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Tag: Gadgets

Future-Forward 7 Android Phones Coming in 2024

Looking ahead to 2024, we anticipate an exciting lineup of Android smartphones, building on the successes of the previous year. As we reflect on the standout releases of 2023, we hope to see further innovation in flagship devices justifying their high costs, while also witnessing mid-range and budget-friendly options challenging the necessity of spending exorbitant amounts on a smartphone. Here are the phones we are most eager to see in the upcoming year.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Although officially unveiled recently, the Galaxy S24 Ultra has yet to hit the shelves, securing its spot on our list. Samsung’s Ultra devices have consistently delivered exceptional performance, premium build quality, and reliable software updates. With the move to titanium construction, the Galaxy S24 Ultra promises increased durability. The integration of AI-enhanced software adds another layer of excitement, making it a standout release for 2024.

Motorola ThinkPhone 2

The ThinkPhone from Motorola quietly impressed in 2023 with its aramid fiber construction, remarkable battery life, and fast charging capabilities. Despite potential marketing challenges, a ThinkPhone 2 could build on its predecessor’s success. Retaining the aramid fiber backing and addressing marketing issues could position it as one of the noteworthy phones of 2024.

OnePlus Open 2

OnePlus entered the foldable arena in 2023 with the OnePlus Open, offering a refreshing alternative to existing foldable options. The Open addressed concerns with a wider outer display, lightweight construction, and excellent multitasking capabilities. A future iteration, the OnePlus Open 2, holds the potential to become a favorite folding phone in 2024, especially with improvements in OxygenOS.

Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro

Google made strides in 2023 with the Pixel 8 Pro, addressing display brightness issues and optimizing Tensor performance. For 2024, maintaining the design with subtle refinements and enhancing raw performance with a potential Tensor G4 could position the Pixel 9 Pro as a strong competitor, particularly with AI features and robust software support.

Samsung Galaxy A55

Building on the success of the Galaxy A54, the A55 could further elevate Samsung’s mid-range offerings. With improved power and enhanced cameras, the Galaxy A55 aims to compete with potential releases like the Google Pixel 8a. As mid-range phones continue to impress, the Galaxy A55 promises a quality OneUI Android experience at an attractive price point.

Motorola Razr+ 2

The Motorola Razr+ stood out as a playful and enjoyable foldable phone in 2023. A potential Razr+ 2 could refine the build, upgrade specs, and introduce new colors, solidifying Motorola’s position as a leader in flip phones. With subtle improvements, the Razr+ 2 could capture the charm of flip phones in 2024.

LG Wing 2

While acknowledging LG’s exit from the smartphone market, we express a longing for unique form factors in 2024. This includes a hypothetical LG Wing 2 or other unconventional designs. In a landscape dominated by glass slabs, we yearn for companies to explore slider phones, wider form factors, and rotating hinges. While anticipating unfavorable reviews and modest sales, a return to classic niche phones would be a welcome surprise.

January 22, 2024
Galaxy S23 Ultra vs. S24 Ultra: Is the New Model Worth It?

Samsung has released its new phone, the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and many are wondering if it’s worth upgrading from the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The premium Android market has many options, and the Galaxy S series has consistently delivered high-performance phones with great features. The new Galaxy S24 Ultra follows in this tradition, but is it a significant improvement over its predecessor?

Samsung’s design philosophy has been consistent over the years, with minimal changes from one flagship to another. The Galaxy S24 Ultra continues this trend, with only minor design adjustments. The most notable change is the new titanium frame, replacing the aluminum alloy used in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Samsung claims this change enhances the device’s longevity, but there’s no concrete evidence supporting this.

Another design change is the shift to a flatter display, reducing the curvature of the edges. Samsung suggests that this adjustment improves readability and productivity. The Galaxy S24 Ultra also introduces Gorilla Glass Armor for durability, claiming to be four times more resistant to scratches and with a 75% reduction in reflection.

Despite these changes, the overall dimensions of the phone are slightly altered, making it taller and less broad. The Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains its weight despite the shift to titanium, showcasing a commitment to a lightweight design. Additional color options, including yellow, gray, and violet, are introduced alongside the existing black variants.

