Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: An impressive all-rounder in the budget smartphone segment

Pros
– Excellent battery life
– Aesthetics and design
– Segment only 5 nm-based CPU
– One of the cheapest 5G phones in the market, with 13 bands
– Impressive main camera
– Comes with a 3.5mm jack

Cons
– Single speaker
– No OIS in any of the cameras
– No IP rating
– No charging brick in the box
– Bezels and bottom chin
– Macro and depth cameras don’t do much

Price: Rs 14,990 for the 6GB + 128GB variant
Rating: 4/5

The budget segment of the Indian smartphone industry has always been a very exciting category, with device manufacturers constantly typing to one-up each other with some quirky and nifty offerings. Samsung’s Galaxy M14 5G is one such offering.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

While the device may look like any other budget offering from Samsung may appear simple at first glance, however, it perfectly embodies Samsung’s recent strategy to offer something compelling at every price point. You get some pretty decent specs for the price, an unparalleled battery life, and a pretty impressive main camera – the three most important factors that make a smartphone. 

All of this makes the Galaxy M14 5G a pretty impressive, value-for-money option for anyone looking to buy a smartphone that just works, and world really well. Samsung may have focused on the essential factors that make a budget smartphone desirable and checked most of the boxes with the Galaxy M14 5G.

With a price of Rs 14,990 for the top-tier 6GB + 128GB model, which can be obtained for even less after discounts and promotions, this device has the potential to be one of the cheapest 5G smartphones under Rs 15,000. There are also cheaper alternatives, including a 4GB + 128GB variant for a thousand rupees less. 

The Galaxy M14 5G boasts impressive features, and solid specifications, and is an excellent option for individuals looking for a phone that can get the job done without too many distractions. So, how does the Galaxy M14 5G perform, and is it worth your hard-earned money?

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: The design
The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G has a simple yet elegant appearance. We tested the icy silver colour, which looked particularly stylish due to the glossy back panel made of plastic which has an iridescent effect. Though the glossy finish does attract some fingerprints, the iridescent effect helps to mask them. The device is available in smoky teal, berry blue colours.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The bezels on the front display particularly the bottom chin are noticeable, which makes the screen appear smaller despite the sizable 6.6-inch display. The front-facing camera is situated behind a teardrop notch. On the right, we have the volume rockers and power button, which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. The left side has no buttons and houses the SIM tray, which also has a slot for a microSDXC card in addition to two SIM slots.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The bottom of the device features a speaker grille that houses one of the speakers and a USB Type-C port. Surprisingly, the device also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the back, there are three vertically-aligned cameras and an LED flash, giving the device a premium and minimalistic appeal from the rear thanks to the absence of a camera island.

Samsung’s recent design philosophy of using the same design language for all devices gives even the budget-friendly Galaxy M14 5G a premium and stylish appearance, similar to its more expensive devices like the Galaxy A34. Of course, there will be some minor variations, a couple of elements removed in the more budget-friendly devices. These elements are typically reserved for more expensive ones, higher up the fiscal food chain. 

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

Despite its all-plastic construction, the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G feels solid and built like a tank. That being said, it is light and easy to hold thanks to its curved edges. Overall, the device has a simple and elegant aesthetic, but its lack of an IP rating is a drawback in terms of design and build quality.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: The display
The bezels of the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G may give the impression that the display is subpar, but that’s not the case. The device features a 6.6-inch FHD+ LCD display with a resolution of 1080×2408 pixels, in a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen has a 90Hz refresh rate, providing a smooth user experience. The refresh rate can be turned down to 60Hz. The display also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

There’s also Eye Comfort Shield which is a useful feature that reduces the amount of blue light emitted by a screen, making it especially helpful at night. It significantly reduces eye strain and promotes faster and better sleep, especially if you have the tendency to scroll through social media just before you sleep.

The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G provides a satisfying viewing experience as the colours are vivid and bold. However, it lacks the option to adjust colour presets in settings for those who prefer a more natural tone. On a positive note, the device supports Widevine L1, which enables users to stream Netflix movies and TV shows in 1080p quality.

In most scenarios like casual gaming, content viewing, and browsing social media indoors, the display of the Galaxy M14 functions smoothly. However, in direct sunlight, the screen may appear slightly washed out. 

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

Despite being an LCD panel, the display is satisfactory for the majority of users. Like other Samsung devices, the screen is clear and vivid, and unless you’re familiar with AMOLED displays, you won’t detect a significant contrast ratio or black level difference. Users who are used to LCD panels on other phones will appreciate the refinement and saturation of the Galaxy M14 5G’s display.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: The camera
Although the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G has a triple camera setup at the rear, only the main camera with its 50MP sensor and an f1.8 lens are worth talking about. The other two cameras are 2MP each, one for macro and the other for depth. At the front, we have a 13MP camera for taking selfies.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The primary camera of the device is equipped with PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) and captures impressive pictures, especially in well-lit conditions. The photos are rich and sharp, displaying plenty of details. However, in certain situations with suboptimal lighting, the pictures may appear over-processed. While the dynamic range is satisfactory, we believe that Samsung can further enhance it with an optimized camera update.

