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hack slot machinesThe Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of smart plugs - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then you should really consider buying them. Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 You’re into the market trying to find some affordable ways to make your home smarter? Then you must be happy to know that there’s a ton of compatible devices out there. Devices such as video doorbells, air purifiers, and lights are all available to purchase and install to make a person’s life easier. MEROSS is no stranger to the Smart Home (but also Homekit compatible) market. It has a wide range of affordable products ready to make your home better and safer. Today we have not 1, but 2 Homekit compatible products – MEROSS Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector & WiFi Plug – that can secure your electricity plugs and make your home safer – without breaking the bank.Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily with out the need for a hub. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector – does what it saysWhen you’re in need of more than one smart outlet in a certain place in your house, many designs take up the space of two AC outlets. Yes, you can purchase a two-outlet version of smart plugs, but it鈥檚 still limiting. Meross tries to overcome multiple limitations with its Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector, and it succeeds.Main characteristics:4聽Outlets and 4 USB Ports: Equipped with聽4 individually controlled outlets and 4 groups controlled USB ports. Up to 4.0A for four USB ports. You can charge your cellphone, tablets, and other USB gadgets with a smart power strip.Remote Control: Control the 4 outlets and 4 grouped USB ports from anywhere with Meross App/Apple Home App.Voice Control:聽Works聽with Apple HomeKit, Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, Control your devices hands-free, just make a voice command to turn on/off the connected devices. Works with any 2.4GHz or Dual Band WiFi router. No hub required.Schedule and Timer Setting: WiFi Surge Protector automatically supports turning home or office devices on and off. An added benefit of saving energy when devices are not needed or are left on by accident. Support sunrise and sunset settings.Safety Design: The smart power strip is made of flame retardant PC material and has been approved for safety and quality assurance (CE and RoHS certified). It supports any home device up to 10A. Never allow other low-quality surge protectors to endanger the safety of your family.Suitable for聽use in Europe聽and other countries that use EU-type plugs.When adding a device you may see a prompt for a device that has not been added for authentication, you can simply ignore it and click Add, this device has completed 99.99% authentication and can be used with confidence.This surge protector has 4 independently controllable AC outlets and a bank of four USB ports, controlled as a group. Each AC outlet is well spaced to allow standard plugs and fairly large DC adapters. The power strip includes a 1.8 meter power cord with a standard three-prong EU outlet. (Available also for US and UK plug ends.)Smart home compatibilityMeross provides maximum compatibility by including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant support. When pairing with HomeKit, all you have to do is plug it in, wait 5 seconds, go to the Home app of your iPhone/iPad and scan the Homekit code that’s placed at the back of the surge protector. After this all you have to do is configure the room you want to place it into. Name the 4 plugs – and the group controlled USB hub and you’re ready. You can have the surge protector appear as a single item in the Home app in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Then press and hold or double-click its entry to control or set automations for each outlet and the USB bank. You can also choose to have each of those items appear as separate entries.It’s easy to use such type of smart plugs if you name them, because afterwards you easily know what device is plugged into which outlet! The USB bank is much simpler. Each port can draw 5 volts at up to 2.4A (12W) up to a combined maximum across the four of 5 volts at 4A (20W). This is sufficient to run smaller USB devices and charge smartphones and tablets at a moderate pace.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThis surge protectors includes a standard warranty against defects and failure. According to Meross is made of flame retardant PC material and has been approved for safety and quality assurance (CE and RoHS certified).Meross WiFi Plug: Small and simpleThe Smart Wi-Fi Plug is reasonably small, measuring 2.6 inches by 2.6 inches by 2.3 inches, including the prongs that go into the outlet. The version being tested is for EU outlets, but there are variants for US, UK, Australian, and French outlets.Main characteristicsCompact 2-in-1 Design: Allows you to get 2 spaced outlets with one plug. Mini enough but there is a wide place between the two sockets, no interference and more space-saving.Remote & Voice Control: Compatible with Apple HomeKit (ios 13+), Apple Watch, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings, remotely control your device on your smart phone with the Meross/Home app or just simply make a voice command to Siri/Alexa/Google from anywhere (Anywhere with internet access) at any time.Schedules & Timer Setting: Schedule the smart plugs or set auto-off timer routine to work automatically as needed, saving energy and money. Your data is securely transmitted and stored using Amazon AWS servers.Easy Setup & Reliable Connection: Simply download the App, power on and configuration then you can enjoy the convenience of our products.聽Suitable for use in the Europe or other countries that use EU type plug. (there are variants for US, UK, Australian, and French outlets)Easy to useAlthough it’s small, the plug is slightly too large to be ideal for extension cables. The relatively close together outlet positions make it hard to fit something in beside the smart plug, though it is possible. For wall-mounted outlets, where there’s typically more space between each outlet, it’s great.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup Code of WiFi plugAdd it in your HomeAll connected outlet ports will be now visible in Homekit.I really enjoyed the聽Schedules & Timer Setting, because it allows me to manage the lights in my living room as I prefer. For example I set a schedule for my main living room floor lamp to turn on at sunset. Then turn off automatically when I go to my bedroom to sleep. All these save energy and money in the longterm. Note also that all聽data is securely transmitted and stored using Amazon AWS servers.Our opinionFor a price of $39.99 (for the Wi-Fi Surge Protector) and $26.99 (for the聽Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug) you get more than what you paid for. Both plugs can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, providing control over all outlets. It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes). As for the Homekit integration – it is flawless.sites de cassino
The Breakdown 4.5 9 If youre looking for good affordable earbuds with ANC, the Donner Dobuds ONE is the option. In addition, youll get superb audio quality, IPX4 rating, durable build, long-lasting battery, and fast-charging support. Build Quality 9 Connectivity 9 ANC and ENC 9 Battery Life 9 Sound Quality 9 The market of earphones went through a revolution in the past year. After the phenomenon of AirPods, a lot of companies decided to enter this category. As a result, a new trend has emerged – the trend of truly wireless earbuds. Nowadays, these earbuds are more popular than the old conventional wired phones. Therefore, more and more companies are starting to drop the 3.5 mm headphone jack. After all, true wireless solutions are trending. With so many “hearables” in the market, the different brands are trying to innovate in features to make their product better than the competition. One of the solutions to make good earbuds stand against the “regular” ones is Active Noise Canceling. This has been a feature present only on Premium earbuds, but the situation is changing. Donner, a reliable bearable maker comes with Donner Dobuds One – stylish earbuds that are affordable and also come with ANC.About DonnerDonner is a reputed German company, known for its long tradition in the range of musical instruments. Since 2012 its commitment goes on creating new experiences in music and performance. The focus is on young people, full of vitality and with a clear call for innovation. The company has been dedicated to the research, manufacture, and selling of musical instruments. More recently, it has been playing in the range of truly wireless earbuds. The Donner Dobuds ONE comes as Donner’s latest innovation in the segment. The device combines the company’s expertise with compelling specifications. The earbuds are quite stylish and the price is also affordable. Without further ado, let’s dive into this product’s qualities and cons.Package ContentEarbudsCharging caseUSB-C charging cableInstruction manual4 additional earbud tipsDooner Dobuds One – Features OverviewThe Donner Dobuds ONE is not a budget earbud, but the price is attractive when you look at other devices in this category. The truly wireless earbuds come to outperform other earbuds in the market. It comes with a dual-driver system. There is one dynamic driver for richer bass response and another custom balanced armature driver that will improve delicate sounds. As result, we have immersive, high-quality audio for most of your activities. You’ll play games, hear music, and perform calls with high quality.ANC, Build Quality, and “Daylife Waterproof”Donner also provides a companion application for Donner Dobuds ONE. It’s certainly a plus that makes the earbuds stand against the competition. You don’t need it to use the earbuds, but it’s a good plus. The app comesan鑱 with equalizer, and you can adjust your sound based on the environment and also on the content. You can also enable or disable ANC. Yes, ANC is one of the things that make this earbud stand against the competition. You can enable it to reduce outside noises by up to 30 dB, or disable it to still pick up outside sounds. There is also an ENC feature for call noise reduction. The callers will hear you and not your surroundings. Each earbud includes four microphones. Two are for picking up your voice and two for processing and filtering the sound in the environments, including wind.Interestingly, the earbuds also focus on the comfort of the user. There are five tip sizes to choose from according to your ear. Don’t worry since the earbuds won’t fall from your ears easily. There is an inner hard layer making it difficult to remove. The outer layer is softer to not bring pain during usage. The earbuds tips are also dust-resistant while the earbuds are daylife waterproof. “Daylife Waterproof” means they’re safe from sweat, drizzle, and light rain. Don’t go swim or try to take a bath with them.The earbuds come in four colorways – Snow White, Matte Black, Mint Green, and Navy Blue. I’ve got the Snow White version with Pinkish ear tips. I looks nice and the design is far from boring like the AirPods.Mint colorwayBattery, Fast-Charging, and other specificationsAccording to Donner, a full charge on the earbuds and the case will last you up to 32 hours with ANC off. Obviously, with the ANC feature that will drain faster. During my usage, I was able to hear for more than 6 hours without any issue. Around 10 to 15 minutes of charge time will give you two hours of power. The earbuds also come with Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. So you’ll experience stable connections, low latency, and lower power consumption. The transmission distance supported between the audio device is up to 10 meters. According to DONNER, you can use the earbuds without ANC for 8 hours of music listening. With ANC this will drop to around 6 hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe earbuds also come with a sensitive portion that supports touch. You can customize the actions through the companion app. You can give one touch to adjust the volume, two touches to play/ pause the music, and there is even support for three touches. The earbuds also support long-press actions.As we’ve said before, the earbuds come with fast charging. According to the specs listing, the earbuds have a 55 mAh capacity, while the charging case packs a 520 mAh battery. Interestingly, their fast-charging prowess comes through a USB Type-C port. There is a small USB Type-C cable that will get the job done.Specs ListingBluetooth Chip: BT8922E2Bluetooth Version: 5.2Noise-Canceling Mode: ActiveDigital ANC up to: -32dBAverage ANC: 閳?5dB鑱絝rom鑱?0Hz鑱絫o鑱?000HzSupported Codecs: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFPAudio Decoding: SBC, AACTransmission Distance: 10MReceive Sensitivity: 86 dBmWorking Frequency: 2.402 to 2.480 GHzBattery Capacity – Earbuds: 55 mAhBattery Capacity – Case: 520 mAhCharging Time: 1.5 HBattery Life: 8H with ANC OFF and 6.5H with ANC ON / Charging Case: 32H with ANC and 26H with ANC OFFTouch Controls: YesThe companion app – Donner ControlInterestingly, one of the box’s contents is an instructional manual. It covers the basics and the standard touch gestures. However, if you even lose this one, you’ll get the instructions in the companion app. As we’ve said before, you can just pair the earbuds with a smartphone and use them. However, a good experience will come when you combine it with the companion app. The app is available on Apple App Store and on Google Play Store as “Donner Control”.Once you open it, you can click on add devices to pair the app with your Donner Dobuds ONE. Through the companion app, you can select your favorite “sound style” within the equalizer option. There are multiple presets, but you can also create your own settings.The app also allows you to adjust between the “Use modes” and you can enable ANC and tweak the feature.There are multiple use modes of ANC “Commute”, “Indoor”, “Outdoor”, and “Manual Noise Reduction”. All these features are self-explanatory and will have different scenarios of usage. The other modes are “Normal” and “Trans”. Normal will provide a good balance between the audio and the environment. Trans, on the other hand, will allow a little more of environmental noise to pass through the earbuds.The next option is the “Gestures” menu. As you may expect, it will allow you to change or configure the gesture controls.The Sound QualityHonestly, it’s really promising to hear about earbuds that cost $50 and bring ANC. However, nowadays it’s common to see products that don’t live up to their promises. While ANC was a real thing, I was not expecting the sound quality to be really outstanding. However, I was completely wrong. During my usage, I got impressed by the quality offered by the Donner Dobuds ONE. The dual-driver system really makes the job providing a perfect balance with crispy trebles and deep basses. The sound experience while listening to music here was truly immersive. Even playing games can be enjoyable through these earbuds.The ANC also does its job perfectly. While walking through the street, I couldn’t hear anything – just the super-loud sounds, but not at their maximum capacity, though. In normal mode, I could pick some audios depending on the volume. The Trans Mode, allows audio to pass through the earbuds, but you will still listen to the audio. The ENC also does its job during calls. Even in noisy environments, the earbuds will filter the noise and deliver clear audio to the outer side of the line.Verdict – Donner Dobuds OneI need to say that the Donner Dobuds ONE has really impressed me during my usage. The company certainly did not make much buzz to launch these earbuds. However, they certainly deserve recognition. They produced a high-quality product, with trustable ANC and a rich quality sound and managed to sell it just for $49.99.The earbuds are durable and stylish and come with rich audio and a lot of features. There are a lot of options through the companion app to customize your experience. They’re comfortable to use and won’t bring you pain during long hours of usage. Last but not least, the battery is truly capable and you can use ANC without much hassle if you don’t mind charging it after a few days.The Breakdown 4.5 9 If youre looking for good affordable earbuds with ANC, the Donner Dobuds ONE is the option. In addition, youll get superb audio quality, IPX4 rating, durable build, long-lasting battery, and fast-charging support. Build Quality 9 Connectivity 9 ANC and ENC 9 Battery Life 9 Sound Quality 9 The market of earphones went through a revolution in the past year. After the phenomenon of AirPods, a lot of companies decided to enter this category. As a result, a new trend has emerged – the trend of truly wireless earbuds. Nowadays, these earbuds are more popular than the old conventional wired phones. Therefore, more and more companies are starting to drop the 3.5 mm headphone jack. After all, true wireless solutions are trending. With so many “hearables” in the market, the different brands are trying to innovate in features to make their product better than the competition. One of the solutions to make good earbuds stand against the “regular” ones is Active Noise Canceling. This has been a feature present only on Premium earbuds, but the situation is changing. Donner, a reliable bearable maker comes with Donner Dobuds One – stylish earbuds that are affordable and also come with ANC.About DonnerDonner is a reputed German company, known for its long tradition in the range of musical instruments. Since 2012 its commitment goes on creating new experiences in music and performance. The focus is on young people, full of vitality and with a clear call for innovation. The company has been dedicated to the research, manufacture, and selling of musical instruments. More recently, it has been playing in the range of truly wireless earbuds. The Donner Dobuds ONE comes as Donner’s latest innovation in the segment. The device combines the company’s expertise with compelling specifications. The earbuds are quite stylish and the price is also affordable. Without further ado, let’s dive into this product’s qualities and cons.Package ContentEarbudsCharging caseUSB-C charging cableInstruction manual4 additional earbud tipsDooner Dobuds One – Features OverviewThe Donner Dobuds ONE is not a budget earbud, but the price is attractive when you look at other devices in this category. The truly wireless earbuds come to outperform other earbuds in the market. It comes with a dual-driver system. There is one dynamic driver for richer bass response and another custom balanced armature driver that will improve delicate sounds. As result, we have immersive, high-quality audio for most of your activities. You’ll play games, hear music, and perform calls with high quality.ANC, Build Quality, and “Daylife Waterproof”Donner also provides a companion application for Donner Dobuds ONE. It’s certainly a plus that makes the earbuds stand against the competition. You don’t need it to use the earbuds, but it’s a good plus. The app comesan鑱 with equalizer, and you can adjust your sound based on the environment and also on the content. You can also enable or disable ANC. Yes, ANC is one of the things that make this earbud stand against the competition. You can enable it to reduce outside noises by up to 30 dB, or disable it to still pick up outside sounds. There is also an ENC feature for call noise reduction. The callers will hear you and not your surroundings. Each earbud includes four microphones. Two are for picking up your voice and two for processing and filtering the sound in the environments, including wind.Interestingly, the earbuds also focus on the comfort of the user. There are five tip sizes to choose from according to your ear. Don’t worry since the earbuds won’t fall from your ears easily. There is an inner hard layer making it difficult to remove. The outer layer is softer to not bring pain during usage. The earbuds tips are also dust-resistant while the earbuds are daylife waterproof. “Daylife Waterproof” means they’re safe from sweat, drizzle, and light rain. Don’t go swim or try to take a bath with them.The earbuds come in four colorways – Snow White, Matte Black, Mint Green, and Navy Blue. I’ve got the Snow White version with Pinkish ear tips. I looks nice and the design is far from boring like the AirPods.Mint colorwayBattery, Fast-Charging, and other specificationsAccording to Donner, a full charge on the earbuds and the case will last you up to 32 hours with ANC off. Obviously, with the ANC feature that will drain faster. During my usage, I was able to hear for more than 6 hours without any issue. Around 10 to 15 minutes of charge time will give you two hours of power. The earbuds also come with Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. So you’ll experience stable connections, low latency, and lower power consumption. The transmission distance supported between the audio device is up to 10 meters. According to DONNER, you can use the earbuds without ANC for 8 hours of music listening. With ANC this will drop to around 6 hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe earbuds also come with a sensitive portion that supports touch. You can customize the actions through the companion app. You can give one touch to adjust the volume, two touches to play/ pause the music, and there is even support for three touches. The earbuds also support long-press actions.As we’ve said before, the earbuds come with fast charging. According to the specs listing, the earbuds have a 55 mAh capacity, while the charging case packs a 520 mAh battery. Interestingly, their fast-charging prowess comes through a USB Type-C port. There is a small USB Type-C cable that will get the job done.Specs ListingBluetooth Chip: BT8922E2Bluetooth Version: 5.2Noise-Canceling Mode: ActiveDigital ANC up to: -32dBAverage ANC: 閳?5dB鑱絝rom鑱?0Hz鑱絫o鑱?000HzSupported Codecs: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFPAudio Decoding: SBC, AACTransmission Distance: 10MReceive Sensitivity: 86 dBmWorking Frequency: 2.402 to 2.480 GHzBattery Capacity – Earbuds: 55 mAhBattery Capacity – Case: 520 mAhCharging Time: 1.5 HBattery Life: 8H with ANC OFF and 6.5H with ANC ON / Charging Case: 32H with ANC and 26H with ANC OFFTouch Controls: YesThe companion app – Donner ControlInterestingly, one of the box’s contents is an instructional manual. It covers the basics and the standard touch gestures. However, if you even lose this one, you’ll get the instructions in the companion app. As we’ve said before, you can just pair the earbuds with a smartphone and use them. However, a good experience will come when you combine it with the companion app. The app is available on Apple App Store and on Google Play Store as “Donner Control”.Once you open it, you can click on add devices to pair the app with your Donner Dobuds ONE. Through the companion app, you can select your favorite “sound style” within the equalizer option. There are multiple presets, but you can also create your own settings.The app also allows you to adjust between the “Use modes” and you can enable ANC and tweak the feature.There are multiple use modes of ANC “Commute”, “Indoor”, “Outdoor”, and “Manual Noise Reduction”. All these features are self-explanatory and will have different scenarios of usage. The other modes are “Normal” and “Trans”. Normal will provide a good balance between the audio and the environment. Trans, on the other hand, will allow a little more of environmental noise to pass through the earbuds.The next option is the “Gestures” menu. As you may expect, it will allow you to change or configure the gesture controls.The Sound QualityHonestly, it’s really promising to hear about earbuds that cost $50 and bring ANC. However, nowadays it’s common to see products that don’t live up to their promises. While ANC was a real thing, I was not expecting the sound quality to be really outstanding. However, I was completely wrong. During my usage, I got impressed by the quality offered by the Donner Dobuds ONE. The dual-driver system really makes the job providing a perfect balance with crispy trebles and deep basses. The sound experience while listening to music here was truly immersive. Even playing games can be enjoyable through these earbuds.The ANC also does its job perfectly. While walking through the street, I couldn’t hear anything – just the super-loud sounds, but not at their maximum capacity, though. In normal mode, I could pick some audios depending on the volume. The Trans Mode, allows audio to pass through the earbuds, but you will still listen to the audio. The ENC also does its job during calls. Even in noisy environments, the earbuds will filter the noise and deliver clear audio to the outer side of the line.Verdict – Donner Dobuds OneI need to say that the Donner Dobuds ONE has really impressed me during my usage. The company certainly did not make much buzz to launch these earbuds. However, they certainly deserve recognition. They produced a high-quality product, with trustable ANC and a rich quality sound and managed to sell it just for $49.99.The earbuds are durable and stylish and come with rich audio and a lot of features. There are a lot of options through the companion app to customize your experience. They’re comfortable to use and won’t bring you pain during long hours of usage. Last but not least, the battery is truly capable and you can use ANC without much hassle if you don’t mind charging it after a few days.The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of sensors - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then these are the sensors of anybodys choice. Affordable, robust and easy to use. What else could you ask for? Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 Creating a smart home nowadays is easier but costlier than before 鈥 we can all agree to this. There are a lot of smart options available from dozens of reputable manufacturers but most of the time, what is good and robust, is also expensive! Well, the notorious Smart Home company Meross don鈥檛 think like this and have recently launched a bunch of smart home sensors that are affordable and excellent in what they do! The company was kind enough to send me 2 of them: the Meross Smoke Alarm Kit and the Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor Kit!Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily using the included hub. But why use the hub? Both sensors don鈥檛 connect to your smart home via WiFi, instead use the RF433MHz wireless range to connect to the hub, which in turn connects to your network using 2.4GHz WiFi. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Smoke Alarm KitControl Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Safe and Reliable: Comply with聽CE聽EN14604聽(Certified by聽Intertek), alarm at maximum 85dB.Alarm Linkage: When one alarm detects smoke, all alarms will chirp to remind you. (Purchase multiple smoke alarms.)Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when danger happens.Battery Replaceable: 2 x 1.5V AA batteries included and replaceable.Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in Meross app.Smoke and Overheat Detection: In additional to smoke detection, it can also detect overheat. When the temperature is too high (54 – 70鈩?, it will chirp to remind you.Works with Apple HomeKit and compatible with SmartThings.When opening the main package we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:add batteries at the back side of the smoke detectorpress it once until it flasheswait for the connection between hub and meross smoke sensor is complete.How does it work?According to the company, the smoke alarm is capable of a maximum of 85dB of sound, with the speaker also used for low battery alerts, amongst other things. One special feature worth mentioning is that the Smoke alarm can not only detect smoke but also overheating (between 54 ~ 70潞C). The brand new Meross Smoke Detector comes with 2 xAA batteries, that can be replaced. The battery life is expected to be around 12 months. It鈥檚 a significant improvement over other market competitors that equip their smoke detectors with non-replaceable batteries that may last up to 10 years, but then you have to throw to the garbage.Although the new device works with HomeKit, this device isn鈥檛 compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, with only Samsung SmartThings being the other compatible platform. I really enjoyed the easy Homekit addition AFTER having connected hub and smoke detector in the Meross app. After connection is made, you get notifications from Homekit/Apple Watch pushed to your smartphone, which is of particular use if something happens, and you鈥檙e away from home.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe sound alarm is loud when inside the house, so it鈥檚 easy to listen to it when there is fire or smoke. It鈥檚 4.72in/120mm in diameter and comes with a depth of 1.44in/36.7mm. This means that as a smoke detector/alarm it鈥檚 small enough to fit into your home, with it coming in standard white plastic.It鈥檚 also worth noting that whilst this new device doesn鈥檛 seem to be available to purchase at present, as it stands, there鈥檚 only certification for the EU, not the US. Something to bear in mind when it comes to insurance issues.Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor KitBeta Version(99.99%) for testing, its features are 99.99% fully supported.Control Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Works with Apple HomeKit, compatible with SmartThings.Voice Access: Know the status of device via HomePod / Siri.Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when leaking.Sound Alarm: It will emit a sound of about 60dB when alarming.Low Power Consumption: The built-in battery can be used for 18 months. CR123A replaceable battery included;Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in the Meross app.IP67 Waterproof.Ideal for bathroom, basement, laundry room, kitchen, and swimming pool.As we mentioned above, the same procedure must be followed to connect the water sensor to Meross app and then Homekit/SmartThings.When opening the main package, we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:Use the included short circuit cable to make a connection between sensors 1-3 or 2-3 to make the device enter pairing mode.wait for the connection between hub and Meross water leak sensor is complete.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical Homekit addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup CodeGo to the side of the small hubScan the codeAdd the hub in your HomeAll connected sensors to the hub will be now visible in Homekit.Our opinionFor a price of $55.99 (for the Smoke Sensor Kit) and $35.99 (for the Water Leak Sensor Kit) you get more than what you paid for. Both sensors can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, securing your home from either fire/smoke or water leaks. Both sensors are quite loud (the Smoke Sensor is SOOO loud, it could easily work as a Home Alarm). It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes).The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of sensors - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then these are the sensors of anybodys choice. Affordable, robust and easy to use. What else could you ask for? Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 Creating a smart home nowadays is easier but costlier than before 鈥 we can all agree to this. There are a lot of smart options available from dozens of reputable manufacturers but most of the time, what is good and robust, is also expensive! Well, the notorious Smart Home company Meross don鈥檛 think like this and have recently launched a bunch of smart home sensors that are affordable and excellent in what they do! The company was kind enough to send me 2 of them: the Meross Smoke Alarm Kit and the Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor Kit!Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily using the included hub. But why use the hub? Both sensors don鈥檛 connect to your smart home via WiFi, instead use the RF433MHz wireless range to connect to the hub, which in turn connects to your network using 2.4GHz WiFi. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Smoke Alarm KitControl Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Safe and Reliable: Comply with聽CE聽EN14604聽(Certified by聽Intertek), alarm at maximum 85dB.Alarm Linkage: When one alarm detects smoke, all alarms will chirp to remind you. (Purchase multiple smoke alarms.)Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when danger happens.Battery Replaceable: 2 x 1.5V AA batteries included and replaceable.Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in Meross app.Smoke and Overheat Detection: In additional to smoke detection, it can also detect overheat. When the temperature is too high (54 – 70鈩?, it will chirp to remind you.Works with Apple HomeKit and compatible with SmartThings.When opening the main package we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:add batteries at the back side of the smoke detectorpress it once until it flasheswait for the connection between hub and meross smoke sensor is complete.How does it work?According to the company, the smoke alarm is capable of a maximum of 85dB of sound, with the speaker also used for low battery alerts, amongst other things. One special feature worth mentioning is that the Smoke alarm can not only detect smoke but also overheating (between 54 ~ 70潞C). The brand new Meross Smoke Detector comes with 2 xAA batteries, that can be replaced. The battery life is expected to be around 12 months. It鈥檚 a significant improvement over other market competitors that equip their smoke detectors with non-replaceable batteries that may last up to 10 years, but then you have to throw to the garbage.Although the new device works with HomeKit, this device isn鈥檛 compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, with only Samsung SmartThings being the other compatible platform. I really enjoyed the easy Homekit addition AFTER having connected hub and smoke detector in the Meross app. After connection is made, you get notifications from Homekit/Apple Watch pushed to your smartphone, which is of particular use if something happens, and you鈥檙e away from home.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe sound alarm is loud when inside the house, so it鈥檚 easy to listen to it when there is fire or smoke. It鈥檚 4.72in/120mm in diameter and comes with a depth of 1.44in/36.7mm. This means that as a smoke detector/alarm it鈥檚 small enough to fit into your home, with it coming in standard white plastic.It鈥檚 also worth noting that whilst this new device doesn鈥檛 seem to be available to purchase at present, as it stands, there鈥檚 only certification for the EU, not the US. Something to bear in mind when it comes to insurance issues.Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor KitBeta Version(99.99%) for testing, its features are 99.99% fully supported.Control Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Works with Apple HomeKit, compatible with SmartThings.Voice Access: Know the status of device via HomePod / Siri.Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when leaking.Sound Alarm: It will emit a sound of about 60dB when alarming.Low Power Consumption: The built-in battery can be used for 18 months. CR123A replaceable battery included;Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in the Meross app.IP67 Waterproof.Ideal for bathroom, basement, laundry room, kitchen, and swimming pool.As we mentioned above, the same procedure must be followed to connect the water sensor to Meross app and then Homekit/SmartThings.When opening the main package, we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:Use the included short circuit cable to make a connection between sensors 1-3 or 2-3 to make the device enter pairing mode.wait for the connection between hub and Meross water leak sensor is complete.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical Homekit addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup CodeGo to the side of the small hubScan the codeAdd the hub in your HomeAll connected sensors to the hub will be now visible in Homekit.Our opinionFor a price of $55.99 (for the Smoke Sensor Kit) and $35.99 (for the Water Leak Sensor Kit) you get more than what you paid for. Both sensors can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, securing your home from either fire/smoke or water leaks. Both sensors are quite loud (the Smoke Sensor is SOOO loud, it could easily work as a Home Alarm). It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes).The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 If you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with impressive color changing variant, curved display experience and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro at a price of Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation. Performance 8.2 Battery life 8.2 Main Camera 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 UI 8.2 You鈥檝e got to love the V-Series smartphones of Vivo, that鈥檚 for sure. It鈥檚 a company that loves to use gimmicks, smart (or even innovative) ideas to improve them year after year and the Vivo V25 Pro (and V25) series appears as perhaps their best work so far (as per our review). The Chinese company has practiced a lot in the camera features of these devices during the previous years. Starting from phones with dual selfie lenses, pop-up cameras to even a hybrid solution of dual pop-up selfie camera (!), their R&D department seems always busy.However, this year the Vivo V25 Pro boasts an impressive, curved display, a multicolor back side and a different 32MP Selfie Camera sensor 鈥 a step down from the huge 50MP selfie snapper of its predecessor (V23 Pro). The mid-range device arrived in Gizchina HQ along with its budget brother (V25) and we got to play with them for several days.Check out here our thoughts on these two beauties in this review.Main featuresImpressive Main camera functionsCurved Display with 120Hz refresh rateColor changing back coverDecent battery lifeVivo V25 Pro technical specificationsBrand:聽vivoCPU:聽MediaTek Dimensity 1300 (6nm)Display:聽6.56-inch 120Hz AMOLEDRAM:聽8GB/12GBStorage:聽128GB/256GBBattery:聽4830mAh Li-PoPorts:聽USB-C 2.0Operating System:聽Android 12, Funtouch 12Front camera:聽32MP, f/2.5, wideRear cameras:聽64MP, f/1.9, wide / 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide / 2MP, f/2.4 macroConnectivity:聽Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPSDimensions:聽158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.34 in)Colors:聽Pure Black, Sailing BlueWeight:聽190 g (6.70 oz)Charging:聽66W Fast-chargingIP Rating:聽NoneVivo聽V25 Pro DesignIt鈥檚 a beauty as per our review. Especially the back side of the device can do miracles when left under UV light (sun) for just a few minutes. The back color changes to darker shades and it鈥檚 easy to create some works of art if you have the necessary transparent plastic covers. Note however that this feature applies only to the Sailing Blue color variant. When UV lights turn off, the effect disappears and returns to its previous accent.The Vivo V25 Pro comes with impressive curves on its sides, adding up to a sleek design. It鈥檚 easy to hold in your hands, it weighs a mere 190 grams, and with a size of 158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm it鈥檚 no hassle to carry it either. Even though it鈥檚 a mid-range device, I loved the build quality, and how comfortable it was to hold in my hands during work or leisure.It seems delicate though, be careful not to let it drop or else鈥 havoc could break loose.Vivo V25 Pro DisplayEquipped with a 6.56-inches AMOLED panel, V25 Pro delivered a rich viewing experience during our review; Impressive brightness, healthy color depiction and excellent viewing angles thanks to the curved edges and the extra thin bezels. I used the phone under direct sunlight for all sorts of tasks – from daily social media聽browsing to binge watch shows and was quite impressed.One of its main characteristics is the 120Hz refresh rate, something found mostly in flagship models of other competitors, and a sharp fingerprint sensor 鈥 quite quick with almost 85% success.My only issue with the screen brightness is that it tends to get too dim when set on automatic. This can be good when watching videos or using social media in low light environments, but not when you need the phone the most: during work, driving or replying to messages.PerformanceThe Vivo V25 Pro is packed with a聽Mediatek Dimensity 1300 SoC. That鈥檚 a small improvement compared to the previous model (V23 Pro) and its Dimensity 1200 chipset. If you had both phones, then you won鈥檛 see any significant difference in daily use. In any case, the V25 Pro can easily cope with most of our heavy professional tasks, while playing some notorious titles (such as Asphalt 9) was a pleasing experience. I saw no lags, or frame drops for almost 50 minutes of playing, but I experienced a small overheating at the back of the device. It was normal after playing a so demanding game and had no impact on the performance of the phone. If you鈥檙e a gamer, or a music lover then the single speaker of the device will probably disappoint you. It offers a flat sound, but on the other hand it鈥檚 quite loud. One more thing to know also, is the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack, so you will have to rely on a Bluetooth connection for your earphones. FunTouchOS 12One other thing that wasn鈥檛 that鈥 fun, was the FunTouch OS 12. It’s the skin that equips both the Vivo V25 and V25 Pro. It鈥檚 a typical Android 12 based skin that is however filled with a lot of bloatware (pre-installed apps), like as Josh, Moj a Browser app and others that sadly cannot be uninstalled. The whole experience is not bad 鈥 but it could be much better. There are a lot of ads popping up. The native Vivo app store keeps bombarding us with notifications to buy or update several apps. The main launcher of the OS is full of personalization options 鈥 I must admit. It offers animations, and customization features to personalize your experience. Still, it seems not enough to have the same kind of impact as Oppo’s ColorOS. Vivo V25 Pro PhotographyEven though the previous V23 Pro was a pure selfie phone, this isn鈥檛 the case with the new model. This one packs an impressive 64 MP OIS primary camera that can do miracles in low light conditions, shooting high-in-contrast pictures with a minor saturation effect here and there and decent videos. I loved the 10X zoom that can prove helpful in various aspects of photography, with impressive amount of details. Don鈥檛 expect miracles in terms of selfie shots however. The front facing camera of the Vivo V25 Pro lacks the clarity of the previous model. Still it delivers decent daylight photos for social media etc.The 8MP wide-angle lens is decent as well. Selfies with portrait mode look lively, clear, true to the skin tone and detect the edges sharply.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe selfie fans will love the preinstalled customizations by Vivo, along with some interesting editing options (tens of filters, beautification mode, cute bokeh flare effects, double exposure mode, long exposure etc). If you鈥檙e a video fan, then you will be pleased to know that the Vivo V25 Pro comes with 4K video recording at 30 or 60fps. It also has OIS support for excellent daylight videos. As one would expect, there are options for time-lapse and slo-mo modes. There’s also a Vlog Movie app that can easily transform our videos into Instagram/TikTok wonders in just a few steps.Vivo V25 Pro Battery lifeIt was a blast using the device 鈥 in terms of battery life 鈥 I must admit. The V25 Pro comes with a 4830mAh battery, that can easily withstand any pro performance offering up to 26 hours of usage.I used the phone for a whole day during – for review purposes. 30 minutes of phone calls, extensive social media use, texting via messenger/viber, several mail exchanging, listening to music for 45 minutes. At the end of it it had 28% of battery left. However with 66W FlashCharging support, it took around 50 minutes to get a full recharge.My opinionThe mid-range camera market welcomes another Vivo V Series pair of phones. Unlike its predecessor, the V25 Pro focuses more on its main camera. It’s aimed at photography enthusiasts with improved night light photos, more scenes/settings/camera tweaks. Despite having a lesser quality camera sensor, I haven’t faced any major quality drop in the daylight selfies.I loved the Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset performance during this review. It slightly overheated only after extensive mobile gaming for over 50 minutes. Still managed to easily cover all my professional everyday needs with no trouble at all. That curved display? It鈥檚 a beauty both to hold and to look at! It鈥檚 rare to find such a display panel at a phone of this price range, with impressive performance all day long.We鈥檝e talked about the new selfie camera in this review. It鈥檚 a step down from the previous model, with mediocre night light photos, but a lot of new AI scenes, face features, extensive 鈥減ro鈥 settings and even more.And some more…I liked the color-changing back side of the Sailing Blue variant, but surely it鈥檚 not a killer characteristic for buyers. I could live without it. Easily. The FunTouchOS 12 wasn鈥檛 of my liking. It has a LOT of bloatware, some applications that cannot be uninstalled and a lot of ad pop-ups from the native Vivo AppStore that can be very annoying. It runs on Android 12 however which is good and can get up to 2 major OS upgrades.So鈥 if you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with an impressive color changing option, a curved display experience, and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro priced at Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation.Vivo V25 Pro vs. V25Vivo was kind enough to also send us the smaller sibling of the V25 Series for a combined review. The V25 is the non-Pro version, with some differences in terms of display, battery, and chipset 鈥 the V25 Pro is better in these specs. However, the simple model has an advantage over its Pro and this is its selfie camera 鈥 with a better lens, CMOS sensor and AI Beautify settings.Here’s a comparison review chart between their specifications:
The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 If you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with impressive color changing variant, curved display experience and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro at a price of Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation. Performance 8.2 Battery life 8.2 Main Camera 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 UI 8.2 You鈥檝e got to love the V-Series smartphones of Vivo, that鈥檚 for sure. It鈥檚 a company that loves to use gimmicks, smart (or even innovative) ideas to improve them year after year and the Vivo V25 Pro (and V25) series appears as perhaps their best work so far (as per our review). The Chinese company has practiced a lot in the camera features of these devices during the previous years. Starting from phones with dual selfie lenses, pop-up cameras to even a hybrid solution of dual pop-up selfie camera (!), their R&D department seems always busy.However, this year the Vivo V25 Pro boasts an impressive, curved display, a multicolor back side and a different 32MP Selfie Camera sensor 鈥 a step down from the huge 50MP selfie snapper of its predecessor (V23 Pro). The mid-range device arrived in Gizchina HQ along with its budget brother (V25) and we got to play with them for several days.Check out here our thoughts on these two beauties in this review.Main featuresImpressive Main camera functionsCurved Display with 120Hz refresh rateColor changing back coverDecent battery lifeVivo V25 Pro technical specificationsBrand:聽vivoCPU:聽MediaTek Dimensity 1300 (6nm)Display:聽6.56-inch 120Hz AMOLEDRAM:聽8GB/12GBStorage:聽128GB/256GBBattery:聽4830mAh Li-PoPorts:聽USB-C 2.0Operating System:聽Android 12, Funtouch 12Front camera:聽32MP, f/2.5, wideRear cameras:聽64MP, f/1.9, wide / 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide / 2MP, f/2.4 macroConnectivity:聽Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPSDimensions:聽158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.34 in)Colors:聽Pure Black, Sailing BlueWeight:聽190 g (6.70 oz)Charging:聽66W Fast-chargingIP Rating:聽NoneVivo聽V25 Pro DesignIt鈥檚 a beauty as per our review. Especially the back side of the device can do miracles when left under UV light (sun) for just a few minutes. The back color changes to darker shades and it鈥檚 easy to create some works of art if you have the necessary transparent plastic covers. Note however that this feature applies only to the Sailing Blue color variant. When UV lights turn off, the effect disappears and returns to its previous accent.The Vivo V25 Pro comes with impressive curves on its sides, adding up to a sleek design. It鈥檚 easy to hold in your hands, it weighs a mere 190 grams, and with a size of 158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm it鈥檚 no hassle to carry it either. Even though it鈥檚 a mid-range device, I loved the build quality, and how comfortable it was to hold in my hands during work or leisure.It seems delicate though, be careful not to let it drop or else鈥 havoc could break loose.Vivo V25 Pro DisplayEquipped with a 6.56-inches AMOLED panel, V25 Pro delivered a rich viewing experience during our review; Impressive brightness, healthy color depiction and excellent viewing angles thanks to the curved edges and the extra thin bezels. I used the phone under direct sunlight for all sorts of tasks – from daily social media聽browsing to binge watch shows and was quite impressed.One of its main characteristics is the 120Hz refresh rate, something found mostly in flagship models of other competitors, and a sharp fingerprint sensor 鈥 quite quick with almost 85% success.My only issue with the screen brightness is that it tends to get too dim when set on automatic. This can be good when watching videos or using social media in low light environments, but not when you need the phone the most: during work, driving or replying to messages.PerformanceThe Vivo V25 Pro is packed with a聽Mediatek Dimensity 1300 SoC. That鈥檚 a small improvement compared to the previous model (V23 Pro) and its Dimensity 1200 chipset. If you had both phones, then you won鈥檛 see any significant difference in daily use. In any case, the V25 Pro can easily cope with most of our heavy professional tasks, while playing some notorious titles (such as Asphalt 9) was a pleasing experience. I saw no lags, or frame drops for almost 50 minutes of playing, but I experienced a small overheating at the back of the device. It was normal after playing a so demanding game and had no impact on the performance of the phone. If you鈥檙e a gamer, or a music lover then the single speaker of the device will probably disappoint you. It offers a flat sound, but on the other hand it鈥檚 quite loud. One more thing to know also, is the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack, so you will have to rely on a Bluetooth connection for your earphones. FunTouchOS 12One other thing that wasn鈥檛 that鈥 fun, was the FunTouch OS 12. It’s the skin that equips both the Vivo V25 and V25 Pro. It鈥檚 a typical Android 12 based skin that is however filled with a lot of bloatware (pre-installed apps), like as Josh, Moj a Browser app and others that sadly cannot be uninstalled. The whole experience is not bad 鈥 but it could be much better. There are a lot of ads popping up. The native Vivo app store keeps bombarding us with notifications to buy or update several apps. The main launcher of the OS is full of personalization options 鈥 I must admit. It offers animations, and customization features to personalize your experience. Still, it seems not enough to have the same kind of impact as Oppo’s ColorOS. Vivo V25 Pro PhotographyEven though the previous V23 Pro was a pure selfie phone, this isn鈥檛 the case with the new model. This one packs an impressive 64 MP OIS primary camera that can do miracles in low light conditions, shooting high-in-contrast pictures with a minor saturation effect here and there and decent videos. I loved the 10X zoom that can prove helpful in various aspects of photography, with impressive amount of details. Don鈥檛 expect miracles in terms of selfie shots however. The front facing camera of the Vivo V25 Pro lacks the clarity of the previous model. Still it delivers decent daylight photos for social media etc.The 8MP wide-angle lens is decent as well. Selfies with portrait mode look lively, clear, true to the skin tone and detect the edges sharply.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe selfie fans will love the preinstalled customizations by Vivo, along with some interesting editing options (tens of filters, beautification mode, cute bokeh flare effects, double exposure mode, long exposure etc). If you鈥檙e a video fan, then you will be pleased to know that the Vivo V25 Pro comes with 4K video recording at 30 or 60fps. It also has OIS support for excellent daylight videos. As one would expect, there are options for time-lapse and slo-mo modes. There’s also a Vlog Movie app that can easily transform our videos into Instagram/TikTok wonders in just a few steps.Vivo V25 Pro Battery lifeIt was a blast using the device 鈥 in terms of battery life 鈥 I must admit. The V25 Pro comes with a 4830mAh battery, that can easily withstand any pro performance offering up to 26 hours of usage.I used the phone for a whole day during – for review purposes. 30 minutes of phone calls, extensive social media use, texting via messenger/viber, several mail exchanging, listening to music for 45 minutes. At the end of it it had 28% of battery left. However with 66W FlashCharging support, it took around 50 minutes to get a full recharge.My opinionThe mid-range camera market welcomes another Vivo V Series pair of phones. Unlike its predecessor, the V25 Pro focuses more on its main camera. It’s aimed at photography enthusiasts with improved night light photos, more scenes/settings/camera tweaks. Despite having a lesser quality camera sensor, I haven’t faced any major quality drop in the daylight selfies.I loved the Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset performance during this review. It slightly overheated only after extensive mobile gaming for over 50 minutes. Still managed to easily cover all my professional everyday needs with no trouble at all. That curved display? It鈥檚 a beauty both to hold and to look at! It鈥檚 rare to find such a display panel at a phone of this price range, with impressive performance all day long.We鈥檝e talked about the new selfie camera in this review. It鈥檚 a step down from the previous model, with mediocre night light photos, but a lot of new AI scenes, face features, extensive 鈥減ro鈥 settings and even more.And some more…I liked the color-changing back side of the Sailing Blue variant, but surely it鈥檚 not a killer characteristic for buyers. I could live without it. Easily. The FunTouchOS 12 wasn鈥檛 of my liking. It has a LOT of bloatware, some applications that cannot be uninstalled and a lot of ad pop-ups from the native Vivo AppStore that can be very annoying. It runs on Android 12 however which is good and can get up to 2 major OS upgrades.So鈥 if you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with an impressive color changing option, a curved display experience, and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro priced at Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation.Vivo V25 Pro vs. V25Vivo was kind enough to also send us the smaller sibling of the V25 Series for a combined review. The V25 is the non-Pro version, with some differences in terms of display, battery, and chipset 鈥 the V25 Pro is better in these specs. However, the simple model has an advantage over its Pro and this is its selfie camera 鈥 with a better lens, CMOS sensor and AI Beautify settings.Here’s a comparison review chart between their specifications:The Breakdown 4.2 8.4 The Red Magic 7S Pro is undoubtedly one of the most accessible gaming smartphones on the market. It packs quite a punch in terms of performance; however it is still plagued by many pre-installed apps and no option to change default launcher. I am also concerned about this phone鈥檚 future updates since Nubia can guarantee only 1 major Android upgrade so far. Battery life is impressive, but sadly there鈥檚 no wireless charging support. Performance 8.4 Price 8.4 Quality 8.4 Software 8.4 Camera 8.4 Nubia has had an impressive past couple of years, releasing approximately 12-14 Red Magic branded phones, dedicating themselves to the gaming industry. We鈥檙e talking about a market that has experienced a significant rise in recent years, and the Chinese company has managed to have sent 1 or 2 gaming smartphones all over the world. The Red Magic 7S Pro 鈥 yes the one we have in our hands- launched globally just three months after聽its predecessor, so one might think that it doesn鈥檛 have a lot to offer to the avid gamer. Or does it?nubia Red Magic 7S Pro – Technical specsBody:聽166.3×77.1×10.0mm, 235g; Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame; Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing), Built-in cooling fan, Aviation aluminum middle frame.Display:聽6.80″ AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 600 nits, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 387ppi.Chipset:聽Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.Memory:聽256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM; UFS 3.1.OS/Software:聽Android 12, Redmagic 5.5.Rear camera:聽Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.97″, 0.7碌m, PDAF;聽Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120藲, 13mm, 1/4.0″, 1.12碌m;聽Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.Front camera:聽16 MP, (wide), under display.Video capture:聽Rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps;聽Front camera: 1080p@30/60fps.Battery:聽5000mAh; Fast charging 135W, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (advertised), Power Delivery 3.0.Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; 3.5mm jack; stereo speakersDesign and buildNubia鈥檚 latest gaming smartphone is built from aluminum, glass, and some plastic parts. It packs a somewhat different design than its predecessor, with the main metal plate at the back of the device standing out. According to the manufacturer it鈥檚 there to improve heat dissipation, although it adds significantly to the 7S Pro鈥檚 total weight at 235 grams 鈥 along with thickness of 10 mm. To be honest, when you鈥檙e in the market for a gaming smartphone, weight is NOT one of the first factors you consider. However, be warned that after prolonged use during games or holding it straight up, your hands (wrists) may complain.At the back 鈥 just above the metal plate we find the camera module, consisting of three lenses and a flash. The Red Magic 7S Pro is available in 3 color options: Obsidian, Supernova and Mercury, yet all variants remain decent, with excellent quality built and a low profile. At the back side, just below the main camera module, we find the RGB fan placement. When ON it reduces the extra heat of the device 鈥 but it surely makes a lot of noise. You can set it ON or OFF or Auto, along with activating its RGB lights ON/OFF. Huge displayThe Red Magic 7S Pro packs an impressive 6.8 inch display, yet it remains more compact than I originally thought. At the top side of this display lies an in-display camera that is invisible to the naked eye (almost). So, you won鈥檛 see any notch, resulting to an impressive 87.1% screen/body ratio.As I mention at the end of this review, I wasn鈥檛 thrilled with the photo quality of the in-display camera, nor its face ID capabilities during the night (like other smartphones do). It took quite some time to setup FaceID, as the front facing sensor couldn鈥檛 find me, or got stuck at 40% of the whole process. It also kept asking me to look right or left for no reason. On the other hand, the in-display fingerprint sensor was much better. It took 30 seconds or so to save my fingerprint and had almost 90% success in unlocking the device on the first try. Note that it also requires a longer press to unlock the 7S Pro than you might be used to.If you owned the previous RedMagic model then you will find out that nothing has changed on the sides of the phone. Power and volume controls are joined by one of the fan grilles and dual shoulder triggers, making it very clear which way to use the phone in landscape mode. Display and audioThe display in any decent gaming smartphone is perhaps the second most important factor (after its performance). The Red Magic 7S Pro looks awesome when holding it in your hands, with a 6.8in, 1080脳2400 AMOLED panel at 20:9 aspect ratio. This resolution could be higher I guess, but it does allow the CPU to go over the top in terms of gaming performance. In terms of gaming performance, the device can deliver a quite high refresh rate reaching up to 120 Hz, but surely the competition already delivers 144Hz or 165Hz. Some could say that indeed only a handful of games supports such high refresh rates, but still the previous Red Magic 7S model, comes with a 165Hz display. Obviously, we can manually reduce the frame rate to 60Hz or 90Hz (and the difference is huge) 鈥 but there鈥檚 no automatic option. One area where this flagship gaming phone excels, is the area of touch sampling rate, with a top of 960 times every second. This means that it can register our tap quicker than any other smartphone in the world. This could make a huge difference when playing hard-core games like Call of Duty: Mobile or PUBG: Mobile when the response time of 1 ms could prove who鈥檚 the winner.More than a gaming machineWe admit that this is an excellent gaming device, but no one plays all the time. Equipped with a mighty processor, the device can perform great as an everyday phone using this impressive display. It鈥檚 good during daytime, with on-the-spot response but decent brightness. To be honest, if you live in a sunny country, it could be difficult to use the phone outdoors due to the low maximum brightness of just 254 nits. On the other hand, it has an impressive range of viewing angles, despite being highly reflective.As an avid gamer myself, I couldn鈥檛 believe my ears when I first heard the 7S Pro鈥檚 dual speakers. Their sound is full, punchy, and quite loud when set in max! This surely helps any player enjoy the game in full! However if you want privacy, you can connect a pair of 3.5mm earphones 馃槈 Red Magic 7S Pro Specs and performanceSurely the main reason why a gamer will buy this phone is the chipset. The Red Magic 7S is powered by the new聽Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Qualcomm鈥檚 latest flagship chip. The model in my hands was the most powerful one, with 18GB of RAM and stellar performance under any circumstances.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramIt鈥檚 so fun playing games in this phone. The display delivers awesome visuals, smooth frame rate and state of the art responsiveness. During my tests, I played some of the most notorious gaming titles such as: Asphalt 9, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile and others. The 120 Hz display, accompanied by a 960Hz touch sampling both deliver an edge over any other (normal), making it easier to win in 1-1 contests.To be honest, I was a bit annoyed by the RGB led fan that鈥檚 placed at the back of the device. It can be used automatically (operated by the OS) or manually when we need it to. It鈥檚 loud however and sometimes it may be distracting when playing. You can always turn it off naturally, but you will soon see the impact of high temperature to the phone. So don鈥檛 do this.When not playing awesome games, this聽gaming smartphone works just like a normal flagship model: impeccable performance for work, leisure, social media etc. Chrome, Maps, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube 鈥 everything works like a charm – even when split-screen multitasking. In reality, it offers far more performance than you鈥檒l ever need for any basic tasks. In China you鈥檒l find the option for 1TB of storage, but that鈥檚 not available on the global version. But 256GB or 512GB should be plenty for most people, even if there鈥檚 no microSD expansion.Camera and videoAt the back of the device, there鈥檚 a trio of camera lenses, but in any case, only the main 64MP sensor will be doing most of the heavy lifting here. I must admit that I liked the portrait and macro/ultrawide photos of the device. However, I noticed some blur in certain typical photos. The night mode of the main camera is quite good, with nice low-light photos. There鈥檚 some digital noise in most of them but you cannot ask much from a 100% gaming smartphone. I liked its landscape photos but there was much overexposure in most areas. The 64MP sensor is the best for most scenarios, I wouldn鈥檛 choose the 8Mp ultrawide sensor nor the small 2MP macro. When combined things get even better, especially in close-up photos, or those hit or miss moments with the kids. One thing that was just decent however was the front facing, in-display selfie camera. Yes, it is impressive to (not) see a camera under the display of the phone, and still get some decent selfies. However, it鈥檚 a simple 8MP sensor that can deliver grainy/washed out photos in most cases. I wouldn鈥檛 use it for nighttime photos, but during day it can provide typical selfies with friends or family. That鈥檚 all.In terms of video recording, the Red Magic 7S Pro can record 4K videos at 30fps, but the default 1080p at 30fps is more realistic for everyday use. It doesn鈥檛 have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), but still the videos are quite impressive with huge details, lighting, and smoothness.Red Magic 7S Pro Battery and chargingGiven it鈥檚 huge size, the Red Magic 7S Pro is equipped with a relatively small 5000mAh battery. This power-cell has to cope each day with a huge high-refresh rate display and plenty of demanding apps. During my tests, the phone performed extremely well in terms of battery life, recording almost 10 hours in PCMark鈥檚 battery test. It can easily withstand a day鈥檚 torture with gaming, hard work, internet browsing-social media and calls. If you want more, then there are several ways to improve it: set the display refresh rate to 60Hz, cut the use of games, and there you are: you can get an extra half a day of use.聽However, certain aspects of the phone might not work when battery is low: flash, portrait and night mode etc will not work when under 5% of juice. If you want a quick recharge however, the 65W fast charger is there to provide it. It may not be quite as powerful as the monstrous 135W adapter that the Chinese version of the phone has, but it does the job and charges the phone up to 100% in a little bit over 30 minutes!No, it doesn鈥檛 support wireless charging 鈥 which is something I’d love to see.Software and updatesAs expected, the 7S Pro gaming smartphone runs Red Magic OS over Android 12. Upon receiving the device, it got a small security update to version 5.5 of Nubia鈥檚 custom skin. If you鈥檝e owned a Red Magic phone in the past, then you will see that nothing significant has changed with the coming of this flagship: some notable additions include a home screen wallpaper rotation and the branding of gaming enhancements as 鈥楻ed Magic Force鈥? If you鈥檙e an avid gamer, then you will surely love Nubia鈥檚 Game Space, the mode to use when playing games. This is still available via a physical slider on the side of the phone, but now the main page has been redesigned.聽This game mode has improved significantly when compared to previous versions 鈥 one must admit. Now we can have continuous information on CPU and GPU frequency, monitor our real-time FPS etc. We can easily share content and achievements now via WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram via a small pop-up window, while playing! Everyday useIn terms of everyday use, the new Red Magic UI allows you to shrink (certain) apps into small, interactive windows. You can’t resize the app’s window – you can only move it around the screen. It makes for easy multitasking, yet you always have to open the notification shade to enter that mode every time. And you can’t put more than one app into a small window. In addition, we can also find familiar Google Apps, like Messages, Gmail, Chrome browser, Digital Wellbeing, the ever useful Discover Feed to the left of the home screen etc. One thing that caught our eye however, was that unfortunately most of the preinstalled apps are native in the phone鈥檚 ROM. So we cannot uninstall them. Nubia also is not keen on providing a lot of years of after sales support to their phones, and this comes as no surprise. This means that the upcoming Android 13 upgrade will be the only big update the Red Magic 7S Pro gets, but the small security updates will continue for up to 3 years.Red Magic 7S Pro Price and availabilityGiven its specs and general appearance, the Red Magic 7S Pro comes with a decent price. It starts at $729/拢669 for the 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage variant, but it can reach a price of $899/拢809 for the 18GB of RAM and 512GB powerful version 鈥 this is the model I tested.Both models are available to buy now, but the official store is your only option:Buy the Red Magic 7S Pro in the USBuy the Red Magic 7S Pro in the UKOur Verdict on the Red Magic 7S ProThe Red Magic 7S Pro is undoubtedly one of the most accessible gaming smartphones on the market.聽It packs quite a punch in terms of performance; however it is still plagued by many pre-installed apps and no option to change default launcher. I am also concerned about this phone鈥檚 future updates since Nubia can guarantee only 1 major Android upgrade so far. Battery life is impressive, but sadly there鈥檚 no wireless charging support.The Breakdown 4.6 9.2 The Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8 are excellent earbuds with stunning transparent design, LED display, good audio quality and impressive battery life. Build Quality and Design 9.2 Connectivity 9.2 Audio Quality 9.2 Value for Money 9.2 Battery Life 9.2 I’m definitely a music lover, and therefore, I like to hear my favorite songs throughout the day. Sometimes finding the best companion (earbud/headphones) to hear my favorite song is not an easy task. Nowadays, the market of True Wireless Earbuds is booming with multiple offers. We can find earbuds from the lowest range of the market to the most premium ones. Although the offer is wide, it’s not so easy to find good earbuds that will stand in the crowd. There are a lot of factors to consider: Battery Life, Sound Quality, Endurance and etc. Sometimes we will be surprised by good earbuds that would not make much “buzz” among the competition. That’s exactly the case with the Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds T8.These stylish earbuds managed to serve me pretty well through the past two weeks, and I’ll explain more through this review.Introducing Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8I believe that ACEFAST was not a brand that you hear about very often. In fact, I didn’t hear much about them until I come across their stylish products. Yeah, these guys know how to make simple products look cool! From flashy transparent earbuds to chargers, these products will stand in the crow. The Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds T8 are no exception. The truly wireless earbuds come with an eye-catching transparent design, an LED display on the case that let you know about the current juice, and six distinct color options.Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8The Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds are also very interesting offerings thanks to their Bluetooth 5.3 support. The new standard is getting more popular in 2023, and these earbuds are ready for the new devices coming with it. The earbuds also feature an innovative LDS antenna to ensure perfect hands-free calling. They offer a level 4 waterproof rating with IPX4 certification. Among the highlights we also have an excellent battery life that combined with the case can offer up to 30 hours.What is the box?The folks at Acefast certainly know that old saying that “presentation is everything”. The Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8 comes in a stylish cardboard box that looks professional and well-made. When you unbox the device, you’re presented right with the earbuds and case in a very stylish manner.“Presentation is Everything they say.”When you open the box each item is individually packaged. There is a combination of cardboard and foam protecting the product. The Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8 comes in a charging case and is ready to go. Before using them, you need to remove the plastic labels from the charging pins. As I’ve said, there is a variety of colors, and I got the stylish blue one. The case has a beautiful LED display that steals the attention when turned on. If you put it to charge via the USB Type-C port, you will also see a glowing LED indicator. The numbers, obviously will allow you to know the exact amount of juice left in the case.The box provides you with a small USB Type-C cable. It comes in the same color as your earbud and that is a nice touch! Obviously, you can charge the device with any Type-C cable you have laying around. One of the more interesting extras is a silicone sleeve. It also matches the color of the earbuds and allows you to protect the case from scratches and even falls. There is a lanyard strap that you can embrace to protect it from falling while you’re holding the case.Acefast also provides spare ear tips with 3 distinct sizes (Four if you count the one that comes with the earbuds). As a result, you can pick the one that will better fit in your ear and provide you with a more immersive sound quality. There is a simple user manual that is there just for the basics. I’ve to say that unboxing this product was a nice experience. Seriously! When we look at standard earbuds they just come in simple boxes to save costs. Acefast really paid attention to the presentation here, and when you unbox it you already feel that it’s not an ordinary product.There are no buttons on the case itself. All controls can be found on the earbuds. The earbuds perfectly fit on the case and won’t come out without easily.The case’s display will turn on for a few seconds when you remove or insert the buds into the case. It’s a useful way to check the buds and case battery status without having to rely on the smartphone. The LED display has a white color for the battery status and glows when you’re charging.Features and Usability of the Acefast Crystal (2)The Earbuds are pretty ready for immersive audio thanks to their 10mm drivers. Also, they come with support for the SBS and AAC audio codecs. As I’ve told you before, they come with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard, so they are quite future-proof for the next few years.My experience with the Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8 was quite good I can say. I’ve been using them for the past two weeks to hear basically everything on my smartphone and computer. To be honest, they have changed my opinion on using these earbuds on computers. I use a simple Bluetooth dongle on my PC to get connectivity and to be honest, I’m not confident about the quality of the dongle. For that reason, I’ve had a lot of issues with my past experiences with cheaper earbuds. Things like earbuds disconnecting, hiccups in the sound, and other issues have plagued me in my past usage. However, with the Crystal (2) this changed completely! I didn’t experience any issues with my usage on the PC, they connected pretty well and worked stable through long hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramPerhaps the stable connection comes from the LDS antenna design. It stands for Lase Direct Structuring and molds the antenna transmitter onto a plastic strip across the earbud stem. The tech is advertised to bring stable signal transmission and reduce interference. I believe that technology has done its job quite well during my usage. Still on technical details, the earbuds come with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) transmission via the BES 2600 IHC Bluetooth chip. With smartphones, the experience is also great. It easily connects to the smartphone and will not present any kind of connection issue. One of the highlights of these earbuds is the battery life. During my usage, I only had to charge them a few times, and the charging case was charged only a single time. Thankfully, both charge pretty fast.鑱 The audio is deep and the in-ear fit is also pretty good, but you may need to change the silicone tip size depending on your ear. I’ve used the standard one that comes with the earbud and did not have any problem.Once you connect the earbuds to the smartphone, all your sound and call functionality will be paired with it. I was able to perfectly use the earbud for listening to my music, and videos and answering calls without any problem. Further, I participated in a Google Meet call and all the participants were able to listen to me perfectly.Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8As with any other modern earbud nowadays, the Acefast Crystal (2) comes with touch controls. I have to confess that I’m not a great fan of this kind of control. I still prefer the capacitive buttons for this kind of input, but the future is moving fast to touch controls. Maybe my fingers are too big and the touch area of the earbuds is small, but I’ve goofed in most of my attempts to control the earbuds via their touch controls. Okay, maybe after these two weeks, I’m starting to get better, but in the first days, I’ve paused videos and music a lot of times while fitting the earbuds better on my ear.Maybe all my confusion could be avoided If I had spent some minutes reading the manuals…According to the user manual, once the earbuds are paired with your device you can control it with them. It’s One Tap on the Right Earbud that will raise the volume, doing the same on the Left one will bring it down. If you double-tap the touch area of any of the two, you will play/pause the music. Three taps on the touch area will move the content forward or backward depending on the earbud your press. You can double-tap the touch area to answer a call, and double-tap to end a call.There is also a Gaming Mode that reduces latency. It’s quite useful if you intend to play competitive games with the earbuds. You will need to press and hold the touch area for about 2 seconds in order to enter/exit this particular mode. Obviously, it is not meant for regular music listening, so only use it when you’re playing games.Battery Life and Other Details Of My ExperienceI’ve already told you about my stable experience with the earbuds, but what about battery life? Well, the earbuds are rated for about 30 hours of usage with the charging case. They can withstand about 6 to 7 hours of continuous usage. I used them to listen to music while working and to be honest didn’t draw all their juice. I’ve only had to charge the case two times in these past days, but just because I didn’t want it to run out of juice. They are pretty good in battery life, and if you use them while on the go you probably be served well for an entire day.If I go for the downsides of the usage, there is a lack of ANC. Obviously, considering everything offered, this could have increased the price of the earbuds significantly. There is still ENC (Environmental Noise Cancelling) for the calls, and it’s better than nothing. The earbuds also lack multi-point pairing and there is no wear detection for pausing and resuming media playback.One thing that I missed was an app companion to tweak my experience. Nowadays, it’s pretty common to find apps that serve to complete your experience. From them, you can manage the audio and set different equalization settings, profiles, and other things. They can also be useful for firmware updates. If can give a recommendation to Acefast is to develop and launch an app companion for these earbuds. It’s pretty essential considering all the attention given to the details of these earbuds. They look like premium devices, and an app companion can make the whole experience more professional.Verdict – Acefast Cyrstal (2) Does it Worth It?Despite the small downsides, I can say that my experience with the Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds was quite satisfactory, to not say really surprising. The earbuds certainly do a show with their presentation. Their unique transparent style exposes the externals, and the fancy LED lights are a spectacular touch to make these earbuds look like premium ones. I’ve enjoyed my audio experience with immersive audio and stable connections. I would have appreciated a companion app to tweak my experience, change eq settings and etc, but hopefully, Acefast will fix that in the future with a good application.There is no ANC, but the ENC will still help you during calls. The audio quality is decent, and the battery life is simply spectacular with up to 30 hours with the charging case. They are competing in a tough spot with the price range, but the future is bright for this brand and this TWS earbuds series. Worth noting, that besides the T8, there are more Crytal Earbuds, Crystal Chargers, and even Power Banks. The Chargers and Powerbanks also come with fancy LED displays to keep this as a trademark for the series.With the stellar Bluetooth connectivity, extreme battery life, and unique design that you can showcase to all your friends, I can’t help but recommend the Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds T8. You can grab them through the link below, and there is even a good discount coupon that will give you a nice 20% discount.Buy Acefast Crystal (2) Earbuds T8
The Breakdown 4.5 9 Its an eye-catching Bluetooth speaker, with an impressive power that will turn heads and keep their attention through sonic clarity and stunning lighting. Performance 9 Value for Money 9 Battery Life 9 Connectivity Options 9 Tronsmart is no stranger to us here at Gizchina HQ. It鈥檚 a well-established Chinese manufacturer making a name for itself by making impressive speakers at lower prices than other competitors. The Tronsmart Halo 100 is one of those speakers that has enough power inside to cost twice as much. But it doesn鈥檛 and that鈥檚 what everybody will love in the end.It鈥檚 a well-built device, looking funny as it stands upright with its three illuminated rings around woofer and midrange drivers. When you turn it on however, things start to change鈥 in an impressive way. The Halo 100 comes packed with decent specs: theoretically 18 hours of battery life, 3-way stereo system, 60 watts of total amp power, compound driver 鈥 that麓s what is making party people really wanting to check the Halo 100麓s capabilities in real life beach sound situations.ModelHalo 100ColorBlackBluetooth Version5.3Bluetooth RangeUp to 15m/49ft (Open Area)Input Power5V/2A, via Type-C PortOutput Power60WMicrophoneBuilt-inIP RatingIPX6Play Time (Varied by Volume Level & Audio Content)Up to 18 Hours(Varied by Light Display)Charging Time5.5 HoursFrequency Range40Hz 鈥 20kHzPlaying ModesBluetoothAux-inU-DiskTF CardVoice AssistantSupport Siri. Google Assistant, Cortana, etcOther FeaturesCustom EQ via Tronsmart App5 Lighting EffectsStereo PairingDual Audio ModesProduct Dimension287 x 198x 150mm/11.3 x 7.8 x 5.9inchProduct Weight2.72kg/6.0lbsPackage Dimension328 x 254x 204mm/12.91 x 10 x 8.03inchPackage Weight3.2kg/7.05lbsPackage Contents1 x Halo 100 Portable Party SpeakerAux-in CableType-C CableSoundPulse庐 CardUser ManualWarranty CardYou can buy the Halo 100 from Amazon USYou can buy the Halo 100 from Amazon UKTronsmart Halo 100: sturdy and ready for actionAlthough it measures 198 x 150 x 287mm (WDH), the Tronsmart Halo 100 only weighs a mere 2.72kg, making a bit lighter that the Tronsmart Bang. It has a black plastic case, metal grille, and a rubberized touch surface on top. There鈥檚 a faux leather strap on top, and in the main package we find a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable and a 3.5mm-to-3.5mm aux cable. When you first look at the Halo 100鈥檚 speaker configuration, we can easily spot two mid-tweeters (above) and a large woofer (below) that together resemble an open-mouthed face. A smaller, less visible tweeter also sits above the 鈥榚yes鈥? while a 5.6in passive radiator hides behind the 鈥榤outh鈥? For the tech savvies, the Halo 100 packs a 1.22-inch tweeter, two 2.09-inch mid-tweeters, a 4.53-inch woofer, and a 5.6-inch passive radiator. It can easily offer up to 60W of power and has a frequency range of 40Hz 鈥 20kHz! That鈥檚 an impressive amount of volume from a speaker at this price.Take it to the beach!For those who want to take it to the beach, you鈥檒l be happy to know that it packs an IPX6 waterproof rating, so it鈥檚 safe to use outdoors near the lake or pool, but the company doesn鈥檛 rate its resistance to dust.Since the max input power is 5V/2A via the USB-C input, a full charge will take 5.5 hours. You can also use the Halo 100 as a phone charger since there鈥檚 a USB-A outlet. For those of you who want to have more fun and have a party under the moonlight – by the sea, you can! If you have two Halo 100 speakers, you can create a stereo pair and double the sound power (and the quality!). If you don鈥檛 want to use Bluetooth, you can plug in any other audio source via the 3.5mm cable. There鈥檚 also the option to load your music onto a USB flash drive or microSD card and play back via the slots on the rear of the unit. Note also that this option will further increase the battery life – since we鈥檙e not using Bluetooth.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramTronsmart Halo 100 controlsOn the top of the Halo 100 there鈥檚 a small 鈥渃ontrol panel鈥? featuring a power button, low battery indicator, a play/pause button, and volume control buttons. There are also buttons to cycle through light show options and input modes. As we mentioned earlier, you can pair to another Halo 100 via the stereo pairing button.There鈥檚 a nice feature that lets you switch between sources by simply pressing the mode button. Doing so allows you to cycle through the Bluetooth, TF/SD card, USB-A drive and AUX-in modes quickly and having such a range of playback options is very welcome.There鈥檚 a custom digital signal processing feature inside, called SoundPulse that can be activated on the control panel. This setting manages to increase the thump on low frequencies without introducing distortion in the upper registers. I found myself enjoying the SoundPulse playback for hours at a stretch.One more nice feature of the Halo 100 is that when connected to two devices simultaneously over Bluetooth, it will automatically switch to the device that鈥檚 playing audio, a nice touch given Bluetooth is likely to be the primary form of connection for most people.Bluetooth and much moreI must admit that there are a lot of options in this speaker. Getting used to all takes a bit of time but it is surely worth it. The 麓M麓 key stands for 聽source selection, keeping in mind that AUX is a prioritized input as soon as there is such a signal. Lighting console and EQ can be activated using the unmistakable keys. For playback control, voice assistant and answering phone calls, however, you have to memorize quite a variety of double-clicks, long-clicks and short-clicks until you really master the Halo 100.There鈥檚 music playback available via Bluetooth 5.3, analogue AUX input, micro SD slot or USB storage. The USB-A for the latter also provides a powerbank function and runs independently of the USB-C, which is where the power supply should be connected.I admit that I was impressed. That麓s a really versatile concept, especially since it allows multi-hosting keeping two Bluetooth sources connected at the same time!The Tronsmart mobile appTronsmart has an app for iOS and Android you can use to play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume. The app also shows the speaker鈥檚 battery level, makes it easy to install firmware updates, and you can read the speaker鈥檚 user manual. There鈥檚 an Equalizer presets panel that, in addition to the default and SoundPulse options available on the speaker鈥檚 control panel, offers Deep Bass, Classical, Rock, and Customize options.A Controller panel gives access to inputs, allows you to activate stereo pairing mode, or power off the speaker without needing to be next to speaker. You can also choose between lighting modes and see their entertaining names: Ballet, Party, City of Phantoms, Carousel, Starry Night, and off.The three additional presets are just as uninspiring as the EQ presets you鈥檒l find on almost every other Bluetooth speaker. The only real decision here is between SoundPulse and no SoundPulse. If you insist on creating a custom EQ setup, you can鈥檛 save multiple versions of your work. 聽ConclusionAccording to the manufacturer, the Tronsmart Halo 100 is a a 鈥減ortable party speaker鈥 and I gladly agree with them. It is aimed at all those who prefer beach parties (or any type of parties), giving more importance on sound – power and less on critical quality. Remember to always set the built-in SoundPulse DSP engaged in order to enjoy the best possible sound!It’s an eye-catching Bluetooth speaker, with an impressive power that will turn heads and keep their attention through sonic clarity and stunning lighting.聽I loved the high level of control and customization it offers, along with the easy 鈥渢urn on – connect鈥 feature! 聽Add the power bank capability and decent waterproofing certification and you鈥檝e got a real party starter in your hands!PROSRich, deep bassPowerful for its sizeNice and easy to use controlsNaturally balanced soundSturdy StrapThe Breakdown 4.5 9 Its an eye-catching Bluetooth speaker, with an impressive power that will turn heads and keep their attention through sonic clarity and stunning lighting. Performance 9 Value for Money 9 Battery Life 9 Connectivity Options 9 Tronsmart is no stranger to us here at Gizchina HQ. It鈥檚 a well-established Chinese manufacturer making a name for itself by making impressive speakers at lower prices than other competitors. The Tronsmart Halo 100 is one of those speakers that has enough power inside to cost twice as much. But it doesn鈥檛 and that鈥檚 what everybody will love in the end.It鈥檚 a well-built device, looking funny as it stands upright with its three illuminated rings around woofer and midrange drivers. When you turn it on however, things start to change鈥 in an impressive way. The Halo 100 comes packed with decent specs: theoretically 18 hours of battery life, 3-way stereo system, 60 watts of total amp power, compound driver 鈥 that麓s what is making party people really wanting to check the Halo 100麓s capabilities in real life beach sound situations.ModelHalo 100ColorBlackBluetooth Version5.3Bluetooth RangeUp to 15m/49ft (Open Area)Input Power5V/2A, via Type-C PortOutput Power60WMicrophoneBuilt-inIP RatingIPX6Play Time (Varied by Volume Level & Audio Content)Up to 18 Hours(Varied by Light Display)Charging Time5.5 HoursFrequency Range40Hz 鈥 20kHzPlaying ModesBluetoothAux-inU-DiskTF CardVoice AssistantSupport Siri. Google Assistant, Cortana, etcOther FeaturesCustom EQ via Tronsmart App5 Lighting EffectsStereo PairingDual Audio ModesProduct Dimension287 x 198x 150mm/11.3 x 7.8 x 5.9inchProduct Weight2.72kg/6.0lbsPackage Dimension328 x 254x 204mm/12.91 x 10 x 8.03inchPackage Weight3.2kg/7.05lbsPackage Contents1 x Halo 100 Portable Party SpeakerAux-in CableType-C CableSoundPulse庐 CardUser ManualWarranty CardYou can buy the Halo 100 from Amazon USYou can buy the Halo 100 from Amazon UKTronsmart Halo 100: sturdy and ready for actionAlthough it measures 198 x 150 x 287mm (WDH), the Tronsmart Halo 100 only weighs a mere 2.72kg, making a bit lighter that the Tronsmart Bang. It has a black plastic case, metal grille, and a rubberized touch surface on top. There鈥檚 a faux leather strap on top, and in the main package we find a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable and a 3.5mm-to-3.5mm aux cable. When you first look at the Halo 100鈥檚 speaker configuration, we can easily spot two mid-tweeters (above) and a large woofer (below) that together resemble an open-mouthed face. A smaller, less visible tweeter also sits above the 鈥榚yes鈥? while a 5.6in passive radiator hides behind the 鈥榤outh鈥? For the tech savvies, the Halo 100 packs a 1.22-inch tweeter, two 2.09-inch mid-tweeters, a 4.53-inch woofer, and a 5.6-inch passive radiator. It can easily offer up to 60W of power and has a frequency range of 40Hz 鈥 20kHz! That鈥檚 an impressive amount of volume from a speaker at this price.Take it to the beach!For those who want to take it to the beach, you鈥檒l be happy to know that it packs an IPX6 waterproof rating, so it鈥檚 safe to use outdoors near the lake or pool, but the company doesn鈥檛 rate its resistance to dust.Since the max input power is 5V/2A via the USB-C input, a full charge will take 5.5 hours. You can also use the Halo 100 as a phone charger since there鈥檚 a USB-A outlet. For those of you who want to have more fun and have a party under the moonlight – by the sea, you can! If you have two Halo 100 speakers, you can create a stereo pair and double the sound power (and the quality!). If you don鈥檛 want to use Bluetooth, you can plug in any other audio source via the 3.5mm cable. There鈥檚 also the option to load your music onto a USB flash drive or microSD card and play back via the slots on the rear of the unit. Note also that this option will further increase the battery life – since we鈥檙e not using Bluetooth.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramTronsmart Halo 100 controlsOn the top of the Halo 100 there鈥檚 a small 鈥渃ontrol panel鈥? featuring a power button, low battery indicator, a play/pause button, and volume control buttons. There are also buttons to cycle through light show options and input modes. As we mentioned earlier, you can pair to another Halo 100 via the stereo pairing button.There鈥檚 a nice feature that lets you switch between sources by simply pressing the mode button. Doing so allows you to cycle through the Bluetooth, TF/SD card, USB-A drive and AUX-in modes quickly and having such a range of playback options is very welcome.There鈥檚 a custom digital signal processing feature inside, called SoundPulse that can be activated on the control panel. This setting manages to increase the thump on low frequencies without introducing distortion in the upper registers. I found myself enjoying the SoundPulse playback for hours at a stretch.One more nice feature of the Halo 100 is that when connected to two devices simultaneously over Bluetooth, it will automatically switch to the device that鈥檚 playing audio, a nice touch given Bluetooth is likely to be the primary form of connection for most people.Bluetooth and much moreI must admit that there are a lot of options in this speaker. Getting used to all takes a bit of time but it is surely worth it. The 麓M麓 key stands for 聽source selection, keeping in mind that AUX is a prioritized input as soon as there is such a signal. Lighting console and EQ can be activated using the unmistakable keys. For playback control, voice assistant and answering phone calls, however, you have to memorize quite a variety of double-clicks, long-clicks and short-clicks until you really master the Halo 100.There鈥檚 music playback available via Bluetooth 5.3, analogue AUX input, micro SD slot or USB storage. The USB-A for the latter also provides a powerbank function and runs independently of the USB-C, which is where the power supply should be connected.I admit that I was impressed. That麓s a really versatile concept, especially since it allows multi-hosting keeping two Bluetooth sources connected at the same time!The Tronsmart mobile appTronsmart has an app for iOS and Android you can use to play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume. The app also shows the speaker鈥檚 battery level, makes it easy to install firmware updates, and you can read the speaker鈥檚 user manual. There鈥檚 an Equalizer presets panel that, in addition to the default and SoundPulse options available on the speaker鈥檚 control panel, offers Deep Bass, Classical, Rock, and Customize options.A Controller panel gives access to inputs, allows you to activate stereo pairing mode, or power off the speaker without needing to be next to speaker. You can also choose between lighting modes and see their entertaining names: Ballet, Party, City of Phantoms, Carousel, Starry Night, and off.The three additional presets are just as uninspiring as the EQ presets you鈥檒l find on almost every other Bluetooth speaker. The only real decision here is between SoundPulse and no SoundPulse. If you insist on creating a custom EQ setup, you can鈥檛 save multiple versions of your work. 聽ConclusionAccording to the manufacturer, the Tronsmart Halo 100 is a a 鈥減ortable party speaker鈥 and I gladly agree with them. It is aimed at all those who prefer beach parties (or any type of parties), giving more importance on sound – power and less on critical quality. Remember to always set the built-in SoundPulse DSP engaged in order to enjoy the best possible sound!It’s an eye-catching Bluetooth speaker, with an impressive power that will turn heads and keep their attention through sonic clarity and stunning lighting.聽I loved the high level of control and customization it offers, along with the easy 鈥渢urn on – connect鈥 feature! 聽Add the power bank capability and decent waterproofing certification and you鈥檝e got a real party starter in your hands!PROSRich, deep bassPowerful for its sizeNice and easy to use controlsNaturally balanced soundSturdy StrapThe Breakdown 4.4 8.7 The Mecool KM7 Plus is a great streaming box that is easy to set up and use. With its great hardware in a compact size, updated Google TV system and certified streaming apps, it offers a great streaming experience with high-quality video and audio. Design 8.7 Peformance 8.7 Features 8.7 Software 8.7 MECOOL is a brand that focuses on producing Android TV devices. Although not widely known by name, the company offers a solid lineup of products that can compete with the likes of Amazon’s Fire TV series and Roku devices. For under $80, you can buy a decent Android TV box from MECOOL. One of the latest additions to their product line is the KM7 Plus, which I have been testing. So, in this article, I will provide a comprehensive review of the MECOOL KM7 PLUS Google TV box.The MECOOL KM7 PLUS is a 4K streaming set-top box that boasts the AV1 video codec in HDR and runs on Android 11.0. Not only does it come equipped with the GTV Google TV system. But it also includes additional apps and content such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and more. We will discuss its design, performance, features, software and overall value for the price. By the end of this review, you should have a better understanding of whether or not MECOOL KM7 PLUS is a worthwhile investment for your home entertainment setup.MECOOL KM7 PLUS ReviewUnboxingWhen you receive the package containing your MECOOL KM7 PLUS TV Box, you will find several items neatly packed inside. The first item is the TV box itself, which is the heart of the entire setup. This compact device is designed to provide a seamless streaming experience, allowing you to access your favorite shows and movies with ease. The MECOOL KM7 PLUS TV Box also has powerful hardware. Making it capable of handling high-quality video and audio streams without any lag or buffering.Along with the TV box, you will also find a remote control. This remote control is an essential accessory that allows you to navigate through the TV box’s menus and options with ease. With its intuitive design, you can quickly access your favorite streaming apps, adjust the volume, and control playback. The remote control is small and lightweight, making it easy to hold and use for extended periods.In addition to the TV box and remote control, the package also includes an AC power adapter. This adapter is designed to provide a stable and reliable source of power to the TV box, ensuring that it operates smoothly and without interruption. The AC power adapter is compatible with standard electrical outlets, meaning you can use it in any room in your home.To connect the TV box to your television, you will need an HDMI cable, which is also included in the package. The HDMI cable is essential for transmitting high-quality video and audio signals between the TV box and your TV. With this cable, you can enjoy your favorite content in stunning resolution and clarity.Also, you will find a user manual included in the package. This manual is an essential tool for setting up and using the MECOOL KM7 PLUS TV Box. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to connect the TV box to your TV, how to set up your streaming accounts, and how to use the remote control to navigate through the menus and options on the TV box. The user manual is easy to read and understand, making it a valuable resource for anyone who wants to get the most out of their new TV box.MECOOL KM7 PLUS specsSoC 閳 Amlogic S905Y4 quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 @ up to 2.0 GHz with Arm Mali-G31 MP2 GPUSystem Memory 閳 2 GB LPDDR4-2400Storage 閳 16 GB eMMC flash, micro SD slotVideo OutputHDMI 2.1 up to 4K @ 60 Hz with HDR10+, HRD10, HLG, CEC, HDCP 2.2/2.3AV port with compositive video (and analog audio)Video DecoderH.265,鑱紸V1, VP9, AVS2 up to 4Kp60H.264 up to 4Kp30Multi-video decoding up to 4x 1080p60Audio 閳 Optical S/PDIF, analog audio via AV port, digital audio via HDMI portConnectivity10/100M Fast Ethernet portDual-band 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 2T2R and Bluetooth 5.0USB 閳 2x USB 2.0 host portsMisc 閳 IR, Net, and Power LEDsPower Supply 閳 12V/1A via DC jackDimensions 閳 98 x 98 x 20.7 mmWeight 閳 100 gramsDesignThe MECOOL KM7 PLUS Google TV Box is a compact, small plastic box that offers a range of features and connectivity options. The front of the box is adorned with status indicator LEDs that display the power and connectivity statuses. On one side of the box, users will find media ports, including two full USB-A ports and an SD slot. On the other side, there are no ports, allowing for a sleek and minimalist appearance.The MECOOL KM7 PLUS Google TV Box is designed for users who want to enjoy the Google TV ecosystem in a small and convenient package. The black and white color scheme gives the box a distinctive look that sets it apart from other Android TV options. The box is roughly the size of two decks of playing cards set side-by-side, making it easy to fit into any space.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramOn the back of the box, users will find a range of connectivity ports, including Optical, AV, HDMI, Ethernet, AC, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This provides users with a range of options for connecting their TV to the internet and other devices, ensuring that they have the flexibility they need to enjoy their favorite shows and movies.One of the standout features of the MECOOL KM7 PLUS Google TV Box is the remote control that comes with it. This remote is designed according to the new Google reference remote design. And is one of the best remotes available on any streaming modern box. The keys are intuitive and easy to use. And the remote includes IRC capabilities for adding full power and volume support to most TVs and soundbars.PerformanceThe MECOOL KM7 PLUS comes equipped with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of EMMC storage, which are paired with an Amlogic S905Y4 Quad-Core A35 CPU. While this particular hardware combination may not be considered cutting-edge by today’s standards, it is more than enough for achieving optimal Google TV performance. In fact, the hardware performs so well that it can easily handle most of the tasks that a typical user would require from a Google big-screen operating system.One of the key advantages of this device is its flexibility when it comes to storage expansion. With multiple ways to expand the storage, users can easily add additional storage capacity as needed. This is particularly useful for those who need to store a large amount of content. Such as movies, TV shows, or other media files.Overall, this combination of hardware and software makes for a powerful and reliable Android TV device that suits a wide range of uses. Whether you’re looking to stream your favorite shows, play games, or simply browse the web, this device is sure to deliver the performance you need.Software featuresThe Mecool KM7 Plus is a streaming box that runs on Google TV, which is an updated version of Android TV. Google TV offers a more user-friendly interface and a vast selection of apps and services. The setup process for the KM7 Plus is relatively straightforward and easy to follow. To start, all you need to do is plug the device into an AC power outlet and connect it to your TV using an HDMI cable. You can also connect to your network wirelessly or through an ethernet cable.Once the device is on, the setup process appears on the screen. This involves connecting the remote control, connecting to your network if you are using a wireless connection, agreeing to some policies, and choosing initial apps and subscriptions. Once you have completed these steps, you are ready to start streaming.One of the advantages of the MECOOL KM7 Plus running on Google TV is that it provides better performance and longer updates compared to Android TV. While there isn’t much difference in the appearance of the two software, the newer version of Google’s streaming system offers better performance and features.Another advantage of the MECOOL KM7 Plus is that it has all the major streaming apps certified. Including Netflix and Amazon Prime. These apps can be limited on certain devices. But the KM7 Plus has both onboard with full 4K playback enabled if they are installed. This means that you can enjoy your favorite shows and movies in the highest quality possible.Overall, the MECOOL KM7 Plus is a great streaming box that is easy to set up and use. With its updated Google TV system and certified streaming apps, it offers a great streaming experience with high-quality video and audio.VerdictThe MECOOL KM7 Plus is a great streaming box that is easy to set up and use. With its great hardware in a compact size, updated Google TV system and certified streaming apps, it offers a great streaming experience with high-quality video and audio.If you are in the market for an Android TV box, the MECOOL KM7 PLUS Google TV Box is definitely worth considering. Its impressive features and easy setup make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their entertainment experience. Due to its great features and low price, we highly recommend buying it.The Breakdown 4.4 8.8 The Magic5 Pro is competing in an increasingly crowded flagship smartphone space. Aside from vivo, other flagship smartphones are equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offering similar levels of CPU and GPU performance across the board. During my review however, the device performed in an excellent way and I really enjoyed it! Performance 8.8 Battery life 8.8 Software 8.8 Price 8.8 Camera 8.8 You got to love this brand new Magic5 Series from Honor – it鈥檚 hard not to. It’s a Chinese behemoth known in the past for designing some of the most successful mid-range smartphones in the market, but this year they decided to push even further. The Honor Magic5 Pro was announced at MWC 2023, equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.Honor Magic5 Pro: Technical specificationsSoftware.(on release)MagicOS 7.1 (based on Android 13.0)Display6.81 inches, 1,312 脳 2,848 pixels460 ppi, 120 HzOLED, HDRFormat: 19.54:9Material: glass1800 nits, 1.07 billion colorsOperationTouch, fingerprint sensor, face scanner, gesture control,Three-button navigation, Navi-DotSoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.1 脳 Cortex-X3, 3.19 GHz2 脳 Cortex-A715, 2.80 GHz2 脳 Cortex-A710, 2.80 GHz3 脳 Cortex-A510, 2.00 GHz4 nm, 64-bitGPUAdreno 740RAM12 GBMemory512 GB1. Camera50.3 MP main camera (wide angle camera).Customized 1/1.12-inch sensorf/1.6, AF, OISVideo resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4k) at 60 FPS max.Image resolution: 8192 x 6144 pixels2nd camera50.0 MP ultra wide-angle cameraf/2.03rd camera50.0 MP periscope telephoto camera.f/3.0, AF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 100x digital zoomShooting modesHighlight shooting, AI photography, super wide angle, aperture, multiple video, night shooting, portrait mode, photo, pro mode, video, panorama, filter, watermark, document scanning, HDR photography, super macro, smile, time lapse, timer, movie, slow motion, story modeFocus/LightLED flashlight as well as photo light, 8脳8 dToF laser focus, color temperature sensor1st front camera12.0 MP + 3D depth camera,Display flashSupports 4k video recordingImage resolution: 4096 x 3072 pixelsShooting modesPortrait, filter, watermark, photo on smile, specular reflection, timer, nightGSM:5G (NR), 4G (LTE, TDD/LTE FDD)Wi-Fi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, 2脳2 MIMO, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHzBluetooth5.2LocationA-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, GalileoOther standardsUSB Type C, NFC, DTS:X Utra sound effectsSIM cardNano-SIM, eSIMBattery5000 mAH (nominal), 5,100 mAh (typical),fixed lithium polymer battery, Honor SuperCharge with 66 watts,wireless charging up to 50 wattsSize (W脳H脳D)162.9 脳 76.7 脳 8.77 mmprotection classIP68Weight219 gBasic Package:Honor Magic5 Pro smartphone66W fast chargerUSB Type-C cableSilicone caseSIM tray removerDocumentationDesignElegance. That鈥檚 the first thought that comes to mind when you first open the main package of the Honor Magic5 Pro. It does give an eye chat appearance with a circular camera bump and Honor branding on the back panel does looks classic. The design is quite familiar, with a big but still easily handleable body with curved edges and a punch-hole cutout in the top-middle of the display. On the back is where we can see however, some main differences from the Magic4 Pro; instead of glossy glass, the back instead uses a matte finish which is both more pleasant to hold and will retain much fewer fingerprints.At the back we see the three main lenses of the Honor Magic5 Pro and on the original, the three cameras fit well into the overall look. On the upper side there is an infrared transmitter and the speakers. The charging port, SIM card slot, and the six small openings for micro and air intake are placed at the bottom.The front display is equipped with a curved LTPO OLED 6.81-inch panel, with adaptive refresh rate support. An under-display fingerprint scanner is placed there and Face ID using the 3D TOF lens present on the selfie module. It also includes a 10-bit color panel that will render an impressive viewing experience, while the company also ensures to provide a 120Hz refresh rate with a great touch response. Note also that the brightness level can go up to 1800 peak nits, which is more than sufficient for extended outdoor usage.CameraHonor calls it the Star Wheel system (or Falcon Camera System), but to us, it鈥檚 the good old camera module. It consists of three 50MP cameras with a wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto. The wide camera is fitted with a larger 1/1.12 sensor with an f/1.6 aperture, the ultra-wide gets a brighter f/2.0 aperture, and the periscope similarly uses a brighter f/3.0 aperture.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramFor those who love stable photos/videos, the main wide camera comes with OIS support, along with the telephoto, making the ultra-wide the only sensor in the setup without OIS. The new camera system also has a new feature called Falcon Capture, which promises to be able to capture a crisp image of a subject in motion. I tested the continuous autofocus on the main camera and yielded excellent results. at_manual200 at_manual200 at_manual200 at_manual100 at_manual100 at_manual100 The ultra-wide and telephoto cameras are no slouch either. One can love the ultra-wide lens that has autofocus, though it can be slower than the PDAF system found on the main camera. If you look at the telephoto lens, it has PDAF and can capture excellent images under good lighting conditions. For night mode, the images are still in focus and have great color reproduction. However finer details were lost as a result of image processing. More Camera details from our reviewThe 50MP main camera pixel-bins to 12.5MP by default. Images look sharp and colors tones look natural as well. Contrast ratio is not over the top, and I didn鈥檛 notice any over-sharpening. Shooting at 50MP captures more detail, however it can look a tad noisy when bumping up the ISO.聽For those of you who are interested in its video recording capabilities, the Honor Magic5 Pro supports up to 4K60 video shooting at 21:9 aspect ratio. The OIS and accurate continuous autofocus makes for a great video shooting experience.SoftwareOur review unit runs on Honor’s MagicOS 7.1, based on Android 13. In terms of software, it’s very fluid and easy to use for someone with little experience. MagicOS has many modes allowing the user to customize various interface functions. The interface does deliver tons of exciting features that will allow users to interact with different elements with smooth touch response and an advanced refresh rate. Speaking of the storage capabilities, the Magic 5 Pro in our review, comes with a 256GB to 512GB UFS 4.0 space, which will be accompanied by 8GB, 12GB to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Honor Magic5 Pro review:While I find some of Honor’s UI choices practical, some are strange. For example, I like the Honor Search feature that will bring up a search box when you swipe down from essentially anywhere on the display. But to get to the notification shade, you must swipe down from the top of the display 鈥 you can’t even use a two-finger swipe. What bugs me about this is that even if I disable the feature, I still must go all the way to the top to bring down the notification panel.For the gaming performance, I really love how the Honor Magic5 Pro can keep up with the most demanding of games. Even after playing a variety of titles for hours on end, the phone still has a good amount of battery and is comfortable to play with. I tried a couple of games like Asphalt 9: Legends and Wild Rift for one hour straight on the Honor Magic 5 Pro and it ran smoothly with plenty of battery to spare. I also played Genshin Impact and likewise, there was no issue even when playing online.To be honest, the software interface reminds me of the great Android launchers, which provide different icon packs and screen transitions. So it鈥檚 a plus from me.Battery life of Honor Magic5 ProOn a typical day of use during our review, that consists of gaming, taking photos, music and video streaming, the Honor Magic5 Pro easily lasts until the night, with about 20% to spare. If you are more conservative with your battery use, you can squeeze out two days worth of battery life.To complement however the large battery, Honor has included a 66W fast charger, which can fully charge the phone in less than an hour (during my review tests).Honor Magic5 Pro review: ConclusionThe Honor Magic5 Pro is a well-rounded flagship smartphone equipped with great specs. The performance is good, offers decent camera lens, higher storage capacity, faster-charging support, and impeccable display quality. 聽It also has impressive battery life even for a hard-core user.However, the Magic5 Pro is competing in an increasingly crowded flagship smartphone space. Aside from vivo, other flagship smartphones are equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offering similar levels of CPU and GPU performance across the board. During my review however, the device performed in an excellent way.