The display sees significant improvements, with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 1,750 nits. This enhanced brightness is especially beneficial for viewing HDR content. The Galaxy S24 Ultra maintains its 5,000mAh battery, now with 50% recycled cobalt. However, real-life improvements to battery life may not be substantial.

The phone continues to support 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Reverse power sharing allows the Galaxy S24 Ultra to charge accessories like Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Watch at 3W. The charging capabilities remain similar to the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

One of the most significant changes comes in the hardware department, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra being powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This makes it the first phone globally to launch with this chip. The new chipset promises a 30% performance boost and a 25% improvement in graphics performance over its predecessor. Samsung also collaborates with game studios to mainstream ray tracing in Android games.

The camera setup sees notable improvements, featuring a 200MP sensor that is 60% larger than the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s ISOCELL HP2. The larger sensor allows for more light, enhancing low-light photography. Samsung emphasizes the improved optical image stabilization (OIS) for smoother images. The AI capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 enhance the camera’s performance, providing features like the “ProVisual Engine” and “Generative Edit.”

The Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with the latest One UI 6 update based on Android 14, offering visual enhancements to Samsung’s custom Android interface. Samsung assures seven years of Android generation and security updates, ensuring prolonged software support for the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

January 22, 2024
CES 2024 Smartphone Roundup: From Gaming Titans to Budget-Friendly TCL

Let’s talk about the best smartphones we saw at CES 2024. CES is a big tech show in Las Vegas where companies show off new gadgets. We usually see cool TVs and car stuff, but this year, there are also awesome new smartphones. Here are some of the best ones!

First, we have the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. Asus is famous for gaming, and this phone is like a gaming beast. It runs on Android 14 and has a super-fast chip inside. The phone comes with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, but you can get an even fancier version with 24GB of memory and 1TB of storage.

The screen is big, 6.78 inches, and it can refresh really fast, especially when playing games. The display is also bright and clear. The phone is tough too – it can handle water and dust. The cameras on this phone are top-notch, with a 50MP main camera and other cool features. The battery is huge, 5,500mAh, and it won’t overheat even if you play games for a long time. It charges really fast, either with a wire or without wires. Plus, there’s a little LED display on the back that shows fun animations.

They also have a special edition called the ROG Phone 8 Pro Edition. This one has a cooling fan to keep it from getting too hot during intense gaming. It even has a headphone jack!

Now, Asus has another good phone, the ROG Phone 8. It’s almost the same as the Pro version but without the cool LED animations on the back. It’s still a great gaming phone with a big screen and powerful features.

Next up, TCL. TCL is known for affordable phones, and at CES 2024, they introduced seven new ones! Let’s focus on the TCL 50 XL 5G. It has a huge 6.8-inch display with great sound. The phone starts with 8GB of memory and has a big battery, 5,010mAh, so it lasts a long time. It’s a good choice for people who are always on the move.

TCL also has something unique – NxtPaper smartphones. These phones have screens that look and feel like paper, so there’s no glare, especially when you’re outside. TCL didn’t share all the details, but it sounds interesting and different.

January 12, 2024
Samsung’s Rugged Galaxy XCover 7: Affordable Durability with Impressive Features

Samsung, known for its top-notch flagship smartphones, is gearing up to unveil three new Galaxy S24 phones. Alongside its flagship line, Samsung has been catering to users in extreme conditions with its ruggedized Galaxy XCover range since 2011. The latest addition to this rugged lineup is the Galaxy XCover 7, and we now have more details, thanks to leaks from a Czech Samsung reseller.

The Galaxy XCover 7 has been in the spotlight since renders surfaced in November, followed by pricing details in late December. Now, a Czech retailer, Setos, has spilled the beans on the phone’s hardware specs and pricing in the Czech Republic.

Let’s dive into the details. The Galaxy XCover 7 is expected to be priced at 9,000 Czech Koruna, roughly $400, making it more affordable than its predecessor, the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro, which debuted at $600 in the US.