In low-light conditions, the camera struggles and the images tend to be more grainy, but still usable. The Night mode does improve the picture quality to some extent, but the photos are noticeably processed. Also, the camera is slower when capturing pictures in Night mode compared to normal shooting settings. Nevertheless, this is a common issue with most smartphones in this price range.

If you want to capture photos with a pleasing bokeh effect, you can use portrait mode and carefully focus on the subject. The camera also offers various filters for those who enjoy experimenting with their pictures. The main 50MP camera bins its shot to 12MP by default, so do keep that in mind. 

The front-facing camera is a 13MP sensor, and it delivers decent results considering the price of the device. The fixed-focus camera captures plenty of details, and the colours are accurate. However, the camera has a tendency to overexpose the face slightly to brighten it up, which is a common issue with most smartphones in this price category.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

When it comes to video recording, the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G can shoot 1080p videos at 30 frames per second on both the 50MP main sensor and the front camera. However, the electronic image stabilization (EIS) is not very effective.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI
Equipped with an octa-core Exynos 1330 CPU and a Mali-G68 MC4 GPU, the Samsung Galaxy M14 is a capable smartphone that delivers snappy performance for day-to-day tasks. Our test unit had 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB via a microSDXC card. The Galaxy M14 is the only device in its segment to feature a 5nm CPU. 

Additionally, Samsung’s RAM Plus allows for an additional 6GB of physical memory. While the device’s benchmark scores are not record-breaking, it performed well in our day-to-day usage, even during intense gaming sessions and multitasking.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

The Samsung Galaxy M14 handled lighter games like Alto’s Odyssey smoothly and could even manage more demanding games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty Mobile at 60fps, albeit with low graphics settings. The device runs on OneUI 5.1, based on Android 13, straight out of the box, offering users the latest Android features. The OneUI 5 interface is well-designed, and we particularly enjoyed the Voice Focus feature, which cancels out background noise during phone calls.

The Samsung Galaxy M14 does come with some bloatware in the form of Samsung’s own apps, which at this pricepoint is expected, and somewhat acceptable to a certain degree. The connectivity options that we get are impressive. The device has WiFi, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, the device’s mono speaker at the bottom and lack of speakers at the top may disappoint some users when consuming content or gaming without headphones.

The Samsung Galaxy M14 supports both SA and NSA bands, with a total of 13 5G bands, covering the most popular 5G frequencies. During our 5G tests, we were able to easily achieve 450Mbps at a distance of 500 meters from a tower.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: The battery life
The battery life of the Galaxy M14 impressed us, and we have only positive things to say about it. With a 6000mAh battery and an LCD panel and a relatively undemanding CPU, the battery life is quite impressive. At 70 per cent brightness, the screen on time easily surpasses 10-12 hours, while the usage time exceeds 14 hours. Samsung claims that the battery can last for two days on a single charge, and our testing confirmed this.

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

While the Galaxy M14 supports 25W wired charging, it does not come with a charging brick, only a USB-C to USB-C cable. This is surprising at this price point, considering that other budget smartphones support much faster charging times, and, also come with a compatible charging brick.

Samsung should have at least provided a USB-A to USB-C cable. Having said that we, have to say that we are overall thoroughly impressed by the battery life was consistently good throughout our testing, and we typically had around 30-35% battery remaining at the end of the day.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G review: The verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M14 is an excellent choice for budget-conscious consumers who want a 5G smartphone from a reputable brand. Despite being priced at less than Rs 15,000, the device offers many features that make it a good value for the money. 

Image Credit: Tech2 | Mehul Reuben Das

While other manufacturers may offer more features and slightly better hardware at this price point, they are marred by quality issues and often have poor after-sales service.

One of the standout features of the Galaxy M14 is Samsung’s commitment to providing two years of Android OS updates and four years of security updates. The device’s performance is also quite solid, and most users won’t encounter any issues unless they are pro gamers or ultra-heavy users.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy M14 is a reliable and affordable smartphone that we confidently recommend to anyone looking for a trustworthy brand that has been around for decades.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/C69JTcl

Samsung launches new 8K TV Models In India, including a 98-inch variant, check price and availability

After introducing it earlier this year at CES 2023, Samsung has finally officially launched the premium Neo QLED TVs in India. This year, the business unveiled new 8K TV models in a range of sizes, including a new 98-inch model. It has been selling 98-inch TVs that can display 4K resolution but not greater resolution.

The newest Neo QLED TVs from Samsung include an Infinity Screen and Infinity One design, allowing for an ultra-slim profile. The Neo QLED 8K TVs will be available in sizes of 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch, with prices beginning at Rs 3,14,990.

