1,500 to contend with; Boat Rockerz 330 and Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo to name a couple.

The Boat Rockerz 330 offers comparable audio quality and battery backup, and much better call quality. However, the finish and build aren’t as good, and it also lacks features like a magnetic power switch. The Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo matches the Oppo in terms of features and build quality, and also offers a more pleasant sound output and further customizations through the companion Realme Link app. However, the battery backup is significantly lower, and fast charging is not at the same level as that of the M32.

One thing Oppo can still do (and I hope they do) is take the battery department of the M32 and plug it into the M31 with all its features intact, add a bit of premium to the selling price and call it Oppo Enco M32 Pro. Worth a shot, no?

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ISS leaves internet users in awe with magnificent pictures of orbital sunrise; check photos here

The International Space Station (ISS) has often shown us some magnificent pictures of outer space and this time, ISS shared some stunning images showing an orbital sunrise captured from the space station. The images were shared by ISS on their official Instagram account on Friday, 18 March, 2022.

In the set of mesmerizing images shared, the first two slides shows the first rays of an orbital sunrise  illuminating the Earth’s atmosphere while the third slide is a picture of the Sun rising above the Earth’s horizon.

The fourth picture of ISS’ post consists of the most heavenly image, where the Sun shines on the Earth while the planet glows beauteously with the Sun’s light.

The final image gives us a large and clear picture of the Earth being illuminated shortly after an orbital sunrise.

Take a look at the pictures here -

 

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A post shared by International Space Station (@iss)

International Space Station shared the post with the caption, “An orbital sunrise is seen from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the Pacific Ocean on 22 February, 2022.”

According to the space station, the first two pictures of the orbital sunrise were taken when it was orbiting above the Pacific Ocean south of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula while the others was clicked when the ISS was in orbit above the Pacific Ocean south of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.

Since the post from International Space Station was shared, it has gained more than 66,000 likes on Instagram and has also garnered a variety of reactions from users. A user wrote that this was the most beautiful sunrise they had ever seen while another said that the images were magnificent. Someone also commented hilariously that the pictures reminded them of the Universal Studio's presentation.

The International Space Station is a modular space station which is a collaboration of 15 nations working together to operate a world-class, state-of-the-art orbiting laboratory.

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Stephen Hawking death anniversary: Here are some of his groundbreaking theories

British physicist Stephen Hawking passed away on this day, 14 March, in the year 2018. His death at the age of 76 left his admirers, as well as people in the scientific community, in deep shock.

Hawking, who battled amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for over five decades, was told he had less than three years to live when he was first diagnosed. However, he did not let the disease stop him from becoming an icon in the scientific community.

The physicist connected quantum mechanics (which focuses on how electrons and positrons work) with the theory of relativity, according to The Verge. This remains one of his biggest achievements.

Hawking’s book A Brief History of Time, was an international bestseller and remains influential since it was first published in the 1980s. The book was much-loved among readers for simplifying complex theories related to the origin of the universe, black holes and other topics.

Apart from immense contributions to physics, Hawking was also a pop culture icon and made appearances in several shows including The Big Bang Theory and The Simpsons.

Stephen Hawking’s contribution to the scientific community, will always remain valuable. On his death anniversary, here are some of his ground-breaking theories:

• In the 1960s, Hawking, along with Roger Penrose, applied Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity to the origin of the cosmos. The theory implied that space and time began with the Big Bang, and would end with black holes.
• According to Hawking, if the universe began from a singularity or a just one infinitely small point, questions about what was before the Big Bang, were useless.
• He also gave more solid mathematical backing to the idea of black holes, which  had first been theorised by Albert Einstein in 1916.
• Hawking also demonstrated that black holes actually emit radiation. The phenomenon was later named the Hawking radiation in his honour. The physicist also discovered that black holes can explode and die. His ideas also led to the discovery that black holes were not actually black , but “white-hot”.
• Hawking theorised that the event horizons of black holes, “the boundary beyond which nothing can ever escape", could never shrink. This was later known Hawking’s area theorem. In 2021, physicists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology confirmed the theory.
• Hawking also postulated that when a star dies, its mass collapses into a singularity, which then leads to the formation of a black hole.