In terms of display, the XCover 7 boasts a 6.6-inch FHD+ screen with a resolution of 2408 x 1080. The prominent notch houses a 5MP selfie camera, and it’s likely that Samsung has stuck with an LCD panel, similar to its predecessor. The rear dual-camera setup has been replaced by a single 50MP sensor, as per the retailer’s listing and corresponding images.

Under the hood, Samsung has opted for the MediaTek MT6835V/ZA, also known as Dimensity 6100+, an octa-core SoC with 5G support. The processor includes two Arm Cortex-A76 cores clocked at up to 2.2GHz and six Arm Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz. The XCover 7 features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, expandable via the microSD card slot.

On the software front, the phone is expected to run Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6 overlay. Powering the device is a 4,050 mAh battery, ensuring decent battery life. The XCover 7 is equipped with IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certifications, providing robust protection against the elements.

For charging and data transfer, the phone retains the standard USB-C port. Samsung has also kept the 3.5mm headphone jack, a thoughtful inclusion for users who prefer wired headphones. The XCover 7 continues the tradition of a user-configurable hardware button, known as the XCover key, although the second customizable hardware button, or Top key, present in the XCover 6 Pro, seems to be absent.

January 11, 2024
Enhanced Recording Capabilities: Atomos Ninja and Ninja Ultra!

Atomos’ Ninja and Ninja Ultra have received a significant update since their debut in 2010. Back then, having a monitor/recorder capable of capturing ProRes to a removable SSD was considered groundbreaking for feature shooters.

While many cameras can now internally record in 4:2:2 10-bit and higher codecs, external recorders/monitors remain in demand, especially among mirrorless hybrids and budget digital cinema cameras lacking internal RAW recording capabilities.

The new Ninja and Ninja Ultra feature a distinctive ‘camo’ colored polycarbonate body and offer 6K ProRes RAW, ProRes, DNxHD, and H.265 codecs.

Despite having the same screen and body design as their predecessors, the real changes are inside the device. The new Ninja Ultra focuses on camera-to-cloud technology and Atomos Connect to optimize workflows.

The Apple ProRes codec is ready to use immediately. To activate the H.265 and DNx codecs, visit the my.atomos.com site, register your product, and follow the simple online steps. For Apple ProRes RAW, visit the portal and plug in your RAW-compatible camera, a step that needs to be done only once.

The Atomos Ninja 5.2″ 4K HDMI recording monitor supports DCI 4K HDMI and ProRes RAW up to 6K. It is compatible with existing Atomos monitor accessories.

Highlight Features:

– 1920 x 1080 touchscreen display
– 10-bit external viewable monitor
– 4K HDMI 2.0 input/output
– 6K30 ProRes RAW
– AtomOS 11 operating system
– 1000 cd/m² brightness
– Supports different log formats
– ProRes and DNxHR/HD recording
– Record to Master Caddy II/III hard drive
– L-series battery slot, USB-C port

The Ninja Ultra’s HDMI supports up to DCI 4K at 60 fps in various modes, with select cameras handling 3.5K RAW at 60 fps. Over 55 cameras support RAW recording over HDMI with Ninja Ultra, up to 8K at 30 fps.

The Atomos Ninja Ultra 5.2″ 4K HDMI recording monitor maintains its form factor, compatible with most Atomos monitor accessories. It records up to ProRes RAW 4K 60p while simultaneously recording HD 60p to H.265.

January 9, 2024
Keep Your Apple Watch in Top Shape: Battery Health Tips

If you want to check your Apple Watch’s battery health and usage, you can easily find this information in the Settings app. Whether you’ve noticed your Apple Watch’s battery life isn’t lasting as long as before or you simply want to ensure it stays in top condition, checking its battery health is a good idea.

How to Check Apple Watch Battery Health and Usage

A shorter battery life doesn’t always mean there’s a problem with your watch. Batteries naturally age over time, and this happens to all rechargeable devices, including your iPhone. While you can’t stop this aging process, you can slow it down. Checking your Apple Watch’s battery health can provide insights into its current condition.

Here’s a simple guide on how to check your Apple Watch’s battery health:

1. Press the Digital Crown on your Apple Watch to display all apps.

2. Navigate to Settings.

3. Scroll down and select Battery.

4. Continue scrolling down and tap on Battery Health.

Once you’re in the Battery Health section, you’ll see the “Maximum Capacity” percentage, indicating your Apple Watch’s current battery capacity compared to its original capacity. A common benchmark is 80%; if your battery reaches or falls below this, it might be considered consumed and could benefit from replacement.