The Breakdown 4.4 8.8 The Magic5 Pro is competing in an increasingly crowded flagship smartphone space. Aside from vivo, other flagship smartphones are equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offering similar levels of CPU and GPU performance across the board. During my review however, the device performed in an excellent way and I really enjoyed it! Performance 8.8 Battery life 8.8 Software 8.8 Price 8.8 Camera 8.8 You got to love this brand new Magic5 Series from Honor – it鈥檚 hard not to. It’s a Chinese behemoth known in the past for designing some of the most successful mid-range smartphones in the market, but this year they decided to push even further. The Honor Magic5 Pro was announced at MWC 2023, equipped with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.Honor Magic5 Pro: Technical specificationsSoftware.(on release)MagicOS 7.1 (based on Android 13.0)Display6.81 inches, 1,312 脳 2,848 pixels460 ppi, 120 HzOLED, HDRFormat: 19.54:9Material: glass1800 nits, 1.07 billion colorsOperationTouch, fingerprint sensor, face scanner, gesture control,Three-button navigation, Navi-DotSoCQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.1 脳 Cortex-X3, 3.19 GHz2 脳 Cortex-A715, 2.80 GHz2 脳 Cortex-A710, 2.80 GHz3 脳 Cortex-A510, 2.00 GHz4 nm, 64-bitGPUAdreno 740RAM12 GBMemory512 GB1. Camera50.3 MP main camera (wide angle camera).Customized 1/1.12-inch sensorf/1.6, AF, OISVideo resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4k) at 60 FPS max.Image resolution: 8192 x 6144 pixels2nd camera50.0 MP ultra wide-angle cameraf/2.03rd camera50.0 MP periscope telephoto camera.f/3.0, AF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom, 100x digital zoomShooting modesHighlight shooting, AI photography, super wide angle, aperture, multiple video, night shooting, portrait mode, photo, pro mode, video, panorama, filter, watermark, document scanning, HDR photography, super macro, smile, time lapse, timer, movie, slow motion, story modeFocus/LightLED flashlight as well as photo light, 8脳8 dToF laser focus, color temperature sensor1st front camera12.0 MP + 3D depth camera,Display flashSupports 4k video recordingImage resolution: 4096 x 3072 pixelsShooting modesPortrait, filter, watermark, photo on smile, specular reflection, timer, nightGSM:5G (NR), 4G (LTE, TDD/LTE FDD)Wi-Fi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be, 2脳2 MIMO, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHzBluetooth5.2LocationA-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, GalileoOther standardsUSB Type C, NFC, DTS:X Utra sound effectsSIM cardNano-SIM, eSIMBattery5000 mAH (nominal), 5,100 mAh (typical),fixed lithium polymer battery, Honor SuperCharge with 66 watts,wireless charging up to 50 wattsSize (W脳H脳D)162.9 脳 76.7 脳 8.77 mmprotection classIP68Weight219 gBasic Package:Honor Magic5 Pro smartphone66W fast chargerUSB Type-C cableSilicone caseSIM tray removerDocumentationDesignElegance. That鈥檚 the first thought that comes to mind when you first open the main package of the Honor Magic5 Pro. It does give an eye chat appearance with a circular camera bump and Honor branding on the back panel does looks classic. The design is quite familiar, with a big but still easily handleable body with curved edges and a punch-hole cutout in the top-middle of the display. On the back is where we can see however, some main differences from the Magic4 Pro; instead of glossy glass, the back instead uses a matte finish which is both more pleasant to hold and will retain much fewer fingerprints.At the back we see the three main lenses of the Honor Magic5 Pro and on the original, the three cameras fit well into the overall look. On the upper side there is an infrared transmitter and the speakers. The charging port, SIM card slot, and the six small openings for micro and air intake are placed at the bottom.The front display is equipped with a curved LTPO OLED 6.81-inch panel, with adaptive refresh rate support. An under-display fingerprint scanner is placed there and Face ID using the 3D TOF lens present on the selfie module. It also includes a 10-bit color panel that will render an impressive viewing experience, while the company also ensures to provide a 120Hz refresh rate with a great touch response. Note also that the brightness level can go up to 1800 peak nits, which is more than sufficient for extended outdoor usage.CameraHonor calls it the Star Wheel system (or Falcon Camera System), but to us, it鈥檚 the good old camera module. It consists of three 50MP cameras with a wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto. The wide camera is fitted with a larger 1/1.12 sensor with an f/1.6 aperture, the ultra-wide gets a brighter f/2.0 aperture, and the periscope similarly uses a brighter f/3.0 aperture.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramFor those who love stable photos/videos, the main wide camera comes with OIS support, along with the telephoto, making the ultra-wide the only sensor in the setup without OIS. The new camera system also has a new feature called Falcon Capture, which promises to be able to capture a crisp image of a subject in motion. I tested the continuous autofocus on the main camera and yielded excellent results. at_manual200 at_manual200 at_manual200 at_manual100 at_manual100 at_manual100 The ultra-wide and telephoto cameras are no slouch either. One can love the ultra-wide lens that has autofocus, though it can be slower than the PDAF system found on the main camera. If you look at the telephoto lens, it has PDAF and can capture excellent images under good lighting conditions. For night mode, the images are still in focus and have great color reproduction. However finer details were lost as a result of image processing. More Camera details from our reviewThe 50MP main camera pixel-bins to 12.5MP by default. Images look sharp and colors tones look natural as well. Contrast ratio is not over the top, and I didn鈥檛 notice any over-sharpening. Shooting at 50MP captures more detail, however it can look a tad noisy when bumping up the ISO.聽For those of you who are interested in its video recording capabilities, the Honor Magic5 Pro supports up to 4K60 video shooting at 21:9 aspect ratio. The OIS and accurate continuous autofocus makes for a great video shooting experience.SoftwareOur review unit runs on Honor’s MagicOS 7.1, based on Android 13. In terms of software, it’s very fluid and easy to use for someone with little experience. MagicOS has many modes allowing the user to customize various interface functions. The interface does deliver tons of exciting features that will allow users to interact with different elements with smooth touch response and an advanced refresh rate. Speaking of the storage capabilities, the Magic 5 Pro in our review, comes with a 256GB to 512GB UFS 4.0 space, which will be accompanied by 8GB, 12GB to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Honor Magic5 Pro review:While I find some of Honor’s UI choices practical, some are strange. For example, I like the Honor Search feature that will bring up a search box when you swipe down from essentially anywhere on the display. But to get to the notification shade, you must swipe down from the top of the display 鈥 you can’t even use a two-finger swipe. What bugs me about this is that even if I disable the feature, I still must go all the way to the top to bring down the notification panel.For the gaming performance, I really love how the Honor Magic5 Pro can keep up with the most demanding of games. Even after playing a variety of titles for hours on end, the phone still has a good amount of battery and is comfortable to play with. I tried a couple of games like Asphalt 9: Legends and Wild Rift for one hour straight on the Honor Magic 5 Pro and it ran smoothly with plenty of battery to spare. I also played Genshin Impact and likewise, there was no issue even when playing online.To be honest, the software interface reminds me of the great Android launchers, which provide different icon packs and screen transitions. So it鈥檚 a plus from me.Battery life of Honor Magic5 ProOn a typical day of use during our review, that consists of gaming, taking photos, music and video streaming, the Honor Magic5 Pro easily lasts until the night, with about 20% to spare. If you are more conservative with your battery use, you can squeeze out two days worth of battery life.To complement however the large battery, Honor has included a 66W fast charger, which can fully charge the phone in less than an hour (during my review tests).Honor Magic5 Pro review: ConclusionThe Honor Magic5 Pro is a well-rounded flagship smartphone equipped with great specs. The performance is good, offers decent camera lens, higher storage capacity, faster-charging support, and impeccable display quality. 聽It also has impressive battery life even for a hard-core user.However, the Magic5 Pro is competing in an increasingly crowded flagship smartphone space. Aside from vivo, other flagship smartphones are equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, offering similar levels of CPU and GPU performance across the board. During my review however, the device performed in an excellent way.The Breakdown 4.3 8.5 The all-in-one approach of the Kebohub EE01, makes my work easier: just connect cables at the back side of it and instantly improve the quality of work. Why dont you do the same? Usability 8.5 Key Comfort 8.5 Performance 8.5 Value for money 8.5 I鈥檝e always been an admirer of mechanical keyboards. Not only because I love gaming, but also for the unique sound each keyboard makes. Some keyboards may have the same kind of switches yet the sound they emit can sound tremendously different. There鈥檚 something distinctive about this area of tech gadgets that others could never match. That鈥檚 why I was really happy to do this Kebohub ee01 review.This is the latest mechanical keyboard of the company, one that – however- stands out from the rest in the market for a reason: it acts as an ultra-smart 5-in-1 hub for your Mac, iPad or PC. Let鈥檚 see what it does in our review today.Kebohub EE01 – Main specs聽Compatible with Multiple Devices87 KeysSize: 353.5脳124脳44 cmWeight: 788 gConnection mode: Wired ConnectionMulti-Port Hub (ports: USB-C*1, USB-A*3, HDMI*1Hot-Swappable SwitchesRGB 18 Light ModesMac, iPad & Windows4K HDMI 60Hz5A OutputLOOK & FEELLet’s say from the beginning that I鈥檓 impressed by the quality of the Kebohub EE01 in our review. It鈥檚 a typical 87 key keyboard with hot-swappable keycaps, letting you change switches without soldering or replacing the whole keyboard. You can try and “play” with the keyboard by changing different keycaps and switches. It’s compatible with 3-pin and 5-pin switches in case some of you were wondering.By the way, there are red, blue, and brown switches for selection on Kickstarter.Red Switches聽 (Linear) feature little sound and minimal resistance throughout the entire keystroke and deliver no tactile feedback, which are ideal for both working and gaming.Blue Switches聽 (Clicky) have clearly noticeable and audible feedback. They require more force to press and respond slower, which are suitable for typing and programming but not ideal for gaming. Your colleagues and family members might be bothered by your typing due to loud and clear clicks.Brown Switches聽 (Tactile) are a compromise between red and blue switches, delivering silent but noticeable feedback and offering little resistance throughout the entire keystroke, which can be used for both working and gaming.That鈥檚 why this keyboard is so special. It fits in better in my office setting as an everyday work horse than on my gaming desk with RGB lights flashing out of products from all sides.You can buy the Kebohub EE01 from hereAs someone who has purchased and used multiple gaming accessories over the years, I鈥檓 well accustomed to the distinct quality their products come as. Don鈥檛 expect this premium 鈥渨ow-factor鈥 you get when you first lay your fingers on something like the Razer Huntsman or a GLORIOUS GMMK PRO. Those just send you a chill down your spine the moment you connect with them. They鈥檙e premium for a reason. Kebohub is like the workman in a factory that earns your respect after long battles and hardships.KEBOHUB EE01 is designed with 18 lighting effects, with adjustable brightness, speed and direction. With KEBOHUB, you can customize lighting effects as you prefer, or as they fit in your current gaming setup.COMFORTABLE AND ERGONOMICThe compact 87-key layout saves more space and is designed for those who need to type fast. Made of high-quality materials, KEBOHUB EE01 supports up to 70 million keystrokes, well above other keyboards. They keys are quite sturdy but also rough at the edges, so expect some pain after hours of gaming (or typing).I like the ergonomics of the keyboard in terms of how spacious this thing feels. While it curves the layout from north dipping in the center back to rising as you move south, what makes me feel comfortable is how spacious the keys feel. Of course it isn鈥檛 that large, but I鈥檝e noticed I commit less errors on this keyboard over many of my other ones.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThere are only two angles to set this keyboard when placed on the table-top. The flat default without the legs out actually elevates the F-Key row and that’s great. That is something I noticed and liked with my particular typing habits. I found myself enjoying the full capabilities of my typing prowess when I pulled the feet out and had it elevated. The angle may be high for some typists, but I do prefer it like that.Technical perksCompared with Bluetooth keyboards, KEBOHUB EE01 has no latency to ensure the stability in gaming, providing you with a seamless and immersive gaming experience. The hub supports up to 5V/5A output. It includes 3 USB-A 3.0 ports, supporting data transfer. The USB 3.0 ports are compatible with all USB-A 3.0 and 2.0 products. The maximum output for a single port is 5V/1.5A.Transfer data at 5Gbps with 1GB of data taking only 5 seconds – it’s blazing fast! It also comes with an HDMI2.0 port, offers 2K, 1080P and 720P monitor compatibility. Great performance is only possible with great visuals, and that’s exactly what KEBOHUB delivers.Kebohub EE01 review: it can charge all our devices.You can charge your devices through the USB-C and USB-A ports, sparing you the hassle of dead batteries. Good thing that one Type-C connector provides a total output of 1.5A for the USB-C1 and USB-A1 ports. Also, two Type-C connectors provide 1.5A output for the USB-C1 and USB-A1 ports respectively.There鈥檚 also custom RGB feature that can light up any night: KEBOHUB EE01 features 18 lighting effects that you can customize to your preference, including adjustable brightness, speed, and direction. All changes can be done via the specific KEBOHUB placed at the right of the Fn Key.Hardcore users will benefit from the ability to extend the desktop of their tablet to a larger display. It easily transforms your iPad Pro into a MacBook by connecting it via an HDMI cable. Drag your files onto a larger display and make editing an effortless task.The new Kebohub EE01 maximizes our workspace by connecting a second monitor via the HDMI port. With two screens, you can improve your productivity by organizing tasks and accessing multiple windows at once. We can take advantage of the exceptional multi-screen setup to increase our output and effectiveness.If you need something even bigger, Kebohub has you covered. Connect an even bigger second monitor to KEBOHUB EE01 via the HDMI port and enjoy a fully immersive gaming, entertainment, and working experience. With the KEBOHUB keyboard, you can easily set up a comfortable home office. It is the perfect choice for anyone needing to work from home.Kebohub EE01 review – ConclusionWhat originally led me to try the Kebohub EE01 was that whole 5-in-1 hub integration into a small light body. I鈥檝e never had something like that before and was eager to experience it. What I ended up getting ironically became one of my favorite budget work keyboards to date.
The Breakdown 4.4 8.7 The DaranEner NEO2000 portable power station is ideal for anyone in need of a reliable and efficient source of backup power. I enjoyed its wide range of features and benefits at a competitive price. Dimensions 8.7 Portability 8.7 Power 8.7 Features - Ports 8.7 Value for money 8.7 Performance 8.7 Power stations have become so popular in the last few years, not only because of the increasingly common blackouts but also because people want to stay connected while on the move. Are you a camping enthusiast who loves to explore the great outdoors, but can鈥檛 stand the thought of being without power? If so, this DaranEner NEO2000 Portable Power Station review is for you. Its portability makes it ideal for camping trips and working outdoors; simply pack it up and take it with you wherever your journey takes you.Currently, DaranEner is offering the NEO2000 at a discounted price of $999 using the coupon: GIZCHINA999 . You can buy it on Amazon聽or its聽official website.This DaranEner NEO2000 Portable Power Station is one of the latest power stations from the well-known manufacturer. I鈥檝e been using it for 3 weeks now for鈥 almost all my energy related needs! The NEO2000 packs a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. It ensures that your devices remain powered up 鈥 giving you peace of mind in any situation. One of its most impressive features is the 2000W peak output and 1000W continuous output. This means it is perfect for camping trips or any other outdoor activities.With this powerful device, you can stay connected and have all the comforts of home 鈥 even when there鈥檚 no electricity. Whether it鈥檚 for an emergency power outage or for powering up off-grid locations, NEO2000 has got you covered. Let鈥檚 see all of its perks in our brand new review.DaranEner NEO2000 – Technical SpecificationsBattery Cell TypeLiFePO4Warranty24 MonthsBattery Capacity2073.6Wh (648,000mAh)Cycle Life3,500 Cycles to 80% CapacityUSB-A x 45V-3.6A/5V-2.5A/12V-2A (Max. 24W), 5W-2.4A when used simultaneouslyUSB-C x 25V-3A/9V-3A/15V-3A/20V3A/20V-5A (Max. 100W)Cigarette Lighter Output12V-8A (Max. 120W)AC Port Output110V 50Hz/60Hz 2,000W (Max 3,000W)InputAC Input 110V/15A (Max. 1,600A)Solar Charging XT6033-60V/20A (Max. 600W)LED Light3WWireless Charging5W/7.5W/10WWeight56.416 lbsDimensions18.7脳13.6脳10.2 inOperating Temperature-10 ~ 45掳CThe DaranEner NEO2000 portable power station is a highly sought-after energy storage solution for a variety of reasons. One of the main draws of this product is its competitive price, excellent value proposition, and long-lasting solution. Daran Technology Co., Ltd., which was established in 2021, controls the company and is a subsidiary of the Chinese listed company Dongguan Mentech Optical & Magntc Co Ltd. Safety is a top priority for DaranEner, which is why the NEO2000 utilizes a LiFePO4 battery, known for its high level of safety. The company鈥檚 dedication to quality control is evident in their low customer complaint rate of only 5%, which is significantly lower than the industry average. This can be attributed to the fact that DaranEner has its own factory and is committed to providing environmentally friendly products that are completely safe and practical for the environment.I was impressed by the advanced lithium battery technology of the NEO2000. It makes it perfect for powering CPAP machines as well as laptops and other electronic gadgets while on the move. It also packs multiple charging ports including USB-C and USB-A. This way you can charge several devices simultaneously.DaranEner NEO2000 review: Main package ContentsThe – quite heavy – main package of the device packs all the necessary parts. The power station, an MC4 to XT60 solar charging cable, an AC charging cable, and a USB-C cable.Quite straightforward stuff. It is ready to use out of the box and doesn鈥檛 require any setup. The NEO2000 is equipped with fast charging features, enabling it to reach 0-100% of charging in just 1.8 hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThere are two buttons on the front; you can long press on the top right button to activate the 3 AC power outlets or long press the bottom button to turn on ports in this area like the car socket, 4 DC power sockets, 4 USB-A Ports, and 2 USB-C ports with 100W fast charge. The LCD display on the front is very useful as it shows all essential information like remaining battery percentage, remaining usage time, input, output, current, and errors.In total, it has 14 output ports, making it easy to charge multiple devices at the same time. There is an emergency light on the back that blinks in several modes and a wireless charging pad on top. There are also 2 USB-C ports with maximum 100W power delivery. As I mentioned in the beginning, the NEO2000 is not鈥 light as a feather. It weighs 25kg/56.4 lbs but thankfully it has 2 built-in handles on the sides making it a bit easier to carry.DaranEner NEO2000 Portable Power Station: Is it for everyday use?It鈥檚 the 3rd power station I have had the pleasure of having for review the past year and truly, it seems to be the best. I believe this type of tech is a must-have for anyone looking to stay powered up and on the go. I used it in a recent camping trip, and even a recent power outage (yesterday during a Google Meeting!). You can easily use it any time you need an off-grid emergency solution.It offers up to 2000Wh of energy storage capacity and can simultaneously power multiple devices like phones, tablets, laptops, refrigerators, and more. It鈥檚 also equipped with a range of powerful built-in features that make it easy to keep your gadgets running efficiently no matter where life takes you! You can even use it as a backup generator in case of an emergency blackout 鈥 talk about being prepared.Real-Life Performance during our reviewAs we mentioned in this review, it comes with a 2,073.6Wh capacity and 2,000W of AC output. This means that it can conveniently power a wide range of devices, from off-grid essentials like microwaves and refrigerators to professional tools like power drills and high-output lights. It managed to charge simultaneously my MacBook, my iPhone and my DJI drone for 6 hours with no problems at all – while working during an off-the-grid trip.If you鈥檇 like to use it for home backup, you can expect 170 hours of light (12W), 181 times of charging for iPhone 13 (3,227mAh), 31 hours for an electric blanket (60W), 6 hours for a refrigerator (300W), and 1.6 hours for a microwave (1200W).On the other hand, if you鈥檇 like to take it with you for a trip, you can expect even more: it can run an electric grill (1,150W) for 1.7 hours, a projector (60W) for 31 hours, electric drill (1200W) for 3.2 hours, electric hammer (1,500W) for 1.3 hours, and electric chainsaw (1,440W) for 1.4 hours – per our review.For the professional on-the-go, or the digital nomad like myself, the NEO2000 works as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with a switching time of less than 15 milliseconds, ensuring continuous power supply during power outages. I鈥檝e tested the NEO2000 in such a scenario yesterday and was totally impressed with its power. Most of the above tasks are easy for the NEO2000 and a full charge could keep the whole setup powered for 50-60 hours. This means that even when there is a power outage, you will be able to keep working for nearly 2 weeks!Our opinionProsFast AC charging600W of solar chargingReasonable priceHigh power output and battery capacityPortable designConsSomewhat heavy (25 kg/4 lbs)So why would you need this portable power station? Maybe you鈥檙e going camping for the weekend and want to take some essential items with you without having to worry about finding an electrical outlet at your campsite. Or maybe you鈥檙e just tired of having cords everywhere and want something more convenient when charging multiple devices.The Breakdown 4.4 8.7 The DaranEner NEO2000 portable power station is ideal for anyone in need of a reliable and efficient source of backup power. I enjoyed its wide range of features and benefits at a competitive price. Dimensions 8.7 Portability 8.7 Power 8.7 Features - Ports 8.7 Value for money 8.7 Performance 8.7 Power stations have become so popular in the last few years, not only because of the increasingly common blackouts but also because people want to stay connected while on the move. Are you a camping enthusiast who loves to explore the great outdoors, but can鈥檛 stand the thought of being without power? If so, this DaranEner NEO2000 Portable Power Station review is for you. Its portability makes it ideal for camping trips and working outdoors; simply pack it up and take it with you wherever your journey takes you.Currently, DaranEner is offering the NEO2000 at a discounted price of $999 using the coupon: GIZCHINA999 . You can buy it on Amazon聽or its聽official website.This DaranEner NEO2000 Portable Power Station is one of the latest power stations from the well-known manufacturer. I鈥檝e been using it for 3 weeks now for鈥 almost all my energy related needs! The NEO2000 packs a high-capacity lithium-ion battery. It ensures that your devices remain powered up 鈥 giving you peace of mind in any situation. One of its most impressive features is the 2000W peak output and 1000W continuous output. This means it is perfect for camping trips or any other outdoor activities.With this powerful device, you can stay connected and have all the comforts of home 鈥 even when there鈥檚 no electricity. Whether it鈥檚 for an emergency power outage or for powering up off-grid locations, NEO2000 has got you covered. Let鈥檚 see all of its perks in our brand new review.DaranEner NEO2000 – Technical SpecificationsBattery Cell TypeLiFePO4Warranty24 MonthsBattery Capacity2073.6Wh (648,000mAh)Cycle Life3,500 Cycles to 80% CapacityUSB-A x 45V-3.6A/5V-2.5A/12V-2A (Max. 24W), 5W-2.4A when used simultaneouslyUSB-C x 25V-3A/9V-3A/15V-3A/20V3A/20V-5A (Max. 100W)Cigarette Lighter Output12V-8A (Max. 120W)AC Port Output110V 50Hz/60Hz 2,000W (Max 3,000W)InputAC Input 110V/15A (Max. 1,600A)Solar Charging XT6033-60V/20A (Max. 600W)LED Light3WWireless Charging5W/7.5W/10WWeight56.416 lbsDimensions18.7脳13.6脳10.2 inOperating Temperature-10 ~ 45掳CThe DaranEner NEO2000 portable power station is a highly sought-after energy storage solution for a variety of reasons. One of the main draws of this product is its competitive price, excellent value proposition, and long-lasting solution. Daran Technology Co., Ltd., which was established in 2021, controls the company and is a subsidiary of the Chinese listed company Dongguan Mentech Optical & Magntc Co Ltd. Safety is a top priority for DaranEner, which is why the NEO2000 utilizes a LiFePO4 battery, known for its high level of safety. The company鈥檚 dedication to quality control is evident in their low customer complaint rate of only 5%, which is significantly lower than the industry average. This can be attributed to the fact that DaranEner has its own factory and is committed to providing environmentally friendly products that are completely safe and practical for the environment.I was impressed by the advanced lithium battery technology of the NEO2000. It makes it perfect for powering CPAP machines as well as laptops and other electronic gadgets while on the move. It also packs multiple charging ports including USB-C and USB-A. This way you can charge several devices simultaneously.DaranEner NEO2000 review: Main package ContentsThe – quite heavy – main package of the device packs all the necessary parts. The power station, an MC4 to XT60 solar charging cable, an AC charging cable, and a USB-C cable.Quite straightforward stuff. It is ready to use out of the box and doesn鈥檛 require any setup. The NEO2000 is equipped with fast charging features, enabling it to reach 0-100% of charging in just 1.8 hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThere are two buttons on the front; you can long press on the top right button to activate the 3 AC power outlets or long press the bottom button to turn on ports in this area like the car socket, 4 DC power sockets, 4 USB-A Ports, and 2 USB-C ports with 100W fast charge. The LCD display on the front is very useful as it shows all essential information like remaining battery percentage, remaining usage time, input, output, current, and errors.In total, it has 14 output ports, making it easy to charge multiple devices at the same time. There is an emergency light on the back that blinks in several modes and a wireless charging pad on top. There are also 2 USB-C ports with maximum 100W power delivery. As I mentioned in the beginning, the NEO2000 is not鈥 light as a feather. It weighs 25kg/56.4 lbs but thankfully it has 2 built-in handles on the sides making it a bit easier to carry.DaranEner NEO2000 Portable Power Station: Is it for everyday use?It鈥檚 the 3rd power station I have had the pleasure of having for review the past year and truly, it seems to be the best. I believe this type of tech is a must-have for anyone looking to stay powered up and on the go. I used it in a recent camping trip, and even a recent power outage (yesterday during a Google Meeting!). You can easily use it any time you need an off-grid emergency solution.It offers up to 2000Wh of energy storage capacity and can simultaneously power multiple devices like phones, tablets, laptops, refrigerators, and more. It鈥檚 also equipped with a range of powerful built-in features that make it easy to keep your gadgets running efficiently no matter where life takes you! You can even use it as a backup generator in case of an emergency blackout 鈥 talk about being prepared.Real-Life Performance during our reviewAs we mentioned in this review, it comes with a 2,073.6Wh capacity and 2,000W of AC output. This means that it can conveniently power a wide range of devices, from off-grid essentials like microwaves and refrigerators to professional tools like power drills and high-output lights. It managed to charge simultaneously my MacBook, my iPhone and my DJI drone for 6 hours with no problems at all – while working during an off-the-grid trip.If you鈥檇 like to use it for home backup, you can expect 170 hours of light (12W), 181 times of charging for iPhone 13 (3,227mAh), 31 hours for an electric blanket (60W), 6 hours for a refrigerator (300W), and 1.6 hours for a microwave (1200W).On the other hand, if you鈥檇 like to take it with you for a trip, you can expect even more: it can run an electric grill (1,150W) for 1.7 hours, a projector (60W) for 31 hours, electric drill (1200W) for 3.2 hours, electric hammer (1,500W) for 1.3 hours, and electric chainsaw (1,440W) for 1.4 hours – per our review.For the professional on-the-go, or the digital nomad like myself, the NEO2000 works as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with a switching time of less than 15 milliseconds, ensuring continuous power supply during power outages. I鈥檝e tested the NEO2000 in such a scenario yesterday and was totally impressed with its power. Most of the above tasks are easy for the NEO2000 and a full charge could keep the whole setup powered for 50-60 hours. This means that even when there is a power outage, you will be able to keep working for nearly 2 weeks!Our opinionProsFast AC charging600W of solar chargingReasonable priceHigh power output and battery capacityPortable designConsSomewhat heavy (25 kg/4 lbs)So why would you need this portable power station? Maybe you鈥檙e going camping for the weekend and want to take some essential items with you without having to worry about finding an electrical outlet at your campsite. Or maybe you鈥檙e just tired of having cords everywhere and want something more convenient when charging multiple devices.The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 Indeed, this is THE selfie phone for those who are on a tight budget, but still want to impress their friends/followers in social media. That said, while the Spark 10 Pro may not be the ideal phone for serious gamers, its still a great option for those who prefer more relaxed games.聽 Performance 8.2 Battery 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 Main Camera 8.2 Value for money 8.2 Build quality 8.2 TECNO really did great in this year’s MWC event, where the company unveiled their brand new selfie champion, i.e. the TECNO Spark 10 Pro. TECNO鈥檚 success in the global emerging market has been attributed to tailoring its phones鈥 features to the needs of the local market and is always committed to provide the users the latest technologies for the youth-generation consumers who are “young at heart”. The Spark 10 Pro model we have for review, comes with impressive super clear selfie camera to boost young people鈥檚 confidence in self-expression by enabling them to take clearer and brighter selfies. It provides higher number of pixels and better photosensitive performance thanks to the updated features like Super Night Mode 3.0 and AI Portrait Restoration.There鈥檚 significant competition in the mobile phone industry in recent years, and a lot of brands like OPPO, TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), Samsung, Huawei, Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi launched their new mobile phone products with better features and design, giving the youth of today more and more choices. TECNO is no stranger to us, we have loved their creations the past years, as they focus on affordable yet quite impressive smartphones, that deliver what the customer wants.We used the TECNO Spark 10 Pro for two weeks. Below you can read our review impressions using this device as a main smartphone for mostly pleasure but also business.TECNO Spark 10 Pro – UnboxingThe handset of our review comes with almost the same accessories as its predecessor. Around the box there are stickers with information about the included device. The Spark 10 Pro in our hands is the 8/128 GB version in Pearl White (there’s also a 8/256GB variant that offers a more competitive selling point). Tecno informs us that the smartphone has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Generally speaking this is a nice retail box. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The Spark 10 Pro smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA 18 Watt wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA transparent silicone caseJudging from the above I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. An e-manual exists in the Settings of the smartphone however 鈥 a choice which is good for the environment I have to say.A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a solid tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The plastic case is very nice but if you tend to drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO Spark 10 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 10聽Pro – DesignTecno has designed a very nice phone that has nothing to envy from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme.聽 The 6.8 inch display comes with medium sized bezels, having a bit bigger 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a hole for the selfie camera on the top middle area. Spark 10 Pro is modern and not an old notched design smartphone. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there鈥檚 a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear.What’s insideThe back panel of the Spark 10 Pro is made up of both glossy and frosted areas, but the glossy section has been reduced to just the lens module. Additionally, the back panel has been upgraded with a new material called Starry glass, which is highly scratch-resistant and feels very smooth to the touch. Unfortunately, only two-color options are available this time around, with green and blue not making an appearance. The side frame is connected to the back panel and is one big flat piece of plastic. There is a line to separate them as a design detail but there is only one panel here. On the left side we can see the SIM tray where 2 SIM cards and a microSD card fit. On the right side we can see two volume buttons and under them the lock/power on button. The position of them is ok, I can reach them easily with my thumb.The buttons are well made without rattling. There are no visible bands because the smartphone’s sides and back are plastic. The top has nothing of interest while the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille. A welcomed sight is the inclusion of a Type-C port, that offers faster data transfer speeds and a more modern look to the device. Nice work here TECNO.Build qualityIts dimensions are 168.4 x 76.2 x 8.4 mm. Weighing 208g it seems a bit heavy. Its construction features a Glass built front and back panel along with a plastic frame. The back panel鈥檚 feeling is quite impressive. The smartphone is separated in parts – there is a horizontal part with almost glossy design (in black color) that takes some space on the top side. The rest is matte (in black color as well) and looks like sand-blast texture.On the left we have a huge but elegantly designed camera area. One of the most significant changes is the camera module, which now features three circles instead of two. However, upon closer inspection, the number of lenses has been reduced by one. The circle on the right side of the module is actually a flash, while the small hole above it serves only as decoration.聽 The division between matte and sand-blast texture and the very beautiful camera area makes up for a very elegant device. TECNO is focusing on the artistic / presentation of this device and have surely succeeded in it. According to TECNO, there鈥檚 decent protection for the SIM tray from water or dust. There鈥檚 a red rubber ring to prevent water and dust ingress which is good. Still I would be very careful to avoid getting the phone in touch with water.TECNO Spark 10聽Pro review – HardwareThe display of the TECNO SPARK 10 Pro has been upgraded, and it’s immediately noticeable as soon as you light up the screen. It comes with a 6.8 inch IPS LCD panel. The optimized screen design enables better visual experience and makes the scrolling smoother and touch feedback more sensitive for mobile entertainment including playing games and watching videos.It has a 85.6% screen-to-body ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels. This means that we get 395 ppi of density, an impressive screen quality with 90Hz of refresh rate. The panel is not very bright, you will have to shade it in mid-summer sun. Colors and angles of view are good. Generally this is a good budget panel for all kind of usage. The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G88 SoC. It partners fast 90Hz displays to create super smooth mobile app and OS experiences. The octa-core CPU features two Arm Cortex-A75 CPUs operating up to 2GHz, enabling responsive reactions, fast app loading and camera snaps. Building on generations of photographic excellence, the G88 includes a multitude of hardware accelerators, including a hardware depth engine for dual-camera bokeh captures, Camera Control Unit (CCU), Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and Rolling Shutter Compensation (RSC) technologies.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramHow about gaming?Obviously this is a decent SoC that provides good processing power but you will not be able to play high render 3D games or multitask. We can also find Mali-G52 MC2 for graphics and eMMC 5.1 for storage. The smartphone comes with 8/128GB and 8/256GB versions with the ability to increase the RAM size up to 16GB (via RAM expansion) . There is no software lagging or heating issues. Spark 10 Pro has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions. Oh by the way, its GPS is instantaneous too. TECNO Spark 10 Pro review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Spark 10 Pro is its impressive AI Selfie camera. It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Customized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shapeTECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect!The phone in our review has an eye-tracking autofocus. A first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects.More camera featuresTECNO SPARK 10 Pro have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions. All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review. Tecno Spark 10 Pro has three lenses, with the main lens having a 50-megapixel sensor, an aperture of f/1.6, a wide-angle field of view, and PDAF (phase detection autofocus) capability. The other two lenses’ specifications are unspecified. They all support HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes, while having the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈Camera featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are. The 50 MP sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times. But seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera. A 32 MP selfie camera with a wide-angle lens and dual-LED flash is considered to be a LOT for taking selfies. The high megapixel count means that the camera is capable of capturing a large amount of detail in your photos, which is particularly useful for capturing facial features.Video resolutions include shooting them at 30fps for 720p, 1080p and at 2K. While it provides similar quality with the photography day or night there is ZERO stabilization. The result is good only when the phone is stable somewhere. If you move it a bit it becomes a mess. Sound is not recorded well, I would prefer fewer lenses and EIS / sound improvements.聽TECNO Spark 10 Pro review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 13 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. It runs on the latest version of HIOS 12.6. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. Although the G88 handles PUBG Mobile with ease, maintaining stable HD graphics at 30fps, its capabilities when it comes to more demanding games like Genshin Impact are not as impressive. In testing, it is found that while the device can handle Commission Quests at the lowest graphics settings, the overall game experience is not ideal, and we noticed a 5% power consumption after just 10 minutes of play.Customization optionsThe customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 8-9 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 18W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 2,5 hours for a full change and there is no flash charge in case of need.TECNO Spark 10 Pro review – ConclusionIndeed, this is THE selfie phone for those who are on a tight budget, but still want to impress their friends/followers in social media. The TECNO Spark 10 Pro can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography, and more. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of electronic image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts the total performance in the area.The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 Indeed, this is THE selfie phone for those who are on a tight budget, but still want to impress their friends/followers in social media. That said, while the Spark 10 Pro may not be the ideal phone for serious gamers, its still a great option for those who prefer more relaxed games.聽 Performance 8.2 Battery 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 Main Camera 8.2 Value for money 8.2 Build quality 8.2 TECNO really did great in this year’s MWC event, where the company unveiled their brand new selfie champion, i.e. the TECNO Spark 10 Pro. TECNO鈥檚 success in the global emerging market has been attributed to tailoring its phones鈥 features to the needs of the local market and is always committed to provide the users the latest technologies for the youth-generation consumers who are “young at heart”. The Spark 10 Pro model we have for review, comes with impressive super clear selfie camera to boost young people鈥檚 confidence in self-expression by enabling them to take clearer and brighter selfies. It provides higher number of pixels and better photosensitive performance thanks to the updated features like Super Night Mode 3.0 and AI Portrait Restoration.There鈥檚 significant competition in the mobile phone industry in recent years, and a lot of brands like OPPO, TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), Samsung, Huawei, Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi launched their new mobile phone products with better features and design, giving the youth of today more and more choices. TECNO is no stranger to us, we have loved their creations the past years, as they focus on affordable yet quite impressive smartphones, that deliver what the customer wants.We used the TECNO Spark 10 Pro for two weeks. Below you can read our review impressions using this device as a main smartphone for mostly pleasure but also business.TECNO Spark 10 Pro – UnboxingThe handset of our review comes with almost the same accessories as its predecessor. Around the box there are stickers with information about the included device. The Spark 10 Pro in our hands is the 8/128 GB version in Pearl White (there’s also a 8/256GB variant that offers a more competitive selling point). Tecno informs us that the smartphone has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Generally speaking this is a nice retail box. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The Spark 10 Pro smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA 18 Watt wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA transparent silicone caseJudging from the above I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. An e-manual exists in the Settings of the smartphone however 鈥 a choice which is good for the environment I have to say.A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a solid tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The plastic case is very nice but if you tend to drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO Spark 10 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 10聽Pro – DesignTecno has designed a very nice phone that has nothing to envy from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme.聽 The 6.8 inch display comes with medium sized bezels, having a bit bigger 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a hole for the selfie camera on the top middle area. Spark 10 Pro is modern and not an old notched design smartphone. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there鈥檚 a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear.What’s insideThe back panel of the Spark 10 Pro is made up of both glossy and frosted areas, but the glossy section has been reduced to just the lens module. Additionally, the back panel has been upgraded with a new material called Starry glass, which is highly scratch-resistant and feels very smooth to the touch. Unfortunately, only two-color options are available this time around, with green and blue not making an appearance. The side frame is connected to the back panel and is one big flat piece of plastic. There is a line to separate them as a design detail but there is only one panel here. On the left side we can see the SIM tray where 2 SIM cards and a microSD card fit. On the right side we can see two volume buttons and under them the lock/power on button. The position of them is ok, I can reach them easily with my thumb.The buttons are well made without rattling. There are no visible bands because the smartphone’s sides and back are plastic. The top has nothing of interest while the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille. A welcomed sight is the inclusion of a Type-C port, that offers faster data transfer speeds and a more modern look to the device. Nice work here TECNO.Build qualityIts dimensions are 168.4 x 76.2 x 8.4 mm. Weighing 208g it seems a bit heavy. Its construction features a Glass built front and back panel along with a plastic frame. The back panel鈥檚 feeling is quite impressive. The smartphone is separated in parts – there is a horizontal part with almost glossy design (in black color) that takes some space on the top side. The rest is matte (in black color as well) and looks like sand-blast texture.On the left we have a huge but elegantly designed camera area. One of the most significant changes is the camera module, which now features three circles instead of two. However, upon closer inspection, the number of lenses has been reduced by one. The circle on the right side of the module is actually a flash, while the small hole above it serves only as decoration.聽 The division between matte and sand-blast texture and the very beautiful camera area makes up for a very elegant device. TECNO is focusing on the artistic / presentation of this device and have surely succeeded in it. According to TECNO, there鈥檚 decent protection for the SIM tray from water or dust. There鈥檚 a red rubber ring to prevent water and dust ingress which is good. Still I would be very careful to avoid getting the phone in touch with water.TECNO Spark 10聽Pro review – HardwareThe display of the TECNO SPARK 10 Pro has been upgraded, and it’s immediately noticeable as soon as you light up the screen. It comes with a 6.8 inch IPS LCD panel. The optimized screen design enables better visual experience and makes the scrolling smoother and touch feedback more sensitive for mobile entertainment including playing games and watching videos.It has a 85.6% screen-to-body ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels. This means that we get 395 ppi of density, an impressive screen quality with 90Hz of refresh rate. The panel is not very bright, you will have to shade it in mid-summer sun. Colors and angles of view are good. Generally this is a good budget panel for all kind of usage. The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G88 SoC. It partners fast 90Hz displays to create super smooth mobile app and OS experiences. The octa-core CPU features two Arm Cortex-A75 CPUs operating up to 2GHz, enabling responsive reactions, fast app loading and camera snaps. Building on generations of photographic excellence, the G88 includes a multitude of hardware accelerators, including a hardware depth engine for dual-camera bokeh captures, Camera Control Unit (CCU), Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and Rolling Shutter Compensation (RSC) technologies.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramHow about gaming?Obviously this is a decent SoC that provides good processing power but you will not be able to play high render 3D games or multitask. We can also find Mali-G52 MC2 for graphics and eMMC 5.1 for storage. The smartphone comes with 8/128GB and 8/256GB versions with the ability to increase the RAM size up to 16GB (via RAM expansion) . There is no software lagging or heating issues. Spark 10 Pro has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions. Oh by the way, its GPS is instantaneous too. TECNO Spark 10 Pro review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Spark 10 Pro is its impressive AI Selfie camera. It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Customized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shapeTECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect!The phone in our review has an eye-tracking autofocus. A first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects.More camera featuresTECNO SPARK 10 Pro have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions. All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review. Tecno Spark 10 Pro has three lenses, with the main lens having a 50-megapixel sensor, an aperture of f/1.6, a wide-angle field of view, and PDAF (phase detection autofocus) capability. The other two lenses’ specifications are unspecified. They all support HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes, while having the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈Camera featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are. The 50 MP sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times. But seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera. A 32 MP selfie camera with a wide-angle lens and dual-LED flash is considered to be a LOT for taking selfies. The high megapixel count means that the camera is capable of capturing a large amount of detail in your photos, which is particularly useful for capturing facial features.Video resolutions include shooting them at 30fps for 720p, 1080p and at 2K. While it provides similar quality with the photography day or night there is ZERO stabilization. The result is good only when the phone is stable somewhere. If you move it a bit it becomes a mess. Sound is not recorded well, I would prefer fewer lenses and EIS / sound improvements.聽TECNO Spark 10 Pro review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 13 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. It runs on the latest version of HIOS 12.6. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. Although the G88 handles PUBG Mobile with ease, maintaining stable HD graphics at 30fps, its capabilities when it comes to more demanding games like Genshin Impact are not as impressive. In testing, it is found that while the device can handle Commission Quests at the lowest graphics settings, the overall game experience is not ideal, and we noticed a 5% power consumption after just 10 minutes of play.Customization optionsThe customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 8-9 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 18W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 2,5 hours for a full change and there is no flash charge in case of need.TECNO Spark 10 Pro review – ConclusionIndeed, this is THE selfie phone for those who are on a tight budget, but still want to impress their friends/followers in social media. The TECNO Spark 10 Pro can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography, and more. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of electronic image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts the total performance in the area.