His work has made black holes more understandable to both the scientific community and the general public.
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OnePlus Nord CE 2 Review: Better than the Nord CE, but could have been even better

Price: Rs 24,999

Rating: 3.8/5

We ended our OnePlus Nord CE review wondering if there would be a successor for the same or if the Core Edition was just a one-off experiment. Guess what? The OnePlus Nord CE 2 is here and sooner than we expected. The first Nord CE did not impress us much as we believe the company cut a corner too many and seemed like a generic phone with OnePlus branding and OxygenOS. The company has made a few amends in its successor without inflating the price.

Are those enhancements enough to justify its existence? We will answer that and more in our OnePlus Nord CE 2 review. We will take a quick look at what’s good or otherwise, and how it is different in comparison to its predecessor in half a dozen key areas. Let’s get the ball rolling.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: Design

The rear profile of the Nord CE 2 is completely different from its predecessor, and in some ways is quite unique and cool. The plastic back on the Nord CE is replaced with scratch resistant glass; the first of many improvements. A single glass block covers the entire back and also encompasses the camera module that has a bit of a protrusion. The camera layout is a lot more like the Nord 2 than the CE. The company has stuck to a single front camera located in a punch-hole.

The back does attract a few smudge marks but they aren’t too conspicuous on the Bahama Blue variant. The frame is still made of plastic though and has a glossy finish. Despite the glass back, the Nord CE 2 is just 3 grams heavier than the CE and weighs a comfortable 173 grams. It is slightly slimmer too at 7.8 mm in thickness. A popular OnePlus feature, the alert slider continues to be absent on the second Nord CE phone too.

However, the 3.5 mm headphone jack has been retained. You also get a USB-C port and a solitary speaker next to it along the bottom edge. OnePlus has also added a MicroSD card slot in addition to dual SIM trays; a pleasant surprise. The placement of the volume rocker along the left edge and the power button on the right is spot on, and you don’t have to stretch your fingers much to access them. One design element that can improve further is the chin or the bottom bezel, which is quite prominent on the Nord CE 2.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: Display

Just like every other Nord phone, the Nord CE 2 sports a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with 2400 x 1080 resolution and 90 Hz refresh rate. But unlike the Nord CE, the display here is HDR10+ compliant. It is protected against scratches by a layer for Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The colour reproduction and sharpness are pretty good for the segment, and you get two colour profiles - Vivid and Gentle. While the former is more vibrant, the latter is a lot more easier on the eyes and closer to natural once you increase the colour temperature a little.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: Hardware and performance

This is one area where the Nord CE felt a little underpowered. OnePlus has opted for a Mediatek Dimensity 900 5G SoC on the Nord CE 2. While it doesn’t exactly set our benchmarks on fire, it is definitely a step up from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G on the Nord CE, but understandably not in the same league as the Dimensity 1200 that powers the Nord 2. The Nord CE 2 does feel smoother in day to day operations as compared to its predecessor. We got its 8 GB RAM variant for review.

Moving on to benchmarks and performance in numbers, the Nord CE 2 slots in between the Nord CE and Nord 2, but closer to the former. It scored 726 and 2160 in Geekbench single core and multi-core benchmarks respectively. In comparison, the Nord CE managed scores of 641 and 1835, while the Nord 2 scored 815 and 2762 in the same tests. It returned a score of 7886 in PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark, which was surprisingly lower than the 8366 that the Nord CE scored.

In 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme - Vulkan benchmark, the Nord CE 2 got an overall score of 3666 – over a thousand points higher than 2590 that its predecessor could manage. Even in the 3DMark Wild Life benchmark, the Nord CE 2 stays comfortably ahead with 2032 points as opposed to 1113 on the CE. The Nord 2 is a different kettle of fish scoring more than double (4218 point) in the same benchmark. The difference in average frame rates is also significant (12.2 vs 6.7 vs 25.3 -- CE 2 vs CE vs Nord 2).