Additionally, you’ll find a toggle to enable or disable Optimized Charging for your Apple Watch. While the details you see might not be as precise as those for your iPhone, monitoring your Apple Watch’s battery health and usage gives you a better understanding of its overall performance, especially as it continues to age.

January 7, 2024
Oukitel WP33 Pro: A Phone with massive 22,000 mAh Battery

Introducing the Oukitel WP33 Pro, a smartphone that proudly stands out with its massive 22,000 mAh battery, claiming to be the largest ever seen in a phone. This device defies the trend of slim and lightweight smartphones, weighing 577.5g and measuring 27.2mm in thickness. It’s not your typical pocket-friendly phone, and you’ll surely notice its presence due to its weight and size.

The Oukitel WP33 Pro boasts dimensions that challenge the norms, with a width of 84 mm, making one-handed operation nearly impossible for anyone, even NBA players. However, it maintains a relatively standard height of 175.4 mm.

It is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 6100+ chipset, accompanied by 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and a spacious 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The device features a 6.6-inch 1,080×2,408 IPS panel with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 450-nit brightness, protected by Gorilla Glass 5.

In the camera department, the Oukitel WP33 Pro sports a 64 MP Sony IMX686 sensor for its main rear camera, along with a 20 MP night vision camera featuring the Sony IMX350 sensor and a 2 MP macro camera. Selfies are handled by a 32 MP front camera with the Sony IMX616 sensor.

The standout feature is not related to the cameras but the colossal 5W speaker on the back, capable of reaching an astounding 136dB maximum loudness. This dwarfs the speakers of an iPhone 15, an alarm siren, and even a jet engine. The phone touts “8D Immersive Stereo Surround” sound, a claim that emphasizes its audio capabilities.

The WP33 Pro supports 33W wired charging, taking around 5 hours to fully charge its mammoth battery. Additionally, it offers 18W reverse wired charging to replenish other devices. With an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, IP69K certification to withstand high-pressure water jets, and MIL-STD-810H certification for a 1.5m drop, the phone is designed to endure various conditions. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor provides security, and it runs on Android 13. The Oukitel WP33 Pro is currently available on AliExpress from Oukitel’s official store, priced at $595 before applying any coupons or discounts.

January 7, 2024
Exploring the Advanced Capabilities of Redmi’s Note 13 Pro+ 5G Phone

Redmi has introduced the Redmi Note 13 series in India, and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ stands out as the most advanced model. Let’s take a closer look at the key features, specifications, and the price of the new Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G phone.

Pricing:
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G is available in different configurations:
8GB RAM + 256GB storage: Rs 31,999 or 372 usd
12GB RAM + 256GB storage: Rs 33,999 or 395 usd
12GB RAM + 512GB storage: Rs 35,999 or 420 usd
The phone can be purchased from Flipkart and Amazon, with a Rs 2,000 discount for ICICI bank debit and credit cardholders.

Key Specifications:
1. Processor: Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra SoC.
2. Software: Comes with Android 13 OS out of the box.
3. Back Camera: Features a triple rear camera setup:
200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP3 camera
8-megapixel ultra-wide camera
2-megapixel macro sensor
4. Front Camera: Equipped with a 16-megapixel sensor for selfies.
5. Battery: Houses a 5,000mAh battery.
6. Display: Offers a 1.5K 120Hz screen.

Key Features:
Impressive Camera: The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boasts a remarkable 200-megapixel triple rear camera setup, ensuring detailed and colorful shots. It supports 4K video recording at 30fps and features 4X lossless zoom for photographs.
Design and Display: The phone stands out with an IP68 rating, making it resistant to water damage, a rare feature in this price range. The design is appealing, featuring a curved-edge screen with vibrant colors. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus coating for enhanced scratch resistance.
Battery Life: With a substantial 5,000mAh battery, the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ promises long-lasting battery life. Additionally, it supports 120W fast charging, ensuring a quick top-up of the battery.
Performance: Powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200-Ultra 5G processor, the phone offers smooth performance. The inclusion of a 4000mm vapour cooling system helps dissipate heat during intensive tasks.