The Breakdown 4.4 8.8 iLIFE kept their promise with this smart beauty and delivered a high-end vacuum at an affordable price. It may not be the best in terms of carpet cleaning, but all in all, the mopping feature and the 3000 Pa suction power can surely make wonders! Suction Power 8.8 Main Package 8.8 Features 8.8 Value for Money 8.8 App Control 8.8 When it comes to robot vacuum cleaners,聽iLife聽is a brand we cannot ignore; Proposals such as the iLife A10 are an example of this, but this time we will focus on one of its most recent bets: the iLIFE T10s we have for review. This robot vacuum cleaner was recently unveiled on the premise of being the company鈥檚 most sophisticated LiDAR laser navigation robot that combines an excellent mopping and self-emptying capability at an affordable price.Obviously, the LiDAR support makes this beauty above par with the rest of the competitors out there. This means that it can easily map your whole house, navigate when in dark or crowded places but also schedule some functions even when you鈥檙e not home.iLIFE T10s – Technical specificationsPriceAmazonDimensions12.6鈥 x 12.6鈥 x 3.64鈥颤/td>Weight19.74 lbsSuction Power3,000 PaDust Bag Volume2.5 LDustbin Volume240 mlWater Tank Volume250 mlBattery Life2.5 hoursBattery Power3,200 mAhControl MethodsAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Tuya appiLife T10s – Main Package T10S robot cleanerSelf-emptying station2-in-1 water tankFilterDust bags (2)Side brushes (2)Mop cloths (2)Mop standCleaning toolUser manualThe main package of the device is sturdy and鈥 huge. Inside we can find all the above, neatly packed. Upon opening the box, you will find the T10S robot vacuum itself, a self-empty station, two side brushes, a user manual, two mop cloths, a 2-in-1 water tank, a mop stand, a cleaning tool, a filter, two dust bags. Obviously, you can easily buy more spare parts later on for this.The iLIFE T10s, comes in a modern-looking black and blue color, with the self-emptying station being all black. The user manual is well-written and easy to understand, providing clear instructions on how to set up and use the T10S.It鈥檚 easy to install all the extra parts of the vacuum: add the side brushes (one red and one green colored), the 2-in-1 water tank (when you need to mop) and the self-emptying station with its power cord. You鈥檙e set. I was pleased to see that this year, iLife T10s comes with a complete bundle, packing everything you need to start cleaning your home.Cleaning featuresSelf-Emptying Dustbin: this feature has recently become the holy grail of all those home cleaners out there. One of its main advantages is that it reduces the frequency of maintenance required for the robot vacuum cleaner. With a typical robotic vacuum cleaner, you would have to empty the dustbin after every use. Not with this. You can keep using the T10s for almost 2 months without emptying the dustbin. A great way to save time.LiDAR mapping: This is another sought after feature in the past years for those who search for a decent vacuum cleaner. Mapping technology is not just about creating a digital representation of your home. It also lets you set specific cleaning preferences for each level and room. Using the Tyua app you can always know where the T10s is, when it is going to finish, or which room it will go next. You can also make changes on the go to its projected path, make scheduled cleanings and more. One more excellent feature is the ability to detect and avoid obstacles, such as furniture or stairs. This feature saves you time and effort and protects your furniture and the vacuum cleaner from damage.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramAutomatic Carpet Suction Boost:This is a great help for those times we need to clean our thick carpets. Using this feature, the vacuum cleaner can seamlessly move from one surface to another without compromising its cleaning efficiency. It also ensures that the vacuum cleaner doesn鈥檛 waste energy on high suction power on hard floors, but uses it exactly where it鈥檚 needed.Anti-collision sensors: That鈥檚 another feature where the brand new T10s shines. There are several sensors placed around (and below) the vacuum cleaner, making sure that nothing can go wrong when cleaning. They help the T10s detect objects in its path, and navigate around all types of obstacles like furniture, walls or even stairs. This way both the vacuum and your furniture are safe. No bumping all over the place anymore. This saves money and effort. 聽Instead of manually moving furniture or other objects out of the way, the vacuum can navigate around them independently.Y Shape Cleaning pattern: This new feature comes as an intuitive feature that will be loved by most. It allows the ILIFE T10s Robot Vacuum Cleaner to cover a larger area than traditional vacuum cleaners, ensuring that every inch of your home is thoroughly cleaned. When activated, the vacuum moves in a Y shaped path, combined with a left-and-right mopping motion. This means it vacuums and mops your floors, leaving them sparkling clean. Just make sure you fill the mopping water tank with a decent cleaning fluid + water.Smart control featuresIf you want to keep it simple you can easily tell the ILIFE T10s Robot Vacuum Cleaner to clean the house just by pressing the On button placed on its top. But why not take advantage of all its smart app features? Using the Tuya app, we can easily check the remaining battery, see which rooms have been cleaned, make daily/weekly schedules for cleaning or mopping our house and much more.The ILIFE T10s Robot Vacuum Cleaner comes also with full Alexa and Google Assistant support. This means that it can be easily integrated into any smart home and be controlled just by saying: 鈥淎lexa, turn on ILIFE robot鈥 etc.Using the Tuya app for our iLIFE T10s review, we can easily create a floor map of our home and all the rooms in it. This way we can create schedules telling the T10s where to go, what to clean and when. We always know when our T10s is, but we can always call it back to its dock when needed. No more hitting on furniture, doors, or other objects. It is also able to avoid kids toys, shoes etc and not get stuck like most previous robot vacuums used to do.Cleaning performanceDuring my tests in this iLIFE T10s review, I was happy with how the T10s managed to clean my home. It easily sucked dust, dirt, debris, and pet hair on my floor and carpets, including medium-pile carpets of a height up to 18mm. It works in 3 modes: vacuum only, mop only, or vacuum+mop.When the battery is low, the T10s redocks to recharge, but don鈥檛 worry. This usually happens after more than 2,000 square feet of coverage or 2 hours of cleaning! After recharging, the T10S resumes cleaning from where it left off.Our verdictiLIFE kept their promise with this smart beauty and delivered a high-end vacuum at an affordable price. Using its state-of-the-art LiDAR technology, it can create a complete floor mapping of your home in minutes, allowing you to enjoy a hands-free clean for up to 60 days. The self-emptying capability is a must nowadays, along with the smart home integration (Alexa, Google Assistant).It may not be the best in terms of carpet cleaning, but all in all, the mopping feature and the 3000 Pa suction power can surely make wonders!You can buy the iLIFE T10s from hereiLIFE T10s review – Our opinionPROSAlexa/Google Assistant supportQuiet performanceLow heightExcellent LiDAR mappingObstacle avoidanceAbove-average moppingCarpet suction boostThe Breakdown 4.3 8.5 e Tecno Phantom V Fold is a device for anyone looking for an innovative smartphone experience at an affordable price. I cannot say much for the phone鈥檚 long-term hinge durability however鈥 so the choice is yours. Build Quality 8.5 Camera 8.5 Performance 8.5 Android OS 8.5 Battery life 8.5 TECNO聽is a leading international smart device brand with operations in over 70 counties globally. 聽The Chinese brand has focused on budget devices for developing markets for most of its history, and in doing so, has grown to become the top-selling smartphone brand in Africa. Now, TECNO officials believe that it鈥檚 time to move a step further. That鈥檚 why they launched a flagship foldable device that’s designed to face head-to-head with the industry’s best. It’s called the Phantom V Fold, and that’s the device we have for review here. It comes with impressive specs and an attractive price point, aiming to make it the one foldable out there – for all.Tecno Phantom V Fold – Technical SpecsBrand:聽TecnoSoC:聽Dimensity 9000+Display:聽7.85″ foldable AMOLED 120Hz LTPO main screen, 6.42″ front sub-screen (also AMOLED 120Hz LTPO)RAM:聽12GBStorage:聽256GB as tested, 512GB also availableBattery:聽5000mAhPorts:聽USB-COperating System:聽HiOS 13Front camera:聽32MP sub, 16MP mainRear cameras:聽50MP main, 50MP telephoto, 13MP wideConnectivity:聽Dual NanoSIM (5G)Dimensions:聽D14.5 x H160 x W72mm when folded (D0.57 x H6.30 x W2.83 inches)Charging:聽45W Super Charge (USB-C)Price:聽~$1000I know there are many foldable phones out there – and some of them I have already reviewed. However, after 10 days with this little beauty in my hands and its price in mind, I tend to keep it as my main phone for much longer. Yes, I admit that it鈥檚 not perfect. Far from it to be honest. I also have some doubts about its long-term reliability and the support it may get from TECNO. However, after using it as main phone for a while, I was surprised with its performance, its imaging capabilities, and the stability of its system!Display and foldable features聽Dimensions folded: 159.4 x 71.95 x 14.15 mmDimensions unfolded: 159.4 x 140.4 x 6.9 mmWeight: 299 gramsBlack and white color options, recycled plastic back聽One thing we all see when unfolding the TECNO V-Fold, is the small bump that appears in the middle of the display when it opens. Tecno specifically warns against pushing on the fold while folding the screen up, but it seems like that should be an easy thing to avoid doing.If you can get pass this detail, you’re presented with a 7.85-inch AMOLED, almost square 4:3.55 ratio screen, running at 2296 x 2000 pixels (2K+, around 388PPI) at an adaptive 10-120Hz. You will be impressed with its vibrant, crisp colors and the鈥 bump in-between of course.How solid is the hinge of Tecno Phantom V Fold?The laminate layer that protects the screens is very reflective, though, so using it under direct sunlight could be tricky. You can also feel the hinged part of the display if you run your finger over it, but it won’t present actual problems other than feeling/looking a bit weird. It’s natural to have concerns about the long-term durability of folding screens, I agree. However, Tecno claims that it can withstand 200,000 folds, which, if we estimate around 20 folds a day (40 if we count a fold as one way only)鈥攕hould last roughly鈥 13 years. Not bad.The back of the phone is completely fingerprint-resistant, as well as extremely grippy. The sides and hinge mechanism are made from an aluminum alloy that’s cool to the touch, while the outer screen is coated with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. There’s minimal branding to be found on the device, only the word “Phantom” in a shiny silver font on the rear panel.There’s an aramid-fibre case included in the box, which is an excellent addition. It comes complete with an integrated kickstand, so you can prop it up on a table to watch Netflix series or YT videos on the interior display. It’s just a slim case and it only protects the rear portion of the phone. So it’s not the most protective solution, but it does look nice.Tecno Phantom V Fold review: Performance and HiOS 13 FoldMediaTek Dimensity 9000+12GB RAM, 256GB or 512GB storage5000 mAh battery, 45W charging (wired only)HiOS 13 Fold (based on Android 13)Compared to the Dimensity 9000, the Dimensity 9000+ processor has a higher main frequency with its Cortex-X2 mega-core reaching 3.2GHz, along with three 2.85GHz Cortex-A710 cores and four 1.8GHz Cortex-A510 cores. In addition, the Dimensity 9000+ is equipped with Mali-G710MC10 GPU, which provides 12.6% higher in frequency than the Dimensity 9000 does, delivering an additional 3D performance boost.In real terms, I maxed out the settings on聽Genshin Impact聽and played on the large interior display at 60fps with minimal stutter.聽The Phantom never got too warm, either, even during extended gaming sessions. I really enjoyed playing with the extra screen real area. The PHANTOM V Fold is also equipped with the fastest 12GB of memory that the Dimensity 9000+ can support, which is equivalent to 7,500MHz of LPDDR5X, and this model also features the popular memory fusion technology, which can add up to an additional 9GB of application cache. HiOS 13 Fold: impressive features with bloatwareThe operating system used by PHANTOM V Fold is TECNO’s “HiOS13 Fold”, which is based on Android 13. It’s a heavy skin and takes the Apple / Xiaomi approach of separating out your notification shade and quick settings, but this is easy to get used to. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I must mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS Fold can stand next to other skins.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram Tecno says that over 2000 apps have been optimized to work with the V Fold’s form factor, including the top 500 Play Store apps based on global download frequency. This meant that everything I tried worked pretty much flawlessly across the outer and inner displays, as well as with multi-window modes.Tecno Phantom V Fold review: Customization modesThe customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, AI Gallery, Ella, Hi Browser, Hi Translate, Palm Store, and Visha Player, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly.I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS Fold will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone. However, Android 13 is a generation old now and Tecno does not have a proven track record of offering software updates in a timely manner. I wouldn鈥檛 hold my breath on Android 14 coming here anytime soon. Camera features50MP f/1.85 main50MP 2x telephoto13MP ultra-wide16MP internal selfie camera32MP external selfie cameraThe phone in our review bundles a total of five lenses. Of those, two are selfie cameras (for both the sub and main screen), a 50MP main camera with a custom Super Night sensor, a 50MP telephoto 2x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultra-wide lens.While the secondary telephoto and ultra-wide lenses are not particularly bad/or good, the main sensor is REALLY good and performs far better in low light than many other phones in the market. The main thing that this phone lacks however, compared to competing devices, is image processing. Photos from the Phantom V Fold just aren’t as vibrant as other devices, especially in overcast weather, where everything just looks dull. When HDR is active, images come out looking a little washed out, with a slight shift toward the cooler color temperatures. (Double) Selfie powerTECNO has invested a lot in the camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. There are two selfie cameras on the V Fold, and you can also use the main camera to take selfies – there are a lot of options. The 32MP punch-hole camera on the secondary display is very good, producing lots of detail. While the 16MP camera on the interior is far less impressive. It’s fine for video calls, but I’d avoid using it for photos. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect!One area of the processing that surprised me, though, was night mode. Here the images came out looking sharp, vibrant, and detailed – with only slightly less dynamic range than you’d find with聽Google聽or聽Samsung devices.Battery life of Tecno Phantom V FoldThe Phantom V Fold packs a 5,000mAh battery, which is considerably larger than other foldables in the market, and it supports 45W charging, which is much faster, too. However, it does lack any kind of wireless charging support.I found the battery life to be sufficient for my needs, providing an average day’s usage. If you decide to go and play for 1 hour however, the battery percentage will rapidly fall. 聽Thankfully, the brand-new Type-C 45W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides a full charge the device from 0%-50% in 19 minutes and it took us 59 minutes to charge it from 0% to 100%. However, the phone doesn鈥檛 support wireless charging, a bummer for those who want everything.Tecno Phantom V Fold review: ConclusionIndeed, this is TECNO鈥檚 most ambitious project, in terms of hype and performance. It features an eye-grabbing design and genuine innovative camera hardware breakthrough. The Phantom V Fold is an extremely impressive debut foldable device, and that’s before we even get to its price point. It retails for around $1100 – a price bargain for a foldable phone.The SoC is energy efficient and stable and cool. The Dimensity 9000+ chip allows it to outperform its counterparts with general UI and work performance. The camera system, featuring five lenses, is especially impressive, with the main Super Night sensor offering incredible clarity in low light.The UI may be frustrating for those looking for a more stock experience. It’s not so bad as to seriously detract from the overall experience. Software is rich but needs polishing to remove some of the bloatware. There is a quite large battery with top standby times of up to 15 hours of use, and the charging speed is good with a 45W charger. Design is great and the addition of case / earphones in the box is a plus.The Breakdown 4.3 8.5 e Tecno Phantom V Fold is a device for anyone looking for an innovative smartphone experience at an affordable price. I cannot say much for the phone鈥檚 long-term hinge durability however鈥 so the choice is yours. Build Quality 8.5 Camera 8.5 Performance 8.5 Android OS 8.5 Battery life 8.5 TECNO聽is a leading international smart device brand with operations in over 70 counties globally. 聽The Chinese brand has focused on budget devices for developing markets for most of its history, and in doing so, has grown to become the top-selling smartphone brand in Africa. Now, TECNO officials believe that it鈥檚 time to move a step further. That鈥檚 why they launched a flagship foldable device that’s designed to face head-to-head with the industry’s best. It’s called the Phantom V Fold, and that’s the device we have for review here. It comes with impressive specs and an attractive price point, aiming to make it the one foldable out there – for all.Tecno Phantom V Fold – Technical SpecsBrand:聽TecnoSoC:聽Dimensity 9000+Display:聽7.85″ foldable AMOLED 120Hz LTPO main screen, 6.42″ front sub-screen (also AMOLED 120Hz LTPO)RAM:聽12GBStorage:聽256GB as tested, 512GB also availableBattery:聽5000mAhPorts:聽USB-COperating System:聽HiOS 13Front camera:聽32MP sub, 16MP mainRear cameras:聽50MP main, 50MP telephoto, 13MP wideConnectivity:聽Dual NanoSIM (5G)Dimensions:聽D14.5 x H160 x W72mm when folded (D0.57 x H6.30 x W2.83 inches)Charging:聽45W Super Charge (USB-C)Price:聽~$1000I know there are many foldable phones out there – and some of them I have already reviewed. However, after 10 days with this little beauty in my hands and its price in mind, I tend to keep it as my main phone for much longer. Yes, I admit that it鈥檚 not perfect. Far from it to be honest. I also have some doubts about its long-term reliability and the support it may get from TECNO. However, after using it as main phone for a while, I was surprised with its performance, its imaging capabilities, and the stability of its system!Display and foldable features聽Dimensions folded: 159.4 x 71.95 x 14.15 mmDimensions unfolded: 159.4 x 140.4 x 6.9 mmWeight: 299 gramsBlack and white color options, recycled plastic back聽One thing we all see when unfolding the TECNO V-Fold, is the small bump that appears in the middle of the display when it opens. Tecno specifically warns against pushing on the fold while folding the screen up, but it seems like that should be an easy thing to avoid doing.If you can get pass this detail, you’re presented with a 7.85-inch AMOLED, almost square 4:3.55 ratio screen, running at 2296 x 2000 pixels (2K+, around 388PPI) at an adaptive 10-120Hz. You will be impressed with its vibrant, crisp colors and the鈥 bump in-between of course.How solid is the hinge of Tecno Phantom V Fold?The laminate layer that protects the screens is very reflective, though, so using it under direct sunlight could be tricky. You can also feel the hinged part of the display if you run your finger over it, but it won’t present actual problems other than feeling/looking a bit weird. It’s natural to have concerns about the long-term durability of folding screens, I agree. However, Tecno claims that it can withstand 200,000 folds, which, if we estimate around 20 folds a day (40 if we count a fold as one way only)鈥攕hould last roughly鈥 13 years. Not bad.The back of the phone is completely fingerprint-resistant, as well as extremely grippy. The sides and hinge mechanism are made from an aluminum alloy that’s cool to the touch, while the outer screen is coated with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. There’s minimal branding to be found on the device, only the word “Phantom” in a shiny silver font on the rear panel.There’s an aramid-fibre case included in the box, which is an excellent addition. It comes complete with an integrated kickstand, so you can prop it up on a table to watch Netflix series or YT videos on the interior display. It’s just a slim case and it only protects the rear portion of the phone. So it’s not the most protective solution, but it does look nice.Tecno Phantom V Fold review: Performance and HiOS 13 FoldMediaTek Dimensity 9000+12GB RAM, 256GB or 512GB storage5000 mAh battery, 45W charging (wired only)HiOS 13 Fold (based on Android 13)Compared to the Dimensity 9000, the Dimensity 9000+ processor has a higher main frequency with its Cortex-X2 mega-core reaching 3.2GHz, along with three 2.85GHz Cortex-A710 cores and four 1.8GHz Cortex-A510 cores. In addition, the Dimensity 9000+ is equipped with Mali-G710MC10 GPU, which provides 12.6% higher in frequency than the Dimensity 9000 does, delivering an additional 3D performance boost.In real terms, I maxed out the settings on聽Genshin Impact聽and played on the large interior display at 60fps with minimal stutter.聽The Phantom never got too warm, either, even during extended gaming sessions. I really enjoyed playing with the extra screen real area. The PHANTOM V Fold is also equipped with the fastest 12GB of memory that the Dimensity 9000+ can support, which is equivalent to 7,500MHz of LPDDR5X, and this model also features the popular memory fusion technology, which can add up to an additional 9GB of application cache. HiOS 13 Fold: impressive features with bloatwareThe operating system used by PHANTOM V Fold is TECNO’s “HiOS13 Fold”, which is based on Android 13. It’s a heavy skin and takes the Apple / Xiaomi approach of separating out your notification shade and quick settings, but this is easy to get used to. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I must mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS Fold can stand next to other skins.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram Tecno says that over 2000 apps have been optimized to work with the V Fold’s form factor, including the top 500 Play Store apps based on global download frequency. This meant that everything I tried worked pretty much flawlessly across the outer and inner displays, as well as with multi-window modes.Tecno Phantom V Fold review: Customization modesThe customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, AI Gallery, Ella, Hi Browser, Hi Translate, Palm Store, and Visha Player, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly.I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS Fold will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone. However, Android 13 is a generation old now and Tecno does not have a proven track record of offering software updates in a timely manner. I wouldn鈥檛 hold my breath on Android 14 coming here anytime soon. Camera features50MP f/1.85 main50MP 2x telephoto13MP ultra-wide16MP internal selfie camera32MP external selfie cameraThe phone in our review bundles a total of five lenses. Of those, two are selfie cameras (for both the sub and main screen), a 50MP main camera with a custom Super Night sensor, a 50MP telephoto 2x optical zoom, and a 13MP ultra-wide lens.While the secondary telephoto and ultra-wide lenses are not particularly bad/or good, the main sensor is REALLY good and performs far better in low light than many other phones in the market. The main thing that this phone lacks however, compared to competing devices, is image processing. Photos from the Phantom V Fold just aren’t as vibrant as other devices, especially in overcast weather, where everything just looks dull. When HDR is active, images come out looking a little washed out, with a slight shift toward the cooler color temperatures. (Double) Selfie powerTECNO has invested a lot in the camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. There are two selfie cameras on the V Fold, and you can also use the main camera to take selfies – there are a lot of options. The 32MP punch-hole camera on the secondary display is very good, producing lots of detail. While the 16MP camera on the interior is far less impressive. It’s fine for video calls, but I’d avoid using it for photos. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect!One area of the processing that surprised me, though, was night mode. Here the images came out looking sharp, vibrant, and detailed – with only slightly less dynamic range than you’d find with聽Google聽or聽Samsung devices.Battery life of Tecno Phantom V FoldThe Phantom V Fold packs a 5,000mAh battery, which is considerably larger than other foldables in the market, and it supports 45W charging, which is much faster, too. However, it does lack any kind of wireless charging support.I found the battery life to be sufficient for my needs, providing an average day’s usage. If you decide to go and play for 1 hour however, the battery percentage will rapidly fall. 聽Thankfully, the brand-new Type-C 45W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides a full charge the device from 0%-50% in 19 minutes and it took us 59 minutes to charge it from 0% to 100%. However, the phone doesn鈥檛 support wireless charging, a bummer for those who want everything.Tecno Phantom V Fold review: ConclusionIndeed, this is TECNO鈥檚 most ambitious project, in terms of hype and performance. It features an eye-grabbing design and genuine innovative camera hardware breakthrough. The Phantom V Fold is an extremely impressive debut foldable device, and that’s before we even get to its price point. It retails for around $1100 – a price bargain for a foldable phone.The SoC is energy efficient and stable and cool. The Dimensity 9000+ chip allows it to outperform its counterparts with general UI and work performance. The camera system, featuring five lenses, is especially impressive, with the main Super Night sensor offering incredible clarity in low light.The UI may be frustrating for those looking for a more stock experience. It’s not so bad as to seriously detract from the overall experience. Software is rich but needs polishing to remove some of the bloatware. There is a quite large battery with top standby times of up to 15 hours of use, and the charging speed is good with a 45W charger. Design is great and the addition of case / earphones in the box is a plus.The Breakdown 4.4 8.7 Packing an impressive hardware set, decent cameras, impressive battery life and intuitive multitasking features, Honor Magic Vs is a true beauty - trapped in the body of a beast! Camera 8.7 Performance 8.7 Build Quality 8.7 Foldable features 8.7 Battery life 8.7 Having made its first unofficial sighting last year, the Honor Magic Vs was announced 3 months ago, sometime around November 2022 in China, with local availability kicking off early December. It鈥檚 the hyped successor of the early 2022 Magic V model, but as you will see in our review, it has a lot more to say this time. Better specs, improved hinge performance and some exceptional cameras make up for a foldable beauty, that can easily turn into a beast.韦he Honor Magic Vs packs all the specs you’d expect from a 2023 flagship phone into a foldable package. A large battery (5,000 mAh), fast charging (66 watts), a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1 processor, and three years of OS upgrades as well as five years of security patches.The HONOR Magic Vs comes in Orange, Cyan and Black colors and is priced at 7499 yuan (US$ 1048 / Rs. 85,705 approx.) for 8GB + 256GB, 7999 yuan (US$ 1117 / Rs. 91,420 approx.) for the 12GB + 256GB and the top-end 12GB + 512GB model costs 8999 yuan (US$ 1257 / Rs. 102,845 approx.).Honor Magic Vs – Technical specifications聽7.9-inch (2272 脳 1984 Pixels) FHD+ OLED 10.3:9 aspect ratio display with 90Hz refresh rate, 1920Hz high frequency PWM eye protection, HDR10+, 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, up to 800 nits brightness6.45-inch (2560 脳 1080 Pixels) FHD+ OLED 21:9 aspect ratio display with 120Hz refresh rate, 1920Hz high frequency PWM eye protection, HDR10+, 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, up to 1200 nits brightnessOcta Core Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno next-gen GPU8GB / 12GB RAM with 256GB storage / 512GB storage, 16GB RAM with 512GB storage (Ultimate)Magic UI 7.0 based on Android 12Dual SIM50MP Camera with IMX800 sensor, f/1.9 aperture, LED flash, 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.0 aperture, macro option, 8MP 3X Optical Zoom Camera with f/2.4 aperture16MP front camera with f/2.45 apertureSide-mounted fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensorUSB Type-C Audio, Stereo speakers, certified by IMAX Enhanced, 3-MIC Stereo Voice Reception, DTS: X Ultra AlgorithmDimensions: 160.3x 141.5mm (72.6mm when folded) 脳6.1 (12.9 when folded) mm; Weight: 261g5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE, GPS (L1 + L5 Dual band), NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C (GEN1)5000mAh (typical) battery with 66W Super fast wired chargingDesign and display(s)The successor to the Magic V retains the 7.9-inch FHD+ 90Hz OLED foldable inner screen with 21:9 aspect ratio and a 90% screen-to-body ratio, 6.45-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED external screen. Yes, the foldable display remains this phone鈥檚 most significant feature and for a good reason. Just like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it has a cover screen and an interior screen. The outer screen measures 6.45 inches diagonally, while the inner display is 7.9 inches. I found both crisp, responsive, and bright, and each screen also folds into the other with no discernible gap. However, in this phone, the outer display is much better and more vibrant than the inner. It seems that Honor wants us to use the Magic Vs as a phone primarily, and then as a foldable 鈥渢ablet.鈥滭/p>The HONOR Magic Vs is 12.9mm thin when folded and weighs 261g, making it the industry鈥檚 lightest foldable smartphone currently. It comes with a seamless design, and a sophisticated super-light gearless hinge carefully crafted with a single-piece casting processing technology without gap offering a creaseless display when unfolded. It is built with aerospace-grade materials and can withstand over 400,000 folds, equivalent to more than ten years of use with 100 folds per day.Lots of smudgesUnfortunately, the glossy, mirror-like finish of the device makes it a fingerprint magnet. The only time you see it in pristine condition is that 1 moment just after it has been cleaned. Then鈥 smudge chaos. That鈥檚 why I would suggest the use of the case: it saves you from all of those woes, while also providing protection. It’s got a soft faux leather layer so it’s nicely premium feeling, too.The controls around the Magic’s perimeter are placed in somewhat of an unusual way. The fingerprint reader/power button pair is on the bottom/right half of the handset. Also the volume rocker is above it. There are also 2 speakers placed on the top/left half of the handset. Another thing you’ll find on the top is an IR emitter! What a surprise! It reminds me of the good old days when most Chinese smartphones came with their own IrDA ports and we could control all sorts of TV鈥檚.In terms of size and usability, the Honor Magic Vs is taller and wider than the Galaxy Fold4, but thinner, and it looks and feels even thinner than the numbers suggest! When you want to use it in tablet mode however, it offers a larger viewing area of 7.9 inches compared to the ‘tiny’ 7.6-inch unit of the latest Galaxy.Honor Magic Vs camera(s)Primary Camera (Wide)27mm 54MP IMX800 Main Camera (f/1.9)Video: Up to 2160脳3840 pixelsPhoto: Up to 6144脳8768 pixelsUltrawide & Macro camera13mm 50-MP f/2Telephoto camera94mm 8MP f/2.4 3X optical zoom + OISSelfie25mm 16MP f/2.45The Honor Magic Vs comes with 3 main (rear) cameras, consisting of a 54-megapixel main camera, 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera capable of 3x optical zoom. There’s also a 16-megapixel selfie shooter, with beauty options and really nice performance.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramI must admit this phone creates magic with its cameras as well. I was pleased with the photo clarity, dynamic range, shutter speed and the versatility of the camera. Detail is good and you can say it’s presented in a balanced way – it’s not the most natural rendition, but it’s not overly processed either. The full res 54MP mode saves in the native field of view, equivalent to a 23mm lens, so it does get a bit more in the frame. That’s perhaps it most significant advantage since it doesn’t really get you a meaningful detail improvement.聽The 8MP telephoto camera may not sound like much, but it does take solid photos. Detail is very good and there’s no noise. Whether I was in bright, dim or even dark lighting environments, the camera captured crisp, vibrant and accurate photos in a variety of lighting scenarios. It cannot reach the Dx0Mark champions out there (iPhone or Samsung flagships) but still, it is great all in all. Honor Magic Vs battery lifeEquipped with a 5,000-mAh battery, the Honor Magic Vs boasts as the foldable phone with the largest battery out there. Only non-foldable flagships – such as the Galaxy S22 Ultra pack the same size battery or larger.During my 2 weeks of everyday use, the Magic Vs made it through with a single charge until late night, just before I went to sleep. I was very happy that I didn鈥檛 have to charge it 2 times per day – even when I used the phone for some gaming.During that time, I played Genshin Impact and took a 10-minute Skype video call on the cover screen. The battery went from 100% to 82% in those 45 minutes.The Magic Vs comes with a bundled 66-watt charger, which Honor says will completely replenish a dead battery within 46 minutes. I tried to repeat the above, and to my surprise, the phone went from 0% to 100% in 48 minutes (!). This means the Magic Vs outshines the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in this department.聽However, there’s no wireless charging on the Magic Vs. That only leaves the Galaxy foldables and a couple of vivo X Folds that support it in the market.Honor Magic Vs softwareThankfully the Magic Vs runs Android 13 and Honor’s MagicOS, just like most of this years鈥 models. It also includes full support for the Google apps suite, unlike Huawei’s software builds which are limited in one way or another. The MagicOS v7 comes with just a few subtle upgrades over its previous iteration. Icons are the same, the task switcher and notification/quick settings have improved usability placements and the Settings menu remains largely the same. I loved the Yoyo suggestions card/widget, that lets you have the onboard assistant pitch apps, and the huge themes gallery with thousands of free customization options. Having played with this foldable, I happily admit of being a fan of MagicOS’ split-screen multi-tasking system, which includes a slide-over menu that you trigger by swiping and holding from the sides. You can multitask with up to 4 apps and there’s a split screen mode as well as floating windows. You can also move apps around and resize their windows. I would have loved to see something like Samsung’s Flex mode on the Magic Vs. Even though I could use the phone when it was half-folded and prop it up like a laptop, none of the apps I used, even native ones, that were tailored for that experience. It’s a shame the software doesn’t take enough advantage of the phone’s folding design. Perhaps with a future OS update?Performance and benchmarksThe Magic Vs packs a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 at its heart. I know, it’s not the current Gen 2, but it’s an easily powerful enough platform. It’s the flagship chipset for 2022, after all. Honor lists the numbers as 3.00GHz for the Cortex-X2 super-powerful core, 2.50GHz for the mid-tier cluster of 3x Cortex-A710s and 1.80GHz for the efficiency-oriented 4x Cortex-A510s.Note also that the international version of the Honor foldable comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Chinese markets also get some 12GB/256GB and 8GB/256GB options.In the Geekbench 5 tests, the phone manages to get some 1299 points in single-core metrics and 3990 points in the multi-core challenge. The numbers are almost the same with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in multi-core tests. Not in single-core, however. Final verdictPacking an impressive hardware set, decent cameras, impressive battery life and intuitive multitasking features, Honor Magic Vs is a true beaty – trapped in the body of a beast! I loved it all in all, mostly for its professional character and its undying battery. However, I must stress that it lacks any kind of IP rating. This makes it fragile sometimes. Also its software doesn’t really take advantage of the folding screen. Finally Honor provides fewer software updates than Samsung (the current foldable King of the market).PROS:Excellent displayImpeccable build qualitySuper thin designState-of the art camerasLarge exterior display
The Breakdown 4.4 8.7 Packing an impressive hardware set, decent cameras, impressive battery life and intuitive multitasking features, Honor Magic Vs is a true beauty - trapped in the body of a beast! Camera 8.7 Performance 8.7 Build Quality 8.7 Foldable features 8.7 Battery life 8.7 Having made its first unofficial sighting last year, the Honor Magic Vs was announced 3 months ago, sometime around November 2022 in China, with local availability kicking off early December. It鈥檚 the hyped successor of the early 2022 Magic V model, but as you will see in our review, it has a lot more to say this time. Better specs, improved hinge performance and some exceptional cameras make up for a foldable beauty, that can easily turn into a beast.韦he Honor Magic Vs packs all the specs you’d expect from a 2023 flagship phone into a foldable package. A large battery (5,000 mAh), fast charging (66 watts), a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1 processor, and three years of OS upgrades as well as five years of security patches.The HONOR Magic Vs comes in Orange, Cyan and Black colors and is priced at 7499 yuan (US$ 1048 / Rs. 85,705 approx.) for 8GB + 256GB, 7999 yuan (US$ 1117 / Rs. 91,420 approx.) for the 12GB + 256GB and the top-end 12GB + 512GB model costs 8999 yuan (US$ 1257 / Rs. 102,845 approx.).Honor Magic Vs – Technical specifications聽7.9-inch (2272 脳 1984 Pixels) FHD+ OLED 10.3:9 aspect ratio display with 90Hz refresh rate, 1920Hz high frequency PWM eye protection, HDR10+, 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, up to 800 nits brightness6.45-inch (2560 脳 1080 Pixels) FHD+ OLED 21:9 aspect ratio display with 120Hz refresh rate, 1920Hz high frequency PWM eye protection, HDR10+, 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 Wide Color Gamut, up to 1200 nits brightnessOcta Core Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno next-gen GPU8GB / 12GB RAM with 256GB storage / 512GB storage, 16GB RAM with 512GB storage (Ultimate)Magic UI 7.0 based on Android 12Dual SIM50MP Camera with IMX800 sensor, f/1.9 aperture, LED flash, 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.0 aperture, macro option, 8MP 3X Optical Zoom Camera with f/2.4 aperture16MP front camera with f/2.45 apertureSide-mounted fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensorUSB Type-C Audio, Stereo speakers, certified by IMAX Enhanced, 3-MIC Stereo Voice Reception, DTS: X Ultra AlgorithmDimensions: 160.3x 141.5mm (72.6mm when folded) 脳6.1 (12.9 when folded) mm; Weight: 261g5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2 LE, GPS (L1 + L5 Dual band), NFC, USB 3.1 Type-C (GEN1)5000mAh (typical) battery with 66W Super fast wired chargingDesign and display(s)The successor to the Magic V retains the 7.9-inch FHD+ 90Hz OLED foldable inner screen with 21:9 aspect ratio and a 90% screen-to-body ratio, 6.45-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED external screen. Yes, the foldable display remains this phone鈥檚 most significant feature and for a good reason. Just like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it has a cover screen and an interior screen. The outer screen measures 6.45 inches diagonally, while the inner display is 7.9 inches. I found both crisp, responsive, and bright, and each screen also folds into the other with no discernible gap. However, in this phone, the outer display is much better and more vibrant than the inner. It seems that Honor wants us to use the Magic Vs as a phone primarily, and then as a foldable 鈥渢ablet.鈥滭/p>The HONOR Magic Vs is 12.9mm thin when folded and weighs 261g, making it the industry鈥檚 lightest foldable smartphone currently. It comes with a seamless design, and a sophisticated super-light gearless hinge carefully crafted with a single-piece casting processing technology without gap offering a creaseless display when unfolded. It is built with aerospace-grade materials and can withstand over 400,000 folds, equivalent to more than ten years of use with 100 folds per day.Lots of smudgesUnfortunately, the glossy, mirror-like finish of the device makes it a fingerprint magnet. The only time you see it in pristine condition is that 1 moment just after it has been cleaned. Then鈥 smudge chaos. That鈥檚 why I would suggest the use of the case: it saves you from all of those woes, while also providing protection. It’s got a soft faux leather layer so it’s nicely premium feeling, too.The controls around the Magic’s perimeter are placed in somewhat of an unusual way. The fingerprint reader/power button pair is on the bottom/right half of the handset. Also the volume rocker is above it. There are also 2 speakers placed on the top/left half of the handset. Another thing you’ll find on the top is an IR emitter! What a surprise! It reminds me of the good old days when most Chinese smartphones came with their own IrDA ports and we could control all sorts of TV鈥檚.In terms of size and usability, the Honor Magic Vs is taller and wider than the Galaxy Fold4, but thinner, and it looks and feels even thinner than the numbers suggest! When you want to use it in tablet mode however, it offers a larger viewing area of 7.9 inches compared to the ‘tiny’ 7.6-inch unit of the latest Galaxy.Honor Magic Vs camera(s)Primary Camera (Wide)27mm 54MP IMX800 Main Camera (f/1.9)Video: Up to 2160脳3840 pixelsPhoto: Up to 6144脳8768 pixelsUltrawide & Macro camera13mm 50-MP f/2Telephoto camera94mm 8MP f/2.4 3X optical zoom + OISSelfie25mm 16MP f/2.45The Honor Magic Vs comes with 3 main (rear) cameras, consisting of a 54-megapixel main camera, 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera capable of 3x optical zoom. There’s also a 16-megapixel selfie shooter, with beauty options and really nice performance.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramI must admit this phone creates magic with its cameras as well. I was pleased with the photo clarity, dynamic range, shutter speed and the versatility of the camera. Detail is good and you can say it’s presented in a balanced way – it’s not the most natural rendition, but it’s not overly processed either. The full res 54MP mode saves in the native field of view, equivalent to a 23mm lens, so it does get a bit more in the frame. That’s perhaps it most significant advantage since it doesn’t really get you a meaningful detail improvement.聽The 8MP telephoto camera may not sound like much, but it does take solid photos. Detail is very good and there’s no noise. Whether I was in bright, dim or even dark lighting environments, the camera captured crisp, vibrant and accurate photos in a variety of lighting scenarios. It cannot reach the Dx0Mark champions out there (iPhone or Samsung flagships) but still, it is great all in all. Honor Magic Vs battery lifeEquipped with a 5,000-mAh battery, the Honor Magic Vs boasts as the foldable phone with the largest battery out there. Only non-foldable flagships – such as the Galaxy S22 Ultra pack the same size battery or larger.During my 2 weeks of everyday use, the Magic Vs made it through with a single charge until late night, just before I went to sleep. I was very happy that I didn鈥檛 have to charge it 2 times per day – even when I used the phone for some gaming.During that time, I played Genshin Impact and took a 10-minute Skype video call on the cover screen. The battery went from 100% to 82% in those 45 minutes.The Magic Vs comes with a bundled 66-watt charger, which Honor says will completely replenish a dead battery within 46 minutes. I tried to repeat the above, and to my surprise, the phone went from 0% to 100% in 48 minutes (!). This means the Magic Vs outshines the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in this department.聽However, there’s no wireless charging on the Magic Vs. That only leaves the Galaxy foldables and a couple of vivo X Folds that support it in the market.Honor Magic Vs softwareThankfully the Magic Vs runs Android 13 and Honor’s MagicOS, just like most of this years鈥 models. It also includes full support for the Google apps suite, unlike Huawei’s software builds which are limited in one way or another. The MagicOS v7 comes with just a few subtle upgrades over its previous iteration. Icons are the same, the task switcher and notification/quick settings have improved usability placements and the Settings menu remains largely the same. I loved the Yoyo suggestions card/widget, that lets you have the onboard assistant pitch apps, and the huge themes gallery with thousands of free customization options. Having played with this foldable, I happily admit of being a fan of MagicOS’ split-screen multi-tasking system, which includes a slide-over menu that you trigger by swiping and holding from the sides. You can multitask with up to 4 apps and there’s a split screen mode as well as floating windows. You can also move apps around and resize their windows. I would have loved to see something like Samsung’s Flex mode on the Magic Vs. Even though I could use the phone when it was half-folded and prop it up like a laptop, none of the apps I used, even native ones, that were tailored for that experience. It’s a shame the software doesn’t take enough advantage of the phone’s folding design. Perhaps with a future OS update?Performance and benchmarksThe Magic Vs packs a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 at its heart. I know, it’s not the current Gen 2, but it’s an easily powerful enough platform. It’s the flagship chipset for 2022, after all. Honor lists the numbers as 3.00GHz for the Cortex-X2 super-powerful core, 2.50GHz for the mid-tier cluster of 3x Cortex-A710s and 1.80GHz for the efficiency-oriented 4x Cortex-A510s.Note also that the international version of the Honor foldable comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Chinese markets also get some 12GB/256GB and 8GB/256GB options.In the Geekbench 5 tests, the phone manages to get some 1299 points in single-core metrics and 3990 points in the multi-core challenge. The numbers are almost the same with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in multi-core tests. Not in single-core, however. Final verdictPacking an impressive hardware set, decent cameras, impressive battery life and intuitive multitasking features, Honor Magic Vs is a true beaty – trapped in the body of a beast! I loved it all in all, mostly for its professional character and its undying battery. However, I must stress that it lacks any kind of IP rating. This makes it fragile sometimes. Also its software doesn’t really take advantage of the folding screen. Finally Honor provides fewer software updates than Samsung (the current foldable King of the market).PROS:Excellent displayImpeccable build qualitySuper thin designState-of the art camerasLarge exterior displayThe Breakdown 4.1 8.2 I must be honest. There鈥檚 so little to dislike about this phone. It packs some impressive cameras, excellent performance, and decent build quality. It鈥檚 an easy phone to work and live with, especially for its price.聽 Main Camera 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 Performance 8.2 Battery life 8.2 Build quality 8.2 Just in time for their rendezvous with an imminent refresh cycle for the V Series models, the Chinese company recently unveiled an impressive selfie-smartphone. The Vivo V27 Pro was initially made available in the Indian market, but its impact was made evident all over the world. It comes with a refreshed design, improved performance, and an exquisite selfie camera. Are these however enough to catch your eye? Have a look at our review.I’ve been using the phone over the last 2 weeks, and here’s how my thoughts on it.vivo V27 Pro specifications6.78-inch (2400 脳 1080 pixels) Full HD AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio screen with HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rateUp to 3.1GHz Octa Core MediaTek Dimensity 8200 4nm processor with Mali-G610 MC6 GPU8GB LPDDR5 RAM with 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) storage, 12GB LPDDR5 RAM with 256GB (UFS 3.1) storageAndroid 13 with Funtouch OS 13Dual SIM (nano + nano)50MP camera with IMX766V sensor, f/1.88 aperture, OIS 8MP ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, Aura light50MP autofocus front camera with f/2.45 apertureIn-display fingerprint sensorUSB Type-C audio, Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res audioDimensions:164.1脳74.8脳7.36mm (Noble Black) / 7.4mm (Magic Blue); Weight:182g5G SA/NSA (n1/n3/n5/n8/n28A/n77/n78 bands), Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3,GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C4600mAh (typ) / 4500mAh (min) battery with 66W fast chargingProsBeautiful designCrisp AMOLED displayImpressive battery lifeExcellent selfie cameraConsAverage Performance(removable) BloatwareNo stereo speakersDesign and display6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display2400 x 1080 pixels resolutionCurved edgesMono speaker聽It鈥檚 a beautiful phone, I must admit. The Vivo V27 Pro packs a 6.78-inch curved display, that folds nicely by the edge of our hands. Easy to hold, easy to use in everyday life.The AMOLED panel supports up to 120Hz of refresh rate, filled with impressive colors and great sunlight legibility. I loved the textured, fingerprint-resistant back that provides for an impressive grip. The phone is also quite light at 182g, meaning no wrist pains with extended usage. Its dimensions of 164.1 x 74.8 x 7.36 mm also make it a relatively slim device compared to its competitors. It packs the typical USB-C port, volume rocker, and power button on its right edge, but lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may disappoint fans of wired headphones.The Vivo V27 Pro is available in two colors: Noble Black, a light pearlescent shade, and Magic Blue 鈥 the color shown in this review 鈥 which appears to be a navy-blue hue.The Chinese company heavily promotes the special AG glass at the back of the phone for its color changing features. It鈥檚 quite simple idea: the glass reflects different colors depending on the lighting conditions. But still, it鈥檚 far from great, as it needs direct 100% of sunlight conditions to work. It鈥檚 a nice capability, but not that significant to me.The Vivo V27 Pro may be an impressive smartphone, packed with curved edges, a crisp AMOLED display and color changing features, but it still lacks some things. i.e., a decent IP rating or some protection at the back of the device.Performance – Benchmark resultsMediaTek Dimensity 8200Up to 12GB RAM (extendable) and 256GB storage4600 mAh battery, 66W wired FlashChargeFuntouch OS 13, based on Android 13The phone packs some serious 鈥減unch鈥 in terms of processing power with MediaTek鈥檚 Dimensity 8200 SoC. I played games like PUBG: New State and Call of Duty Mobile at maximum settings and I encountered no frame drops or heating issues. Upon launching a game, the device automatically triggers its Ultra Gaming mode, providing the user with various performance options. Additionally, this mode includes various features such as screen recording, a voice changer, call blocking, and more. However, it is not a gaming smartphone, but you will entertain yourself easily for hours. As you can see in the results below, the device managed to get 1136 points (single core) and 3436 points (multi-score) in Geekbench. Typical results for a Dimensity 8200 chipset. It also had excellent GPS location capabilities, with no issues at all.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram Camera features50MP OIS main (Sony IMX766V Sensor)8MP ultra-wide2MP super macro50MP selfie camera with autofocusAs the title of this review suggests, this section is the one where the Vivo V27 Pro shines. It comes with four cameras, three at the back and one at the front. The main camera packs a 50MP Sony IMX766V sensor, that delivers impressive photos. They鈥檙e crisp under bright lighting conditions, with the Auto mode doing its job quite efficiently. Nighttime photos are also great. The聽Sony聽IMX766V unit consistently nailed the detail, colors, and dynamic range in every scenario. The Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) integrated into the lens was highly effective at minimizing the impact of shaky hands on the image. Then there is an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro sensor.I loved the 10x zoom of the main sensor, but – to be honest – only 4x-5x zoom is worth the try. After that the image is grainy and not social media friendly. The natural light portraits captured by the Vivo V27 Pro are truly stunning. The edge detection is excellent. When using HDR mode, I did observe warmer tones in the images, particularly with red hues in the frame. For those selfie lovers out there, the front facing camera is a wonder. It activates instantly Portrait mode when changing from main camera to the selfie one, providing enhanced skin tones and a smoother appearance. All of the cameras benefit from Vivo’s excellent imaging tools. Portrait mode cutouts are easily on par with the big-name brands, there’s a multitude of beautification options and boatloads of filters and effects that you can apply after taking each shot.SoftwareThe Vivo V27 Pro runs FunTouch OS 13, based on Android 13. Vivo is a BBK Electronics subsidiary, and BBK phones have grown to embrace the stock Android look of late.聽We’ve spent a lot of time with this operating system lately, so there weren’t any surprises in store. It comes with a lot of usability features and gestures support, while relying on a set of round icons by default. However, I must admit that I didn鈥檛 really like the bloatware that comes with the phone. Thankfully it can be uninstalled, and it still feels clean and smooth to navigate, especially with the high display refresh rate. I was quite pleased with the onboard RAM management of the Vivo V27 Pro. It packs 8GB of RAM that can get increase up to 16GB of RAM with the onboard RAM expansion (system storage). This means that we can easily keep up with most demanding apps like web browsers and social media apps such as Instagram or Facebook for a long time. The FunTouch OS offers high levels of customization, with options to change themes, app icon sizes, text sizes, and animations. The widgets available are well-executed with Android 13. I really enjoyed the game space – it comes with fun capabilities such as a voice changer, screenshot shortcut, and performance modes to enhance the overall gaming experience.Battery lifeI must admit that having a really sleek (and slim) smartphone like the Vivo V27 Pro, means that we have to make some second thoughts on its battery life. It features a small battery – especially when compared to other competitors like the OPPO Reno8 T 5G, or IQOO Neo 7. With a capacity of 4600mAh it managed to live up to my everyday expectations. I used it throughout the day for tasks like texting, and music streaming, it made it through until bedtime with some juice left.However, if you push it more – for gaming, or other demanding stuff like photo shooting and social media, the device won鈥檛 make it through the day. Thankfully it comes with 66W fast charging capability that charges the device in 45 minutes from 0 to 100% with an active internet connection.ConclusionI must be honest. There鈥檚 so little to dislike about this phone. It packs some impressive cameras, excellent performance, and decent build quality. It鈥檚 an easy phone to work and live with, especially for its price.聽The V27 Pro is priced at Rs. 37,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model, Rs. 39,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model and the 12GB + 256GB model costs Rs. 42,999.
The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 I must be honest. There鈥檚 so little to dislike about this phone. It packs some impressive cameras, excellent performance, and decent build quality. It鈥檚 an easy phone to work and live with, especially for its price.聽 Main Camera 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 Performance 8.2 Battery life 8.2 Build quality 8.2 Just in time for their rendezvous with an imminent refresh cycle for the V Series models, the Chinese company recently unveiled an impressive selfie-smartphone. The Vivo V27 Pro was initially made available in the Indian market, but its impact was made evident all over the world. It comes with a refreshed design, improved performance, and an exquisite selfie camera. Are these however enough to catch your eye? Have a look at our review.I’ve been using the phone over the last 2 weeks, and here’s how my thoughts on it.vivo V27 Pro specifications6.78-inch (2400 脳 1080 pixels) Full HD AMOLED 20:9 aspect ratio screen with HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rateUp to 3.1GHz Octa Core MediaTek Dimensity 8200 4nm processor with Mali-G610 MC6 GPU8GB LPDDR5 RAM with 128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1) storage, 12GB LPDDR5 RAM with 256GB (UFS 3.1) storageAndroid 13 with Funtouch OS 13Dual SIM (nano + nano)50MP camera with IMX766V sensor, f/1.88 aperture, OIS 8MP ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, Aura light50MP autofocus front camera with f/2.45 apertureIn-display fingerprint sensorUSB Type-C audio, Stereo Speakers, Hi-Res audioDimensions:164.1脳74.8脳7.36mm (Noble Black) / 7.4mm (Magic Blue); Weight:182g5G SA/NSA (n1/n3/n5/n8/n28A/n77/n78 bands), Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3,GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C4600mAh (typ) / 4500mAh (min) battery with 66W fast chargingProsBeautiful designCrisp AMOLED displayImpressive battery lifeExcellent selfie cameraConsAverage Performance(removable) BloatwareNo stereo speakersDesign and display6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display2400 x 1080 pixels resolutionCurved edgesMono speaker聽It鈥檚 a beautiful phone, I must admit. The Vivo V27 Pro packs a 6.78-inch curved display, that folds nicely by the edge of our hands. Easy to hold, easy to use in everyday life.The AMOLED panel supports up to 120Hz of refresh rate, filled with impressive colors and great sunlight legibility. I loved the textured, fingerprint-resistant back that provides for an impressive grip. The phone is also quite light at 182g, meaning no wrist pains with extended usage. Its dimensions of 164.1 x 74.8 x 7.36 mm also make it a relatively slim device compared to its competitors. It packs the typical USB-C port, volume rocker, and power button on its right edge, but lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which may disappoint fans of wired headphones.The Vivo V27 Pro is available in two colors: Noble Black, a light pearlescent shade, and Magic Blue 鈥 the color shown in this review 鈥 which appears to be a navy-blue hue.The Chinese company heavily promotes the special AG glass at the back of the phone for its color changing features. It鈥檚 quite simple idea: the glass reflects different colors depending on the lighting conditions. But still, it鈥檚 far from great, as it needs direct 100% of sunlight conditions to work. It鈥檚 a nice capability, but not that significant to me.The Vivo V27 Pro may be an impressive smartphone, packed with curved edges, a crisp AMOLED display and color changing features, but it still lacks some things. i.e., a decent IP rating or some protection at the back of the device.Performance – Benchmark resultsMediaTek Dimensity 8200Up to 12GB RAM (extendable) and 256GB storage4600 mAh battery, 66W wired FlashChargeFuntouch OS 13, based on Android 13The phone packs some serious 鈥減unch鈥 in terms of processing power with MediaTek鈥檚 Dimensity 8200 SoC. I played games like PUBG: New State and Call of Duty Mobile at maximum settings and I encountered no frame drops or heating issues. Upon launching a game, the device automatically triggers its Ultra Gaming mode, providing the user with various performance options. Additionally, this mode includes various features such as screen recording, a voice changer, call blocking, and more. However, it is not a gaming smartphone, but you will entertain yourself easily for hours. As you can see in the results below, the device managed to get 1136 points (single core) and 3436 points (multi-score) in Geekbench. Typical results for a Dimensity 8200 chipset. It also had excellent GPS location capabilities, with no issues at all.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram Camera features50MP OIS main (Sony IMX766V Sensor)8MP ultra-wide2MP super macro50MP selfie camera with autofocusAs the title of this review suggests, this section is the one where the Vivo V27 Pro shines. It comes with four cameras, three at the back and one at the front. The main camera packs a 50MP Sony IMX766V sensor, that delivers impressive photos. They鈥檙e crisp under bright lighting conditions, with the Auto mode doing its job quite efficiently. Nighttime photos are also great. The聽Sony聽IMX766V unit consistently nailed the detail, colors, and dynamic range in every scenario. The Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) integrated into the lens was highly effective at minimizing the impact of shaky hands on the image. Then there is an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro sensor.I loved the 10x zoom of the main sensor, but – to be honest – only 4x-5x zoom is worth the try. After that the image is grainy and not social media friendly. The natural light portraits captured by the Vivo V27 Pro are truly stunning. The edge detection is excellent. When using HDR mode, I did observe warmer tones in the images, particularly with red hues in the frame. For those selfie lovers out there, the front facing camera is a wonder. It activates instantly Portrait mode when changing from main camera to the selfie one, providing enhanced skin tones and a smoother appearance. All of the cameras benefit from Vivo’s excellent imaging tools. Portrait mode cutouts are easily on par with the big-name brands, there’s a multitude of beautification options and boatloads of filters and effects that you can apply after taking each shot.SoftwareThe Vivo V27 Pro runs FunTouch OS 13, based on Android 13. Vivo is a BBK Electronics subsidiary, and BBK phones have grown to embrace the stock Android look of late.聽We’ve spent a lot of time with this operating system lately, so there weren’t any surprises in store. It comes with a lot of usability features and gestures support, while relying on a set of round icons by default. However, I must admit that I didn鈥檛 really like the bloatware that comes with the phone. Thankfully it can be uninstalled, and it still feels clean and smooth to navigate, especially with the high display refresh rate. I was quite pleased with the onboard RAM management of the Vivo V27 Pro. It packs 8GB of RAM that can get increase up to 16GB of RAM with the onboard RAM expansion (system storage). This means that we can easily keep up with most demanding apps like web browsers and social media apps such as Instagram or Facebook for a long time. The FunTouch OS offers high levels of customization, with options to change themes, app icon sizes, text sizes, and animations. The widgets available are well-executed with Android 13. I really enjoyed the game space – it comes with fun capabilities such as a voice changer, screenshot shortcut, and performance modes to enhance the overall gaming experience.Battery lifeI must admit that having a really sleek (and slim) smartphone like the Vivo V27 Pro, means that we have to make some second thoughts on its battery life. It features a small battery – especially when compared to other competitors like the OPPO Reno8 T 5G, or IQOO Neo 7. With a capacity of 4600mAh it managed to live up to my everyday expectations. I used it throughout the day for tasks like texting, and music streaming, it made it through until bedtime with some juice left.However, if you push it more – for gaming, or other demanding stuff like photo shooting and social media, the device won鈥檛 make it through the day. Thankfully it comes with 66W fast charging capability that charges the device in 45 minutes from 0 to 100% with an active internet connection.ConclusionI must be honest. There鈥檚 so little to dislike about this phone. It packs some impressive cameras, excellent performance, and decent build quality. It鈥檚 an easy phone to work and live with, especially for its price.聽The V27 Pro is priced at Rs. 37,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model, Rs. 39,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model and the 12GB + 256GB model costs Rs. 42,999.Just a few weeks after its official unveiling, Vivo鈥檚 flagship model is in our hands for an extensive review. The Chinese phone maker announced the new X90 and Vivo X90 Pro just days after Samsung’s Galaxy S23 launch and there鈥檚 a reason for this. Vivo rely a lot on the device鈥檚 120-watt charger and the 1-inch Sony IMX 989 main camera sensor.Although Vivo isn’t as popular as its other competitors, like Samsung and Apple, I bet that with this beauty, it will surely become soon. The Vivo X90 Pro is a true gem in terms of camera specifications, battery life and performance. However it is plagued by bloatware which can be easily fixed by uninstalling them when you open it the first time. Let鈥檚 see how the flagship model – equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, fared during our 3-week review.Main specsBrand:聽VivoSoC:聽MediaTek Dimensity 9200Display:聽6.78-inch 120Hz 1260 x 2800 HDR10+ AMOLEDRAM:聽8GB, 12GBStorage:聽2156GB, 512GBBattery:聽4,870mAhPorts:聽USB Type-C 3.2Operating System:聽FunTouch OS 13, Android 13Front camera:聽32MP 24mm (wide) f/2.5Rear cameras:聽50MP 23mm (wide) f/1.8 1.0″ with OIS, 50MP 50mm (telephoto) f/1.6, and 12MP 13mm (ultrawide) f/2.0Connectivity:聽Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Infrared Port, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICOthers:聽Zeiss T* lens coatingDimensions:聽164.1 x 74.5 x 9.3mmColors:聽Legendary BlackWeight:聽214.9gCharging:聽Included 120-watt GaN chargerIP Rating:聽IP68Main packageValidating its name, the main package of the Vivo X90 Pro is as premium as it should. Inside there鈥檚 the phone, a set of manuals, a SIM ejector tool, a silicon case, the mighty 120-Watt fast charger and a USB-C cable. One would believe that the Vivo X90 Pro would be powered by the most powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, but instead it relies on the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC, delivering relevant performance. It offers quite decent benchmark results, combined with 12GB RAM and 8GB more from its UFS 4.0 internal memory, allowing you to have a massive 20GB total for extreme multitasking.Vivo X90 Pro Display The brand new X90 Pro sports a blocky design, a decent mix of flat and curved edges. However it does exude a premium hand-feel experience, with nice non-slippery materials all around it. Q9 luminescent material enables higher brightness while saving power. All-new Blue Diamond鈩? pixel arraignment with 452 PPI ultra-vision pixel density. Say goodbye to graininess and enjoy an exquisite ultra-high-def display. Up to 2,160 Hz pulse-width modulation (PWM) and brightness control technology of Dimensity 9200 protect you from harmful blue light and take better care of your eyes in dim environments. The vivo Vision Health Lab scientifically adjusts color temperature (at night) through anti-fatigue brightness adjustment strategies-a smart choice for eye protection.The sleek Skyline in a ceramic sheen adorned with silk screen printing divides the back cover, following a golden ratio that testifies to mathematical beauty. By drawing inspiration from professional cameras, Vivo turned the lenses into an integrated “Big-Eye” camera module with Halo Ring made from austenitic stainless steel. It reduces the risk of abrasions and paint peeling that is commonly seen on protruding camera systems. The high-gloss C-angle enhances the sophisticated and premium feel. The luxurious waxy pebbled vegan leather is durable and delicate to the touch, provides a nonslip grip, and keeps fingerprints and dirt away.Main Display features6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display2800 x 1260 resolution1300 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ certifiedDual stereo speakersThe first time I activated the Vivo X90 Pro for the review, a beautiful 6.78-inch (2800 x 1260 pixels) AMOLED display appeared. It offers support for a peak brightness of 1,300nits and complete HDR10+ compatibility. It looks great under direct sunlight and offers great viewing angles when watching FHD videos on YouTube. The colors of the subject and scene on the display come off as rich and vibrant, visually pleasing. It’s extremely bright, which is great on sunny days, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes swiping around the operating system look buttery smooth. The speakers are impressive, too. They’re not the loudest speakers around, but there’s some good stereo separation and a good amount of low-end response. They’ll definitely get the job done when you’re watching Netflix around the house.Performance – speed – gamingArm Cortex-X3 up to 3.05GHzArm Cortex-A715 up to 2.85GHzFirst Arm Immortalis-G715 GPUMediaTek APU 690 AI processor: 35% faster than previous generationFirst LPDDR5X 8533Mbps: Fastest ever smartphone memoryFirst UFS 4.0 + MCQ2nd Generation TSMC 4nm+ chip production + thermally optimized IC design & package by MediaTekOn聽Geekbench 5, the X90 Pro scored 1377 points on the single-core CPU test and 4264 points on the multi-core CPU test. As per these numbers, the Vivo X90 Pro is currently one of the most powerful smartphones out there, and we can expect to see similar performance on upcoming phones like the聽OnePlus聽11聽and the聽Samsung聽Galaxy S23.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram螣ur review unit is the top-end model packing 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM with an additional 8GB available as virtual swap memory from the 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. It did an excellent job in all day-to-day chores such as opening apps instantly, switching between multiple apps, operating the camera to record 4K videos and other tasks. It even worked smoothly while playing games and didn鈥檛 exhibit overheating issues when playing in the shade outdoors or indoors. The Vivo X90 Pro is equipped with a 40 square cm vapor chamber, plus 24 heat dissipation layers, allowing it to remain stable and avoid thermal throttling. What’s more impressive is that its lowest loop score is still higher than the best score the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ achieved during its first run. Compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagships, it benchmarks marginally lower, but not by any significant degree. In practice, I am sure it will be really hard tell the difference.Camera performance32MP f/2.45 selfie camera50MP f/1.75 primary (Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor)50MP f/1.6 2x portrait12MP f/2.0 wide-angleAlthough it鈥檚 not aimed exclusively at digital photographers, the X90 Pro can easily please us with its imaging features – with the help of ZEISS. It packs a triple camera with a main 50 MP sensor (f/1.9, 23mm, 1/1.57-inch, 1.0碌m pixel size, PDAF: Phase Detection Auto Focus, OIS: Optical Image Stabilization) backed by 50MP portrait lens (f/1.6, PDAF, 2x optical zoom) and a 12MP wide -angle sensor (f/2.2) with LED flash on the back.Whether you’re shooting under the harsh midday sun, in a dark parking lot, or inside a car with challenging lighting, you get clear, defined photos. The phone also emulates grainy film well in dark images, giving it a natural look. It offers a lot of preset modes for shooting, including Sports, Night, Portrait, Panorama, Long Exposure, Supermoon, Astrophotography, Landscape and Architecture, Food, and Double Exposure. You also get HDR, Zeiss Natural Color, and Macro mode on the main Photo mode. If you鈥檙e looking however for the maximum of the phone鈥檚 camera abilities, then you鈥檇 have to activate its ZEISS Pro Mode. It lets you control everything鈥攆rom the basics, like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, to focusing, metering, and exposure values. You can also record videos at up to 8K resolution at 24 FPS. And although the Vivo X90 Pro’s video recording capabilities aren’t as excellent as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it offers several features, like Cinematic Mode and Ultra Stabilization, to help it catch up a bit.Selfies like a Pro – Astro PhotographyIf you鈥檙e into the fun of selfies, then the X90 Pro can surely accommodate you there. It offers three filter options. The first filter, Style, enables you to apply five iconic Zeiss bokeh styles鈥擝iotar, Sonnar, Planar, Distagon, and Cinematic鈥攁nd more.The second filter set is more for beautification, makeup, and posture, while the last filter is artificial bokeh. The beauty filter is quite advanced, allowing you to change several settings, including skin tone, whitening, facial features, etc. You also get a posture guide in the second filter set so that you can make different poses for your selfies. Note however that the selfie camera lacks autofocus, but the fixed focus did the work.One of the features I loved about the Vivo X90 Pro was its Astro Photography mode. With an easy interface, it allowed me to take pictures of the stars without the need for a tripod. There’s another mode called Supermoon, which retains the detail in the moon during long-exposure night shots, and this also works well.Software and鈥 some bloatwareIn our review, the X90 Pro runs on FunTouchOS 13 鈥 based on the latest Android 13 OS. It鈥檚 Vivo鈥檚 main software 鈥 we all know it. This is both good and bad. While the software feels highly optimized with no lags, I didn鈥檛 like the fact that it comes with many third-party bloatware apps. Some of them can be easily uninstalled, while apps like Browser, V-Store, iManager, and EasyShare can neither be removed nor disabled. Another thing that affected my review experience with the device was the constant appearance of notifications from these apps, asking me to either update them or buy some stuff from Vivo鈥檚 original store. I easily muted them 鈥 but still, not what I鈥檇 expect from a flagship level smartphone. Let鈥檚 hope that with timely upgrades the Vivo X90 Pro has a secure and enjoyable tenure as far as the software goes. Vivo thankfully confirmed after the review, that the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro would receive three major Android upgrades along with 3 years of security updates. That means you can expect the phone to get up to Android 16 (!), and all the necessary security updates until 2026.Battery life during our reviewTo be honest, only a few will be interested to see the maximum battery life of this little beast when it is charged by a 120W charger. Inside the X90 Pro there鈥檚 a large 4870 mAh battery. The 120W fast charger can top up 50 per cent of the battery in just 8 minutes. It can also go up to 100% in just 26 minutes! In terms of battery life, I got approximately 5,5 hours of screen-on time with the resolution capped at 2K along with 120Hz refresh rate. I used the phone for social media, some email, certain Google Sheets editing and 45 minutes of Call of Duty: Mobile 鈥 because why not?Our review opinionThe Vivo X90 Pro has all the right stuff for you. It packs an efficient MediaTek SoC to deliver smooth performance and long battery life. A crystal-clear display, and excellent quality build. All the above make it a top-tier device worthy of the flagship smartphone title. What holds it back is the UI, filled with bloatware. Most of this can be removed or hidden in the app drawer. But it would be nice to not have to go through the hassle. It鈥檚 not a cheap flagship also. The price in Malaysia is over 4,999 MYR (about 鈧?077) so it is certainly not cheap.