Both the Core Edition phones are not so great at serious gaming but can handle less graphics intensive games reasonably well at medium settings. Having said that, the Mali-G68 MC4 GPU on the OnePlus Nord CE 2 performs noticeably better in this department than the Adreno 619 on the CE. The single speaker on the phone doesn’t make things particularly enjoyable though, and it’s best to use earphones or headphones. The Nord CE 2 is Bluetooth 5.2 compliant and has a 3.5 mm headphone jack too.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: Camera performance

The camera department of the Nord CE wasn’t very impressive and they have pretty much carried forward the same on the CE 2 with minor enhancements. You get the same 64MP main camera and it still lacks optical image stabilisation (OIS). The 8MP ultra-wide camera is also common to both. The only difference being the 2MP depth sensor is replaced by a 2MP macro camera, which isn’t any great like most 2MP macro cameras.

The output is pretty decent in good lighting but starts to lose detail in fading light. The dynamic range is good and photos have better detail as compared to the Nord CE but they still appear a bit on the softer side. There are some AI enhancements but they mess up the colours, so best to avoid them. There is no telephoto camera here and the shots are digitally zoomed, and usable upto 2X tops. Lack of OIS doesn’t help either and you need a steady hand to get usable clicks. The 8MP ultra-wide camera is average at best but does a decent job in well lit conditions.

Low light photography on the Nord CE 2 can be a hit or miss. Some images exhibit a good amount of detail while others look flat. The noise is kept in check but the noise reduction algorithm seems a bit aggressive. There is a Night mode that improves things significantly when the light is too low, but it takes longer to capture and process the images. The objects look brighter than they are but have noticeably less detail. Best to stick to the main camera in low light in normal mode. Ultra-wide mode or zoom in low light produce below par results.

The 16MP front camera does a good job with selfies. They come out sharp and with natural colours. The front camera also has a portrait mode which works well when there is sufficient foreground and background separation. The rear cameras can shoot 4K videos at 30 fps and 1080p videos at up to 120 fps. However, EIS works only when recording 1080p videos at 30 fps; best to stick to that for best results. The output is acceptable for the segment. The front camera can record videos in Full HD resolution at 30 or 60 fps.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: Battery backup

OnePlus has retained the 4500 mAh battery on the Nord CE 2, but fast charging has been bumped up to 65W from 30W. The battery lasts for a day and a half of moderate use which is quite good. The bundled 65W ‘SuperVOOC’ charger (yes, OnePlus is openly using Oppo nomenclature now) manages to charge it from 1 to 100% in about 40 minutes. It may be 4 to 5 minutes slower than the Nord 2, but a solid 25 minutes faster than the Nord CE, which is mighty impressive.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: OS and User interface

The Nord CE 2 runs Android 11 with OxygenOS 11.3. OnePlus promises two major Android updates and three years of security updates for this phone, which is good, but there’s a small catch. Android 12 has been out for several months now, and a phone debuting in 2022 should ideally launch with that version of the OS. Despite the company committing to two Android updates, it may only go as far as Android 13, which feels like a raw deal but not a deal breaker.

Due to the code unification, the ColorOS influence can be seen in certain places like the camera app (which is straight out of Oppo’s playbook) but it still largely feels like OxygenOS here, which is great. There is hardly any bloatware either and the overall experience is smooth and pleasant. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 should get the OxygenOS 12 update in a few months, and I am not sure how things will pan out then. Going by my experience of the same on Nord 2, it feels a lot less like OxygenOS.

OnePlus Nord CE 2: Price and competition

The Nord CE starts at Rs 23,999 for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant and just a thousand more for the 8 GB RAM variant with the same internal storage. OnePlus hasn’t bothered with a 12 GB RAM variant here, and it’s a sensible decision. Nor is there a 256 GB variant, but you can always use a MicroSD card to increase the storage in case 128 GB feels insufficient. All in all, you get a much improved version of the Nord CE (barring cameras) at the same price. However, the competition in the sub-Rs 25,000 segment is cutthroat.