The newest Neo QLED TVs from Samsung include an Infinity Screen and Infinity One design, allowing for an ultra-slim profile. Samsung’s sophisticated Neural Quantum technology, which we’ve seen in previous models, drives the recently introduced Samsung Neo QLED TV. The chip powers the Quantum Mini LED-lit TV’s 14-bit processing and AI upscaling.

The new Neo QLED 8K and Neo QLED TV lineup focus on increased connection, security with Knox Vault, personalization, gaming experience, and sustainability. Samsung expects to double its revenue in 2023 as a result of this new series.

The Neo QLED 8K TVs will be available in 65-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch sizes for Rs 3,14,990. The Neo QLED 4K TVs will be available in panel sizes ranging from 50 to 85 inches, with prices beginning at Rs 1,41,990. Until May 25, 2023, Samsung is also providing a free Samsung Soundbar HW-Q990 worth Rs 99,990 with select Neo QLED 8K TVs and a free Samsung Soundbar HW-Q800 worth Rs 44,990 with Neo QLED 4K TVs. 

“In the QLED TV segment, which is synonymous with premium TVs, we saw growth of 2X between 2020 and 2022,” Mohandeep Singh, Senior Vice President of Samsung’s Consumer Electronics Business, told Business Today. We expect to rise by 2X in 2023, owing to the forthcoming Neo QLED 8K and Neo QLED TV lines. Furthermore, the QLED 8K TV market grew 2X in 2022 and is expected to grow 3X in 2023.”

For example, between 2020 and 2022, sales of Samsung TVs larger than 55 inches increased by 150 per cent. 65-inch and larger TVs increased by 230 per cent, while 75-inch and larger TVs increased by 300 per cent. Samsung anticipates a 2X increase in 55-inch and larger TV sales in 2023 over the previous year.

Surprisingly, Samsung maintains that demand for premium smart TVs is not limited to metros and major cities. Tier 2 and other smaller cities are growing twice as quickly as major cities.  “Over the last few years, two major trends have emerged: consumers are opting for larger screens, upsizing, and embracing premium TVs like never before.” 

We’ve also witnessed an increase in the number of young people purchasing expensive QLED TVs in recent years.  “The average age of a premium TV buyer has steadily decreased, from 38 in 2020 to 34 today,” Singh continues.

Samsung will also expand its retail approach in order to increase its market share. Samsung plans to increase the number of QLED TV retailers in the country from the current 2,500 to 5,000 this year. 

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/jATRg7o

Best phones under Rs 25,000 (April 2023): Realme GT Neo 3T, iQOO Neo 6 5G to Poco X5 Pro 5G

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.

iQOO Neo 6 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

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.

Realme GT Neo 3T price in India: Rs 24,999 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage

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. 

Motorola Edge 30 price in India: Rs 22,999 for 6GB RAM/128GB storage; Rs 24,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

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. 

Poco X5 Pro 5G price in India: Rs 22,999 for 6GB RAM/128GB storage; Rs 24,999 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage 

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. 

Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G price in India: Rs 24,999 for 6GB RAM/128GB storage

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/qtpxy8Y

Samsung Galaxy S23+ review: The perfect all-rounder that balances the best of both worlds

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.

Check out some unedited photo samples from the Galaxy S23+ here.

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 like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Apex Legends with 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
The Galaxy 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. 

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/4kUdOlu

Here’s why NVIDIA Studio Ready laptops from MSI offer creators the perfect balance between gaming and productivity

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 13^th 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 8^th Gen NVIDIA encoder that can directly stream in AV1, or 4^th Gen Tensor Cores that give you a significant boost in AI accelerated tasks like stabilisation, rendering, and noise reduction? You even get 3^rd 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 13^th 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!

This is a Partnered Post. 

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/k5BdUrI

Best phones under Rs 20,000 (April 2023): iQOO Z7 5G, OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G to Poco X5 5G

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.

iQOO Z7 5G price in India: Rs 19,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

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.

Motorola G73 5G price in India: Rs 17,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

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. 

Poco X5 5G price in India: Rs 18,999 for 8GB RAM/256GB storage

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.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G price in India: Rs 19,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

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. 

Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G price in India: Rs 18,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/To7Vpkf

The iPad Killer? OnePlus’s upcoming tablet, OnePlus Pad’s Indian price revealed accidentally

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.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/T8Uw4Cu

Gigabyte launches new gaming laptops with 13th Gen Intel CPUs and Nvidia RTX 40-series GPUs

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.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/qJQf4r3

OnePlus Nord Buds 2 Review: Nord Buds with ANC and better value for money

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. 

Image Credit: Tech2 | Ameya Dalvi

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.

from Firstpost Tech Latest News https://ift.tt/dJpKExA