The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ combines advanced features, impressive camera capabilities, and a sleek design, making it a competitive option in the mid-range 5G smartphone market.

January 5, 2024
Vivo X100 vs Vivo X100 Pro: which one is the best for you?

Vivo has introduced its new X100 series smartphones in India, comprising the Vivo X100 and Vivo X100 Pro. These flagship models are available for pre-booking, with sales commencing on January 11.

Vivo X100 Pro

Display: The phone features a 6.78-inch AMOLED 8T LTPO curved display with 3000nits peak brightness, 2160Hz high-frequency dimming, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Processor: Equipped with an octa-core 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, accompanied by Vivo’s V3 chip.

Camera: The device boasts a collaboration with Zeiss, incorporating a 50MP primary camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP Zeiss APO super-telephoto camera. It offers 4.3x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom, and a 32MP front camera.

Storage: The phone provides a storage option of 16GB + 512GB.

Battery: Featuring a 5,400mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging support.

Vivo X100

Similar Display: Like its counterpart, the X100 has a 6.78-inch AMOLED 8T LTPO curved display with shared specifications.

Processor: It is powered by the same octa-core 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC and Vivo V2 chip.

Camera: The X100 includes a Zeiss-branded triple rear setup with a 50MP primary camera, 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 64MP Zeiss super-telephoto camera. It also features a 32MP front camera.

Storage: The X100 offers two storage options: 12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB.

Battery: It is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery and supports 120W fast charging.

Pricing for Vivo X100 series smartphones:

Vivo X100:
– 12GB + 512GB at 63,999 INR or 765 USD
– 16GB + 512GB at 69,999 INR or 830 USD

-Vivo X100 Pro:
– 16GB + 512GB at 89,999 INR or 1080 USD

The pre-booking for these smartphones is currently open, and the official sales will commence on January 11. Customers can pre-book the Vivo X100 series online at the Vivo store and Flipkart. This new series from Vivo promises advanced features, powerful performance, and impressive camera capabilities for smartphone enthusiasts. As technology continues to evolve, Vivo aims to provide users with cutting-edge devices that cater to diverse needs.

January 5, 2024
Your Samsung, Your Way: Exploring One UI Home Features

Samsung One UI Home is like a boss for Samsung phones. It’s the boss because it helps control how your Samsung phone looks and works. Let’s dive into what this boss, One UI Home, is all about. Imagine One UI Home as the manager of your Samsung phone’s appearance. It’s the reason your phone looks the way it does – from the home screen to the icons of your apps. Every Samsung phone or tablet comes with this manager, and it’s part of what makes your Galaxy device special.

One UI Home comes packed with features. Just like how you can arrange your room the way you like, One UI Home lets you arrange your phone. You can change how your apps look, set your favorite wallpaper, add widgets to your home screen, and even decide how notifications pop up on your screen.

One UI Home is like a permanent guest in your Samsung Galaxy device – you can’t kick it out, and you can’t invite it to other phones. It’s exclusive to Samsung. If you have a Galaxy phone, you already have One UI Home on board. But if you don’t own a Samsung device, you can’t just go to the app store and download it.

Now, if you’re a Samsung Galaxy owner, let’s explore what this boss can do for you. Start by pressing and holding on an empty spot on your home screen. This opens up a special menu where you can customize your home screen. Change your wallpaper, play with the Color Palette, switch up your device theme, or add cool widgets to your home screen – it’s your phone, make it yours!

To find more options and really get into the details, tap on “Settings” in the lower-right corner. Here, you can fine-tune settings related to how your home screen behaves. It’s like having the remote control for your phone’s appearance.

Now, about that wallpaper – it’s like the welcome mat for your phone. One UI Home lets you pick what kind of welcome you want. You can choose from stock images, videos, pictures from your Gallery, funky patterns, or just plain colors. And there’s this cool feature called Dynamic Lock screen – it changes your lock screen picture when you turn on your phone.

December 29, 2023