Some of the top options in the segment would be Samsung M52 5G and iQOO Z5 5G. Both phones have a faster Snapdragon 778 chip, higher capacity batteries and 120 Hz refresh rate displays. While the Samsung has a Super AMOLED screen, the iQOO has a regular IPS display. Another couple of options I would like to mention are Xiaomi 11i 5G and Realme 9 Pro Plus. Both are powered by Mediatek Dimensity 920 chip (more powerful than 900) and have impressive cameras. While the former boasts of an 108MP main camera, the latter has one with OIS.

The more powerful and impressive OnePlus Nord 2 isn’t out or reach either if one is willing to stretch the budget a little. So while the OnePlus Nord CE 2 does bring in a handful of enhancements over its predecessor, the company will need to do a bit more to stand out from the crowd in this highly competitive segment of smartphones. Let’s see if OnePlus gets third time lucky with the Nord CE 3.

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Best phones under Rs 40,000 (Mar 2022): OnePlus 9R, Motorola Edge 20 Pro to Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Three months have passed since we compiled our previous list of phones under Rs 40,000 in India, and most of the handsets we chose then are still making a strong case for inclusion in this one. Choosing just five smartphones in this price band still remains a tough ask. So we chose seven this time. We have handsets with flagship grade processors, ample RAM and storage, 5G compliance, high refresh rate AMOLED displays and of course excellent cameras. Let’s see who made the cut this quarter.

Best phones to buy under Rs 40,000 in India

Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro 5G

Xiaomi’s Mi 11X Pro 5G comfortably retains its spot, and is now available for an even better price. It is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC. You get 8 GB RAM and a choice between 128 GB and 256 GB of internal storage to go with it. A 108MP camera at the back captures some impressive shots in different modes and lighting. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 5MP macro camera. A 20MP front camera handles selfies and video calls quite well.

Its sharp display is one of the standout features of this phone. You get a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED Full HD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and so is the phone’s glass back. A 4520 mAh battery keeps it running for over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 33 W fast charger can charge it fully in under an hour. Mi 11X Pro runs Android 11 with MIUI 12 on top.

Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro 5G price in India: Rs 32,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage; Rs 37,490 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

OnePlus 9R

The OnePlus 9R remains a great all-round player in this segment, and Amazon India is currently offering additional Rs 3,000 off on the phone to sweeten the deal. You can get its 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant under 37K. The phone has a 6.55-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance. The metal frame and glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 makes it look elegant. The phone runs OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11, which is still one of the better Android UI around.

You get four cameras at the back consisting of a 48MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), 16MP ultrawide shooter, 5MP macro camera and a 2MP mono camera. The cameras manage to capture crisp images in different lighting and modes. A 16MP selfie camera is located in a tiny punch-hole at the top of the screen. The OnePlus 9R is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chip. A 4500 mAh battery keeps the phone powered for over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 65W Warp charger juices it up in just around 40 minutes.

OnePlus 9R price in India: Rs 36,999 effectively for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Motorola Edge 20 Pro

The lesser known Motorola Edge 20 Pro is another mighty impressive option in this budget that offers some unique features. This phone too is powered by a Snapdragon 870 chip and comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. Its large 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display flaunts a 144 Hz refresh rate along with HDR10+ compliance and capability to display over a billion colour shades. There is Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection against scratches at the front and back.

The star of the photography department on the Motorola Edge 20 Pro is a 108MP primary camera with quite an impressive support cast. You get a 16MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS that gives you 5X optical zoom. Not to forget the 32MP front camera that is bound to impress the selfie crowd. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for over a day of moderate use and supports 30W fast charging. This phone runs Android 11, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface.

Motorola Edge 20 Pro price in India: Rs 32,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

iQOO 7 5G/ iQOO 7 Legend 5G/ Vivo X60

Two handsets from Vivo’s sub-brand feature in this list along with one from the parent company itself. The iQOO 7 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chip, and you get the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant in this budget. Its 6.62-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display has a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling in compatible apps. The rear camera department comprises a 48MP primary camera with OIS. Giving it company are a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP depth sensor.