Just a few weeks after its official unveiling, Vivo鈥檚 flagship model is in our hands for an extensive review. The Chinese phone maker announced the new X90 and Vivo X90 Pro just days after Samsung’s Galaxy S23 launch and there鈥檚 a reason for this. Vivo rely a lot on the device鈥檚 120-watt charger and the 1-inch Sony IMX 989 main camera sensor.Although Vivo isn’t as popular as its other competitors, like Samsung and Apple, I bet that with this beauty, it will surely become soon. The Vivo X90 Pro is a true gem in terms of camera specifications, battery life and performance. However it is plagued by bloatware which can be easily fixed by uninstalling them when you open it the first time. Let鈥檚 see how the flagship model – equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, fared during our 3-week review.Main specsBrand:聽VivoSoC:聽MediaTek Dimensity 9200Display:聽6.78-inch 120Hz 1260 x 2800 HDR10+ AMOLEDRAM:聽8GB, 12GBStorage:聽2156GB, 512GBBattery:聽4,870mAhPorts:聽USB Type-C 3.2Operating System:聽FunTouch OS 13, Android 13Front camera:聽32MP 24mm (wide) f/2.5Rear cameras:聽50MP 23mm (wide) f/1.8 1.0″ with OIS, 50MP 50mm (telephoto) f/1.6, and 12MP 13mm (ultrawide) f/2.0Connectivity:聽Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, Infrared Port, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavICOthers:聽Zeiss T* lens coatingDimensions:聽164.1 x 74.5 x 9.3mmColors:聽Legendary BlackWeight:聽214.9gCharging:聽Included 120-watt GaN chargerIP Rating:聽IP68Main packageValidating its name, the main package of the Vivo X90 Pro is as premium as it should. Inside there鈥檚 the phone, a set of manuals, a SIM ejector tool, a silicon case, the mighty 120-Watt fast charger and a USB-C cable. One would believe that the Vivo X90 Pro would be powered by the most powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, but instead it relies on the MediaTek Dimensity 9200 SoC, delivering relevant performance. It offers quite decent benchmark results, combined with 12GB RAM and 8GB more from its UFS 4.0 internal memory, allowing you to have a massive 20GB total for extreme multitasking.Vivo X90 Pro Display The brand new X90 Pro sports a blocky design, a decent mix of flat and curved edges. However it does exude a premium hand-feel experience, with nice non-slippery materials all around it. Q9 luminescent material enables higher brightness while saving power. All-new Blue Diamond鈩? pixel arraignment with 452 PPI ultra-vision pixel density. Say goodbye to graininess and enjoy an exquisite ultra-high-def display. Up to 2,160 Hz pulse-width modulation (PWM) and brightness control technology of Dimensity 9200 protect you from harmful blue light and take better care of your eyes in dim environments. The vivo Vision Health Lab scientifically adjusts color temperature (at night) through anti-fatigue brightness adjustment strategies-a smart choice for eye protection.The sleek Skyline in a ceramic sheen adorned with silk screen printing divides the back cover, following a golden ratio that testifies to mathematical beauty. By drawing inspiration from professional cameras, Vivo turned the lenses into an integrated “Big-Eye” camera module with Halo Ring made from austenitic stainless steel. It reduces the risk of abrasions and paint peeling that is commonly seen on protruding camera systems. The high-gloss C-angle enhances the sophisticated and premium feel. The luxurious waxy pebbled vegan leather is durable and delicate to the touch, provides a nonslip grip, and keeps fingerprints and dirt away.Main Display features6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display2800 x 1260 resolution1300 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ certifiedDual stereo speakersThe first time I activated the Vivo X90 Pro for the review, a beautiful 6.78-inch (2800 x 1260 pixels) AMOLED display appeared. It offers support for a peak brightness of 1,300nits and complete HDR10+ compatibility. It looks great under direct sunlight and offers great viewing angles when watching FHD videos on YouTube. The colors of the subject and scene on the display come off as rich and vibrant, visually pleasing. It’s extremely bright, which is great on sunny days, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes swiping around the operating system look buttery smooth. The speakers are impressive, too. They’re not the loudest speakers around, but there’s some good stereo separation and a good amount of low-end response. They’ll definitely get the job done when you’re watching Netflix around the house.Performance – speed – gamingArm Cortex-X3 up to 3.05GHzArm Cortex-A715 up to 2.85GHzFirst Arm Immortalis-G715 GPUMediaTek APU 690 AI processor: 35% faster than previous generationFirst LPDDR5X 8533Mbps: Fastest ever smartphone memoryFirst UFS 4.0 + MCQ2nd Generation TSMC 4nm+ chip production + thermally optimized IC design & package by MediaTekOn聽Geekbench 5, the X90 Pro scored 1377 points on the single-core CPU test and 4264 points on the multi-core CPU test. As per these numbers, the Vivo X90 Pro is currently one of the most powerful smartphones out there, and we can expect to see similar performance on upcoming phones like the聽OnePlus聽11聽and the聽Samsung聽Galaxy S23.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram螣ur review unit is the top-end model packing 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM with an additional 8GB available as virtual swap memory from the 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. It did an excellent job in all day-to-day chores such as opening apps instantly, switching between multiple apps, operating the camera to record 4K videos and other tasks. It even worked smoothly while playing games and didn鈥檛 exhibit overheating issues when playing in the shade outdoors or indoors. The Vivo X90 Pro is equipped with a 40 square cm vapor chamber, plus 24 heat dissipation layers, allowing it to remain stable and avoid thermal throttling. What’s more impressive is that its lowest loop score is still higher than the best score the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ achieved during its first run. Compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagships, it benchmarks marginally lower, but not by any significant degree. In practice, I am sure it will be really hard tell the difference.Camera performance32MP f/2.45 selfie camera50MP f/1.75 primary (Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor)50MP f/1.6 2x portrait12MP f/2.0 wide-angleAlthough it鈥檚 not aimed exclusively at digital photographers, the X90 Pro can easily please us with its imaging features – with the help of ZEISS. It packs a triple camera with a main 50 MP sensor (f/1.9, 23mm, 1/1.57-inch, 1.0碌m pixel size, PDAF: Phase Detection Auto Focus, OIS: Optical Image Stabilization) backed by 50MP portrait lens (f/1.6, PDAF, 2x optical zoom) and a 12MP wide -angle sensor (f/2.2) with LED flash on the back.Whether you’re shooting under the harsh midday sun, in a dark parking lot, or inside a car with challenging lighting, you get clear, defined photos. The phone also emulates grainy film well in dark images, giving it a natural look. It offers a lot of preset modes for shooting, including Sports, Night, Portrait, Panorama, Long Exposure, Supermoon, Astrophotography, Landscape and Architecture, Food, and Double Exposure. You also get HDR, Zeiss Natural Color, and Macro mode on the main Photo mode. If you鈥檙e looking however for the maximum of the phone鈥檚 camera abilities, then you鈥檇 have to activate its ZEISS Pro Mode. It lets you control everything鈥攆rom the basics, like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, to focusing, metering, and exposure values. You can also record videos at up to 8K resolution at 24 FPS. And although the Vivo X90 Pro’s video recording capabilities aren’t as excellent as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it offers several features, like Cinematic Mode and Ultra Stabilization, to help it catch up a bit.Selfies like a Pro – Astro PhotographyIf you鈥檙e into the fun of selfies, then the X90 Pro can surely accommodate you there. It offers three filter options. The first filter, Style, enables you to apply five iconic Zeiss bokeh styles鈥擝iotar, Sonnar, Planar, Distagon, and Cinematic鈥攁nd more.The second filter set is more for beautification, makeup, and posture, while the last filter is artificial bokeh. The beauty filter is quite advanced, allowing you to change several settings, including skin tone, whitening, facial features, etc. You also get a posture guide in the second filter set so that you can make different poses for your selfies. Note however that the selfie camera lacks autofocus, but the fixed focus did the work.One of the features I loved about the Vivo X90 Pro was its Astro Photography mode. With an easy interface, it allowed me to take pictures of the stars without the need for a tripod. There’s another mode called Supermoon, which retains the detail in the moon during long-exposure night shots, and this also works well.Software and鈥 some bloatwareIn our review, the X90 Pro runs on FunTouchOS 13 鈥 based on the latest Android 13 OS. It鈥檚 Vivo鈥檚 main software 鈥 we all know it. This is both good and bad. While the software feels highly optimized with no lags, I didn鈥檛 like the fact that it comes with many third-party bloatware apps. Some of them can be easily uninstalled, while apps like Browser, V-Store, iManager, and EasyShare can neither be removed nor disabled. Another thing that affected my review experience with the device was the constant appearance of notifications from these apps, asking me to either update them or buy some stuff from Vivo鈥檚 original store. I easily muted them 鈥 but still, not what I鈥檇 expect from a flagship level smartphone. Let鈥檚 hope that with timely upgrades the Vivo X90 Pro has a secure and enjoyable tenure as far as the software goes. Vivo thankfully confirmed after the review, that the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro would receive three major Android upgrades along with 3 years of security updates. That means you can expect the phone to get up to Android 16 (!), and all the necessary security updates until 2026.Battery life during our reviewTo be honest, only a few will be interested to see the maximum battery life of this little beast when it is charged by a 120W charger. Inside the X90 Pro there鈥檚 a large 4870 mAh battery. The 120W fast charger can top up 50 per cent of the battery in just 8 minutes. It can also go up to 100% in just 26 minutes! In terms of battery life, I got approximately 5,5 hours of screen-on time with the resolution capped at 2K along with 120Hz refresh rate. I used the phone for social media, some email, certain Google Sheets editing and 45 minutes of Call of Duty: Mobile 鈥 because why not?Our review opinionThe Vivo X90 Pro has all the right stuff for you. It packs an efficient MediaTek SoC to deliver smooth performance and long battery life. A crystal-clear display, and excellent quality build. All the above make it a top-tier device worthy of the flagship smartphone title. What holds it back is the UI, filled with bloatware. Most of this can be removed or hidden in the app drawer. But it would be nice to not have to go through the hassle. It鈥檚 not a cheap flagship also. The price in Malaysia is over 4,999 MYR (about 鈧?077) so it is certainly not cheap.The Breakdown 4.2 8.4 Thats a nice - second - attempt by TECNO to enter the high end (competitive) market. The Phantom X2 relies on the latest Mediatek Dimensity 9000 and a minimal and unique back design to impress us. I loved its 120Hz curved OLED display, and the decent battery life, but not the general performance of its camera setup. Performance 8.4 Battery 8.4 Selfie Camera 8.4 Main Camera 8.4 Value for money 8.4 Build quality 8.4 There鈥檚 significant competition in the mobile phone industry in recent years, and a lot of brands like OPPO, TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), Samsung, Huawei, Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi launched their new mobile phone products with better features and design, providing the market with some interesting products. TECNO is no stranger to us, we have loved their creations the past years, as they focus on affordable yet quite impressive smartphones, that deliver what the customer wants. Take聽Tecno Phantom X2 5G for example: it’s a flagship-like device, with a curved display at an attractive price that surely can be of interest to you. So read the review below!TECNO鈥檚 success in the global emerging market has been attributed to tailoring its phones鈥 features to the needs of the local market and is always committed to provide the users the latest technologies for the youth-generation consumers who are “young at heart”. This brand new Phantom X2 model is only available in a single 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, packs a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC and an enigmatic design choice.We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our review impressions using this device as a main smartphone for mostly business but also pleasure.Tecno Phantom X2 – Technical SpecsAs we mentioned earlier, this is surely a flagship-like smartphone. So let’s see what it offers on the specs sheet:Body:聽164.6×72.7×8.9mm, 203g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame, plastic back.Display: 6.80″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 387 ppi.Chipset:聽MediaTek Dimensity 9000 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.05 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.85 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Mali-G710 MC10.Memory:聽64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1.OS/Software:聽Android 12, HIOS 12.Rear camera:聽Wide (main): 64 MP, PDAF, OIS;聽Ultra wide angle: 13 MP, f/2.2, 1/1.3″, 1.12碌m, AF;聽Depth: 2 MP.Front camera:聽32 MP, (wide).Video capture:聽Rear camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps;聽Front camera: [email protected]: 5160 mAh; 45W wired, 54% in 20 min, 100% in 60 min (advertised).Misc:聽Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; FM radio, recording.Tecno Phantom X2 – Main packageThe Tecno Phantom X2 packs the following items inside the box:Tecno Phantom X245W Charging BrickType-C Charging CableType-C EarphonesPhone CaseTECNO Phantom X2 – DesignOne thing that makes this little beast stand out from the rest phones in the market, is surely it鈥檚 massive camera island on its back – but we鈥檒l talk about it later. The Phantom X2 packs a 6.8-inch OLED screen with an elongated 20:9 aspect ratio. The backside can come in glass or vegan leather 鈥渕ade from recycled materials from the Indian Ocean,鈥 which is something of interest to some – not me. The display is curved, with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, maximum brightness of 500 nits and refresh rate up to 120Hz. There鈥檚 a 鈥淧HANTOM鈥 text placed at the bottom of the back side. It looks quite appealing. I also loved how the back and front panels are connected on the sides, providing a pleasing grip. Tecno calls this a 鈥渦nibody double-curved design鈥? It feels premium during in-hand operations, combined with a weight of just 203 gr. However, note that the weight distribution is not on point due to that camera island. On the right side, we find volume rockers and a power button with a red color accent to it which are pretty. At its top, a secondary microphone for noise cancellation is placed. On its bottom, it bundles a bottom-firing speaker, a USB Type-C Port, a SIM tray slot, and a primary microphone. It doesn鈥檛 have IP68 rating for protection, so you鈥檇 better be careful. Tecno Phantom X2 DisplayIn terms of color vibrancy, viewing angles, animations and sharpness, I have no complaints. The screen looks good. But the 500 nits of brightness is a bit low by 2023 flagship standards, and this is a screen that clearly looks dim under direct sunlight compared to something like a new iPhone or Samsung. During outdoor scenarios, the display is bright enough and we didn鈥檛 encounter any visibility issues. 螜t鈥檚 covered with Gorilla Glass Victus and comes with 2 colour modes:- Bright colors and Original colors. I really appreciated the fact that the Phantom X2 supports Widevine L1 certification. This lets the other OTT streaming applications like Netflix and Amazon Prime offer HD quality to cherish your sessions. Thankfully it also holds three modes for refresh rate settings: Auto switch refresh rate, 60Hz, and 120Hz.TECNO Phantom X2 review – HardwareThe driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Dimensity 9000 SoC. It a high-end SoC with an integrated 5G modem. It includes one fast Cortex-X2 core with up to 3 GHz, three more A710 cores with up to 2.85 GHz and four power efficiency cores (Cortex-A510) with upto 1.8 GHz. The SoC is manufactured in the new 4nm process at TSMC factories. Obviously this is a decent SoC that can easily go neck-to-neck with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 which means it delivers best-in-class performance. There鈥檚 also a Mali-G710 MC10 inside. It provides a clock speed of up to 3.05 GHz coupled with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. There is no software lagging or heating issues. The Phantom 2 has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions and by the way, its GPS is instantaneous.While performing the Geekbench benchmark, the device鈥檚 temperature reached almost 39掳C which can be accepted. As far as benchmarks are concerned; It hits 1241 in Single Core Benchmark, and 4130 Multi-Core Score. During the CPU throttling test, it throttled down to 79% to its max performance. I enjoyed playing some nice game titles like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile. I didn鈥檛 encounter any slowdowns or lags during use. The device felt slightly warmer while playing genshin impact for an hour but doesn鈥檛 affect the performance at all. Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramTECNO Phantom X2 review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Phantom X2 is its impressive triple camera. It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Customized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shape The phone in our review bundles a triple camera array which includes 64MP Primary Sensor, 13MP Ultra-wide Sensor, and 2MP sensor that is equipped with LED flash. On its front optics, it bundles a 64 MP selfie shooter with OIS. It also has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects. It lacks a dedicated telephoto camera but allows shooting digital zoom pictures via a primary camera. Also, the night mode is a bit disappointing; With a very slow shutter speed during low light conditions, it comes up with a worse photo than the normal mode. Sometimes however, it works flawlessly well.TECNO has invested a lot in the camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect!Camera featuresPhantom X2 have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions.All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review.There鈥檚 also support for HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes, while having the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈More camera featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are in this review. The main sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times, but seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera. Video stabilization is on par, too, the only weakness I would say is the ultra-wide lens, and that the portrait lens struggles with focus in lower light situations. In any case, this is a camera system that can almost face most of the biggest names in the industry. This is a remarkable achievement by Tecno.聽TECNO Phantom X2 review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. This is not the first time that I used HIOS. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. The customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, AI Gallery, Ella, Hi Browser, Hi Translate, Palm Store, and Visha Player, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone. However, Android 12 is a generation old now and Tecno does not have a proven track record of offering software updates in a timely manner. I wouldn鈥檛 hold my breath on Android 13 coming here anytime soon.Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5,160 mAh battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 7-8 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 45W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides a full charge the device from 0%-50% in 19 minutes and it took us 59 minutes to charge it from 0% to 100%. However, the phone doesn鈥檛 support wireless charging, a bummer for those who want everything.TECNO Phantom X2 review – ConclusionIndeed, this is TECNO鈥檚 most ambitious project, in terms of hype and performance. It features an eye-grabbing design and genuine innovative camera hardware breakthrough. It can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography, and more. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of proper image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts the total performance in the area.The SoC is energy efficient and stable and cool. Software is rich but needs polishing to remove some of the bloatware. There is a quite large battery with top standby times of up to 15 hours of use, and the charging speed is good with a 45W charger. Design is great and the addition of case / earphones in the box is a plus.The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 The iQOO 11 5G has all the right stuff for you. It packs an efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to deliver smooth performance and long battery life. What holds it back is the UI, filled with bloatware. If you can overlook it, then you may have found a smartphone suited for your needs. Performance 8.9 Photography 8.9 Software 8.9 Quality 8.9 Earlier in the month, emerging smartphone maker iQOO announced the company’s first premium phone iQOO 11 5G. It’s the first of their portfolio to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. It may not look that different compared to its predecessor iQOO 9 series, but there鈥檚 more than meets the eye inside. It鈥檚 a performance-oriented model, ready to deliver faster and more efficient performance along with improved photography features. We got the device for a 2 week review, so here are our thoughts.iQOO 11 5G: Technical specifications6.78-inch (3200 x 1440 pixels) Quad HD+ E6 LTPO 4.0 AMOLED 20:9aspect ratio screen with HDR10+, 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 color gamut, up to 1800 nits brightness, 1440Hz PWM dimming, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protectionOcta Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 740 GPU8GB / 16GB LPDDR5X RAM with 256GB (UFS 4.0) storageAndroid 13 with Funtouch OS 13Dual SIM (nano + nano)50MP camera with 1/1.57鈥 Samsung GN5 sensor, f/1.88 aperture, OIS, LED flash, 8MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 13MP 2x telephoto camera with f/2.46 aperture, V2 imaging chip16MP front-facing camera with f/2.45 apertureIn-display fingerprint sensor, infrared sensorUSB Type-C audio, Stereo speakers, Hi-Fi audioiQOO 11 Dimensions: 164.86脳 77.07脳8.4mm (Alpha) / 8.72mm (Legend); Weight: 208g (Alpha) / 205g (Legend)5G (SA: n1/n3/n5/n8/n28/n40/n41/n77/n78) / (NSA: n28/n1/n3/n40/n41/n77/n78) bands, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 ax, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS/GLONASS, USB Type-C, NFC5000mAh (Typical) battery with 120W ultra-fast flash chargingDesign, build quality and displayThe brand new iQOO 11 5G sports a blocky design, a decent mix of flat and curved edges. However it does exude a premium hand-feel experience, with nice non-slippery materials all around it. The device is available in 2 colors. A white one, with BMW M Series branding (if you鈥檙e a BMW fan you may love it) but also a dark grey. It’s a professional variant with a matte finish that looks much more premium. Gorilla Glass Victus is the protection being employed upfront, while on the back is standard AG glass.If you believe that the phone needs 鈥減rotection鈥? then you can use the transparent cover case聽 in the retail box. It is soft and sturdy enough to protect the device from getting dents on the premium metallic frame.There is no headphone jack on the iQOO 11 but you do get a set of stereo speakers. There鈥檚 also an in-display fingerprint sensor along with an On/Off button on the side, along with volume rocker. On the back side, you find the big rectangular camera module with triple camera sensors and dual-tone LED flash. At the bottom, a speaker grill is housed next to a USB Type-C charging port along with a SIM card tray. The smartphone supports two nano SIMs. The first time I activated the iQOO 11 5G for the review, a beautiful 6.78-inch Quad HD+(1440 x 3200p) LTPO(v4) AMOLED display appears. It offers support for a peak brightness of 1,800nits and pixel density of 518 ppi (pixels per inch). It looks great under direct sunlight, and offers great viewing angles when watching FHD videos on YouTube. The colors of the subject and scene on the display come off as rich and vibrant, visually pleasing.iQOO 11 5G review:聽Snappy Performance!As I mentioned in the review, the iQOO 11 5G is one of the most powerful Android smartphones out there. It packs a 4nm class Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, Qualcomm’s latest and most powerful octa-core (3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 x 1 + 聽2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 x 2 + 聽2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 x 2 + 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510 x 3 with Adreno 740 GPU) mobile chipset to date. On the AnTuTu benchmark, the device posted 1,234,181 points in our test. Similarly, on Geekbench 5, the iQOO 11 scored 1400 points on the single-core CPU test and 4890 points on the multi-core CPU test. As per these numbers, the iQOO 11 is currently one of the most powerful smartphones out there, and we can expect to see similar performance on upcoming phones like the OnePlus聽11 and the聽Samsung聽Galaxy S23. Our review unit is the top-end model packing 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM with an additional 8GB available as virtual swap memory from the 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. It did an excellent job in all day-to-day chores such as opening apps instantly, switching between multiple apps, operating the camera to record 4K videos and other tasks. It even worked smoothly while playing games and didn’t exhibit overheating issues when playing in the shade outdoors or indoors.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramOne thing that should be noted is that the iQOO 11 5G comes with a Vapor Chamber Liquid Cooling system. It is said to be made of stamped stainless steel for efficient heat dissipation, 40 per cent better compared to the predecessor.iQOO 11 5G review: more tech specsThe dual speakers on the iQOO 11 are nothing out of the ordinary and have an acceptable amount of volume. We mentioned at the beginning the in-display fingerprint sensor. It is working as advertised with snappy recognition and an easy registration process. In terms of 5G, the phone does have NSA and SA support and can connect with all the popular bands on offer except for mmWave.iQOO 11 5G review: Software (or bloatware)The iQOO 11 runs on FunTouchOS 13 – based on the latest Android 13 OS. It’s Vivo’s main software – we all know it. This is both good and bad. While the software feels highly optimized with no lags, I didn鈥檛 like the fact that it comes with many third-party bloatware apps. Some of them can be easily uninstalled, while apps like Browser, V-Store, iManager, and EasyShare can neither be removed nor disabled. Another thing that ruined my experience with the device was the constant appearance of notifications from these apps, asking me to either update them or buy some stuff from iQOO鈥檚 original store. I easily muted them – but still, not what I鈥檇 expect from a flagship level smartphone. Let鈥檚 hope that with timely upgrades the iQOO 11 has a secure and enjoyable tenure as far as the software goes.iQOO 11 5G review: Battery life and connectivityInside the iQOO 11 5G there鈥檚 a large 5,000 mAh battery. Thankfully you get a 120W fast charger in the box, which can top up 50 per cent of the battery in just 8 minutes. It can also go up to 100% in just 26 minutes! In terms of battery life, I got approximately 5,5 hours of screen-on time with the resolution capped at 2K along with 120Hz refresh rate. I used the phone for social media, some email, certain Google Sheets editing and 45 minutes of Call of Duty: Mobile – because why not? All in all, you8 can easily expect up to 2 days of battery life with normal usage. But with a 120W fast charger at hand, who needs to know?Decent photo shooter Although it鈥檚 not aimed at digital photographers, the iQOO 11 5G can easily please us with its imaging features. It packs a V2-processor-powered triple camera with: a main wide 50 MP (f/1.9, 23mm, 1/1.57-inch, 1.0碌m pixel size, PDAF: Phase Detection Auto Focus, OIS: Optical Image Stabilization) backed by 13 MP telephoto lens (f/2.5, 47mm size, PDAF, 2x optical zoom) and a 16mm 8MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.2) with dual-LED flash on the back. When daylight takes over, the photos are incredible. With warm colors, worthy to be shared on social media platforms. Some may say that they鈥檙e over-saturated, but a lot of people like it this way. And iQOO doesn鈥檛 like to bust their bubble as it seems.In low-light conditions, the main camera does an excellent job. It captures details, snapping photos almost instantly, and the OIS does an impressive job of nullifying excessive shake. If you need a helping hand, then Night Mode is there. It does the hard computing work and deliver a rather pleasing shot in most conditions. The 16MP selfie shooter is also something of note as it clicks highly detailed images of portraits on display and measured skin tones. If you care more about video, then you鈥檙e in for a treat. The device can record high-resolution 8K videos at 30fps, 4K at 30/60fps, and full HD 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps. Thanks to gyro-EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization), the videos tend to be stable, but not that stable. iQOO 11 5G review:聽ConclusioniQOO 11 5G is available in two configurations. 8GB RAM + 256GB storage and 16GB RAM + 256GB storage, priced for Rs 59,999 and Rs 64,999, respectively. I really liked it. It is a well-balanced premium phone thats gets the job done.The Breakdown 4.6 9.2 I loved the 360 degrees field of view and the ability to change direction of view instantly. If you want a dash cam that automatically records you driving and will also take selfies and super short vlogs at your command, then you will love it. Add the optional hardwire kit and it will also let you know if there is damage to your car when it鈥檚 parked. Quality 9.2 Value for money 9.2 Features 9.2 Dash Cams have been around for some years now, but until today they were all simple means to capture specific driving events. I wrote 鈥渦ntil today鈥? because the 70mai Dash Cam Omni is one gadget that has some unique features worth checking out. Let鈥檚 take a look at its review.The 70mai Dash Cam Omni is a dash cam that attaches to the inside of your vehicle鈥檚 windshield to record your trips. Nothing interesting here. The unique feature of this dash cam is that it can rotate 360掳 to take selfies and videos at your command – but also works as a parking sentinel – even when the car is engine is turned off.Main packageThe 70Mai Omni dash camera comes in a silver, futuristic box. Inside you get the dash cam itself, a power cord, a car charger, 2 electrostatic stickers, a wiring crowbar, an adhesive sticker, and some paperwork. I also bought separately the hardwire kit that allows you to connect the dash camera to your car鈥檚 battery, which is required for parking security features, like 24 hour sentinel guard.70mai Dash Cam OmniUSB-C Power cable12V vehicle power adapterInstallation stickers and toolUser manualDesign and featuresThe camera sensor on the Dash Cam Omni is designed for panning your vehicle smoothly and continuously managing your car from all directions. It works on its own but also when you want it, via voice commands. Omni comes with Enhanced Collision Detection, which has a specially designed collision detection algorithm to protect your car while driving.When an accident occurs, the camera can detect the direction of motion, then turn in that direction and emergency recording will start 5 seconds prior to a collision – recording up to 30 seconds of video after the accident. This is a useful feature for documenting any accident and what happened shortly after it happened. During my use of the device, it sensed 2 times that a possible accident could occur and did in fact record video – without being in accident thankfully. But the content was there for me – available if needed.On one side of the 70mai Dash Cam Omni there is a USB-C port that powers the camera. The opposite side has a power button and an up/down button which is used to scroll through the camera鈥檚 menus.The top of the 70mai Dash Cam Omni is the mount that attaches to your windshield. It has a hinge that opens up so that you can adjust the angle of the camera vertically.Installing the 70mai Dash Cam OmniUsing one of the 2 included antistatic stickers, we can easily install the Omni Dash Cam. The idea is that you attach the sticker to the inside of your windshield and then you attach the 70mai Dash Cam Omni on the sticker so that the mount at the top of the camera is positioned inside the circle.When it鈥檚 done, we can adjust vertically the field of view of the camera. Quite easy as well. That鈥檚 it. Job done.聽 The 1.2-inch display is rather small but is used mostly for basic operation. You can see the live view of the camera. And adjust the basic set. You can turn on or off the Wi-Fi hotspot sound recording. And Watermark mutes the device format the storage reset the device. And so on, you can also turn them on or off the display by pressing the power key.After the camera鈥檚 angle is adjusted, it鈥檚 time to route the power cable. I think it鈥檚 cool that 70mai includes a plastic pry bar type of tool that you can use to help you stuff the excess cable under the edge of the headliner of your car. Once it is physically installed, the next step is to install the app on your mobile device.70mai Dash Cam Omni appThe 70mai Dash Cam Omni functions like other dash cams in that it will automatically power up when you start your vehicle and then it will automatically start recording video. By default, audio is turned off, but you can go into the settings and enable audio to be recorded in addition to video. It鈥檚 helpful that the 70mai Dash Cam Omni has its own built-in file storage. This means that we can easily connect via WiFi to it, and easily get all video/photos to our phone without the need of a PC. We just use the 70mai Dash Cam Omni app. The app connects to the camera using WiFi and will show you thumbnails of all captured videos, images, events, and vlogs. You can watch the video directly through the app including adding an interesting overlay (image above on the right) that provides a HUD display type overlay with your speed and detected vehicles.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram The app will also let you enable voice commands that you can use to control the camera. You can tell it to shoot left and right to have the camera turn to shoot video in that direction. You can tell it to take a selfie and it will rotate and take a picture of you and anyone else in the car. It can also shoot a 15 second vlog. For some reason, there鈥檚 no way to adjust the length of the vlog though鈥?/p>Another feature in the app maps your trips using the GPS. This way you can easily check previous routes.Night VisionAnother great feature of the omnidirectional dash cam is the top-notch night vision, which ensures you get high-quality recordings daily and at night. 70Mai Omni Equipped with a large F1.5 aperture and PureCel庐Plus-S HDR technology, the camera is designed to deliver excellent low-light performance and color performance.While many dash cam available today record video at 30 FPS, the Dash Cam Omni records video at 60 FPS, which makes picking out important details like car license plates much easier.AI ParkingThe built-in AI parking monitoring function is like a digital security guard for your car. It uses an upgraded AI motion detection algorithm that can detect people around the vehicle. It can also see their movement and locate their location.Artificial intelligence can differentiate between someone passing by your vehicle and a suspicious person approaching your car. It鈥檚 a great feature that adds an extra layer of security to your vehicle and keeps you safe while parked.ADASA full-featured dash cam with an array of high-end features, the Omni is also designed as a driving safety aid. It comes with an upgraded ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) that alerts you to potential hazards while driving.For example, it can alert you to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicle braking, and more. It also comes with a built-in lane departure alert, a useful feature that alerts you if you drift into another lane, which often happens when people are tired.Built-in GPSThe 70Mai Omni dash cam omnidirectional comes with built-in GPS, another useful feature that can help you with route tracking and finding your car when you can鈥檛 remember where you parked it. This feature is available for 4G hardwired kits, which will be available in Europe and Southeast Asia in 2023.聽The 70mai app will sync with your dash cam for route tracking, and you can also check your route and GPS information after the journey.Voice ControlThe 70Mai Omni also features smart voice control, another great feature you don鈥檛 usually get on dash cams of this price range. You can move the camera in any direction with simple voice commands. You can also use voice commands to start recording on your device. This ensures you can focus on driving while using the Omni.Here are all the available voice commands:Shoot leftShoot rightTake photoShoot emergency videoTake selfieShoot vlogShoot insideStop audioRecord audioDisable hotspotEnable hotspot70mai Dash Cam Omni Optional featuresYou can purchase an optional hardwire kit for $19.99 that will allow the 70mai Omni to always stay powered by connecting to your vehicle鈥檚 battery. With this kit, the camera will monitor your car for collisions 24/7.PROSGreat photo/video quality (60 fps)Easy to installComes with built-in storageEasy to shoot vlogs with 360 degree videos24 hour parking modeCONSParking mode requires extra hardware kit4G module for notifications still not ready/available70mai Dash Cam Omni review: ConclusionI loved the 360 degrees field of view and the ability to change direction of view instantly. If you want a dash cam that automatically records you driving and will also take selfies and super short vlogs at your command, then you will love it. Add the optional hardwire kit and it will also let you know if there is damage to your car when it鈥檚 parked.The Breakdown 4.6 9.2 I loved the 360 degrees field of view and the ability to change direction of view instantly. If you want a dash cam that automatically records you driving and will also take selfies and super short vlogs at your command, then you will love it. Add the optional hardwire kit and it will also let you know if there is damage to your car when it鈥檚 parked. Quality 9.2 Value for money 9.2 Features 9.2 Dash Cams have been around for some years now, but until today they were all simple means to capture specific driving events. I wrote 鈥渦ntil today鈥? because the 70mai Dash Cam Omni is one gadget that has some unique features worth checking out. Let鈥檚 take a look at its review.The 70mai Dash Cam Omni is a dash cam that attaches to the inside of your vehicle鈥檚 windshield to record your trips. Nothing interesting here. The unique feature of this dash cam is that it can rotate 360掳 to take selfies and videos at your command – but also works as a parking sentinel – even when the car is engine is turned off.Main packageThe 70Mai Omni dash camera comes in a silver, futuristic box. Inside you get the dash cam itself, a power cord, a car charger, 2 electrostatic stickers, a wiring crowbar, an adhesive sticker, and some paperwork. I also bought separately the hardwire kit that allows you to connect the dash camera to your car鈥檚 battery, which is required for parking security features, like 24 hour sentinel guard.70mai Dash Cam OmniUSB-C Power cable12V vehicle power adapterInstallation stickers and toolUser manualDesign and featuresThe camera sensor on the Dash Cam Omni is designed for panning your vehicle smoothly and continuously managing your car from all directions. It works on its own but also when you want it, via voice commands. Omni comes with Enhanced Collision Detection, which has a specially designed collision detection algorithm to protect your car while driving.When an accident occurs, the camera can detect the direction of motion, then turn in that direction and emergency recording will start 5 seconds prior to a collision – recording up to 30 seconds of video after the accident. This is a useful feature for documenting any accident and what happened shortly after it happened. During my use of the device, it sensed 2 times that a possible accident could occur and did in fact record video – without being in accident thankfully. But the content was there for me – available if needed.On one side of the 70mai Dash Cam Omni there is a USB-C port that powers the camera. The opposite side has a power button and an up/down button which is used to scroll through the camera鈥檚 menus.The top of the 70mai Dash Cam Omni is the mount that attaches to your windshield. It has a hinge that opens up so that you can adjust the angle of the camera vertically.Installing the 70mai Dash Cam OmniUsing one of the 2 included antistatic stickers, we can easily install the Omni Dash Cam. The idea is that you attach the sticker to the inside of your windshield and then you attach the 70mai Dash Cam Omni on the sticker so that the mount at the top of the camera is positioned inside the circle.When it鈥檚 done, we can adjust vertically the field of view of the camera. Quite easy as well. That鈥檚 it. Job done.聽 The 1.2-inch display is rather small but is used mostly for basic operation. You can see the live view of the camera. And adjust the basic set. You can turn on or off the Wi-Fi hotspot sound recording. And Watermark mutes the device format the storage reset the device. And so on, you can also turn them on or off the display by pressing the power key.After the camera鈥檚 angle is adjusted, it鈥檚 time to route the power cable. I think it鈥檚 cool that 70mai includes a plastic pry bar type of tool that you can use to help you stuff the excess cable under the edge of the headliner of your car. Once it is physically installed, the next step is to install the app on your mobile device.70mai Dash Cam Omni appThe 70mai Dash Cam Omni functions like other dash cams in that it will automatically power up when you start your vehicle and then it will automatically start recording video. By default, audio is turned off, but you can go into the settings and enable audio to be recorded in addition to video. It鈥檚 helpful that the 70mai Dash Cam Omni has its own built-in file storage. This means that we can easily connect via WiFi to it, and easily get all video/photos to our phone without the need of a PC. We just use the 70mai Dash Cam Omni app. The app connects to the camera using WiFi and will show you thumbnails of all captured videos, images, events, and vlogs. You can watch the video directly through the app including adding an interesting overlay (image above on the right) that provides a HUD display type overlay with your speed and detected vehicles.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram The app will also let you enable voice commands that you can use to control the camera. You can tell it to shoot left and right to have the camera turn to shoot video in that direction. You can tell it to take a selfie and it will rotate and take a picture of you and anyone else in the car. It can also shoot a 15 second vlog. For some reason, there鈥檚 no way to adjust the length of the vlog though鈥?/p>Another feature in the app maps your trips using the GPS. This way you can easily check previous routes.Night VisionAnother great feature of the omnidirectional dash cam is the top-notch night vision, which ensures you get high-quality recordings daily and at night. 70Mai Omni Equipped with a large F1.5 aperture and PureCel庐Plus-S HDR technology, the camera is designed to deliver excellent low-light performance and color performance.While many dash cam available today record video at 30 FPS, the Dash Cam Omni records video at 60 FPS, which makes picking out important details like car license plates much easier.AI ParkingThe built-in AI parking monitoring function is like a digital security guard for your car. It uses an upgraded AI motion detection algorithm that can detect people around the vehicle. It can also see their movement and locate their location.Artificial intelligence can differentiate between someone passing by your vehicle and a suspicious person approaching your car. It鈥檚 a great feature that adds an extra layer of security to your vehicle and keeps you safe while parked.ADASA full-featured dash cam with an array of high-end features, the Omni is also designed as a driving safety aid. It comes with an upgraded ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) that alerts you to potential hazards while driving.For example, it can alert you to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicle braking, and more. It also comes with a built-in lane departure alert, a useful feature that alerts you if you drift into another lane, which often happens when people are tired.Built-in GPSThe 70Mai Omni dash cam omnidirectional comes with built-in GPS, another useful feature that can help you with route tracking and finding your car when you can鈥檛 remember where you parked it. This feature is available for 4G hardwired kits, which will be available in Europe and Southeast Asia in 2023.聽The 70mai app will sync with your dash cam for route tracking, and you can also check your route and GPS information after the journey.Voice ControlThe 70Mai Omni also features smart voice control, another great feature you don鈥檛 usually get on dash cams of this price range. You can move the camera in any direction with simple voice commands. You can also use voice commands to start recording on your device. This ensures you can focus on driving while using the Omni.Here are all the available voice commands:Shoot leftShoot rightTake photoShoot emergency videoTake selfieShoot vlogShoot insideStop audioRecord audioDisable hotspotEnable hotspot70mai Dash Cam Omni Optional featuresYou can purchase an optional hardwire kit for $19.99 that will allow the 70mai Omni to always stay powered by connecting to your vehicle鈥檚 battery. With this kit, the camera will monitor your car for collisions 24/7.PROSGreat photo/video quality (60 fps)Easy to installComes with built-in storageEasy to shoot vlogs with 360 degree videos24 hour parking modeCONSParking mode requires extra hardware kit4G module for notifications still not ready/available70mai Dash Cam Omni review: ConclusionI loved the 360 degrees field of view and the ability to change direction of view instantly. If you want a dash cam that automatically records you driving and will also take selfies and super short vlogs at your command, then you will love it. Add the optional hardwire kit and it will also let you know if there is damage to your car when it鈥檚 parked.The Breakdown 4.2 8.4 With impressive performance and decent battery life, the INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 becomes an excellent tool for VFM gamers, or those who want a budget top-notch phone. Performace 8.4 Camera 8.4 Battery 8.4 Specifications 8.4 Design 8.4 Pros Excellent design, Capable performance, Good for gaming, Good battery life Cons Poor software, Cameras could be improved, No WideVine L1 certification, No AMOLED Display INFINIX is moving on, with their ongoing struggle to take a market piece in the mid-range section from competitors and it looks as if they’re doing an excellent job. The Hong Kong-based company has proven to be one of the top in the planet in growth rate and one of the few that were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their secret? VFM devices.The company does an amazing job bringing uniquely designed smartphones and tries to localize the software to the market. The design is now the top sale point of the company and is going all through their products. INFINIX Zero 5G 2023聽is this year’s sequel of a very successful line and we got the phone for a full review.Last year鈥檚 Infinix Zero X Pro was the most advanced effort yet from the manufacturer, combining a 108Mp camera with a 120Hz AMOLED display to decent effect. While the pricing appears to be in the same ballpark, the Infinix Zero 5G 2023 does much more since it carries an impressive 50MP camera sensor in a triple camera setup! Sadly, to keep the price at same level with last years models, INFINIX has downgraded some of the other parts. The company advertises a lot of the phone’s 5G speed abilities and we are curious to see if they are worth it.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – Specifications PlatformBANDWIDTH 2G: B2|3|5|83G: B1/2/4/5/84G: FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28/66TDD: B38/40/415G锛歴ub6 TDD: n38/n40/n41/n77/n78sub6 FDD: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n66/n71THROUGHPUT HSPA+ 42.2/11.5 (Cat7)MbpsLTE Cat18 300/75 MbpsNR 2.31/1.04 GbpsNETWORK 5G/4G/3G/2GGPU Arm Mali-G68 MC4CPU FREQUENCY2.6GHz+2GHzDataGPRSEDGE3G4G5GCAMERALOCATION FRONT/REARPIXELS FRONT(16MP)/REAR (50MP+2M+2M)AF/FF 16MP FF /50MP AF+2M FF+2M FFFLASH LIGHTQUAD REAR FLASH AND DUAL FRONT FLASHVIDEO RECORDINGVIDEO4K 30FPS/1080P 60FPS/1080P 30FPS/720P 30FPSIMAGE SIZEFRONT CAMERA MAX: 3456*4608REAR CAMERA MAX: 6120*8160MEMORYROM 256GBRAM 8GBEXTRERNAL MEMORY 256GBDISPLAYSIZE 6.78 INCHTYPE IPS LTPSRESOLUTION FHD+ 1080*2460MATERIAL LCDMULTIMEDIAAUDIO PLAYER MP3, MIDI, AMR, WAVRINGTONE FORMAT MIDI,MP3VIDEO PLAYER 3GP,MP4,AVIPICTURE FORMAT PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIFENTERTAINMENTFM RADIOVOICE RECORDINGE-BOOK READERGAMEMESSAGEE-MAILMMSBATTERYCAPACITY 5000 mAhTALK TIME 4G锛?3.6h锛?G锛?2.3hSTANDBY TIME 29.6 DaysCONNECTIONSIM CARD SLOT DUAL NANO SIM+MICRO SDGPS NAVIGATIONWIFI (WLAN) Wi-Fi 6 (a/b/g/n/ac/ax)BLUETOOTHUSB PORT, type COTGEARPHONE, 3.5 JACKCHARGE Output 7-10.5V, 2.5AFMSENSORS & TOOLSG-SENSORE-COMPASSGYROSCOPELIGHT SENSORPROXIMITY SENSORFINGERPRINTMODELMODEL X6815CDIMENSIONDIMENSION 168.73 x 76.53 x 8.9 mmCOLORCOLOR PEARLY WHITE/CORAL ORANGESUBMARINER BLACKWEIGHTWEIGHT 201gOPERATING SYSTEMOPERATING SYSTEM Android鈩 12First lookThe handset arrives inside the usual striking box with a huge font announcing the model. The bottom part has the smartphone鈥檚 specifications, a huge sticker advertises Google compatibility and another sticker has specific smartphone and production details. The model in our hands is the 8/256 GB version in Coral Orange color.Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones this price range:INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 smartphoneUSB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cable33W Wall chargerSIM tray ejection pinUser manual, Quick GuideSilicone soft caseA plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. The huge wall charger comes in white color and it provides up to 33W of power, providing decent charging times when needed. The charging cable is quite chubby and works along the charger to provide the flash charge. The silicone soft case is very nice with extensions to protect the camera and the corners. The corners of the phone are not easy to place inside the case but the extra protection is worth the effort spent.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – DesignINFINIX has invested a lot of money and attention to the exterior and has managed to design some of the best looking phones in the market.The front is simple with minimal bezels in three sides and a wider 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a hole on the top of the display for the selfie-cam – one of the smallest in the market. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there’s a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear. There is nothing else in the front.Build qualityThe back panel is amazing! The smartphone has an amazing orange leather-like texture. There is a huge logo on the lower side 鈥淶ERO 5G鈥 in big font and capital letters and the contrast of materials has the effect to show it intensively. While the front area is a smudge magnet, the rest of the device is completely impervious to smudges. The camera setup is on the top left with 3 lenses visible in a rectangular pattern and on their right side we see a LED flash.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe phone is thinner than the previous generations and feels light and compact. Remember we mentioned that the phone has new materials in order to keep its price low. The major part is the water-repellent coating. So you will not find any protection internally – you can understand this from the SIM tray, because there is no rubber seal. So guys, be careful with water and in heavy rain.A SoC that worksKey features of the ZERO 5G 2023 include:A MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset, giving the ZERO 5G 2023 a 10% overall performance upgrade and 8% CPU upgrade compared to its predecessor. Whether it鈥檚 downloading or gaming, everything is faster than ever with the upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 1080.A massive 6.78鈥 FHD screen prioritizes an immersive display for a truly dynamic visual experience with a peak brightness of 500 nits. The screen also features a 60/120Hz Dynamic Refresh Rate that work together and switch based on unique scenarios.A 5000mAh battery and 33W Fast Charge, which can charge 50% of the battery in only 30 minutes.Improved processing speeds and accelerated performance with up to 13GB RAM (8GB plus 5G Extended RAM) and RAM to ROM integration. Sure enough, the Infinix Zero 5G 2023 punches above its weight in pure performance terms, especially with 8GB of RAM on board. Like many 2022 phones, there鈥檚 a further 5GB of 鈥楨xtended RAM鈥 available through the repurposing of some of the phone鈥檚 snappy UFS 3.1 internal storage.Impressive DisplayThe Zero 5G 2023 comes with a large 6.78-inch FHD+ LTPS display with very thin bezels on the side and top. Yes I know that we all wanted an AMOLED display and it is a bit disappointing. However, the aforementioned panel is great for improved resolutions and the picture quality is very sharp and maybe that can help you forget the high contrast of AMOLED. Although the viewing angles are still pretty decent and no darkening of screen was visible even at almost 90-degree angles. One downside is that the display is not too bright and this is noticeable in bright sunlight.The 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate make the screen very responsive – excellent for gaming purposes. My major issue however is the lack of Widevine L1 certification which restricts the video resolution on most streaming services to a mere 480p. While this does not become an immediate deal breaker, if you like watching your content on your smartphone, this might be an issue. SoftwareThe customization options of the XOS (based on Android 12) are rich with many features as themes, skin themes, icons, dark mode tones that guarantee that you will not get bored of the phone. The launcher is good – reminds us of other good launchers like POCO launcher and the notification shade is full with options and versatility. Settings menu has a plethora of options but keeps itself minimal in view as to not tire the user. However the software is filled with pre-installed apps which sadly cannot be removed and share a lot of notifications throughout the day, which became somewhat frustrating for me. Speed and animations are fast and in no case the phone stalled or seemed to slow down. Excellent job from INFINIX – a very promised product seems to rise up to the world of Android skins!With Mediatek Dimensity 1080 processor and an 8GB RAM that is further expandable to another 5GB through virtual RAM, performance is where the Infinix Zero 5G makes a stand! I played for several hours some very demanding games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in HDR ultra mode and got consistent 60 FPS for a sustained period. I also played Call of Duty (COD) Mobile at high settings and Genshin Impact, which is a very high graphics game and faced neither any frame drops nor any heating issues. INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – CameraThis is something that a lot of you want to know about and it has kept me torn on opinion. It comes with a triple rear camera setting with a 50MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor.When drowned in the bright afternoon sunlight, the primary shooter is able to deliver crisp shots with delicate detailing that look over sharpened in areas with shadows. Auto HDR kicks in effectively and allows the blues of the sky to seep into the frame while compensating exposure from the sun. The 2X telephoto lens works well in good lighting but falls apart at night. Shutter speeds are quite slow which introduces some amount of shake unless your hands are extremely still. Infinix also allows you to adjust the f stop values for variable depth of field while using portrait mode, although the background separation is not too good.It does have a 2X telephoto zoom and that’s welcomed. The images have good sharpness and colors are more or less consistent. However, I found the images to be a bit on the softer side. This effect is more prominent in night time photography, where even the details of the image are lost. Overall, while the camera is decent, I would have expected better performance in this price range. On the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera. While generally decent, in my experience the images felt a little over-processed. The good thing is both the rear and front camera support 4K 30FPS video recording which is a really nice feature in the price range. There鈥檚 a Super Night Mode and a Night Filter feature for low-light images, the main camera supports 960fps slow motion, and there鈥檚 a Sky Remap editing feature for turning hazy skies to blue.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 Sample photosGenerating fuller colors automatically with the help of Auto Scene Detection, whether when shooting landscapes or portraits, gives bluer skies and more vibrant plants. It manages to catch sharp portraits and outlines in low light, and maintain details at night. One of my favorite features however was the Sky Remap, that enables you to turn a hazy day into cloudless sunny noon in seconds via software, or the Film Mode that let’s us create our own story. INFINIX mentions on this: Shoot like a director with the film mode. Various fantastic templates are on offer to make video creation much easier and editing more efficient. Such capabilities would tempt even professional camera holders.Selfies are good – the 16MP sensor and the software work together to offer bright images with very good color. Similar to the photography is the video. Zooming is possible but not without losses. INFINIX did manage to bring a camera phone to the market, but keep in mind that it is basically a single and not a triple camera. 50MP sensor is good in video and photography, and the small issues found, we hope that will be fixed soon in future software updates.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – Battery Even with a slim design, the Infinix Zero 5G 2023 packs a powerful 5,000 mAh battery. Dimensity 1080 optimizes battery life quite well and even after my moderate to heavy usage of the phone, which included playing games, watching videos, going on voice and video calls and more, the smartphone easily lasted me 1.5 days on average. The 33W fast charging support is also great and takes the smartphone from zero to full within 90-100 minutes. INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 review – ConclusionINFINIX nailed it with the great pricing of the device that costs just 239$, while providing a fast chipset with decent response during heavy duty usage. And the really sleek design and great battery life adds to the overall value. However the software needs improvement, the speaker requires a boost, the camera is average at best and lack of Widevine L1 is definitely a minus.We will wait to see what INFINIX’s plans are for the future.ProsExcellent designCapable performanceGood for gamingGood battery life