If you need more processing power and a few extra features for a 7K premium, and are willing to sacrifice half the internal storage, you can opt for the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant of the iQOO 7 Legend. It has a more powerful Snapdragon 888 SoC and also comes with a 13MP telephoto camera that gives you 2X optical zoom. Both phones run Android 11 with FunTouch OS 11, and one can expect two more major Android updates in the future for these devices.

We are not done yet. Let me present another scenario. If you are fine with a Snapdragon 870 chip but want the rear camera department of the Legend, you should strongly consider the Vivo X60 for a good Rs 5,000 less than the iQOO 7 Legend. The phone is a lot more slim and stylish too, and boasts of Zeiss optics for its cameras.

iQOO 7 5G price in India: Rs 32,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage
iQOO 7 Legend 5G price in India: Rs 39,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage
Vivo X60 price in India: Rs 34,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is now available in this budget. This phone has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and is HDR10+ compliant. This stylish handset has an IP68 rated ingress protection. It is powered by Qualcomm’s previous generation flagship chip, Snapdragon 865. You get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage to go with it. The internal storage can be expanded further using a microSD card; a rare feature in premium phones these days. The phone runs Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1.

Photography department is quite versatile and consists of a 12MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS for up to 3X optical zoom. Given that it’s a Samsung S series phone, the camera quality is excellent across different modes. You also have a 32MP camera at the front to please the selfie enthusiasts. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for well over a day of moderate use. It doesn’t just support regular fast charging but also fast wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE price in India: Rs 36,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage

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Xiaomi India launches two new Pro variants in its Redmi Note 11 series: All you need to know

Xiaomi's Redmi brand launched two new smartphones in the ‘Pro’ series of Redmi Note 11 at an event in Bengaluru today, 9 March. The company launched Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus, which are seemingly a step higher from the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11S that were introduced last month in the country.

Let’s take a look at the price and sale dates of the two newly launched ‘Pro’ variants:

Xiaomi's Redmi Note 11 Pro is a 4G device whereas Redmi Note 11 Pro+ is a 5G variant, the second in the Note 11 5G series, after Redmi Note 11G was introduced last year.

Redmi Note 11 Pro is available at an introductory price of Rs 17,999 for the 6GB RAM+128GB base variant. The device comes in Phantom White, Stealth Black and Star Blue colors. The 8GB+128GB variant of Redmi Note 11 Pro comes at a price of Rs 19,999.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ has been priced at Rs 20,999 for the 6GB+128GB version while the 8GB+128GB version will be available for Rs 22,999. The 8GB+256GB variant will cost Rs 24,999. The device comes in three colors which are Black, White and Mirage Blue. Users of HDFC Bank card will get a Rs 1,000 discount on the purchase of Note 11 Pro+ 5G.

While Redmi Note 11 Pro will be available from 23 March, Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G shall be available for purchase in India from 15 March onwards. The two phones will be sold across Mi.com, Amazon India and in Xiaomi retail partner stores.

Specifications:

Both the newly launched ‘Pro’ variants of Redmi Note 11 have a 6.67 inch 120Hz AMOLED display, along with a 1080p resolution. The screen also has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection, which offers 1200 nits of peak brightness and supports 360Hz touch sampling.

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is powered by Snapdragon 695 chipset, which one can get with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. On the other hand, Note 11 Pro comes with a MediaTek Helio G96 processor with its 6GB and 8GB RAM variant.

Redmi Note 11 Pro has a primary 108-megapixel sensor and triple rear camera module while Redmi Note 11 Pro+ comes with a 108MP quad rear camera setup. The phone has ultra-wide-angle sensor of 8MP along with 2MP macro cameras and a depth sensor of 2MP. Redmi Note 11 Pro does not have the 2MP depth sensor.

Both the phones have liquid cooling and come with a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging through a USB Type C interface.

The two ‘Pro’ models have a headphone jack, dual speakers, IP53 splash-proof design and Z-axis linear vibration motor.

Both the newly launched devices come with a charger in the box and run Xiaomi’s MIUI 13 version, based on the Android 11 operating system.

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MG Motors launches ZS EV 2022 in India; all you need to know about price, features and specifications

Auto company MG Motors has launched the ZS EV facelift model in India, today, 7 March. The electric vehicle will be available for a base price of Rs 21.99 lakh for the entry-level Excite variant. The Exclusive variant is available for Rs 25.88 lakh {ex-showroom}.

While the Exclusive ZS EV 2022 is available from today, the Excite model will be out in July this year.

The ZS EV 2022 model features a 50.3kWh battery pack, a vast improvement from the 44.5kWh battery pack of the previous model. According to the car’s official website, the four-wheeler will have a range of 461km in a single charge. The ZS EV 2022 model can go from 0-100kph in just 8.5 seconds. The car has a maximum torque of  280 Nm.

In terms of safety, the electric vehicle includes features such as tyre pressure monitoring system {TPMS}, front and back seat belt reminder, hill descent control, hill start assist, ABS+EBD + Brake Assist and 360 degree view camera with rear parking sensor.

The MG ZS EV includes R17 alloy wheels with Tomahawk hub design and silver finish roof rails. The car’s exterior also comes with a new front grille for a more stylish look, as per reports. The vehicle will be available in Currant Red, Ashen Silver, Ferris White, and Sable Black colours.

According to a Carwale report, the electric vehicle can be charged from 0-100 percent in nine hours using a 7.4kW charger. Fast charging from 0 to 80 percent can be finished in just one hour by using a 50kW charger.

The MG ZS EV 2022 model also comes equipped with a range of infotainment features such as a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, seven-inch LCD driver display and PM 2.5 filter, according to a Hindustan Times report.

The electric vehicle features Eco, Sport and Normal driving modes. It also has a dual pane panoramic sky roof, auto headlights and cruise control. The ZS EV 2022 includes a three level Kinetic Energy Recovery System {KERS} as well.

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Sony SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Speaker Review: Interesting but niche

When I got a call from Sony’s representative inquiring about my interest in reviewing their ‘Wireless Neckband Speaker’, my reaction was probably similar to yours when you read the title of this review – wireless neckband or wireless speaker? Turns out it was a combination of both. While it did sound weird at first (and it still does somewhat), we know better than brushing aside a new audio product category that Sony indulges in. I am sure the first Walkman had its fair share of naysayers back then.

The Sony SRS-NB10 did pique my interest but obviously, I had a lot of questions about it. While some were answered by the company in due course, the others I managed to figure out once I had the product in hand. I am sure you are curious about this unusual product too, and I will be happy to demystify it for you in this review by answering the most common questions about this wireless neckband speaker. So let’s begin.

What exactly is a wireless neckband speaker?

It is pretty much everything the name suggests. Think of it as a wireless neckband that you wear around your neck, but instead of earphones, you have portable speakers. The Sony SRS-NB10 has an interesting design that somewhat resembles a horseshoe. Despite weighing in excess of 110 grams, it sits comfortably around your neck with absolutely no discomfort. The weight distribution is spot on.

It has a pair of speakers towards the backend, with a microphone and controls located towards the front. Just like your wireless earphones, you need to pair it with your source device over Bluetooth and listen to the audio or manage calls wirelessly. The build quality is quite solid with a polished, soft-touch matte finish. We got the charcoal grey variant for review, and it is also available in white. The SRS-SB10 is IPX4 splash resistant.

What is the primary use case of the Sony SRS-NB10?

The primary use case of this Sony wireless neckband speaker is to manage long calls without the discomfort of having earphones in your ear all day. This product is primarily targeted at people working from home who have to engage in frequent calls. Being a wireless product, it doesn’t limit your mobility, and at the same time keeps your hands free for other work. It is also meant to reduce listener fatigue and let you be aware of your surroundings.

Can it be used for listening to music or when watching movies?

Yes, it can be used for listening to music, and it is enjoyable too to a point, but do not expect as much detail or punch in the audio as any proper earphones. It perfectly suffices for some soft music or nighttime listening. The audio output is fairly clean and clear, but understandably the bass lacks thump. You get support for AAC and SBC codecs over Bluetooth 5.1.