The Breakdown 4.2 8.4 With impressive performance and decent battery life, the INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 becomes an excellent tool for VFM gamers, or those who want a budget top-notch phone. Performace 8.4 Camera 8.4 Battery 8.4 Specifications 8.4 Design 8.4 Pros Excellent design, Capable performance, Good for gaming, Good battery life Cons Poor software, Cameras could be improved, No WideVine L1 certification, No AMOLED Display INFINIX is moving on, with their ongoing struggle to take a market piece in the mid-range section from competitors and it looks as if they’re doing an excellent job. The Hong Kong-based company has proven to be one of the top in the planet in growth rate and one of the few that were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their secret? VFM devices.The company does an amazing job bringing uniquely designed smartphones and tries to localize the software to the market. The design is now the top sale point of the company and is going all through their products. INFINIX Zero 5G 2023聽is this year’s sequel of a very successful line and we got the phone for a full review.Last year鈥檚 Infinix Zero X Pro was the most advanced effort yet from the manufacturer, combining a 108Mp camera with a 120Hz AMOLED display to decent effect. While the pricing appears to be in the same ballpark, the Infinix Zero 5G 2023 does much more since it carries an impressive 50MP camera sensor in a triple camera setup! Sadly, to keep the price at same level with last years models, INFINIX has downgraded some of the other parts. The company advertises a lot of the phone’s 5G speed abilities and we are curious to see if they are worth it.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – Specifications PlatformBANDWIDTH 2G: B2|3|5|83G: B1/2/4/5/84G: FDD B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/28/66TDD: B38/40/415G锛歴ub6 TDD: n38/n40/n41/n77/n78sub6 FDD: n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n66/n71THROUGHPUT HSPA+ 42.2/11.5 (Cat7)MbpsLTE Cat18 300/75 MbpsNR 2.31/1.04 GbpsNETWORK 5G/4G/3G/2GGPU Arm Mali-G68 MC4CPU FREQUENCY2.6GHz+2GHzDataGPRSEDGE3G4G5GCAMERALOCATION FRONT/REARPIXELS FRONT(16MP)/REAR (50MP+2M+2M)AF/FF 16MP FF /50MP AF+2M FF+2M FFFLASH LIGHTQUAD REAR FLASH AND DUAL FRONT FLASHVIDEO RECORDINGVIDEO4K 30FPS/1080P 60FPS/1080P 30FPS/720P 30FPSIMAGE SIZEFRONT CAMERA MAX: 3456*4608REAR CAMERA MAX: 6120*8160MEMORYROM 256GBRAM 8GBEXTRERNAL MEMORY 256GBDISPLAYSIZE 6.78 INCHTYPE IPS LTPSRESOLUTION FHD+ 1080*2460MATERIAL LCDMULTIMEDIAAUDIO PLAYER MP3, MIDI, AMR, WAVRINGTONE FORMAT MIDI,MP3VIDEO PLAYER 3GP,MP4,AVIPICTURE FORMAT PNG, JPEG, BMP, GIFENTERTAINMENTFM RADIOVOICE RECORDINGE-BOOK READERGAMEMESSAGEE-MAILMMSBATTERYCAPACITY 5000 mAhTALK TIME 4G锛?3.6h锛?G锛?2.3hSTANDBY TIME 29.6 DaysCONNECTIONSIM CARD SLOT DUAL NANO SIM+MICRO SDGPS NAVIGATIONWIFI (WLAN) Wi-Fi 6 (a/b/g/n/ac/ax)BLUETOOTHUSB PORT, type COTGEARPHONE, 3.5 JACKCHARGE Output 7-10.5V, 2.5AFMSENSORS & TOOLSG-SENSORE-COMPASSGYROSCOPELIGHT SENSORPROXIMITY SENSORFINGERPRINTMODELMODEL X6815CDIMENSIONDIMENSION 168.73 x 76.53 x 8.9 mmCOLORCOLOR PEARLY WHITE/CORAL ORANGESUBMARINER BLACKWEIGHTWEIGHT 201gOPERATING SYSTEMOPERATING SYSTEM Android鈩 12First lookThe handset arrives inside the usual striking box with a huge font announcing the model. The bottom part has the smartphone鈥檚 specifications, a huge sticker advertises Google compatibility and another sticker has specific smartphone and production details. The model in our hands is the 8/256 GB version in Coral Orange color.Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones this price range:INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 smartphoneUSB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cable33W Wall chargerSIM tray ejection pinUser manual, Quick GuideSilicone soft caseA plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. The huge wall charger comes in white color and it provides up to 33W of power, providing decent charging times when needed. The charging cable is quite chubby and works along the charger to provide the flash charge. The silicone soft case is very nice with extensions to protect the camera and the corners. The corners of the phone are not easy to place inside the case but the extra protection is worth the effort spent.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – DesignINFINIX has invested a lot of money and attention to the exterior and has managed to design some of the best looking phones in the market.The front is simple with minimal bezels in three sides and a wider 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a hole on the top of the display for the selfie-cam – one of the smallest in the market. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there’s a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear. There is nothing else in the front.Build qualityThe back panel is amazing! The smartphone has an amazing orange leather-like texture. There is a huge logo on the lower side 鈥淶ERO 5G鈥 in big font and capital letters and the contrast of materials has the effect to show it intensively. While the front area is a smudge magnet, the rest of the device is completely impervious to smudges. The camera setup is on the top left with 3 lenses visible in a rectangular pattern and on their right side we see a LED flash.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe phone is thinner than the previous generations and feels light and compact. Remember we mentioned that the phone has new materials in order to keep its price low. The major part is the water-repellent coating. So you will not find any protection internally – you can understand this from the SIM tray, because there is no rubber seal. So guys, be careful with water and in heavy rain.A SoC that worksKey features of the ZERO 5G 2023 include:A MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset, giving the ZERO 5G 2023 a 10% overall performance upgrade and 8% CPU upgrade compared to its predecessor. Whether it鈥檚 downloading or gaming, everything is faster than ever with the upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 1080.A massive 6.78鈥 FHD screen prioritizes an immersive display for a truly dynamic visual experience with a peak brightness of 500 nits. The screen also features a 60/120Hz Dynamic Refresh Rate that work together and switch based on unique scenarios.A 5000mAh battery and 33W Fast Charge, which can charge 50% of the battery in only 30 minutes.Improved processing speeds and accelerated performance with up to 13GB RAM (8GB plus 5G Extended RAM) and RAM to ROM integration. Sure enough, the Infinix Zero 5G 2023 punches above its weight in pure performance terms, especially with 8GB of RAM on board. Like many 2022 phones, there鈥檚 a further 5GB of 鈥楨xtended RAM鈥 available through the repurposing of some of the phone鈥檚 snappy UFS 3.1 internal storage.Impressive DisplayThe Zero 5G 2023 comes with a large 6.78-inch FHD+ LTPS display with very thin bezels on the side and top. Yes I know that we all wanted an AMOLED display and it is a bit disappointing. However, the aforementioned panel is great for improved resolutions and the picture quality is very sharp and maybe that can help you forget the high contrast of AMOLED. Although the viewing angles are still pretty decent and no darkening of screen was visible even at almost 90-degree angles. One downside is that the display is not too bright and this is noticeable in bright sunlight.The 120 Hz refresh rate and 240 Hz touch sampling rate make the screen very responsive – excellent for gaming purposes. My major issue however is the lack of Widevine L1 certification which restricts the video resolution on most streaming services to a mere 480p. While this does not become an immediate deal breaker, if you like watching your content on your smartphone, this might be an issue. SoftwareThe customization options of the XOS (based on Android 12) are rich with many features as themes, skin themes, icons, dark mode tones that guarantee that you will not get bored of the phone. The launcher is good – reminds us of other good launchers like POCO launcher and the notification shade is full with options and versatility. Settings menu has a plethora of options but keeps itself minimal in view as to not tire the user. However the software is filled with pre-installed apps which sadly cannot be removed and share a lot of notifications throughout the day, which became somewhat frustrating for me. Speed and animations are fast and in no case the phone stalled or seemed to slow down. Excellent job from INFINIX – a very promised product seems to rise up to the world of Android skins!With Mediatek Dimensity 1080 processor and an 8GB RAM that is further expandable to another 5GB through virtual RAM, performance is where the Infinix Zero 5G makes a stand! I played for several hours some very demanding games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in HDR ultra mode and got consistent 60 FPS for a sustained period. I also played Call of Duty (COD) Mobile at high settings and Genshin Impact, which is a very high graphics game and faced neither any frame drops nor any heating issues. INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – CameraThis is something that a lot of you want to know about and it has kept me torn on opinion. It comes with a triple rear camera setting with a 50MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor.When drowned in the bright afternoon sunlight, the primary shooter is able to deliver crisp shots with delicate detailing that look over sharpened in areas with shadows. Auto HDR kicks in effectively and allows the blues of the sky to seep into the frame while compensating exposure from the sun. The 2X telephoto lens works well in good lighting but falls apart at night. Shutter speeds are quite slow which introduces some amount of shake unless your hands are extremely still. Infinix also allows you to adjust the f stop values for variable depth of field while using portrait mode, although the background separation is not too good.It does have a 2X telephoto zoom and that’s welcomed. The images have good sharpness and colors are more or less consistent. However, I found the images to be a bit on the softer side. This effect is more prominent in night time photography, where even the details of the image are lost. Overall, while the camera is decent, I would have expected better performance in this price range. On the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera. While generally decent, in my experience the images felt a little over-processed. The good thing is both the rear and front camera support 4K 30FPS video recording which is a really nice feature in the price range. There鈥檚 a Super Night Mode and a Night Filter feature for low-light images, the main camera supports 960fps slow motion, and there鈥檚 a Sky Remap editing feature for turning hazy skies to blue.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 Sample photosGenerating fuller colors automatically with the help of Auto Scene Detection, whether when shooting landscapes or portraits, gives bluer skies and more vibrant plants. It manages to catch sharp portraits and outlines in low light, and maintain details at night. One of my favorite features however was the Sky Remap, that enables you to turn a hazy day into cloudless sunny noon in seconds via software, or the Film Mode that let’s us create our own story. INFINIX mentions on this: Shoot like a director with the film mode. Various fantastic templates are on offer to make video creation much easier and editing more efficient. Such capabilities would tempt even professional camera holders.Selfies are good – the 16MP sensor and the software work together to offer bright images with very good color. Similar to the photography is the video. Zooming is possible but not without losses. INFINIX did manage to bring a camera phone to the market, but keep in mind that it is basically a single and not a triple camera. 50MP sensor is good in video and photography, and the small issues found, we hope that will be fixed soon in future software updates.INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 – Battery Even with a slim design, the Infinix Zero 5G 2023 packs a powerful 5,000 mAh battery. Dimensity 1080 optimizes battery life quite well and even after my moderate to heavy usage of the phone, which included playing games, watching videos, going on voice and video calls and more, the smartphone easily lasted me 1.5 days on average. The 33W fast charging support is also great and takes the smartphone from zero to full within 90-100 minutes. INFINIX Zero 5G 2023 review – ConclusionINFINIX nailed it with the great pricing of the device that costs just 239$, while providing a fast chipset with decent response during heavy duty usage. And the really sleek design and great battery life adds to the overall value. However the software needs improvement, the speaker requires a boost, the camera is average at best and lack of Widevine L1 is definitely a minus.We will wait to see what INFINIX’s plans are for the future.ProsExcellent designCapable performanceGood for gamingGood battery lifeThe Breakdown 4.1 8.2 Design is great and the chipset performance is a plus. Battery life is good, the device took an OTA update and looks excellent in my hands. I am suggesting this handset as a good buy especially for those who are into budget mobile gaming! Performance 8.2 Battery 8.2 Camera 8.2 Value for money 8.2 Build quality 8.2 TECNO is a leading international smart device brand with operations in over 70 counties globally. Since launching its CAMON series in 2014 positioned as a professional camera manufacturer with stylish and sleek design. TECNO has been relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of aesthetic and stylish designs with innovative technology. Today, TECNO offers a wide range of smart devices but surely the POVA series is probably their most aggressive of all. Today we have the POVA 4 Pro 鈥渨arship鈥樷€ as TECNO calls it, a budget gaming smartphone for the masses.It’s a device aimed towards hard-core, powerful, and full of energy users, stimulating their unlimited passion, inspiring their commitment no matter in work, entertainment, or life, to light up their internal energy and potential.This brand new TECNO POVA 4 Pro comes with good specs for a mobile phone in the budget gaming-level category. There is massive 6000 mAh battery inside with SuperCharge feature, accompanied by a Helio G99 SoC. There’s also an impressive 6.66″ AMOLED+90Hz high refresh rate display, with 8GB of RAM+256GB storage.We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our impressions using this device as a main smartphone for all purposes.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – SpecificationsUranolith Grey / Fluorite Blue / Rutile Orange6000mAh Mega Battery45W Super ChargeHelio G99 6nm Processor256GB ROM + 8GB RAM锛?28GB ROM + 8GB RAM锛堻/li>6.66″ AMOLED FHD+ Display90Hz Refresh Rate50MP AI CameraHeight: 164.79 mmWidth: 77mmThickness: 9.19mmAndroid鈩 12Helio G99, Octa-Core6.66″ AMOLED FHD+ Dot-in Display90Hz Refresh Rate8MP Front Camera with One Flash50MP Dual Rear Camera with Dual Flash256 / 128 GB ROM + 8GB RAMG-SensorAmbient Light and Distance sensorFingerprint SensorElectronic compassGyroscopeNFCTECNO POVA 4 Pro – UnboxingThe device comes in a silver – grayish box with a nice finish using an impressive 4 Pro POVA lettering. Around the box there are stickers with information about the included device. The TECNO POVA 4 Pro in our hands is the 8/256 GB version in Uranolith Grey. Tecno informs us that the smartphone has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Generally speaking this is a nice retail box. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The聽POVA 4 Pro smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA massive 45W wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA Silicone soft caseJudging from the above I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. A guide exists in the Settings of the smartphone.A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The silicone soft case is very nice but… yeah soft, so if you drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO POVA 4 Pro from hereTECNO POVA 4 Pro – DesignTecno has designed a very nice phone that has nothing missing from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme. The back side of the device comes with some sort of geometric aesthetic, that makes the camera island not that bulgy. It also makes it more compatible with the rest of the back cover. According to TECNO, the design was inspired by a meteorite motif known as the聽Widmanstatten pattern .聽The back cover finish is matte, making it not easy to leave fingerprints. For its size, this smartphone has dimensions of 164 x 77 x 9.19mm, and weighs about 210 grams. So indeed the body is thick and a bit heavy, but that’s reasonable because it has a super large 6000 mAh battery inside.聽The available buttons and ports include:Right Side: Power button as well as fingerprint scanner, volume up/down buttonTop Side: Top stereo speaker grillLeft Side: Non-Hybrid SIM Tray, can 2 SIM + 1 MicroSD.Bottom Side: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, microphone, USB-C, bottom stereo speaker grille.More than enoughYes, this smartphone packs a pair of stereo speakers and also features DTS Audio Technology, as well as Hi-Res Wired and wireless audio certification. 螣n the front side there is a 6.66-inch AMOLED display panel with Full HD + resolution, which is also coated with Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass. The screen refresh rate is up to 90Hz. And by default it already has an Auto-switch feature where the system will adjust the refresh rate based on the application. If you want more apps running at 90Hz, setting the refresh rate to 90Hz, apps running at 90Hz will increase, although not all of them will run at 90Hz, in some apps it will also drop to 60Hz. There is no touch sampling info on how many Hz, but when used to play real drums, it doesn’t feel like there is an annoying delay. Regarding Netflix, interestingly, here it is Widevine L1 support. This means we can already watch Full HD content.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – HardwareAs we mentioned, the device comes equipped with a 6.66-inch AMOLED display panel with Full HD+ resolution. I was impressed by its brightness – in the range of 500 nits for indoor use, for outdoor use when it’s hot, the screen is still quite visible, safe. The color gamut is 99.8% sRGB / 97.8% DCI-P3 for Gamut Coverage, and 167.4% sRGB / 118.6% DCI-P3 for Gamut volume. The color of the screen is amazing, but a screen like this makes us have to be a little careful when editing color photos or videos. The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G99 SoC, and is equipped with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 Storage. The MediaTek Helio G99 features an octa-core CPU with two high performance Arm Cortex-A76 processors clocking up to 2.2GHz and a highly capable Arm Mali G57-class GPU. High performance LPDDR4X memory up to 2,133MHz and fast UFS 2.2-class storage accelerate data access, maximizing performance in games, apps and everyday activities. Quite a combination in the price class offered. There is no software lagging or heating issues. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily without interruptions and by the way, its GPS is instantaneous.聽Concluding my findings on the hardware of the device, I have to mention some important features present such as Side Fingerprint Unlock and Face Unlock features. Then for available connectivity, it’s equipped with:Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram4GWi-Fi 5Wifi SharingBluetooth 5.0USB OTGNFCFM Radio SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. This is the first time that I used HIOS 12. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe with a little polishing HIOS can stand next to other skins but it needs a lot of work to reach MIUI or OxygenOS levels.Panther Game Engine 2.0POVA 4 Pro comes with a high-performance graphite heat dissipation film that covers an extended area of 11726mm虏, an increase of 22% from the previous generation, for even heat dissipation so your phone can keep its cool even during the most intense of battles. The customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. Another convenient feature for the camera is that Google Lens has been integrated into the camera app, which can be easily activated by clicking the shortcut at the corner of the camera UI. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs a user wants and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. HIOS 12 also updated with OTA and that is an excellent sign. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – CameraTecno POVA 4 Pro comes with an 8MP selfie camera (with a front facing flash) and dual rear cameras. I tried to find more information about the two smaller lenses and after a time I discovered that the main sensor is 50MP in size – no info on the second smaller one. The camera setup is paired with a decent LED flash. I have no idea what the latter sensor can do but the company advertises the system as AI capable. Indeed inside the camera app – a nice app, rich in details – we can find a lot of gimmicks that are around the Beauty and AR shot functions. A lot of work is done on the selfie camera. On the front we can find an 8-megapixel selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and an adjustable flashlight. The phone has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects. The company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it.Main featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are. The 50 MP sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times, but seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera. Video is another story. Video resolutions include shooting them at 30fps for 720p, 1080p and at 2K. While it provides similar quality with the photography day or night there is ZERO stabilization. The result is good only when the phone is stable somewhere. If you move it a bit it becomes a mess. Sound is not recorded well, I would prefer less lenses and EIS / sound improvements.Camera main characteristics50MP AI Camera SystemOur 50MP camera HD image system delivers a world of clear images through excellent processing, framing the beautiful moments of life.HDR Mode and Super Night ModeWhen HDR Mode is turned on, users can obtain photos that retain details in bright and dark areas in a backlight. Whether you like shooting during the day or night, you can snap photos with plenty of details. Likewise, Super Night Mode makes sure you can capture the charming night scenes that are around you.2K Time-lapseTime-lapse allows you to gain a fresh perspective on the world around you. You may now enjoy it in 2K resolution. Create your own professional reel and adjust intervals based on how long you鈥檇 like to shoot for.Professional video featuresThe phone comes with features like video bokeh and night video so that you can shoot videos like a pro, day or night.Intelligent AI identificationThe POVA 4 Pro takes photo-taking to another level with its intelligent AI identification features. In a new and improved user interface, users can find 8 function buttons: Recovery, AI Intelligence, Skin Resurfacing, Skin Tone, Face Slimming, Nose Beautification, and Face Trimming. There are even gender-specific AI identification features like beard protection and eyelash detail protection.AI Gallery 5.0AI gallery is a full-featured and intelligent lightning-fast photo manager that lets you enjoy an amazing experience for your photo and video management with intelligent photo album classification, powerful image and video editing as well as easy photo collage. The memories album gives you the ability to replay and share your best memories with your photos and videos presented as slides.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – Battery The huge Li-Po 6000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides 2,5 days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). Or you can play games for up to 12.85 hours straight! If you do need to charge up your phone, the phone offers 45W super charge so it takes only 24 minutes to charge to 50% and 88 minutes to 100%. According to the manufacturer, the battery itself has passed the STS Battery Safety Technology endurance test. This smartphone comes with a Cooling System, Graphite Heat Dissipation Technology for a more stable temperature.The 10W reverse charging option also allows your phone to be transformed into a portable power bank that can charge other Android devices and accessories.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – ConclusionTecno POVA 4 Pro is an impressive device with a lot of advantages and just a few shortcomings. It doesn’t support 5G, doesn’t pack an ultra-wide lens camera, while packing a single microphone when talking in between phone calls. I am yet to find an official answer also on how many Android software updates this phone may get. Also its dual speaker setup could be better in terms of sound quality.
The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 Design is great and the chipset performance is a plus. Battery life is good, the device took an OTA update and looks excellent in my hands. I am suggesting this handset as a good buy especially for those who are into budget mobile gaming! Performance 8.2 Battery 8.2 Camera 8.2 Value for money 8.2 Build quality 8.2 TECNO is a leading international smart device brand with operations in over 70 counties globally. Since launching its CAMON series in 2014 positioned as a professional camera manufacturer with stylish and sleek design. TECNO has been relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of aesthetic and stylish designs with innovative technology. Today, TECNO offers a wide range of smart devices but surely the POVA series is probably their most aggressive of all. Today we have the POVA 4 Pro 鈥渨arship鈥樷€ as TECNO calls it, a budget gaming smartphone for the masses.It’s a device aimed towards hard-core, powerful, and full of energy users, stimulating their unlimited passion, inspiring their commitment no matter in work, entertainment, or life, to light up their internal energy and potential.This brand new TECNO POVA 4 Pro comes with good specs for a mobile phone in the budget gaming-level category. There is massive 6000 mAh battery inside with SuperCharge feature, accompanied by a Helio G99 SoC. There’s also an impressive 6.66″ AMOLED+90Hz high refresh rate display, with 8GB of RAM+256GB storage.We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our impressions using this device as a main smartphone for all purposes.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – SpecificationsUranolith Grey / Fluorite Blue / Rutile Orange6000mAh Mega Battery45W Super ChargeHelio G99 6nm Processor256GB ROM + 8GB RAM锛?28GB ROM + 8GB RAM锛堻/li>6.66″ AMOLED FHD+ Display90Hz Refresh Rate50MP AI CameraHeight: 164.79 mmWidth: 77mmThickness: 9.19mmAndroid鈩 12Helio G99, Octa-Core6.66″ AMOLED FHD+ Dot-in Display90Hz Refresh Rate8MP Front Camera with One Flash50MP Dual Rear Camera with Dual Flash256 / 128 GB ROM + 8GB RAMG-SensorAmbient Light and Distance sensorFingerprint SensorElectronic compassGyroscopeNFCTECNO POVA 4 Pro – UnboxingThe device comes in a silver – grayish box with a nice finish using an impressive 4 Pro POVA lettering. Around the box there are stickers with information about the included device. The TECNO POVA 4 Pro in our hands is the 8/256 GB version in Uranolith Grey. Tecno informs us that the smartphone has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Generally speaking this is a nice retail box. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The聽POVA 4 Pro smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA massive 45W wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA Silicone soft caseJudging from the above I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. A guide exists in the Settings of the smartphone.A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The silicone soft case is very nice but… yeah soft, so if you drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO POVA 4 Pro from hereTECNO POVA 4 Pro – DesignTecno has designed a very nice phone that has nothing missing from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme. The back side of the device comes with some sort of geometric aesthetic, that makes the camera island not that bulgy. It also makes it more compatible with the rest of the back cover. According to TECNO, the design was inspired by a meteorite motif known as the聽Widmanstatten pattern .聽The back cover finish is matte, making it not easy to leave fingerprints. For its size, this smartphone has dimensions of 164 x 77 x 9.19mm, and weighs about 210 grams. So indeed the body is thick and a bit heavy, but that’s reasonable because it has a super large 6000 mAh battery inside.聽The available buttons and ports include:Right Side: Power button as well as fingerprint scanner, volume up/down buttonTop Side: Top stereo speaker grillLeft Side: Non-Hybrid SIM Tray, can 2 SIM + 1 MicroSD.Bottom Side: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, microphone, USB-C, bottom stereo speaker grille.More than enoughYes, this smartphone packs a pair of stereo speakers and also features DTS Audio Technology, as well as Hi-Res Wired and wireless audio certification. 螣n the front side there is a 6.66-inch AMOLED display panel with Full HD + resolution, which is also coated with Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass. The screen refresh rate is up to 90Hz. And by default it already has an Auto-switch feature where the system will adjust the refresh rate based on the application. If you want more apps running at 90Hz, setting the refresh rate to 90Hz, apps running at 90Hz will increase, although not all of them will run at 90Hz, in some apps it will also drop to 60Hz. There is no touch sampling info on how many Hz, but when used to play real drums, it doesn’t feel like there is an annoying delay. Regarding Netflix, interestingly, here it is Widevine L1 support. This means we can already watch Full HD content.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – HardwareAs we mentioned, the device comes equipped with a 6.66-inch AMOLED display panel with Full HD+ resolution. I was impressed by its brightness – in the range of 500 nits for indoor use, for outdoor use when it’s hot, the screen is still quite visible, safe. The color gamut is 99.8% sRGB / 97.8% DCI-P3 for Gamut Coverage, and 167.4% sRGB / 118.6% DCI-P3 for Gamut volume. The color of the screen is amazing, but a screen like this makes us have to be a little careful when editing color photos or videos. The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G99 SoC, and is equipped with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 Storage. The MediaTek Helio G99 features an octa-core CPU with two high performance Arm Cortex-A76 processors clocking up to 2.2GHz and a highly capable Arm Mali G57-class GPU. High performance LPDDR4X memory up to 2,133MHz and fast UFS 2.2-class storage accelerate data access, maximizing performance in games, apps and everyday activities. Quite a combination in the price class offered. There is no software lagging or heating issues. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily without interruptions and by the way, its GPS is instantaneous.聽Concluding my findings on the hardware of the device, I have to mention some important features present such as Side Fingerprint Unlock and Face Unlock features. Then for available connectivity, it’s equipped with:Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on Telegram4GWi-Fi 5Wifi SharingBluetooth 5.0USB OTGNFCFM Radio SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. This is the first time that I used HIOS 12. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe with a little polishing HIOS can stand next to other skins but it needs a lot of work to reach MIUI or OxygenOS levels.Panther Game Engine 2.0POVA 4 Pro comes with a high-performance graphite heat dissipation film that covers an extended area of 11726mm虏, an increase of 22% from the previous generation, for even heat dissipation so your phone can keep its cool even during the most intense of battles. The customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. Another convenient feature for the camera is that Google Lens has been integrated into the camera app, which can be easily activated by clicking the shortcut at the corner of the camera UI. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs a user wants and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. HIOS 12 also updated with OTA and that is an excellent sign. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – CameraTecno POVA 4 Pro comes with an 8MP selfie camera (with a front facing flash) and dual rear cameras. I tried to find more information about the two smaller lenses and after a time I discovered that the main sensor is 50MP in size – no info on the second smaller one. The camera setup is paired with a decent LED flash. I have no idea what the latter sensor can do but the company advertises the system as AI capable. Indeed inside the camera app – a nice app, rich in details – we can find a lot of gimmicks that are around the Beauty and AR shot functions. A lot of work is done on the selfie camera. On the front we can find an 8-megapixel selfie camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and an adjustable flashlight. The phone has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects. The company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it.Main featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are. The 50 MP sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times, but seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera. Video is another story. Video resolutions include shooting them at 30fps for 720p, 1080p and at 2K. While it provides similar quality with the photography day or night there is ZERO stabilization. The result is good only when the phone is stable somewhere. If you move it a bit it becomes a mess. Sound is not recorded well, I would prefer less lenses and EIS / sound improvements.Camera main characteristics50MP AI Camera SystemOur 50MP camera HD image system delivers a world of clear images through excellent processing, framing the beautiful moments of life.HDR Mode and Super Night ModeWhen HDR Mode is turned on, users can obtain photos that retain details in bright and dark areas in a backlight. Whether you like shooting during the day or night, you can snap photos with plenty of details. Likewise, Super Night Mode makes sure you can capture the charming night scenes that are around you.2K Time-lapseTime-lapse allows you to gain a fresh perspective on the world around you. You may now enjoy it in 2K resolution. Create your own professional reel and adjust intervals based on how long you鈥檇 like to shoot for.Professional video featuresThe phone comes with features like video bokeh and night video so that you can shoot videos like a pro, day or night.Intelligent AI identificationThe POVA 4 Pro takes photo-taking to another level with its intelligent AI identification features. In a new and improved user interface, users can find 8 function buttons: Recovery, AI Intelligence, Skin Resurfacing, Skin Tone, Face Slimming, Nose Beautification, and Face Trimming. There are even gender-specific AI identification features like beard protection and eyelash detail protection.AI Gallery 5.0AI gallery is a full-featured and intelligent lightning-fast photo manager that lets you enjoy an amazing experience for your photo and video management with intelligent photo album classification, powerful image and video editing as well as easy photo collage. The memories album gives you the ability to replay and share your best memories with your photos and videos presented as slides.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – Battery The huge Li-Po 6000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides 2,5 days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). Or you can play games for up to 12.85 hours straight! If you do need to charge up your phone, the phone offers 45W super charge so it takes only 24 minutes to charge to 50% and 88 minutes to 100%. According to the manufacturer, the battery itself has passed the STS Battery Safety Technology endurance test. This smartphone comes with a Cooling System, Graphite Heat Dissipation Technology for a more stable temperature.The 10W reverse charging option also allows your phone to be transformed into a portable power bank that can charge other Android devices and accessories.TECNO POVA 4 Pro – ConclusionTecno POVA 4 Pro is an impressive device with a lot of advantages and just a few shortcomings. It doesn’t support 5G, doesn’t pack an ultra-wide lens camera, while packing a single microphone when talking in between phone calls. I am yet to find an official answer also on how many Android software updates this phone may get. Also its dual speaker setup could be better in terms of sound quality.The Breakdown 4.3 8.6 TECNO worked closely with BMWs DesignWorks to create this TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition. It provides an energy efficient chipset, while software is rich but comes with some bloatware. There is a 5000 mAh battery with top standby times, and the charging speed is adequate with a 18W charger. I loved the looks of this device. Awesome work! Performance 8.6 Battery 8.6 Selfie Camera 8.6 Main Camera 8.6 Value for money 8.6 Build quality 8.6 It’s not the first time that mobile phone manufacturers cooperate with huge automotive brands. Huawei, Nokia, Motorola have done it (and we have each review), and now it was time for TECNO to follow that road. With quite a success I might add. Designworks, a BMW group company, is responsible for the color, material, and finish design of the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition. Combining the design language of vitality and strength, as well as first-class automobile design experience, the Sport Edition was created. Built to be an icon of young and trendy culture originally, while also providing selfie pleasure and nice user experience with its 32MP front camera, MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and the 6.6″ 1080P Full HD display.This TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition comes with an impressive 32MP super clear selfie camera. It’s designed to boost young people鈥檚 confidence in self-expression by enabling them to take clearer/brighter selfies. It provides higher number of pixels and better photosensitive performance. It uses updated features like Super Night Mode 3.0 and AI Portrait Restoration. We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our review impressions.You can buy TECNO Spark 9 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition – Main specifications6.6-inch (1080 x 2460 pixels) Full HD+ LCD screenOcta Core MediaTek Helio G85 12nm processor (Dual 2GHz Cortex-A75 + Hexa 2GHz 6x Cortex-A55 CPUs) with up to 1000MHz ARM Mali-G52 2EEMC2 GPU4GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128GB internal storage, expandable with microSDDual SIM (nano + nano + microSD)HiOS 8.6 based on Android 1250MP (f/1.7 primary) + 2MP ( f/2.4 depth) +聽 2MP (f/2.0 AI Lens), Dual LED flash32MP front-facing camera with dual LED flashSide-mounted fingerprint sensor3.5mm audio jack, FM RadioDual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS/ GLONASS/ Beidou, USB Type-C5000 mAh battery with 18W fast chargingTECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition – UnboxingTaking its cue from an icy crystal talisman, the youthful blue and pure white color scheme of the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition reminds people of the power and drama of the superhero. The bold and bright blue expresses the elements of metaverse and also presents futurism, while the purity and primitiveness of white appeals to young consumers who wish to express their refinement and preference for high standards. A distinctive crystal diamond-cut element is a subtle nod to luxury, showcase dignity and enthusiasm, while conveying a sense of time-tested refinement.BMW聽DesignThe vibrant colors are also applied to the edges of the camera lens, making the unique design of the phone visible and expressing the bold and passionate personality of young consumers.聽The Spark 9 Pro in our hands is the 4/128 GB version. According to the company it has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA 18 Watt wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA hard plastic caseOnce again I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. An e-manual exists in the Settings of the smartphone however 鈥 a choice which is good for the environment I have to say.A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a solid tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The plastic case is very nice but if you tend to drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO Spark 9 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition – DesignTecno worked closely with Designworks, a BMW group company in creating a phone that has nothing to envy from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme.聽 The 6.6 inch display comes with medium sized bezels, having a bit bigger 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a water drop hole for the selfie camera on the top middle area.According to DesignWorks, this specific Sport Edition model has vibrant colors applied to the edges of the camera lens, making the unique design of the phone visible and expressing the bold and passionate personality of young consumers. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there鈥檚 a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear. There is also a notification (white) light placed on the top right side of the display.Main packageThe side frame is connected to the back panel and is one big flat piece of plastic. There is a line to separate them as a design detail but there is only one panel here. On the left side we can see the tray where 2 SIM cards and a microSD card fit. On the right side we can see two volume buttons and under them the lock/power on button. The position of them is ok, I can reach them easily with my thumb.The three buttons are well made without rattling. There are no visible bands because the smartphone’s sides and back are plastic. The top has nothing of interest while the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille. A welcomed sight is the inclusion of a Type-C port, that offers faster data transfer speeds and a more modern look to the device. Nice work here TECNO.Camera and video featuresAccording to both TECNO and DesignWorks, this is a camera phone – oriented towards those who strive for excellence. A 32-megapixel selfie camera at the front allows users to capture sharp, highly detailed images in a variety of popular photo settings. Equipped with image restoration and quality optimization features, the handset鈥檚 front camera promises a one-stop selfie experience for any user and lets you shine at every moment.TECNO SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition鈥檚 Super Night 3.0 algorithm can intelligently recognize ambient light and restore facial and background features via multi-frame shooting, performs background adjustment, and multi-frame fusion optimization to create clearer and brighter photos and videos even in the dark light. I really enjoyed the Squircle screen fill-in light during my photo shoots. It’s a light that provides a uniform and three-dimensional lighting effect that sufficiently illuminates the face, ensuring clear portraits and charming night shoots that accentuate beauty in darkness.TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Spark 9 Pro is its impressive AI Selfie camera but also all cameras to be honest. The SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition features an industry-leading 50 megapixel main camera that boasts an unparalleled f/1.6 aperture and 77 degree visual angle, allowing the camera to produce better shots in poor light conditions. Beyond clean and textured landscape or portrait shots, the phone comes with a 2 megapixel Bokeh camera with an f/2.4 aperture and impressive 88.9 degree visual angle, as well as a QVGA camera. The phone鈥檚 HDR mode provides ambient backlighting in dimly lit environments, ensuring that photos and videos can still be taken and recorded clearly. When HDR Mode is turned on, users can obtain photos that retain details in bright and dark areas in a backlight. Whether you like shooting during the day or night, you can snap photos with plenty of details. Likewise, Super Night Mode makes sure you can capture the charming night scenes that are around you.Selfie kingTECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive.聽It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramCustomized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shapeI really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect! Beauty filters are all the rage today, and the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition comes with its own built-in smart beauty mode. Smart beauty mode offers a comprehensive suite of beauty solutions that cater to different skin tones, creating charming portraits and breaking through stereotypes for all users. The phone in our review has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects.More camera featuresTECNO SPARK 9 Pro have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions. All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review.The main camera setup on the back comprises of 3 lenses:50 MP, f/1.6, (PDAF)2 MP, f/2.4, (Bokeh)8 W, f/2.0, (AI cam)They all support HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes. But also have the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which runs below the customized skin called HIOS 8.6. It’s a theme that easily conveys technical style of fashion by richly-designed icons, wallpapers and vivid interactions, enlightening your digital life. However I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. The customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app and a private app shop called Palm Store. There’s also a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement. Thankfully we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.Unlock featuresThere are two ways to unlock 7 Pro. Face-unlock is very fast. There is no IR light for unlocking during the night, so in total darkness this method may not work. iA minimal light source is needed for this functionality. The company says the Face Unlock enables closed eye protection and screen fill-in light. Please remember that this is not the safest method to unlock your phone so it is not the advised usage outside your usual premises. The other way is the side panel fingerprint reader. Be careful here, you must do a good setup else the scanner is not working probably, as it did in my case. I deleted all data and passed my fingerprints again and the result was a very accurate and extremely fast process. The in-display camera sensor will meet your needs in all day usage – most of us wear masks – and it is very secure. My opinion is to use it only and disable Face Unlock for the reasons I explained. Adding also on this, is the speed that the in-display camera sensor unlocks the phone – it is ultra fast, the company advertises a speed of聽 0.12 seconds.App Twin: Double Accounts, Double ExperienceAPP Twin is a feature embedded inside the HiOS 8.6 that – according to TECNO can do wonders. It wants to be the best assistant of your social circle. With it, you can run two social accounts simultaneously and switch between different social accounts fast and smoothly.聽To do that, head to Settings – App management – Dual apps – App Twin. Impressive network competenceThe device did excellent while using any type of network – 4G or WiFi. Using an intelligent network optimization feature, videos and TikToks play smoother with at a 46% and 50% faster refresh rate respectively.聽 Users can download any file 45% faster regardless of network conditions. Nearly three times as fast if files are downloaded via Wi-Fi. To check out this feature, head to Settings 鈥 SIM & network settings 鈥 Intelligent network optimization 鈥 Smart network allocation.TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – HardwareThe display is a 6.6 inches IPS LCD panel. The optimized screen design enables better visual experience and makes the scrolling smoother. Also the touch feedback is more sensitive for playing games and watching videos. It has a 90.2% screen-to-body ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels. This means that we get 403 ppi of density, an impressive screen quality. The panel is not very bright, you will have to shade it in mid-summer sun. Colors and angles of view are good. Generally this is a good budget panel for all kind of usage.The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G85 SoC. The chipset packs 8 cores: two powerful Arm Cortex A-75 CPUs and six Cortex A-55 processors, connected with an L3 cache. This significantly boosts performance for even games on high-intensity and high-performance settings. During everyday use, it offers smooth and lag-free game experience without loading. It also allows you to easily control the situation whether in a large mobile game or a single-player game. Obviously this is a decent SoC that provides good processing power but you will not be able to play high render 3D games or multitask. We can also find Mali-G52 MC2 for graphics and eMMC 5.1 for storage. The smartphone comes with only 4/128GB versions. There is no software lagging or heating issues. Spark 9 Pro has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions. By the way, its GPS is instantaneous. TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination. It provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 8-9 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 18W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 2,5 hours for a full change and there is no flash charge in case of need.TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – ConclusionIf you’re a BMW fan, or just a top quality fan of selfies, this is THE selfie phone for you. The TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of electronic image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts.