The performance is similar when watching videos too. If the content is vocal-heavy, the NB10 does a good job but is found wanting in action sequences or when the audio has a medley of instruments. I tried watching the new Lord of the Rings - Rings of Power trailer, and it was a fairly enjoyable experience with a pretty good stereo effect. I wouldn’t use it to watch the whole thing once it's released though.

How well does the Sony SRS-NB10 perform?

This wireless neckband speaker is quite adept at its primary responsibility - handling calls. The call quality is very good with the person on the line clearly audible, and the microphone conveys your voice across equally well. It was indeed liberating to not hold the phone to your ear nor have an earbud in it during a call, and yet not missing any part of the conversation.

The sound quality is better than that of phone speakers given that the neckband speakers are located a lot closer to your ears at all times. The neckband also has a dedicated button to mute the microphone, which is quite handy when you are on conference calls or online events where you don’t need to speak much. The wireless range is quite impressive too with absolutely no stutter till at least 10 metres. The specified range is 30 metres but I didn’t go that far.

The only major catch here is the lack of privacy. The person sitting next to you or behind you can easily eavesdrop on the conversation. You can always lower the speaker volume (the controls are present on the neckband itself), but below a particular loudness level, you would struggle to hear the caller clearly too. So for important calls or private conversations, one simply cannot use the Sony SRS-NB10, unless you are alone in the room.

What is the battery life of the Sony SRS-NB10?

The battery backup is quite solid on the Sony SRS-NB10. The company promises close to 20 hours on a full charge, and it does get close. Of course, I did not have such long conversations all week but did play a lot of music on it during the course of my testing. It has a USB-C port and you can use any standard phone charger with it. The neckband supports fast charging too, and when the battery is completely drained, a 10-minutes charge can give you an hour of playtime, which is good to see.

What is the price of Sony SRS-NB10 in India?

The Sony SRS-NB10 wireless neckband speaker is priced at Rs 13,990 with a one-year warranty. It is often spotted for Rs 2,000 less on Amazon India. Since this is a one-of-a-kind product, it is hard to comment on the pricing. At this moment, it is a niche product with limited appeal and application. However, I wouldn’t write off this product category just yet.

 

Should I buy the Sony SRS-NB10 wireless neckband speaker?

By now you know what this product is meant for. If you are someone who doesn’t feel comfortable using earphones or headphones for long, especially for calls, then you may consider this product. I would like to reiterate that the Sony SRS-NB10 is more work-oriented than an entertainment device. This is not meant to replace wireless earphones when it comes to consuming music and movies, not yet.

Sony has been known to create new product categories in the consumer technology space. Some ideas work, some don’t, but it’s never wise to write them off too soon. And at some point, we have all wished for a personal audio device that could deliver sound quality similar to good earphones or headphones without having to stuff it in or over our ears. The SRS-NB10 is not that device but a big step in that direction.

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Sony SRS-NB10 Wireless Neckband Speaker Review: Interesting but niche

When I got a call from Sony’s representative inquiring about my interest in reviewing their ‘Wireless Neckband Speaker’, my reaction was probably similar to yours when you read the title of this review – wireless neckband or wireless speaker? Turns out it was a combination of both. While it did sound weird at first (and it still does somewhat), we know better than brushing aside a new audio product category that Sony indulges in. I am sure the first Walkman had its fair share of naysayers back then.

The Sony SRS-NB10 did pique my interest but obviously, I had a lot of questions about it. While some were answered by the company in due course, the others I managed to figure out once I had the product in hand. I am sure you are curious about this unusual product too, and I will be happy to demystify it for you in this review by answering the most common questions about this wireless neckband speaker. So let’s begin.

What exactly is a wireless neckband speaker?

It is pretty much everything the name suggests. Think of it as a wireless neckband that you wear around your neck, but instead of earphones, you have portable speakers. The Sony SRS-NB10 has an interesting design that somewhat resembles a horseshoe. Despite weighing in excess of 110 grams, it sits comfortably around your neck with absolutely no discomfort. The weight distribution is spot on.