The Breakdown 4.3 8.6 TECNO worked closely with BMWs DesignWorks to create this TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition. It provides an energy efficient chipset, while software is rich but comes with some bloatware. There is a 5000 mAh battery with top standby times, and the charging speed is adequate with a 18W charger. I loved the looks of this device. Awesome work! Performance 8.6 Battery 8.6 Selfie Camera 8.6 Main Camera 8.6 Value for money 8.6 Build quality 8.6 It’s not the first time that mobile phone manufacturers cooperate with huge automotive brands. Huawei, Nokia, Motorola have done it (and we have each review), and now it was time for TECNO to follow that road. With quite a success I might add. Designworks, a BMW group company, is responsible for the color, material, and finish design of the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition. Combining the design language of vitality and strength, as well as first-class automobile design experience, the Sport Edition was created. Built to be an icon of young and trendy culture originally, while also providing selfie pleasure and nice user experience with its 32MP front camera, MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and the 6.6″ 1080P Full HD display.This TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition comes with an impressive 32MP super clear selfie camera. It’s designed to boost young people鈥檚 confidence in self-expression by enabling them to take clearer/brighter selfies. It provides higher number of pixels and better photosensitive performance. It uses updated features like Super Night Mode 3.0 and AI Portrait Restoration. We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our review impressions.You can buy TECNO Spark 9 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition – Main specifications6.6-inch (1080 x 2460 pixels) Full HD+ LCD screenOcta Core MediaTek Helio G85 12nm processor (Dual 2GHz Cortex-A75 + Hexa 2GHz 6x Cortex-A55 CPUs) with up to 1000MHz ARM Mali-G52 2EEMC2 GPU4GB LPDDR4x RAM, 128GB internal storage, expandable with microSDDual SIM (nano + nano + microSD)HiOS 8.6 based on Android 1250MP (f/1.7 primary) + 2MP ( f/2.4 depth) +聽 2MP (f/2.0 AI Lens), Dual LED flash32MP front-facing camera with dual LED flashSide-mounted fingerprint sensor3.5mm audio jack, FM RadioDual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS/ GLONASS/ Beidou, USB Type-C5000 mAh battery with 18W fast chargingTECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition – UnboxingTaking its cue from an icy crystal talisman, the youthful blue and pure white color scheme of the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition reminds people of the power and drama of the superhero. The bold and bright blue expresses the elements of metaverse and also presents futurism, while the purity and primitiveness of white appeals to young consumers who wish to express their refinement and preference for high standards. A distinctive crystal diamond-cut element is a subtle nod to luxury, showcase dignity and enthusiasm, while conveying a sense of time-tested refinement.BMW聽DesignThe vibrant colors are also applied to the edges of the camera lens, making the unique design of the phone visible and expressing the bold and passionate personality of young consumers.聽The Spark 9 Pro in our hands is the 4/128 GB version. According to the company it has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA 18 Watt wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA hard plastic caseOnce again I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. An e-manual exists in the Settings of the smartphone however 鈥 a choice which is good for the environment I have to say.A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a solid tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The plastic case is very nice but if you tend to drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO Spark 9 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition – DesignTecno worked closely with Designworks, a BMW group company in creating a phone that has nothing to envy from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme.聽 The 6.6 inch display comes with medium sized bezels, having a bit bigger 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a water drop hole for the selfie camera on the top middle area.According to DesignWorks, this specific Sport Edition model has vibrant colors applied to the edges of the camera lens, making the unique design of the phone visible and expressing the bold and passionate personality of young consumers. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there鈥檚 a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear. There is also a notification (white) light placed on the top right side of the display.Main packageThe side frame is connected to the back panel and is one big flat piece of plastic. There is a line to separate them as a design detail but there is only one panel here. On the left side we can see the tray where 2 SIM cards and a microSD card fit. On the right side we can see two volume buttons and under them the lock/power on button. The position of them is ok, I can reach them easily with my thumb.The three buttons are well made without rattling. There are no visible bands because the smartphone’s sides and back are plastic. The top has nothing of interest while the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille. A welcomed sight is the inclusion of a Type-C port, that offers faster data transfer speeds and a more modern look to the device. Nice work here TECNO.Camera and video featuresAccording to both TECNO and DesignWorks, this is a camera phone – oriented towards those who strive for excellence. A 32-megapixel selfie camera at the front allows users to capture sharp, highly detailed images in a variety of popular photo settings. Equipped with image restoration and quality optimization features, the handset鈥檚 front camera promises a one-stop selfie experience for any user and lets you shine at every moment.TECNO SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition鈥檚 Super Night 3.0 algorithm can intelligently recognize ambient light and restore facial and background features via multi-frame shooting, performs background adjustment, and multi-frame fusion optimization to create clearer and brighter photos and videos even in the dark light. I really enjoyed the Squircle screen fill-in light during my photo shoots. It’s a light that provides a uniform and three-dimensional lighting effect that sufficiently illuminates the face, ensuring clear portraits and charming night shoots that accentuate beauty in darkness.TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Spark 9 Pro is its impressive AI Selfie camera but also all cameras to be honest. The SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition features an industry-leading 50 megapixel main camera that boasts an unparalleled f/1.6 aperture and 77 degree visual angle, allowing the camera to produce better shots in poor light conditions. Beyond clean and textured landscape or portrait shots, the phone comes with a 2 megapixel Bokeh camera with an f/2.4 aperture and impressive 88.9 degree visual angle, as well as a QVGA camera. The phone鈥檚 HDR mode provides ambient backlighting in dimly lit environments, ensuring that photos and videos can still be taken and recorded clearly. When HDR Mode is turned on, users can obtain photos that retain details in bright and dark areas in a backlight. Whether you like shooting during the day or night, you can snap photos with plenty of details. Likewise, Super Night Mode makes sure you can capture the charming night scenes that are around you.Selfie kingTECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive.聽It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramCustomized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shapeI really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect! Beauty filters are all the rage today, and the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition comes with its own built-in smart beauty mode. Smart beauty mode offers a comprehensive suite of beauty solutions that cater to different skin tones, creating charming portraits and breaking through stereotypes for all users. The phone in our review has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects.More camera featuresTECNO SPARK 9 Pro have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions. All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review.The main camera setup on the back comprises of 3 lenses:50 MP, f/1.6, (PDAF)2 MP, f/2.4, (Bokeh)8 W, f/2.0, (AI cam)They all support HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes. But also have the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which runs below the customized skin called HIOS 8.6. It’s a theme that easily conveys technical style of fashion by richly-designed icons, wallpapers and vivid interactions, enlightening your digital life. However I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. The customization is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app and a private app shop called Palm Store. There’s also a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement. Thankfully we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.Unlock featuresThere are two ways to unlock 7 Pro. Face-unlock is very fast. There is no IR light for unlocking during the night, so in total darkness this method may not work. iA minimal light source is needed for this functionality. The company says the Face Unlock enables closed eye protection and screen fill-in light. Please remember that this is not the safest method to unlock your phone so it is not the advised usage outside your usual premises. The other way is the side panel fingerprint reader. Be careful here, you must do a good setup else the scanner is not working probably, as it did in my case. I deleted all data and passed my fingerprints again and the result was a very accurate and extremely fast process. The in-display camera sensor will meet your needs in all day usage – most of us wear masks – and it is very secure. My opinion is to use it only and disable Face Unlock for the reasons I explained. Adding also on this, is the speed that the in-display camera sensor unlocks the phone – it is ultra fast, the company advertises a speed of聽 0.12 seconds.App Twin: Double Accounts, Double ExperienceAPP Twin is a feature embedded inside the HiOS 8.6 that – according to TECNO can do wonders. It wants to be the best assistant of your social circle. With it, you can run two social accounts simultaneously and switch between different social accounts fast and smoothly.聽To do that, head to Settings – App management – Dual apps – App Twin. Impressive network competenceThe device did excellent while using any type of network – 4G or WiFi. Using an intelligent network optimization feature, videos and TikToks play smoother with at a 46% and 50% faster refresh rate respectively.聽 Users can download any file 45% faster regardless of network conditions. Nearly three times as fast if files are downloaded via Wi-Fi. To check out this feature, head to Settings 鈥 SIM & network settings 鈥 Intelligent network optimization 鈥 Smart network allocation.TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – HardwareThe display is a 6.6 inches IPS LCD panel. The optimized screen design enables better visual experience and makes the scrolling smoother. Also the touch feedback is more sensitive for playing games and watching videos. It has a 90.2% screen-to-body ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels. This means that we get 403 ppi of density, an impressive screen quality. The panel is not very bright, you will have to shade it in mid-summer sun. Colors and angles of view are good. Generally this is a good budget panel for all kind of usage.The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G85 SoC. The chipset packs 8 cores: two powerful Arm Cortex A-75 CPUs and six Cortex A-55 processors, connected with an L3 cache. This significantly boosts performance for even games on high-intensity and high-performance settings. During everyday use, it offers smooth and lag-free game experience without loading. It also allows you to easily control the situation whether in a large mobile game or a single-player game. Obviously this is a decent SoC that provides good processing power but you will not be able to play high render 3D games or multitask. We can also find Mali-G52 MC2 for graphics and eMMC 5.1 for storage. The smartphone comes with only 4/128GB versions. There is no software lagging or heating issues. Spark 9 Pro has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions. By the way, its GPS is instantaneous. TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination. It provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 8-9 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 18W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 2,5 hours for a full change and there is no flash charge in case of need.TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition review – ConclusionIf you’re a BMW fan, or just a top quality fan of selfies, this is THE selfie phone for you. The TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of electronic image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts.The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of smart plugs - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then you should really consider buying them. Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 You’re into the market trying to find some affordable ways to make your home smarter? Then you must be happy to know that there’s a ton of compatible devices out there. Devices such as video doorbells, air purifiers, and lights are all available to purchase and install to make a person’s life easier. MEROSS is no stranger to the Smart Home (but also Homekit compatible) market. It has a wide range of affordable products ready to make your home better and safer. Today we have not 1, but 2 Homekit compatible products – MEROSS Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector & WiFi Plug – that can secure your electricity plugs and make your home safer – without breaking the bank.Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily with out the need for a hub. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector – does what it saysWhen you’re in need of more than one smart outlet in a certain place in your house, many designs take up the space of two AC outlets. Yes, you can purchase a two-outlet version of smart plugs, but it鈥檚 still limiting. Meross tries to overcome multiple limitations with its Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector, and it succeeds.Main characteristics:4聽Outlets and 4 USB Ports: Equipped with聽4 individually controlled outlets and 4 groups controlled USB ports. Up to 4.0A for four USB ports. You can charge your cellphone, tablets, and other USB gadgets with a smart power strip.Remote Control: Control the 4 outlets and 4 grouped USB ports from anywhere with Meross App/Apple Home App.Voice Control:聽Works聽with Apple HomeKit, Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, Control your devices hands-free, just make a voice command to turn on/off the connected devices. Works with any 2.4GHz or Dual Band WiFi router. No hub required.Schedule and Timer Setting: WiFi Surge Protector automatically supports turning home or office devices on and off. An added benefit of saving energy when devices are not needed or are left on by accident. Support sunrise and sunset settings.Safety Design: The smart power strip is made of flame retardant PC material and has been approved for safety and quality assurance (CE and RoHS certified). It supports any home device up to 10A. Never allow other low-quality surge protectors to endanger the safety of your family.Suitable for聽use in Europe聽and other countries that use EU-type plugs.When adding a device you may see a prompt for a device that has not been added for authentication, you can simply ignore it and click Add, this device has completed 99.99% authentication and can be used with confidence.This surge protector has 4 independently controllable AC outlets and a bank of four USB ports, controlled as a group. Each AC outlet is well spaced to allow standard plugs and fairly large DC adapters. The power strip includes a 1.8 meter power cord with a standard three-prong EU outlet. (Available also for US and UK plug ends.)Smart home compatibilityMeross provides maximum compatibility by including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant support. When pairing with HomeKit, all you have to do is plug it in, wait 5 seconds, go to the Home app of your iPhone/iPad and scan the Homekit code that’s placed at the back of the surge protector. After this all you have to do is configure the room you want to place it into. Name the 4 plugs – and the group controlled USB hub and you’re ready. You can have the surge protector appear as a single item in the Home app in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Then press and hold or double-click its entry to control or set automations for each outlet and the USB bank. You can also choose to have each of those items appear as separate entries.It’s easy to use such type of smart plugs if you name them, because afterwards you easily know what device is plugged into which outlet! The USB bank is much simpler. Each port can draw 5 volts at up to 2.4A (12W) up to a combined maximum across the four of 5 volts at 4A (20W). This is sufficient to run smaller USB devices and charge smartphones and tablets at a moderate pace.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThis surge protectors includes a standard warranty against defects and failure. According to Meross is made of flame retardant PC material and has been approved for safety and quality assurance (CE and RoHS certified).Meross WiFi Plug: Small and simpleThe Smart Wi-Fi Plug is reasonably small, measuring 2.6 inches by 2.6 inches by 2.3 inches, including the prongs that go into the outlet. The version being tested is for EU outlets, but there are variants for US, UK, Australian, and French outlets.Main characteristicsCompact 2-in-1 Design: Allows you to get 2 spaced outlets with one plug. Mini enough but there is a wide place between the two sockets, no interference and more space-saving.Remote & Voice Control: Compatible with Apple HomeKit (ios 13+), Apple Watch, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings, remotely control your device on your smart phone with the Meross/Home app or just simply make a voice command to Siri/Alexa/Google from anywhere (Anywhere with internet access) at any time.Schedules & Timer Setting: Schedule the smart plugs or set auto-off timer routine to work automatically as needed, saving energy and money. Your data is securely transmitted and stored using Amazon AWS servers.Easy Setup & Reliable Connection: Simply download the App, power on and configuration then you can enjoy the convenience of our products.聽Suitable for use in the Europe or other countries that use EU type plug. (there are variants for US, UK, Australian, and French outlets)Easy to useAlthough it’s small, the plug is slightly too large to be ideal for extension cables. The relatively close together outlet positions make it hard to fit something in beside the smart plug, though it is possible. For wall-mounted outlets, where there’s typically more space between each outlet, it’s great.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup Code of WiFi plugAdd it in your HomeAll connected outlet ports will be now visible in Homekit.I really enjoyed the聽Schedules & Timer Setting, because it allows me to manage the lights in my living room as I prefer. For example I set a schedule for my main living room floor lamp to turn on at sunset. Then turn off automatically when I go to my bedroom to sleep. All these save energy and money in the longterm. Note also that all聽data is securely transmitted and stored using Amazon AWS servers.Our opinionFor a price of $39.99 (for the Wi-Fi Surge Protector) and $26.99 (for the聽Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug) you get more than what you paid for. Both plugs can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, providing control over all outlets. It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes). As for the Homekit integration – it is flawless.
The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of smart plugs - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then you should really consider buying them. Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 You’re into the market trying to find some affordable ways to make your home smarter? Then you must be happy to know that there’s a ton of compatible devices out there. Devices such as video doorbells, air purifiers, and lights are all available to purchase and install to make a person’s life easier. MEROSS is no stranger to the Smart Home (but also Homekit compatible) market. It has a wide range of affordable products ready to make your home better and safer. Today we have not 1, but 2 Homekit compatible products – MEROSS Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector & WiFi Plug – that can secure your electricity plugs and make your home safer – without breaking the bank.Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily with out the need for a hub. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector – does what it saysWhen you’re in need of more than one smart outlet in a certain place in your house, many designs take up the space of two AC outlets. Yes, you can purchase a two-outlet version of smart plugs, but it鈥檚 still limiting. Meross tries to overcome multiple limitations with its Smart Wi-Fi Surge Protector, and it succeeds.Main characteristics:4聽Outlets and 4 USB Ports: Equipped with聽4 individually controlled outlets and 4 groups controlled USB ports. Up to 4.0A for four USB ports. You can charge your cellphone, tablets, and other USB gadgets with a smart power strip.Remote Control: Control the 4 outlets and 4 grouped USB ports from anywhere with Meross App/Apple Home App.Voice Control:聽Works聽with Apple HomeKit, Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, Control your devices hands-free, just make a voice command to turn on/off the connected devices. Works with any 2.4GHz or Dual Band WiFi router. No hub required.Schedule and Timer Setting: WiFi Surge Protector automatically supports turning home or office devices on and off. An added benefit of saving energy when devices are not needed or are left on by accident. Support sunrise and sunset settings.Safety Design: The smart power strip is made of flame retardant PC material and has been approved for safety and quality assurance (CE and RoHS certified). It supports any home device up to 10A. Never allow other low-quality surge protectors to endanger the safety of your family.Suitable for聽use in Europe聽and other countries that use EU-type plugs.When adding a device you may see a prompt for a device that has not been added for authentication, you can simply ignore it and click Add, this device has completed 99.99% authentication and can be used with confidence.This surge protector has 4 independently controllable AC outlets and a bank of four USB ports, controlled as a group. Each AC outlet is well spaced to allow standard plugs and fairly large DC adapters. The power strip includes a 1.8 meter power cord with a standard three-prong EU outlet. (Available also for US and UK plug ends.)Smart home compatibilityMeross provides maximum compatibility by including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant support. When pairing with HomeKit, all you have to do is plug it in, wait 5 seconds, go to the Home app of your iPhone/iPad and scan the Homekit code that’s placed at the back of the surge protector. After this all you have to do is configure the room you want to place it into. Name the 4 plugs – and the group controlled USB hub and you’re ready. You can have the surge protector appear as a single item in the Home app in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Then press and hold or double-click its entry to control or set automations for each outlet and the USB bank. You can also choose to have each of those items appear as separate entries.It’s easy to use such type of smart plugs if you name them, because afterwards you easily know what device is plugged into which outlet! The USB bank is much simpler. Each port can draw 5 volts at up to 2.4A (12W) up to a combined maximum across the four of 5 volts at 4A (20W). This is sufficient to run smaller USB devices and charge smartphones and tablets at a moderate pace.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThis surge protectors includes a standard warranty against defects and failure. According to Meross is made of flame retardant PC material and has been approved for safety and quality assurance (CE and RoHS certified).Meross WiFi Plug: Small and simpleThe Smart Wi-Fi Plug is reasonably small, measuring 2.6 inches by 2.6 inches by 2.3 inches, including the prongs that go into the outlet. The version being tested is for EU outlets, but there are variants for US, UK, Australian, and French outlets.Main characteristicsCompact 2-in-1 Design: Allows you to get 2 spaced outlets with one plug. Mini enough but there is a wide place between the two sockets, no interference and more space-saving.Remote & Voice Control: Compatible with Apple HomeKit (ios 13+), Apple Watch, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings, remotely control your device on your smart phone with the Meross/Home app or just simply make a voice command to Siri/Alexa/Google from anywhere (Anywhere with internet access) at any time.Schedules & Timer Setting: Schedule the smart plugs or set auto-off timer routine to work automatically as needed, saving energy and money. Your data is securely transmitted and stored using Amazon AWS servers.Easy Setup & Reliable Connection: Simply download the App, power on and configuration then you can enjoy the convenience of our products.聽Suitable for use in the Europe or other countries that use EU type plug. (there are variants for US, UK, Australian, and French outlets)Easy to useAlthough it’s small, the plug is slightly too large to be ideal for extension cables. The relatively close together outlet positions make it hard to fit something in beside the smart plug, though it is possible. For wall-mounted outlets, where there’s typically more space between each outlet, it’s great.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup Code of WiFi plugAdd it in your HomeAll connected outlet ports will be now visible in Homekit.I really enjoyed the聽Schedules & Timer Setting, because it allows me to manage the lights in my living room as I prefer. For example I set a schedule for my main living room floor lamp to turn on at sunset. Then turn off automatically when I go to my bedroom to sleep. All these save energy and money in the longterm. Note also that all聽data is securely transmitted and stored using Amazon AWS servers.Our opinionFor a price of $39.99 (for the Wi-Fi Surge Protector) and $26.99 (for the聽Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug) you get more than what you paid for. Both plugs can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, providing control over all outlets. It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes). As for the Homekit integration – it is flawless.The Breakdown 4.5 9 If youre looking for good affordable earbuds with ANC, the Donner Dobuds ONE is the option. In addition, youll get superb audio quality, IPX4 rating, durable build, long-lasting battery, and fast-charging support. Build Quality 9 Connectivity 9 ANC and ENC 9 Battery Life 9 Sound Quality 9 The market of earphones went through a revolution in the past year. After the phenomenon of AirPods, a lot of companies decided to enter this category. As a result, a new trend has emerged – the trend of truly wireless earbuds. Nowadays, these earbuds are more popular than the old conventional wired phones. Therefore, more and more companies are starting to drop the 3.5 mm headphone jack. After all, true wireless solutions are trending. With so many “hearables” in the market, the different brands are trying to innovate in features to make their product better than the competition. One of the solutions to make good earbuds stand against the “regular” ones is Active Noise Canceling. This has been a feature present only on Premium earbuds, but the situation is changing. Donner, a reliable bearable maker comes with Donner Dobuds One – stylish earbuds that are affordable and also come with ANC.About DonnerDonner is a reputed German company, known for its long tradition in the range of musical instruments. Since 2012 its commitment goes on creating new experiences in music and performance. The focus is on young people, full of vitality and with a clear call for innovation. The company has been dedicated to the research, manufacture, and selling of musical instruments. More recently, it has been playing in the range of truly wireless earbuds. The Donner Dobuds ONE comes as Donner’s latest innovation in the segment. The device combines the company’s expertise with compelling specifications. The earbuds are quite stylish and the price is also affordable. Without further ado, let’s dive into this product’s qualities and cons.Package ContentEarbudsCharging caseUSB-C charging cableInstruction manual4 additional earbud tipsDooner Dobuds One – Features OverviewThe Donner Dobuds ONE is not a budget earbud, but the price is attractive when you look at other devices in this category. The truly wireless earbuds come to outperform other earbuds in the market. It comes with a dual-driver system. There is one dynamic driver for richer bass response and another custom balanced armature driver that will improve delicate sounds. As result, we have immersive, high-quality audio for most of your activities. You’ll play games, hear music, and perform calls with high quality.ANC, Build Quality, and “Daylife Waterproof”Donner also provides a companion application for Donner Dobuds ONE. It’s certainly a plus that makes the earbuds stand against the competition. You don’t need it to use the earbuds, but it’s a good plus. The app comesan鑱 with equalizer, and you can adjust your sound based on the environment and also on the content. You can also enable or disable ANC. Yes, ANC is one of the things that make this earbud stand against the competition. You can enable it to reduce outside noises by up to 30 dB, or disable it to still pick up outside sounds. There is also an ENC feature for call noise reduction. The callers will hear you and not your surroundings. Each earbud includes four microphones. Two are for picking up your voice and two for processing and filtering the sound in the environments, including wind.Interestingly, the earbuds also focus on the comfort of the user. There are five tip sizes to choose from according to your ear. Don’t worry since the earbuds won’t fall from your ears easily. There is an inner hard layer making it difficult to remove. The outer layer is softer to not bring pain during usage. The earbuds tips are also dust-resistant while the earbuds are daylife waterproof. “Daylife Waterproof” means they’re safe from sweat, drizzle, and light rain. Don’t go swim or try to take a bath with them.The earbuds come in four colorways – Snow White, Matte Black, Mint Green, and Navy Blue. I’ve got the Snow White version with Pinkish ear tips. I looks nice and the design is far from boring like the AirPods.Mint colorwayBattery, Fast-Charging, and other specificationsAccording to Donner, a full charge on the earbuds and the case will last you up to 32 hours with ANC off. Obviously, with the ANC feature that will drain faster. During my usage, I was able to hear for more than 6 hours without any issue. Around 10 to 15 minutes of charge time will give you two hours of power. The earbuds also come with Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. So you’ll experience stable connections, low latency, and lower power consumption. The transmission distance supported between the audio device is up to 10 meters. According to DONNER, you can use the earbuds without ANC for 8 hours of music listening. With ANC this will drop to around 6 hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe earbuds also come with a sensitive portion that supports touch. You can customize the actions through the companion app. You can give one touch to adjust the volume, two touches to play/ pause the music, and there is even support for three touches. The earbuds also support long-press actions.As we’ve said before, the earbuds come with fast charging. According to the specs listing, the earbuds have a 55 mAh capacity, while the charging case packs a 520 mAh battery. Interestingly, their fast-charging prowess comes through a USB Type-C port. There is a small USB Type-C cable that will get the job done.Specs ListingBluetooth Chip: BT8922E2Bluetooth Version: 5.2Noise-Canceling Mode: ActiveDigital ANC up to: -32dBAverage ANC: 閳?5dB鑱絝rom鑱?0Hz鑱絫o鑱?000HzSupported Codecs: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFPAudio Decoding: SBC, AACTransmission Distance: 10MReceive Sensitivity: 86 dBmWorking Frequency: 2.402 to 2.480 GHzBattery Capacity – Earbuds: 55 mAhBattery Capacity – Case: 520 mAhCharging Time: 1.5 HBattery Life: 8H with ANC OFF and 6.5H with ANC ON / Charging Case: 32H with ANC and 26H with ANC OFFTouch Controls: YesThe companion app – Donner ControlInterestingly, one of the box’s contents is an instructional manual. It covers the basics and the standard touch gestures. However, if you even lose this one, you’ll get the instructions in the companion app. As we’ve said before, you can just pair the earbuds with a smartphone and use them. However, a good experience will come when you combine it with the companion app. The app is available on Apple App Store and on Google Play Store as “Donner Control”.Once you open it, you can click on add devices to pair the app with your Donner Dobuds ONE. Through the companion app, you can select your favorite “sound style” within the equalizer option. There are multiple presets, but you can also create your own settings.The app also allows you to adjust between the “Use modes” and you can enable ANC and tweak the feature.There are multiple use modes of ANC “Commute”, “Indoor”, “Outdoor”, and “Manual Noise Reduction”. All these features are self-explanatory and will have different scenarios of usage. The other modes are “Normal” and “Trans”. Normal will provide a good balance between the audio and the environment. Trans, on the other hand, will allow a little more of environmental noise to pass through the earbuds.The next option is the “Gestures” menu. As you may expect, it will allow you to change or configure the gesture controls.The Sound QualityHonestly, it’s really promising to hear about earbuds that cost $50 and bring ANC. However, nowadays it’s common to see products that don’t live up to their promises. While ANC was a real thing, I was not expecting the sound quality to be really outstanding. However, I was completely wrong. During my usage, I got impressed by the quality offered by the Donner Dobuds ONE. The dual-driver system really makes the job providing a perfect balance with crispy trebles and deep basses. The sound experience while listening to music here was truly immersive. Even playing games can be enjoyable through these earbuds.The ANC also does its job perfectly. While walking through the street, I couldn’t hear anything – just the super-loud sounds, but not at their maximum capacity, though. In normal mode, I could pick some audios depending on the volume. The Trans Mode, allows audio to pass through the earbuds, but you will still listen to the audio. The ENC also does its job during calls. Even in noisy environments, the earbuds will filter the noise and deliver clear audio to the outer side of the line.Verdict – Donner Dobuds OneI need to say that the Donner Dobuds ONE has really impressed me during my usage. The company certainly did not make much buzz to launch these earbuds. However, they certainly deserve recognition. They produced a high-quality product, with trustable ANC and a rich quality sound and managed to sell it just for $49.99.The earbuds are durable and stylish and come with rich audio and a lot of features. There are a lot of options through the companion app to customize your experience. They’re comfortable to use and won’t bring you pain during long hours of usage. Last but not least, the battery is truly capable and you can use ANC without much hassle if you don’t mind charging it after a few days.The Breakdown 4.5 9 If youre looking for good affordable earbuds with ANC, the Donner Dobuds ONE is the option. In addition, youll get superb audio quality, IPX4 rating, durable build, long-lasting battery, and fast-charging support. Build Quality 9 Connectivity 9 ANC and ENC 9 Battery Life 9 Sound Quality 9 The market of earphones went through a revolution in the past year. After the phenomenon of AirPods, a lot of companies decided to enter this category. As a result, a new trend has emerged – the trend of truly wireless earbuds. Nowadays, these earbuds are more popular than the old conventional wired phones. Therefore, more and more companies are starting to drop the 3.5 mm headphone jack. After all, true wireless solutions are trending. With so many “hearables” in the market, the different brands are trying to innovate in features to make their product better than the competition. One of the solutions to make good earbuds stand against the “regular” ones is Active Noise Canceling. This has been a feature present only on Premium earbuds, but the situation is changing. Donner, a reliable bearable maker comes with Donner Dobuds One – stylish earbuds that are affordable and also come with ANC.About DonnerDonner is a reputed German company, known for its long tradition in the range of musical instruments. Since 2012 its commitment goes on creating new experiences in music and performance. The focus is on young people, full of vitality and with a clear call for innovation. The company has been dedicated to the research, manufacture, and selling of musical instruments. More recently, it has been playing in the range of truly wireless earbuds. The Donner Dobuds ONE comes as Donner’s latest innovation in the segment. The device combines the company’s expertise with compelling specifications. The earbuds are quite stylish and the price is also affordable. Without further ado, let’s dive into this product’s qualities and cons.Package ContentEarbudsCharging caseUSB-C charging cableInstruction manual4 additional earbud tipsDooner Dobuds One – Features OverviewThe Donner Dobuds ONE is not a budget earbud, but the price is attractive when you look at other devices in this category. The truly wireless earbuds come to outperform other earbuds in the market. It comes with a dual-driver system. There is one dynamic driver for richer bass response and another custom balanced armature driver that will improve delicate sounds. As result, we have immersive, high-quality audio for most of your activities. You’ll play games, hear music, and perform calls with high quality.ANC, Build Quality, and “Daylife Waterproof”Donner also provides a companion application for Donner Dobuds ONE. It’s certainly a plus that makes the earbuds stand against the competition. You don’t need it to use the earbuds, but it’s a good plus. The app comesan鑱 with equalizer, and you can adjust your sound based on the environment and also on the content. You can also enable or disable ANC. Yes, ANC is one of the things that make this earbud stand against the competition. You can enable it to reduce outside noises by up to 30 dB, or disable it to still pick up outside sounds. There is also an ENC feature for call noise reduction. The callers will hear you and not your surroundings. Each earbud includes four microphones. Two are for picking up your voice and two for processing and filtering the sound in the environments, including wind.Interestingly, the earbuds also focus on the comfort of the user. There are five tip sizes to choose from according to your ear. Don’t worry since the earbuds won’t fall from your ears easily. There is an inner hard layer making it difficult to remove. The outer layer is softer to not bring pain during usage. The earbuds tips are also dust-resistant while the earbuds are daylife waterproof. “Daylife Waterproof” means they’re safe from sweat, drizzle, and light rain. Don’t go swim or try to take a bath with them.The earbuds come in four colorways – Snow White, Matte Black, Mint Green, and Navy Blue. I’ve got the Snow White version with Pinkish ear tips. I looks nice and the design is far from boring like the AirPods.Mint colorwayBattery, Fast-Charging, and other specificationsAccording to Donner, a full charge on the earbuds and the case will last you up to 32 hours with ANC off. Obviously, with the ANC feature that will drain faster. During my usage, I was able to hear for more than 6 hours without any issue. Around 10 to 15 minutes of charge time will give you two hours of power. The earbuds also come with Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. So you’ll experience stable connections, low latency, and lower power consumption. The transmission distance supported between the audio device is up to 10 meters. According to DONNER, you can use the earbuds without ANC for 8 hours of music listening. With ANC this will drop to around 6 hours.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe earbuds also come with a sensitive portion that supports touch. You can customize the actions through the companion app. You can give one touch to adjust the volume, two touches to play/ pause the music, and there is even support for three touches. The earbuds also support long-press actions.As we’ve said before, the earbuds come with fast charging. According to the specs listing, the earbuds have a 55 mAh capacity, while the charging case packs a 520 mAh battery. Interestingly, their fast-charging prowess comes through a USB Type-C port. There is a small USB Type-C cable that will get the job done.Specs ListingBluetooth Chip: BT8922E2Bluetooth Version: 5.2Noise-Canceling Mode: ActiveDigital ANC up to: -32dBAverage ANC: 閳?5dB鑱絝rom鑱?0Hz鑱絫o鑱?000HzSupported Codecs: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFPAudio Decoding: SBC, AACTransmission Distance: 10MReceive Sensitivity: 86 dBmWorking Frequency: 2.402 to 2.480 GHzBattery Capacity – Earbuds: 55 mAhBattery Capacity – Case: 520 mAhCharging Time: 1.5 HBattery Life: 8H with ANC OFF and 6.5H with ANC ON / Charging Case: 32H with ANC and 26H with ANC OFFTouch Controls: YesThe companion app – Donner ControlInterestingly, one of the box’s contents is an instructional manual. It covers the basics and the standard touch gestures. However, if you even lose this one, you’ll get the instructions in the companion app. As we’ve said before, you can just pair the earbuds with a smartphone and use them. However, a good experience will come when you combine it with the companion app. The app is available on Apple App Store and on Google Play Store as “Donner Control”.Once you open it, you can click on add devices to pair the app with your Donner Dobuds ONE. Through the companion app, you can select your favorite “sound style” within the equalizer option. There are multiple presets, but you can also create your own settings.The app also allows you to adjust between the “Use modes” and you can enable ANC and tweak the feature.There are multiple use modes of ANC “Commute”, “Indoor”, “Outdoor”, and “Manual Noise Reduction”. All these features are self-explanatory and will have different scenarios of usage. The other modes are “Normal” and “Trans”. Normal will provide a good balance between the audio and the environment. Trans, on the other hand, will allow a little more of environmental noise to pass through the earbuds.The next option is the “Gestures” menu. As you may expect, it will allow you to change or configure the gesture controls.The Sound QualityHonestly, it’s really promising to hear about earbuds that cost $50 and bring ANC. However, nowadays it’s common to see products that don’t live up to their promises. While ANC was a real thing, I was not expecting the sound quality to be really outstanding. However, I was completely wrong. During my usage, I got impressed by the quality offered by the Donner Dobuds ONE. The dual-driver system really makes the job providing a perfect balance with crispy trebles and deep basses. The sound experience while listening to music here was truly immersive. Even playing games can be enjoyable through these earbuds.The ANC also does its job perfectly. While walking through the street, I couldn’t hear anything – just the super-loud sounds, but not at their maximum capacity, though. In normal mode, I could pick some audios depending on the volume. The Trans Mode, allows audio to pass through the earbuds, but you will still listen to the audio. The ENC also does its job during calls. Even in noisy environments, the earbuds will filter the noise and deliver clear audio to the outer side of the line.Verdict – Donner Dobuds OneI need to say that the Donner Dobuds ONE has really impressed me during my usage. The company certainly did not make much buzz to launch these earbuds. However, they certainly deserve recognition. They produced a high-quality product, with trustable ANC and a rich quality sound and managed to sell it just for $49.99.The earbuds are durable and stylish and come with rich audio and a lot of features. There are a lot of options through the companion app to customize your experience. They’re comfortable to use and won’t bring you pain during long hours of usage. Last but not least, the battery is truly capable and you can use ANC without much hassle if you don’t mind charging it after a few days.The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of sensors - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then these are the sensors of anybodys choice. Affordable, robust and easy to use. What else could you ask for? Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 Creating a smart home nowadays is easier but costlier than before 鈥 we can all agree to this. There are a lot of smart options available from dozens of reputable manufacturers but most of the time, what is good and robust, is also expensive! Well, the notorious Smart Home company Meross don鈥檛 think like this and have recently launched a bunch of smart home sensors that are affordable and excellent in what they do! The company was kind enough to send me 2 of them: the Meross Smoke Alarm Kit and the Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor Kit!Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily using the included hub. But why use the hub? Both sensors don鈥檛 connect to your smart home via WiFi, instead use the RF433MHz wireless range to connect to the hub, which in turn connects to your network using 2.4GHz WiFi. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Smoke Alarm KitControl Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Safe and Reliable: Comply with聽CE聽EN14604聽(Certified by聽Intertek), alarm at maximum 85dB.Alarm Linkage: When one alarm detects smoke, all alarms will chirp to remind you. (Purchase multiple smoke alarms.)Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when danger happens.Battery Replaceable: 2 x 1.5V AA batteries included and replaceable.Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in Meross app.Smoke and Overheat Detection: In additional to smoke detection, it can also detect overheat. When the temperature is too high (54 – 70鈩?, it will chirp to remind you.Works with Apple HomeKit and compatible with SmartThings.When opening the main package we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:add batteries at the back side of the smoke detectorpress it once until it flasheswait for the connection between hub and meross smoke sensor is complete.How does it work?According to the company, the smoke alarm is capable of a maximum of 85dB of sound, with the speaker also used for low battery alerts, amongst other things. One special feature worth mentioning is that the Smoke alarm can not only detect smoke but also overheating (between 54 ~ 70潞C). The brand new Meross Smoke Detector comes with 2 xAA batteries, that can be replaced. The battery life is expected to be around 12 months. It鈥檚 a significant improvement over other market competitors that equip their smoke detectors with non-replaceable batteries that may last up to 10 years, but then you have to throw to the garbage.Although the new device works with HomeKit, this device isn鈥檛 compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, with only Samsung SmartThings being the other compatible platform. I really enjoyed the easy Homekit addition AFTER having connected hub and smoke detector in the Meross app. After connection is made, you get notifications from Homekit/Apple Watch pushed to your smartphone, which is of particular use if something happens, and you鈥檙e away from home.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe sound alarm is loud when inside the house, so it鈥檚 easy to listen to it when there is fire or smoke. It鈥檚 4.72in/120mm in diameter and comes with a depth of 1.44in/36.7mm. This means that as a smoke detector/alarm it鈥檚 small enough to fit into your home, with it coming in standard white plastic.It鈥檚 also worth noting that whilst this new device doesn鈥檛 seem to be available to purchase at present, as it stands, there鈥檚 only certification for the EU, not the US. Something to bear in mind when it comes to insurance issues.Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor KitBeta Version(99.99%) for testing, its features are 99.99% fully supported.Control Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Works with Apple HomeKit, compatible with SmartThings.Voice Access: Know the status of device via HomePod / Siri.Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when leaking.Sound Alarm: It will emit a sound of about 60dB when alarming.Low Power Consumption: The built-in battery can be used for 18 months. CR123A replaceable battery included;Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in the Meross app.IP67 Waterproof.Ideal for bathroom, basement, laundry room, kitchen, and swimming pool.As we mentioned above, the same procedure must be followed to connect the water sensor to Meross app and then Homekit/SmartThings.When opening the main package, we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:Use the included short circuit cable to make a connection between sensors 1-3 or 2-3 to make the device enter pairing mode.wait for the connection between hub and Meross water leak sensor is complete.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical Homekit addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup CodeGo to the side of the small hubScan the codeAdd the hub in your HomeAll connected sensors to the hub will be now visible in Homekit.Our opinionFor a price of $55.99 (for the Smoke Sensor Kit) and $35.99 (for the Water Leak Sensor Kit) you get more than what you paid for. Both sensors can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, securing your home from either fire/smoke or water leaks. Both sensors are quite loud (the Smoke Sensor is SOOO loud, it could easily work as a Home Alarm). It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes).