It has a pair of speakers towards the backend, with a microphone and controls located towards the front. Just like your wireless earphones, you need to pair it with your source device over Bluetooth and listen to the audio or manage calls wirelessly. The build quality is quite solid with a polished, soft-touch matte finish. We got the charcoal grey variant for review, and it is also available in white. The SRS-SB10 is IPX4 splash resistant.

What is the primary use case of the Sony SRS-NB10?

The primary use case of this Sony wireless neckband speaker is to manage long calls without the discomfort of having earphones in your ear all day. This product is primarily targeted at people working from home who have to engage in frequent calls. Being a wireless product, it doesn’t limit your mobility, and at the same time keeps your hands free for other work. It is also meant to reduce listener fatigue and let you be aware of your surroundings.

Can it be used for listening to music or when watching movies?

Yes, it can be used for listening to music, and it is enjoyable too to a point, but do not expect as much detail or punch in the audio as any proper earphones. It perfectly suffices for some soft music or nighttime listening. The audio output is fairly clean and clear, but understandably the bass lacks thump. You get support for AAC and SBC codecs over Bluetooth 5.1.

The performance is similar when watching videos too. If the content is vocal-heavy, the NB10 does a good job but is found wanting in action sequences or when the audio has a medley of instruments. I tried watching the new Lord of the Rings - Rings of Power trailer, and it was a fairly enjoyable experience with a pretty good stereo effect. I wouldn’t use it to watch the whole thing once it's released though.

How well does the Sony SRS-NB10 perform?

This wireless neckband speaker is quite adept at its primary responsibility - handling calls. The call quality is very good with the person on the line clearly audible, and the microphone conveys your voice across equally well. It was indeed liberating to not hold the phone to your ear nor have an earbud in it during a call, and yet not missing any part of the conversation.

The sound quality is better than that of phone speakers given that the neckband speakers are located a lot closer to your ears at all times. The neckband also has a dedicated button to mute the microphone, which is quite handy when you are on conference calls or online events where you don’t need to speak much. The wireless range is quite impressive too with absolutely no stutter till at least 10 metres. The specified range is 30 metres but I didn’t go that far.

The only major catch here is the lack of privacy. The person sitting next to you or behind you can easily eavesdrop on the conversation. You can always lower the speaker volume (the controls are present on the neckband itself), but below a particular loudness level, you would struggle to hear the caller clearly too. So for important calls or private conversations, one simply cannot use the Sony SRS-NB10, unless you are alone in the room.

What is the battery life of the Sony SRS-NB10?

The battery backup is quite solid on the Sony SRS-NB10. The company promises close to 20 hours on a full charge, and it does get close. Of course, I did not have such long conversations all week but did play a lot of music on it during the course of my testing. It has a USB-C port and you can use any standard phone charger with it. The neckband supports fast charging too, and when the battery is completely drained, a 10-minutes charge can give you an hour of playtime, which is good to see.

What is the price of Sony SRS-NB10 in India?

The Sony SRS-NB10 wireless neckband speaker is priced at Rs 13,990 with a one-year warranty. It is often spotted for Rs 2,000 less on Amazon India. Since this is a one-of-a-kind product, it is hard to comment on the pricing. At this moment, it is a niche product with limited appeal and application. However, I wouldn’t write off this product category just yet.

 

Should I buy the Sony SRS-NB10 wireless neckband speaker?

By now you know what this product is meant for. If you are someone who doesn’t feel comfortable using earphones or headphones for long, especially for calls, then you may consider this product. I would like to reiterate that the Sony SRS-NB10 is more work-oriented than an entertainment device. This is not meant to replace wireless earphones when it comes to consuming music and movies, not yet.

Sony has been known to create new product categories in the consumer technology space. Some ideas work, some don’t, but it’s never wise to write them off too soon. And at some point, we have all wished for a personal audio device that could deliver sound quality similar to good earphones or headphones without having to stuff it in or over our ears. The SRS-NB10 is not that device but a big step in that direction.

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