The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 If youre in the market for such type of sensors - and you currently operate an Apple HomeKit/Samsung SmartThings smart home then these are the sensors of anybodys choice. Affordable, robust and easy to use. What else could you ask for? Durability 8.9 Value For Money 8.9 Ease of Use 8.9 Meross App 8.9 Connectivity 8.9 Creating a smart home nowadays is easier but costlier than before 鈥 we can all agree to this. There are a lot of smart options available from dozens of reputable manufacturers but most of the time, what is good and robust, is also expensive! Well, the notorious Smart Home company Meross don鈥檛 think like this and have recently launched a bunch of smart home sensors that are affordable and excellent in what they do! The company was kind enough to send me 2 of them: the Meross Smoke Alarm Kit and the Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor Kit!Both are easy to use, affordable and can connect to a plethora of Smart Home Systems like Apple HomeKit and Samsung鈥檚 SmartThings easily using the included hub. But why use the hub? Both sensors don鈥檛 connect to your smart home via WiFi, instead use the RF433MHz wireless range to connect to the hub, which in turn connects to your network using 2.4GHz WiFi. Let鈥檚 see how they work.Meross Smart Smoke Alarm KitControl Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Safe and Reliable: Comply with聽CE聽EN14604聽(Certified by聽Intertek), alarm at maximum 85dB.Alarm Linkage: When one alarm detects smoke, all alarms will chirp to remind you. (Purchase multiple smoke alarms.)Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when danger happens.Battery Replaceable: 2 x 1.5V AA batteries included and replaceable.Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in Meross app.Smoke and Overheat Detection: In additional to smoke detection, it can also detect overheat. When the temperature is too high (54 – 70鈩?, it will chirp to remind you.Works with Apple HomeKit and compatible with SmartThings.When opening the main package we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:add batteries at the back side of the smoke detectorpress it once until it flasheswait for the connection between hub and meross smoke sensor is complete.How does it work?According to the company, the smoke alarm is capable of a maximum of 85dB of sound, with the speaker also used for low battery alerts, amongst other things. One special feature worth mentioning is that the Smoke alarm can not only detect smoke but also overheating (between 54 ~ 70潞C). The brand new Meross Smoke Detector comes with 2 xAA batteries, that can be replaced. The battery life is expected to be around 12 months. It鈥檚 a significant improvement over other market competitors that equip their smoke detectors with non-replaceable batteries that may last up to 10 years, but then you have to throw to the garbage.Although the new device works with HomeKit, this device isn鈥檛 compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, with only Samsung SmartThings being the other compatible platform. I really enjoyed the easy Homekit addition AFTER having connected hub and smoke detector in the Meross app. After connection is made, you get notifications from Homekit/Apple Watch pushed to your smartphone, which is of particular use if something happens, and you鈥檙e away from home.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe sound alarm is loud when inside the house, so it鈥檚 easy to listen to it when there is fire or smoke. It鈥檚 4.72in/120mm in diameter and comes with a depth of 1.44in/36.7mm. This means that as a smoke detector/alarm it鈥檚 small enough to fit into your home, with it coming in standard white plastic.It鈥檚 also worth noting that whilst this new device doesn鈥檛 seem to be available to purchase at present, as it stands, there鈥檚 only certification for the EU, not the US. Something to bear in mind when it comes to insurance issues.Meross Smart Water Leak Sensor KitBeta Version(99.99%) for testing, its features are 99.99% fully supported.Control Up to 16聽Devices聽– One hub is able to control 16 meross standalone devices (sensors, smoke detectors, thermostat valves) at same time.Works with Apple HomeKit, compatible with SmartThings.Voice Access: Know the status of device via HomePod / Siri.Alert: Your Meross app or Apple Home app will receive an alert instantly when leaking.Sound Alarm: It will emit a sound of about 60dB when alarming.Low Power Consumption: The built-in battery can be used for 18 months. CR123A replaceable battery included;Automation: Set triggers to control other Meross devices in the Meross app.IP67 Waterproof.Ideal for bathroom, basement, laundry room, kitchen, and swimming pool.As we mentioned above, the same procedure must be followed to connect the water sensor to Meross app and then Homekit/SmartThings.When opening the main package, we first have to connect the smart hub to electricity. The hub connects to power using a standard USB to Micro USB cable that connects to a USB power supply. Then:use the Meross app to log inAdd the device (hub) using the + symbol on the top right cornerWait for the connection to be madeThen:Use the included short circuit cable to make a connection between sensors 1-3 or 2-3 to make the device enter pairing mode.wait for the connection between hub and Meross water leak sensor is complete.When the connection is done, you can add the hub in Homekit using the typical Homekit addition procedure:Add AccessoryScan Setup CodeGo to the side of the small hubScan the codeAdd the hub in your HomeAll connected sensors to the hub will be now visible in Homekit.Our opinionFor a price of $55.99 (for the Smoke Sensor Kit) and $35.99 (for the Water Leak Sensor Kit) you get more than what you paid for. Both sensors can easily connect to Homekit or SmartThings, securing your home from either fire/smoke or water leaks. Both sensors are quite loud (the Smoke Sensor is SOOO loud, it could easily work as a Home Alarm). It’s quite easy to connect them to the Meross app and update them when needed. (Both updates completed in under 5 minutes).The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 If you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with impressive color changing variant, curved display experience and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro at a price of Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation. Performance 8.2 Battery life 8.2 Main Camera 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 UI 8.2 You鈥檝e got to love the V-Series smartphones of Vivo, that鈥檚 for sure. It鈥檚 a company that loves to use gimmicks, smart (or even innovative) ideas to improve them year after year and the Vivo V25 Pro (and V25) series appears as perhaps their best work so far (as per our review). The Chinese company has practiced a lot in the camera features of these devices during the previous years. Starting from phones with dual selfie lenses, pop-up cameras to even a hybrid solution of dual pop-up selfie camera (!), their R&D department seems always busy.However, this year the Vivo V25 Pro boasts an impressive, curved display, a multicolor back side and a different 32MP Selfie Camera sensor 鈥 a step down from the huge 50MP selfie snapper of its predecessor (V23 Pro). The mid-range device arrived in Gizchina HQ along with its budget brother (V25) and we got to play with them for several days.Check out here our thoughts on these two beauties in this review.Main featuresImpressive Main camera functionsCurved Display with 120Hz refresh rateColor changing back coverDecent battery lifeVivo V25 Pro technical specificationsBrand:聽vivoCPU:聽MediaTek Dimensity 1300 (6nm)Display:聽6.56-inch 120Hz AMOLEDRAM:聽8GB/12GBStorage:聽128GB/256GBBattery:聽4830mAh Li-PoPorts:聽USB-C 2.0Operating System:聽Android 12, Funtouch 12Front camera:聽32MP, f/2.5, wideRear cameras:聽64MP, f/1.9, wide / 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide / 2MP, f/2.4 macroConnectivity:聽Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPSDimensions:聽158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.34 in)Colors:聽Pure Black, Sailing BlueWeight:聽190 g (6.70 oz)Charging:聽66W Fast-chargingIP Rating:聽NoneVivo聽V25 Pro DesignIt鈥檚 a beauty as per our review. Especially the back side of the device can do miracles when left under UV light (sun) for just a few minutes. The back color changes to darker shades and it鈥檚 easy to create some works of art if you have the necessary transparent plastic covers. Note however that this feature applies only to the Sailing Blue color variant. When UV lights turn off, the effect disappears and returns to its previous accent.The Vivo V25 Pro comes with impressive curves on its sides, adding up to a sleek design. It鈥檚 easy to hold in your hands, it weighs a mere 190 grams, and with a size of 158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm it鈥檚 no hassle to carry it either. Even though it鈥檚 a mid-range device, I loved the build quality, and how comfortable it was to hold in my hands during work or leisure.It seems delicate though, be careful not to let it drop or else鈥 havoc could break loose.Vivo V25 Pro DisplayEquipped with a 6.56-inches AMOLED panel, V25 Pro delivered a rich viewing experience during our review; Impressive brightness, healthy color depiction and excellent viewing angles thanks to the curved edges and the extra thin bezels. I used the phone under direct sunlight for all sorts of tasks – from daily social media聽browsing to binge watch shows and was quite impressed.One of its main characteristics is the 120Hz refresh rate, something found mostly in flagship models of other competitors, and a sharp fingerprint sensor 鈥 quite quick with almost 85% success.My only issue with the screen brightness is that it tends to get too dim when set on automatic. This can be good when watching videos or using social media in low light environments, but not when you need the phone the most: during work, driving or replying to messages.PerformanceThe Vivo V25 Pro is packed with a聽Mediatek Dimensity 1300 SoC. That鈥檚 a small improvement compared to the previous model (V23 Pro) and its Dimensity 1200 chipset. If you had both phones, then you won鈥檛 see any significant difference in daily use. In any case, the V25 Pro can easily cope with most of our heavy professional tasks, while playing some notorious titles (such as Asphalt 9) was a pleasing experience. I saw no lags, or frame drops for almost 50 minutes of playing, but I experienced a small overheating at the back of the device. It was normal after playing a so demanding game and had no impact on the performance of the phone. If you鈥檙e a gamer, or a music lover then the single speaker of the device will probably disappoint you. It offers a flat sound, but on the other hand it鈥檚 quite loud. One more thing to know also, is the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack, so you will have to rely on a Bluetooth connection for your earphones. FunTouchOS 12One other thing that wasn鈥檛 that鈥 fun, was the FunTouch OS 12. It’s the skin that equips both the Vivo V25 and V25 Pro. It鈥檚 a typical Android 12 based skin that is however filled with a lot of bloatware (pre-installed apps), like as Josh, Moj a Browser app and others that sadly cannot be uninstalled. The whole experience is not bad 鈥 but it could be much better. There are a lot of ads popping up. The native Vivo app store keeps bombarding us with notifications to buy or update several apps. The main launcher of the OS is full of personalization options 鈥 I must admit. It offers animations, and customization features to personalize your experience. Still, it seems not enough to have the same kind of impact as Oppo’s ColorOS. Vivo V25 Pro PhotographyEven though the previous V23 Pro was a pure selfie phone, this isn鈥檛 the case with the new model. This one packs an impressive 64 MP OIS primary camera that can do miracles in low light conditions, shooting high-in-contrast pictures with a minor saturation effect here and there and decent videos. I loved the 10X zoom that can prove helpful in various aspects of photography, with impressive amount of details. Don鈥檛 expect miracles in terms of selfie shots however. The front facing camera of the Vivo V25 Pro lacks the clarity of the previous model. Still it delivers decent daylight photos for social media etc.The 8MP wide-angle lens is decent as well. Selfies with portrait mode look lively, clear, true to the skin tone and detect the edges sharply.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe selfie fans will love the preinstalled customizations by Vivo, along with some interesting editing options (tens of filters, beautification mode, cute bokeh flare effects, double exposure mode, long exposure etc). If you鈥檙e a video fan, then you will be pleased to know that the Vivo V25 Pro comes with 4K video recording at 30 or 60fps. It also has OIS support for excellent daylight videos. As one would expect, there are options for time-lapse and slo-mo modes. There’s also a Vlog Movie app that can easily transform our videos into Instagram/TikTok wonders in just a few steps.Vivo V25 Pro Battery lifeIt was a blast using the device 鈥 in terms of battery life 鈥 I must admit. The V25 Pro comes with a 4830mAh battery, that can easily withstand any pro performance offering up to 26 hours of usage.I used the phone for a whole day during – for review purposes. 30 minutes of phone calls, extensive social media use, texting via messenger/viber, several mail exchanging, listening to music for 45 minutes. At the end of it it had 28% of battery left. However with 66W FlashCharging support, it took around 50 minutes to get a full recharge.My opinionThe mid-range camera market welcomes another Vivo V Series pair of phones. Unlike its predecessor, the V25 Pro focuses more on its main camera. It’s aimed at photography enthusiasts with improved night light photos, more scenes/settings/camera tweaks. Despite having a lesser quality camera sensor, I haven’t faced any major quality drop in the daylight selfies.I loved the Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset performance during this review. It slightly overheated only after extensive mobile gaming for over 50 minutes. Still managed to easily cover all my professional everyday needs with no trouble at all. That curved display? It鈥檚 a beauty both to hold and to look at! It鈥檚 rare to find such a display panel at a phone of this price range, with impressive performance all day long.We鈥檝e talked about the new selfie camera in this review. It鈥檚 a step down from the previous model, with mediocre night light photos, but a lot of new AI scenes, face features, extensive 鈥減ro鈥 settings and even more.And some more…I liked the color-changing back side of the Sailing Blue variant, but surely it鈥檚 not a killer characteristic for buyers. I could live without it. Easily. The FunTouchOS 12 wasn鈥檛 of my liking. It has a LOT of bloatware, some applications that cannot be uninstalled and a lot of ad pop-ups from the native Vivo AppStore that can be very annoying. It runs on Android 12 however which is good and can get up to 2 major OS upgrades.So鈥 if you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with an impressive color changing option, a curved display experience, and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro priced at Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation.Vivo V25 Pro vs. V25Vivo was kind enough to also send us the smaller sibling of the V25 Series for a combined review. The V25 is the non-Pro version, with some differences in terms of display, battery, and chipset 鈥 the V25 Pro is better in these specs. However, the simple model has an advantage over its Pro and this is its selfie camera 鈥 with a better lens, CMOS sensor and AI Beautify settings.Here’s a comparison review chart between their specifications:
The Breakdown 4.1 8.2 If you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with impressive color changing variant, curved display experience and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro at a price of Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation. Performance 8.2 Battery life 8.2 Main Camera 8.2 Selfie Camera 8.2 UI 8.2 You鈥檝e got to love the V-Series smartphones of Vivo, that鈥檚 for sure. It鈥檚 a company that loves to use gimmicks, smart (or even innovative) ideas to improve them year after year and the Vivo V25 Pro (and V25) series appears as perhaps their best work so far (as per our review). The Chinese company has practiced a lot in the camera features of these devices during the previous years. Starting from phones with dual selfie lenses, pop-up cameras to even a hybrid solution of dual pop-up selfie camera (!), their R&D department seems always busy.However, this year the Vivo V25 Pro boasts an impressive, curved display, a multicolor back side and a different 32MP Selfie Camera sensor 鈥 a step down from the huge 50MP selfie snapper of its predecessor (V23 Pro). The mid-range device arrived in Gizchina HQ along with its budget brother (V25) and we got to play with them for several days.Check out here our thoughts on these two beauties in this review.Main featuresImpressive Main camera functionsCurved Display with 120Hz refresh rateColor changing back coverDecent battery lifeVivo V25 Pro technical specificationsBrand:聽vivoCPU:聽MediaTek Dimensity 1300 (6nm)Display:聽6.56-inch 120Hz AMOLEDRAM:聽8GB/12GBStorage:聽128GB/256GBBattery:聽4830mAh Li-PoPorts:聽USB-C 2.0Operating System:聽Android 12, Funtouch 12Front camera:聽32MP, f/2.5, wideRear cameras:聽64MP, f/1.9, wide / 12MP, f/2.2, ultrawide / 2MP, f/2.4 macroConnectivity:聽Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, GPSDimensions:聽158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.34 in)Colors:聽Pure Black, Sailing BlueWeight:聽190 g (6.70 oz)Charging:聽66W Fast-chargingIP Rating:聽NoneVivo聽V25 Pro DesignIt鈥檚 a beauty as per our review. Especially the back side of the device can do miracles when left under UV light (sun) for just a few minutes. The back color changes to darker shades and it鈥檚 easy to create some works of art if you have the necessary transparent plastic covers. Note however that this feature applies only to the Sailing Blue color variant. When UV lights turn off, the effect disappears and returns to its previous accent.The Vivo V25 Pro comes with impressive curves on its sides, adding up to a sleek design. It鈥檚 easy to hold in your hands, it weighs a mere 190 grams, and with a size of 158.9 x 73.5 x 8.6 mm it鈥檚 no hassle to carry it either. Even though it鈥檚 a mid-range device, I loved the build quality, and how comfortable it was to hold in my hands during work or leisure.It seems delicate though, be careful not to let it drop or else鈥 havoc could break loose.Vivo V25 Pro DisplayEquipped with a 6.56-inches AMOLED panel, V25 Pro delivered a rich viewing experience during our review; Impressive brightness, healthy color depiction and excellent viewing angles thanks to the curved edges and the extra thin bezels. I used the phone under direct sunlight for all sorts of tasks – from daily social media聽browsing to binge watch shows and was quite impressed.One of its main characteristics is the 120Hz refresh rate, something found mostly in flagship models of other competitors, and a sharp fingerprint sensor 鈥 quite quick with almost 85% success.My only issue with the screen brightness is that it tends to get too dim when set on automatic. This can be good when watching videos or using social media in low light environments, but not when you need the phone the most: during work, driving or replying to messages.PerformanceThe Vivo V25 Pro is packed with a聽Mediatek Dimensity 1300 SoC. That鈥檚 a small improvement compared to the previous model (V23 Pro) and its Dimensity 1200 chipset. If you had both phones, then you won鈥檛 see any significant difference in daily use. In any case, the V25 Pro can easily cope with most of our heavy professional tasks, while playing some notorious titles (such as Asphalt 9) was a pleasing experience. I saw no lags, or frame drops for almost 50 minutes of playing, but I experienced a small overheating at the back of the device. It was normal after playing a so demanding game and had no impact on the performance of the phone. If you鈥檙e a gamer, or a music lover then the single speaker of the device will probably disappoint you. It offers a flat sound, but on the other hand it鈥檚 quite loud. One more thing to know also, is the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack, so you will have to rely on a Bluetooth connection for your earphones. FunTouchOS 12One other thing that wasn鈥檛 that鈥 fun, was the FunTouch OS 12. It’s the skin that equips both the Vivo V25 and V25 Pro. It鈥檚 a typical Android 12 based skin that is however filled with a lot of bloatware (pre-installed apps), like as Josh, Moj a Browser app and others that sadly cannot be uninstalled. The whole experience is not bad 鈥 but it could be much better. There are a lot of ads popping up. The native Vivo app store keeps bombarding us with notifications to buy or update several apps. The main launcher of the OS is full of personalization options 鈥 I must admit. It offers animations, and customization features to personalize your experience. Still, it seems not enough to have the same kind of impact as Oppo’s ColorOS. Vivo V25 Pro PhotographyEven though the previous V23 Pro was a pure selfie phone, this isn鈥檛 the case with the new model. This one packs an impressive 64 MP OIS primary camera that can do miracles in low light conditions, shooting high-in-contrast pictures with a minor saturation effect here and there and decent videos. I loved the 10X zoom that can prove helpful in various aspects of photography, with impressive amount of details. Don鈥檛 expect miracles in terms of selfie shots however. The front facing camera of the Vivo V25 Pro lacks the clarity of the previous model. Still it delivers decent daylight photos for social media etc.The 8MP wide-angle lens is decent as well. Selfies with portrait mode look lively, clear, true to the skin tone and detect the edges sharply.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe selfie fans will love the preinstalled customizations by Vivo, along with some interesting editing options (tens of filters, beautification mode, cute bokeh flare effects, double exposure mode, long exposure etc). If you鈥檙e a video fan, then you will be pleased to know that the Vivo V25 Pro comes with 4K video recording at 30 or 60fps. It also has OIS support for excellent daylight videos. As one would expect, there are options for time-lapse and slo-mo modes. There’s also a Vlog Movie app that can easily transform our videos into Instagram/TikTok wonders in just a few steps.Vivo V25 Pro Battery lifeIt was a blast using the device 鈥 in terms of battery life 鈥 I must admit. The V25 Pro comes with a 4830mAh battery, that can easily withstand any pro performance offering up to 26 hours of usage.I used the phone for a whole day during – for review purposes. 30 minutes of phone calls, extensive social media use, texting via messenger/viber, several mail exchanging, listening to music for 45 minutes. At the end of it it had 28% of battery left. However with 66W FlashCharging support, it took around 50 minutes to get a full recharge.My opinionThe mid-range camera market welcomes another Vivo V Series pair of phones. Unlike its predecessor, the V25 Pro focuses more on its main camera. It’s aimed at photography enthusiasts with improved night light photos, more scenes/settings/camera tweaks. Despite having a lesser quality camera sensor, I haven’t faced any major quality drop in the daylight selfies.I loved the Mediatek Dimensity 1300 chipset performance during this review. It slightly overheated only after extensive mobile gaming for over 50 minutes. Still managed to easily cover all my professional everyday needs with no trouble at all. That curved display? It鈥檚 a beauty both to hold and to look at! It鈥檚 rare to find such a display panel at a phone of this price range, with impressive performance all day long.We鈥檝e talked about the new selfie camera in this review. It鈥檚 a step down from the previous model, with mediocre night light photos, but a lot of new AI scenes, face features, extensive 鈥減ro鈥 settings and even more.And some more…I liked the color-changing back side of the Sailing Blue variant, but surely it鈥檚 not a killer characteristic for buyers. I could live without it. Easily. The FunTouchOS 12 wasn鈥檛 of my liking. It has a LOT of bloatware, some applications that cannot be uninstalled and a lot of ad pop-ups from the native Vivo AppStore that can be very annoying. It runs on Android 12 however which is good and can get up to 2 major OS upgrades.So鈥 if you鈥檙e in the market for a good camera phone with an impressive color changing option, a curved display experience, and Dimensity-fast performance, then the Vivo V25 Pro priced at Rs. 35,999 is a great recommendation.Vivo V25 Pro vs. V25Vivo was kind enough to also send us the smaller sibling of the V25 Series for a combined review. The V25 is the non-Pro version, with some differences in terms of display, battery, and chipset 鈥 the V25 Pro is better in these specs. However, the simple model has an advantage over its Pro and this is its selfie camera 鈥 with a better lens, CMOS sensor and AI Beautify settings.Here’s a comparison review chart between their specifications:The Breakdown 4.2 8.4 The Red Magic 7S Pro is undoubtedly one of the most accessible gaming smartphones on the market. It packs quite a punch in terms of performance; however it is still plagued by many pre-installed apps and no option to change default launcher. I am also concerned about this phone鈥檚 future updates since Nubia can guarantee only 1 major Android upgrade so far. Battery life is impressive, but sadly there鈥檚 no wireless charging support. Performance 8.4 Price 8.4 Quality 8.4 Software 8.4 Camera 8.4 Nubia has had an impressive past couple of years, releasing approximately 12-14 Red Magic branded phones, dedicating themselves to the gaming industry. We鈥檙e talking about a market that has experienced a significant rise in recent years, and the Chinese company has managed to have sent 1 or 2 gaming smartphones all over the world. The Red Magic 7S Pro 鈥 yes the one we have in our hands- launched globally just three months after聽its predecessor, so one might think that it doesn鈥檛 have a lot to offer to the avid gamer. Or does it?nubia Red Magic 7S Pro – Technical specsBody:聽166.3×77.1×10.0mm, 235g; Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame; Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing), Built-in cooling fan, Aviation aluminum middle frame.Display:聽6.80″ AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 600 nits, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 387ppi.Chipset:聽Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.Memory:聽256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM; UFS 3.1.OS/Software:聽Android 12, Redmagic 5.5.Rear camera:聽Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.97″, 0.7碌m, PDAF;聽Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120藲, 13mm, 1/4.0″, 1.12碌m;聽Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.Front camera:聽16 MP, (wide), under display.Video capture:聽Rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps;聽Front camera: 1080p@30/60fps.Battery:聽5000mAh; Fast charging 135W, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (advertised), Power Delivery 3.0.Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; 3.5mm jack; stereo speakersDesign and buildNubia鈥檚 latest gaming smartphone is built from aluminum, glass, and some plastic parts. It packs a somewhat different design than its predecessor, with the main metal plate at the back of the device standing out. According to the manufacturer it鈥檚 there to improve heat dissipation, although it adds significantly to the 7S Pro鈥檚 total weight at 235 grams 鈥 along with thickness of 10 mm. To be honest, when you鈥檙e in the market for a gaming smartphone, weight is NOT one of the first factors you consider. However, be warned that after prolonged use during games or holding it straight up, your hands (wrists) may complain.At the back 鈥 just above the metal plate we find the camera module, consisting of three lenses and a flash. The Red Magic 7S Pro is available in 3 color options: Obsidian, Supernova and Mercury, yet all variants remain decent, with excellent quality built and a low profile. At the back side, just below the main camera module, we find the RGB fan placement. When ON it reduces the extra heat of the device 鈥 but it surely makes a lot of noise. You can set it ON or OFF or Auto, along with activating its RGB lights ON/OFF. Huge displayThe Red Magic 7S Pro packs an impressive 6.8 inch display, yet it remains more compact than I originally thought. At the top side of this display lies an in-display camera that is invisible to the naked eye (almost). So, you won鈥檛 see any notch, resulting to an impressive 87.1% screen/body ratio.As I mention at the end of this review, I wasn鈥檛 thrilled with the photo quality of the in-display camera, nor its face ID capabilities during the night (like other smartphones do). It took quite some time to setup FaceID, as the front facing sensor couldn鈥檛 find me, or got stuck at 40% of the whole process. It also kept asking me to look right or left for no reason. On the other hand, the in-display fingerprint sensor was much better. It took 30 seconds or so to save my fingerprint and had almost 90% success in unlocking the device on the first try. Note that it also requires a longer press to unlock the 7S Pro than you might be used to.If you owned the previous RedMagic model then you will find out that nothing has changed on the sides of the phone. Power and volume controls are joined by one of the fan grilles and dual shoulder triggers, making it very clear which way to use the phone in landscape mode. Display and audioThe display in any decent gaming smartphone is perhaps the second most important factor (after its performance). The Red Magic 7S Pro looks awesome when holding it in your hands, with a 6.8in, 1080脳2400 AMOLED panel at 20:9 aspect ratio. This resolution could be higher I guess, but it does allow the CPU to go over the top in terms of gaming performance. In terms of gaming performance, the device can deliver a quite high refresh rate reaching up to 120 Hz, but surely the competition already delivers 144Hz or 165Hz. Some could say that indeed only a handful of games supports such high refresh rates, but still the previous Red Magic 7S model, comes with a 165Hz display. Obviously, we can manually reduce the frame rate to 60Hz or 90Hz (and the difference is huge) 鈥 but there鈥檚 no automatic option. One area where this flagship gaming phone excels, is the area of touch sampling rate, with a top of 960 times every second. This means that it can register our tap quicker than any other smartphone in the world. This could make a huge difference when playing hard-core games like Call of Duty: Mobile or PUBG: Mobile when the response time of 1 ms could prove who鈥檚 the winner.More than a gaming machineWe admit that this is an excellent gaming device, but no one plays all the time. Equipped with a mighty processor, the device can perform great as an everyday phone using this impressive display. It鈥檚 good during daytime, with on-the-spot response but decent brightness. To be honest, if you live in a sunny country, it could be difficult to use the phone outdoors due to the low maximum brightness of just 254 nits. On the other hand, it has an impressive range of viewing angles, despite being highly reflective.As an avid gamer myself, I couldn鈥檛 believe my ears when I first heard the 7S Pro鈥檚 dual speakers. Their sound is full, punchy, and quite loud when set in max! This surely helps any player enjoy the game in full! However if you want privacy, you can connect a pair of 3.5mm earphones 馃槈 Red Magic 7S Pro Specs and performanceSurely the main reason why a gamer will buy this phone is the chipset. The Red Magic 7S is powered by the new聽Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Qualcomm鈥檚 latest flagship chip. The model in my hands was the most powerful one, with 18GB of RAM and stellar performance under any circumstances.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramIt鈥檚 so fun playing games in this phone. The display delivers awesome visuals, smooth frame rate and state of the art responsiveness. During my tests, I played some of the most notorious gaming titles such as: Asphalt 9, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile and others. The 120 Hz display, accompanied by a 960Hz touch sampling both deliver an edge over any other (normal), making it easier to win in 1-1 contests.To be honest, I was a bit annoyed by the RGB led fan that鈥檚 placed at the back of the device. It can be used automatically (operated by the OS) or manually when we need it to. It鈥檚 loud however and sometimes it may be distracting when playing. You can always turn it off naturally, but you will soon see the impact of high temperature to the phone. So don鈥檛 do this.When not playing awesome games, this聽gaming smartphone works just like a normal flagship model: impeccable performance for work, leisure, social media etc. Chrome, Maps, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube 鈥 everything works like a charm – even when split-screen multitasking. In reality, it offers far more performance than you鈥檒l ever need for any basic tasks. In China you鈥檒l find the option for 1TB of storage, but that鈥檚 not available on the global version. But 256GB or 512GB should be plenty for most people, even if there鈥檚 no microSD expansion.Camera and videoAt the back of the device, there鈥檚 a trio of camera lenses, but in any case, only the main 64MP sensor will be doing most of the heavy lifting here. I must admit that I liked the portrait and macro/ultrawide photos of the device. However, I noticed some blur in certain typical photos. The night mode of the main camera is quite good, with nice low-light photos. There鈥檚 some digital noise in most of them but you cannot ask much from a 100% gaming smartphone. I liked its landscape photos but there was much overexposure in most areas. The 64MP sensor is the best for most scenarios, I wouldn鈥檛 choose the 8Mp ultrawide sensor nor the small 2MP macro. When combined things get even better, especially in close-up photos, or those hit or miss moments with the kids. One thing that was just decent however was the front facing, in-display selfie camera. Yes, it is impressive to (not) see a camera under the display of the phone, and still get some decent selfies. However, it鈥檚 a simple 8MP sensor that can deliver grainy/washed out photos in most cases. I wouldn鈥檛 use it for nighttime photos, but during day it can provide typical selfies with friends or family. That鈥檚 all.In terms of video recording, the Red Magic 7S Pro can record 4K videos at 30fps, but the default 1080p at 30fps is more realistic for everyday use. It doesn鈥檛 have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), but still the videos are quite impressive with huge details, lighting, and smoothness.Red Magic 7S Pro Battery and chargingGiven it鈥檚 huge size, the Red Magic 7S Pro is equipped with a relatively small 5000mAh battery. This power-cell has to cope each day with a huge high-refresh rate display and plenty of demanding apps. During my tests, the phone performed extremely well in terms of battery life, recording almost 10 hours in PCMark鈥檚 battery test. It can easily withstand a day鈥檚 torture with gaming, hard work, internet browsing-social media and calls. If you want more, then there are several ways to improve it: set the display refresh rate to 60Hz, cut the use of games, and there you are: you can get an extra half a day of use.聽However, certain aspects of the phone might not work when battery is low: flash, portrait and night mode etc will not work when under 5% of juice. If you want a quick recharge however, the 65W fast charger is there to provide it. It may not be quite as powerful as the monstrous 135W adapter that the Chinese version of the phone has, but it does the job and charges the phone up to 100% in a little bit over 30 minutes!No, it doesn鈥檛 support wireless charging 鈥 which is something I’d love to see.Software and updatesAs expected, the 7S Pro gaming smartphone runs Red Magic OS over Android 12. Upon receiving the device, it got a small security update to version 5.5 of Nubia鈥檚 custom skin. If you鈥檝e owned a Red Magic phone in the past, then you will see that nothing significant has changed with the coming of this flagship: some notable additions include a home screen wallpaper rotation and the branding of gaming enhancements as 鈥楻ed Magic Force鈥? If you鈥檙e an avid gamer, then you will surely love Nubia鈥檚 Game Space, the mode to use when playing games. This is still available via a physical slider on the side of the phone, but now the main page has been redesigned.聽This game mode has improved significantly when compared to previous versions 鈥 one must admit. Now we can have continuous information on CPU and GPU frequency, monitor our real-time FPS etc. We can easily share content and achievements now via WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram via a small pop-up window, while playing! Everyday useIn terms of everyday use, the new Red Magic UI allows you to shrink (certain) apps into small, interactive windows. You can’t resize the app’s window – you can only move it around the screen. It makes for easy multitasking, yet you always have to open the notification shade to enter that mode every time. And you can’t put more than one app into a small window. In addition, we can also find familiar Google Apps, like Messages, Gmail, Chrome browser, Digital Wellbeing, the ever useful Discover Feed to the left of the home screen etc. One thing that caught our eye however, was that unfortunately most of the preinstalled apps are native in the phone鈥檚 ROM. So we cannot uninstall them. Nubia also is not keen on providing a lot of years of after sales support to their phones, and this comes as no surprise. This means that the upcoming Android 13 upgrade will be the only big update the Red Magic 7S Pro gets, but the small security updates will continue for up to 3 years.Red Magic 7S Pro Price and availabilityGiven its specs and general appearance, the Red Magic 7S Pro comes with a decent price. It starts at $729/拢669 for the 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage variant, but it can reach a price of $899/拢809 for the 18GB of RAM and 512GB powerful version 鈥 this is the model I tested.Both models are available to buy now, but the official store is your only option:Buy the Red Magic 7S Pro in the USBuy the Red Magic 7S Pro in the UKOur Verdict on the Red Magic 7S ProThe Red Magic 7S Pro is undoubtedly one of the most accessible gaming smartphones on the market.聽It packs quite a punch in terms of performance; however it is still plagued by many pre-installed apps and no option to change default launcher. I am also concerned about this phone鈥檚 future updates since Nubia can guarantee only 1 major Android upgrade so far. Battery life is impressive, but sadly there鈥檚 no wireless charging support.
The Breakdown 4.2 8.4 The Red Magic 7S Pro is undoubtedly one of the most accessible gaming smartphones on the market. It packs quite a punch in terms of performance; however it is still plagued by many pre-installed apps and no option to change default launcher. I am also concerned about this phone鈥檚 future updates since Nubia can guarantee only 1 major Android upgrade so far. Battery life is impressive, but sadly there鈥檚 no wireless charging support. Performance 8.4 Price 8.4 Quality 8.4 Software 8.4 Camera 8.4 Nubia has had an impressive past couple of years, releasing approximately 12-14 Red Magic branded phones, dedicating themselves to the gaming industry. We鈥檙e talking about a market that has experienced a significant rise in recent years, and the Chinese company has managed to have sent 1 or 2 gaming smartphones all over the world. The Red Magic 7S Pro 鈥 yes the one we have in our hands- launched globally just three months after聽its predecessor, so one might think that it doesn鈥檛 have a lot to offer to the avid gamer. Or does it?nubia Red Magic 7S Pro – Technical specsBody:聽166.3×77.1×10.0mm, 235g; Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame; Pressure sensitive zones (520Hz touch-sensing), Built-in cooling fan, Aviation aluminum middle frame.Display:聽6.80″ AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 600 nits, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 387ppi.Chipset:聽Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.Memory:聽256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM, 1TB 18GB RAM; UFS 3.1.OS/Software:聽Android 12, Redmagic 5.5.Rear camera:聽Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.97″, 0.7碌m, PDAF;聽Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120藲, 13mm, 1/4.0″, 1.12碌m;聽Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.Front camera:聽16 MP, (wide), under display.Video capture:聽Rear camera: 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps;聽Front camera: 1080p@30/60fps.Battery:聽5000mAh; Fast charging 135W, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min (advertised), Power Delivery 3.0.Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); NFC; 3.5mm jack; stereo speakersDesign and buildNubia鈥檚 latest gaming smartphone is built from aluminum, glass, and some plastic parts. It packs a somewhat different design than its predecessor, with the main metal plate at the back of the device standing out. According to the manufacturer it鈥檚 there to improve heat dissipation, although it adds significantly to the 7S Pro鈥檚 total weight at 235 grams 鈥 along with thickness of 10 mm. To be honest, when you鈥檙e in the market for a gaming smartphone, weight is NOT one of the first factors you consider. However, be warned that after prolonged use during games or holding it straight up, your hands (wrists) may complain.At the back 鈥 just above the metal plate we find the camera module, consisting of three lenses and a flash. The Red Magic 7S Pro is available in 3 color options: Obsidian, Supernova and Mercury, yet all variants remain decent, with excellent quality built and a low profile. At the back side, just below the main camera module, we find the RGB fan placement. When ON it reduces the extra heat of the device 鈥 but it surely makes a lot of noise. You can set it ON or OFF or Auto, along with activating its RGB lights ON/OFF. Huge displayThe Red Magic 7S Pro packs an impressive 6.8 inch display, yet it remains more compact than I originally thought. At the top side of this display lies an in-display camera that is invisible to the naked eye (almost). So, you won鈥檛 see any notch, resulting to an impressive 87.1% screen/body ratio.As I mention at the end of this review, I wasn鈥檛 thrilled with the photo quality of the in-display camera, nor its face ID capabilities during the night (like other smartphones do). It took quite some time to setup FaceID, as the front facing sensor couldn鈥檛 find me, or got stuck at 40% of the whole process. It also kept asking me to look right or left for no reason. On the other hand, the in-display fingerprint sensor was much better. It took 30 seconds or so to save my fingerprint and had almost 90% success in unlocking the device on the first try. Note that it also requires a longer press to unlock the 7S Pro than you might be used to.If you owned the previous RedMagic model then you will find out that nothing has changed on the sides of the phone. Power and volume controls are joined by one of the fan grilles and dual shoulder triggers, making it very clear which way to use the phone in landscape mode. Display and audioThe display in any decent gaming smartphone is perhaps the second most important factor (after its performance). The Red Magic 7S Pro looks awesome when holding it in your hands, with a 6.8in, 1080脳2400 AMOLED panel at 20:9 aspect ratio. This resolution could be higher I guess, but it does allow the CPU to go over the top in terms of gaming performance. In terms of gaming performance, the device can deliver a quite high refresh rate reaching up to 120 Hz, but surely the competition already delivers 144Hz or 165Hz. Some could say that indeed only a handful of games supports such high refresh rates, but still the previous Red Magic 7S model, comes with a 165Hz display. Obviously, we can manually reduce the frame rate to 60Hz or 90Hz (and the difference is huge) 鈥 but there鈥檚 no automatic option. One area where this flagship gaming phone excels, is the area of touch sampling rate, with a top of 960 times every second. This means that it can register our tap quicker than any other smartphone in the world. This could make a huge difference when playing hard-core games like Call of Duty: Mobile or PUBG: Mobile when the response time of 1 ms could prove who鈥檚 the winner.More than a gaming machineWe admit that this is an excellent gaming device, but no one plays all the time. Equipped with a mighty processor, the device can perform great as an everyday phone using this impressive display. It鈥檚 good during daytime, with on-the-spot response but decent brightness. To be honest, if you live in a sunny country, it could be difficult to use the phone outdoors due to the low maximum brightness of just 254 nits. On the other hand, it has an impressive range of viewing angles, despite being highly reflective.As an avid gamer myself, I couldn鈥檛 believe my ears when I first heard the 7S Pro鈥檚 dual speakers. Their sound is full, punchy, and quite loud when set in max! This surely helps any player enjoy the game in full! However if you want privacy, you can connect a pair of 3.5mm earphones 馃槈 Red Magic 7S Pro Specs and performanceSurely the main reason why a gamer will buy this phone is the chipset. The Red Magic 7S is powered by the new聽Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Qualcomm鈥檚 latest flagship chip. The model in my hands was the most powerful one, with 18GB of RAM and stellar performance under any circumstances.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramIt鈥檚 so fun playing games in this phone. The display delivers awesome visuals, smooth frame rate and state of the art responsiveness. During my tests, I played some of the most notorious gaming titles such as: Asphalt 9, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile and others. The 120 Hz display, accompanied by a 960Hz touch sampling both deliver an edge over any other (normal), making it easier to win in 1-1 contests.To be honest, I was a bit annoyed by the RGB led fan that鈥檚 placed at the back of the device. It can be used automatically (operated by the OS) or manually when we need it to. It鈥檚 loud however and sometimes it may be distracting when playing. You can always turn it off naturally, but you will soon see the impact of high temperature to the phone. So don鈥檛 do this.When not playing awesome games, this聽gaming smartphone works just like a normal flagship model: impeccable performance for work, leisure, social media etc. Chrome, Maps, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube 鈥 everything works like a charm – even when split-screen multitasking. In reality, it offers far more performance than you鈥檒l ever need for any basic tasks. In China you鈥檒l find the option for 1TB of storage, but that鈥檚 not available on the global version. But 256GB or 512GB should be plenty for most people, even if there鈥檚 no microSD expansion.Camera and videoAt the back of the device, there鈥檚 a trio of camera lenses, but in any case, only the main 64MP sensor will be doing most of the heavy lifting here. I must admit that I liked the portrait and macro/ultrawide photos of the device. However, I noticed some blur in certain typical photos. The night mode of the main camera is quite good, with nice low-light photos. There鈥檚 some digital noise in most of them but you cannot ask much from a 100% gaming smartphone. I liked its landscape photos but there was much overexposure in most areas. The 64MP sensor is the best for most scenarios, I wouldn鈥檛 choose the 8Mp ultrawide sensor nor the small 2MP macro. When combined things get even better, especially in close-up photos, or those hit or miss moments with the kids. One thing that was just decent however was the front facing, in-display selfie camera. Yes, it is impressive to (not) see a camera under the display of the phone, and still get some decent selfies. However, it鈥檚 a simple 8MP sensor that can deliver grainy/washed out photos in most cases. I wouldn鈥檛 use it for nighttime photos, but during day it can provide typical selfies with friends or family. That鈥檚 all.In terms of video recording, the Red Magic 7S Pro can record 4K videos at 30fps, but the default 1080p at 30fps is more realistic for everyday use. It doesn鈥檛 have OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), but still the videos are quite impressive with huge details, lighting, and smoothness.Red Magic 7S Pro Battery and chargingGiven it鈥檚 huge size, the Red Magic 7S Pro is equipped with a relatively small 5000mAh battery. This power-cell has to cope each day with a huge high-refresh rate display and plenty of demanding apps. During my tests, the phone performed extremely well in terms of battery life, recording almost 10 hours in PCMark鈥檚 battery test. It can easily withstand a day鈥檚 torture with gaming, hard work, internet browsing-social media and calls. If you want more, then there are several ways to improve it: set the display refresh rate to 60Hz, cut the use of games, and there you are: you can get an extra half a day of use.聽However, certain aspects of the phone might not work when battery is low: flash, portrait and night mode etc will not work when under 5% of juice. If you want a quick recharge however, the 65W fast charger is there to provide it. It may not be quite as powerful as the monstrous 135W adapter that the Chinese version of the phone has, but it does the job and charges the phone up to 100% in a little bit over 30 minutes!No, it doesn鈥檛 support wireless charging 鈥 which is something I’d love to see.Software and updatesAs expected, the 7S Pro gaming smartphone runs Red Magic OS over Android 12. Upon receiving the device, it got a small security update to version 5.5 of Nubia鈥檚 custom skin. If you鈥檝e owned a Red Magic phone in the past, then you will see that nothing significant has changed with the coming of this flagship: some notable additions include a home screen wallpaper rotation and the branding of gaming enhancements as 鈥楻ed Magic Force鈥? If you鈥檙e an avid gamer, then you will surely love Nubia鈥檚 Game Space, the mode to use when playing games. This is still available via a physical slider on the side of the phone, but now the main page has been redesigned.聽This game mode has improved significantly when compared to previous versions 鈥 one must admit. Now we can have continuous information on CPU and GPU frequency, monitor our real-time FPS etc. We can easily share content and achievements now via WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram via a small pop-up window, while playing! Everyday useIn terms of everyday use, the new Red Magic UI allows you to shrink (certain) apps into small, interactive windows. You can’t resize the app’s window – you can only move it around the screen. It makes for easy multitasking, yet you always have to open the notification shade to enter that mode every time. And you can’t put more than one app into a small window. In addition, we can also find familiar Google Apps, like Messages, Gmail, Chrome browser, Digital Wellbeing, the ever useful Discover Feed to the left of the home screen etc. One thing that caught our eye however, was that unfortunately most of the preinstalled apps are native in the phone鈥檚 ROM. So we cannot uninstall them. Nubia also is not keen on providing a lot of years of after sales support to their phones, and this comes as no surprise. This means that the upcoming Android 13 upgrade will be the only big update the Red Magic 7S Pro gets, but the small security updates will continue for up to 3 years.Red Magic 7S Pro Price and availabilityGiven its specs and general appearance, the Red Magic 7S Pro comes with a decent price. It starts at $729/拢669 for the 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage variant, but it can reach a price of $899/拢809 for the 18GB of RAM and 512GB powerful version 鈥 this is the model I tested.Both models are available to buy now, but the official store is your only option:Buy the Red Magic 7S Pro in the USBuy the Red Magic 7S Pro in the UKOur Verdict on the Red Magic 7S ProThe Red Magic 7S Pro is undoubtedly one of the most accessible gaming smartphones on the market.聽It packs quite a punch in terms of performance; however it is still plagued by many pre-installed apps and no option to change default launcher. I am also concerned about this phone鈥檚 future updates since Nubia can guarantee only 1 major Android upgrade so far. Battery life is impressive, but sadly there鈥檚 no wireless charging support.Recently, we got a few charging accessories from a brand that most of you shouldn鈥檛 be familiar with. So we weren鈥檛 as well. We are talking about AOHi. However, the thing is that the latter has been on the market for a while and knows how to make cheap but useful mobile accessories, including charging products. In this article, we will talk about our experience with three of them 鈥 AOHi 40W dual-port wall charger, an AOHi 30W wall charger, and a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable that is used with the above two charging heads.AOHi Wall ChargersThe AOHi wall chargers are extremely small and cute in terms of design. So you can carry them out with you wherever you go. What we also liked was the colors the manufacturer used. As you can see in the photos, the dual-port wall charger comes in bright yellow, while the 30W charger is in the traditional black color. The 40W charging head has a foldable plug design, while the plugs of the 30W variant don鈥檛 fold. Also, both have LED indicators on them. When charging, they will turn into a corresponding color (the colors differ from model to model). Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramHowever, generally, there are a few colors corresponding to different states. For instance, when providing standard charging, the LED indicator will show blue and will always be on. When it enters a fast charging state, the LED indicator will show yellow, and it will be blinking. When there is a low current, it will turn into stable green. Finally, if you have fast charging from any of the individual ports, the LED indicator will show yellow and blink.The AOHi wall charger with two ports can provide fast charging of two devices at the same time. We have to mention that this brand and these chargers use GaN+ technology. For those who are unaware, GaN+ stands for Gallium Nitride. This technology is three times more efficient than normal chargers.As said, the cable we have got along with the wall chargers is called a Magline+. We liked its beautifully braided material, which looks more beautiful rather than the plastic ones.
Recently, we got a few charging accessories from a brand that most of you shouldn鈥檛 be familiar with. So we weren鈥檛 as well. We are talking about AOHi. However, the thing is that the latter has been on the market for a while and knows how to make cheap but useful mobile accessories, including charging products. In this article, we will talk about our experience with three of them 鈥 AOHi 40W dual-port wall charger, an AOHi 30W wall charger, and a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable that is used with the above two charging heads.AOHi Wall ChargersThe AOHi wall chargers are extremely small and cute in terms of design. So you can carry them out with you wherever you go. What we also liked was the colors the manufacturer used. As you can see in the photos, the dual-port wall charger comes in bright yellow, while the 30W charger is in the traditional black color. The 40W charging head has a foldable plug design, while the plugs of the 30W variant don鈥檛 fold. Also, both have LED indicators on them. When charging, they will turn into a corresponding color (the colors differ from model to model). Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramHowever, generally, there are a few colors corresponding to different states. For instance, when providing standard charging, the LED indicator will show blue and will always be on. When it enters a fast charging state, the LED indicator will show yellow, and it will be blinking. When there is a low current, it will turn into stable green. Finally, if you have fast charging from any of the individual ports, the LED indicator will show yellow and blink.The AOHi wall charger with two ports can provide fast charging of two devices at the same time. We have to mention that this brand and these chargers use GaN+ technology. For those who are unaware, GaN+ stands for Gallium Nitride. This technology is three times more efficient than normal chargers.As said, the cable we have got along with the wall chargers is called a Magline+. We liked its beautifully braided material, which looks more beautiful rather than the plastic ones.The BreakdownYour search for stylish, feature-laden yet affordable TWS earbuds ends here. Check out the Costar Diamond ON T300 True Wireless Earbuds! The most notable feature of the TWS earbuds is their awe-inspiring design. The highly talented designer team at Costar has designed a futuristic edge. The audio device sports a symmetrical, geometric, and linear design.Aside from sporting a highly appealing diamond-shaped design, the Diamond ON T300 boasts an impressive array of features. Also, it undergoes over a whopping 300 iterations. Further, it undergoes a pearlescent baking process that creates 20 flawless facets. Notably, audio devices have come a long way from the days when they just produced sounds. Now, there’s no dearth of products that audiophiles can get hands-on.Also, modern audio devices focus on portability. So, you can listen to your favorite track even on the go. Likewise, they come with multiple settings that you can use to adjust the audio output. Regrettably, most newfangled audio products aren’t easy on the pocketbook. However, if you buy a pocket-friendly alternative, you’d end up compromising on features. That’s where the Diamond On T300 True Wireless Earbuds come into the picture.The Diamond On T300 True Wireless Earbuds strikes a perfect balance between affordability and useability. First off, let’s take a look at the Diamond On T300 key specifications.Diamond On T300 True Wireless Earbuds Technical SpecificationsTransparency modeGaming mode with 70ms low latencyIPX4 water & sweat resistant16-hour total playback25dB Active Noise CancellationAwe-Inspiring FeaturesDespite carrying a reasonable price tag, the Diamond On T300 offers a myriad of amazing features. Unlike most pocket-friendly Costar Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds, the Diamond On T300 comes with ANC support. A myriad of leading brands has recently made their foray into the audio segment. These brands offer all sorts of audio devices such as neckbands, headphones, and more. To recap, OnePlus and Boat surpassed other brands in India’s neckband segment last month.So, Costar has spared no effort in a bid to offer top features on the Diamond On T300. The earbuds’ active noise cancellation capability is pretty impressive. The feature restricts outside noise to let users enjoy an immersive listening experience. However, Costar didn’t neglect the safety of the user. You can switch the transparency mode on to listen to outside noise. Notably, this ensures you are aware of your surrounding.Moreover, the Diamond On T300 delivers an immersive bass experience. As a result, every beat is crystal clear. The TWS earbuds use a redesigned 10mm custom speaker. Further, its internal components are placed meticulously to offer an unparalleled listening experience. You’d normally need to shell out a lot of money to purchase TWS earbuds that offer the aforesaid features. However, the new Costar TWS earbuds don’t cost a bomb.Other Awe-Inspiring FeaturesAlso, the Diamond On T300 is compatible with popular voice assistants including Google Assistant and Siri. So, you can perform several tasks simply by giving voice commands. For instance, you can use a single click to answer a call. You can double-click to reject or end a call. Moreover, you can play/pause and go to the next music with a triple click. Likewise, you need to press and hold the earbuds for 2 seconds to summon the voice assistant.Also, you can activate transparent, game, or ANC mode by pressing and holding for a couple of seconds. Further, these earbuds carry an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance. You can wear them to the gym and leave your worry about sweat behind. The Diamond On T300 also supports a Standard Mode and a 70ms Ultra Low Latency Game Mode for an improved gaming experience.A Design That’s Guaranteed To Turn HeadsOne of the most notable aspects of the Diamond On T300 is its unique art design. Costar’s highly skilled design team has come up with a highly appealing design for the earbuds. The audio device adopts a symmetrical, geometric, and linear design that creates a revolutionary edge. Aside from this, the earbuds weigh only 110 grams. So, they fit comfortably inside the ear for a long time without any sort of discomfort. It is safe to say that the earbuds’ diamond-shaped design is appealing, as well as useful.The earbuds can easily fit inside your pocket even with the charging case. Notably, the earbuds and the charging case are pretty lightweight. On top of that, you can choose between three eye-catching color options. These include Dynamic Black, Smart Grey, and Elite White. We got the white-tinted model that looks elegant and fits in the palm. Moreover, the earbuds have undergone over a whopping 300 iterations. Costar uses the pearlescent baking process to create twenty appealing facets.Practical DesignThe Costar branding is on the top of the case. Upfront, the case houses a mini-LED charging indicator. The Type-C port for charging is available at the bottom. Further, the case sports a matte finish that avoids fingerprints. Moreover, the earbuds sport the same diamond design as the case. Notably, the stems have a flat end. These user-friendly could give the Diamond On T300 an edge over the upcoming Nothing Ear (2).The Nothing Ear (1) successor has reportedly passed through the Indian BIS certification website. Also, the Diamond T300 TWS earbuds carry an IPX4 rating for splash resistance.鑱絎e tested their splash resistance capabilities by wearing them amid a gentle downpour. Much to our delight, the earbuds continued working. However, it is recommended not to wear them near huge amounts of water. Nevertheless, you can put them during gym and outdoor activities. What’s Inside The BoxThe package comprises earbuds and a charging case. Also, it includes a Type-C cable and a user manual. You get six additional ear tips ( 3 pairs) in the box, as well. You can choose between two different sizes of ear tips based on your comfort. Moreover, the ear tips sport the same white color theme as the charging case.We used the earbuds for movie watching, music, and gaming and found them pretty comfortable. Further, the dimensions of the package are 10 x 9.9 x 4.4 cm and it weighs 110 grams.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramImmersive Sound Quality & Amazing FeaturesThe Diamond On T300 supports the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) feature. However, most audio devices in this price segment do not offer this feature. The ANC feature works pretty well in terms of blocking outside noise. Most earbuds have passive noise isolation. In-canal earbuds are usually more efficient when it comes to blocking ambient noise. Also, we found that you might not need to activate the ANC mode unless you are in an overcrowded environment.Moreover, the TWS earbuds have a highly advantageous transparency mode. This mode comes in handy when you want to listen to another person even while wearing the earbuds. It enables the wearer to listen better and be alert to what is happening in their surrounding without removing the earbuds. Likewise, you don’t need to pause the music either. So, you can turn the transparency mode on to hear your surroundings when you’re movies or listening to your favorite song.Clarity Like Never BeforeWe used the earbuds to listen to a myriad of different genres of songs. The bass drop in the songs was thumpy, and the punch was pretty impressive, as well. So, you might want to consider buying the Diamond On T300 if you’re a bass lover. Moreover, the vocals are soothing and excellent. Moreover, the instrumentals struck a perfect balance between depth and vocals.We also found Bollywood tracks to be immersive on the Costar Diamond On T300. Overall, the Diamond On T300 is ideal for audiophiles who want to treat themselves to a superior music session. We constantly kept the music maximum at 70 percent. We found the best audio output at 60 percent. However, if you listen to music at 80 percent or above, it will feel quite harsh on the ears.Seamless Connectivity & User-Friendly Touch ControlsThe process of pairing the Diamond On T300 is simple as A, B, and C. When you take the earbuds out of the box for the first time, simply press and hold them for about 5 seconds. Now, this will activate the pairing mode. Next, turn on the Bluetooth on your laptop or smartphone. The Costar Diamond On T300 will appear under the Available devices section.All you need to do to pair the earbuds to your device is to tap on the earbuds’ name.鑱絋hese earbuds use Bluetooth 5.0 for a quick pairing like the OnePlus Buds Z. We found the pairing process to be seamless. Also, it offers a pretty good range. We went to another room, leaving the paired device behind but the earbuds did not disconnect. You can use various touch controls on the earbuds to access different modes.Tap on the earbuds twice to answer or end callsPress on the earbuds for about 2 seconds to reject incoming callsTap on the left/right earbud three times to summon a voice assistantYou can tap on either of the earbuds to play or pause music and videoTo skip to the next video or music, simply tap twice on one of the earbudsBy pressing and holding the earbuds for 2 seconds, you can activate the transparency modeYou can press and hold on the earbuds for 2 seconds to turn on ANCFinally, you can tap on the earbuds thrice to enter into gaming modeEnhance Your Gaming ExperienceThe Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds offers avid gamers something to cheer about. This feature-laden audio device comes with a dedicated game mode. You can reduce the latency to 70ms while playing your favorite titles. We played WWE2K on a smartphone and GTA: San Andreas on a laptop without experiencing any latency after turning on the game mode.The firing sounds and reloads were clearly audible and in sync. Further, the mic quality on these earbuds is pretty good. We used them for calls and the receiver could hear our voice clearly. You can further enhance the calling experience by activating the ANC feature.Long Lasting Battery LifeThe Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds deliver reliable battery life for the price. We watched several episodes of our favorite web series for nearly two hours when the battery was fully charged. After two hours of usage, the battery has dropped to 60 percent. We even activated the ANC and transparency mode but the battery did not disappoint. Further, the case takes roughly about 60-80 minutes to charge fully. Also, you can extend the battery life by deactivating the ANC mode.VerdictIf you’re in the market for feature-rich earbuds that don’t cost a bomb, the Diamond On T300 will fill the bill. Moreover, its unique design will definitely turn heads. Overall, they help you stand out from the crowd. We’ve been using these earbuds for watching videos, gaming, and listening to music even while traveling. The ANC feature comes in handy to provide an immersive listening experience even on the go.So, the Diamond On T300 is worth considering if you’re a frequent traveler who consumes a lot of media. Further, both ANC and the transparency mode turned out to be excellent for the price. If you play a lot of games on your mobile phone or laptop, you might want to get your hands on these earbuds. The game mode on the earbuds considerably reduces latency while gaming. Also, the earbuds offer sufficiently good mic quality and battery life.Price & Where To BuyThe Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds are available on the official Costar website. Alternatively, you can buy earbuds from Amazon. Moreover, you can avail yourself of a whopping 58 percent discount on the earbuds. The Diamond On T300 earbuds are currently available for a lowered price of just INR 1,799 on Amazon India. The discount is also available on the company’s official online store.The BreakdownYour search for stylish, feature-laden yet affordable TWS earbuds ends here. Check out the Costar Diamond ON T300 True Wireless Earbuds! The most notable feature of the TWS earbuds is their awe-inspiring design. The highly talented designer team at Costar has designed a futuristic edge. The audio device sports a symmetrical, geometric, and linear design.Aside from sporting a highly appealing diamond-shaped design, the Diamond ON T300 boasts an impressive array of features. Also, it undergoes over a whopping 300 iterations. Further, it undergoes a pearlescent baking process that creates 20 flawless facets. Notably, audio devices have come a long way from the days when they just produced sounds. Now, there’s no dearth of products that audiophiles can get hands-on.Also, modern audio devices focus on portability. So, you can listen to your favorite track even on the go. Likewise, they come with multiple settings that you can use to adjust the audio output. Regrettably, most newfangled audio products aren’t easy on the pocketbook. However, if you buy a pocket-friendly alternative, you’d end up compromising on features. That’s where the Diamond On T300 True Wireless Earbuds come into the picture.The Diamond On T300 True Wireless Earbuds strikes a perfect balance between affordability and useability. First off, let’s take a look at the Diamond On T300 key specifications.Diamond On T300 True Wireless Earbuds Technical SpecificationsTransparency modeGaming mode with 70ms low latencyIPX4 water & sweat resistant16-hour total playback25dB Active Noise CancellationAwe-Inspiring FeaturesDespite carrying a reasonable price tag, the Diamond On T300 offers a myriad of amazing features. Unlike most pocket-friendly Costar Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds, the Diamond On T300 comes with ANC support. A myriad of leading brands has recently made their foray into the audio segment. These brands offer all sorts of audio devices such as neckbands, headphones, and more. To recap, OnePlus and Boat surpassed other brands in India’s neckband segment last month.So, Costar has spared no effort in a bid to offer top features on the Diamond On T300. The earbuds’ active noise cancellation capability is pretty impressive. The feature restricts outside noise to let users enjoy an immersive listening experience. However, Costar didn’t neglect the safety of the user. You can switch the transparency mode on to listen to outside noise. Notably, this ensures you are aware of your surrounding.Moreover, the Diamond On T300 delivers an immersive bass experience. As a result, every beat is crystal clear. The TWS earbuds use a redesigned 10mm custom speaker. Further, its internal components are placed meticulously to offer an unparalleled listening experience. You’d normally need to shell out a lot of money to purchase TWS earbuds that offer the aforesaid features. However, the new Costar TWS earbuds don’t cost a bomb.Other Awe-Inspiring FeaturesAlso, the Diamond On T300 is compatible with popular voice assistants including Google Assistant and Siri. So, you can perform several tasks simply by giving voice commands. For instance, you can use a single click to answer a call. You can double-click to reject or end a call. Moreover, you can play/pause and go to the next music with a triple click. Likewise, you need to press and hold the earbuds for 2 seconds to summon the voice assistant.Also, you can activate transparent, game, or ANC mode by pressing and holding for a couple of seconds. Further, these earbuds carry an IPX4 rating for water and sweat resistance. You can wear them to the gym and leave your worry about sweat behind. The Diamond On T300 also supports a Standard Mode and a 70ms Ultra Low Latency Game Mode for an improved gaming experience.A Design That’s Guaranteed To Turn HeadsOne of the most notable aspects of the Diamond On T300 is its unique art design. Costar’s highly skilled design team has come up with a highly appealing design for the earbuds. The audio device adopts a symmetrical, geometric, and linear design that creates a revolutionary edge. Aside from this, the earbuds weigh only 110 grams. So, they fit comfortably inside the ear for a long time without any sort of discomfort. It is safe to say that the earbuds’ diamond-shaped design is appealing, as well as useful.The earbuds can easily fit inside your pocket even with the charging case. Notably, the earbuds and the charging case are pretty lightweight. On top of that, you can choose between three eye-catching color options. These include Dynamic Black, Smart Grey, and Elite White. We got the white-tinted model that looks elegant and fits in the palm. Moreover, the earbuds have undergone over a whopping 300 iterations. Costar uses the pearlescent baking process to create twenty appealing facets.Practical DesignThe Costar branding is on the top of the case. Upfront, the case houses a mini-LED charging indicator. The Type-C port for charging is available at the bottom. Further, the case sports a matte finish that avoids fingerprints. Moreover, the earbuds sport the same diamond design as the case. Notably, the stems have a flat end. These user-friendly could give the Diamond On T300 an edge over the upcoming Nothing Ear (2).The Nothing Ear (1) successor has reportedly passed through the Indian BIS certification website. Also, the Diamond T300 TWS earbuds carry an IPX4 rating for splash resistance.鑱絎e tested their splash resistance capabilities by wearing them amid a gentle downpour. Much to our delight, the earbuds continued working. However, it is recommended not to wear them near huge amounts of water. Nevertheless, you can put them during gym and outdoor activities. What’s Inside The BoxThe package comprises earbuds and a charging case. Also, it includes a Type-C cable and a user manual. You get six additional ear tips ( 3 pairs) in the box, as well. You can choose between two different sizes of ear tips based on your comfort. Moreover, the ear tips sport the same white color theme as the charging case.We used the earbuds for movie watching, music, and gaming and found them pretty comfortable. Further, the dimensions of the package are 10 x 9.9 x 4.4 cm and it weighs 110 grams.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramImmersive Sound Quality & Amazing FeaturesThe Diamond On T300 supports the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) feature. However, most audio devices in this price segment do not offer this feature. The ANC feature works pretty well in terms of blocking outside noise. Most earbuds have passive noise isolation. In-canal earbuds are usually more efficient when it comes to blocking ambient noise. Also, we found that you might not need to activate the ANC mode unless you are in an overcrowded environment.Moreover, the TWS earbuds have a highly advantageous transparency mode. This mode comes in handy when you want to listen to another person even while wearing the earbuds. It enables the wearer to listen better and be alert to what is happening in their surrounding without removing the earbuds. Likewise, you don’t need to pause the music either. So, you can turn the transparency mode on to hear your surroundings when you’re movies or listening to your favorite song.Clarity Like Never BeforeWe used the earbuds to listen to a myriad of different genres of songs. The bass drop in the songs was thumpy, and the punch was pretty impressive, as well. So, you might want to consider buying the Diamond On T300 if you’re a bass lover. Moreover, the vocals are soothing and excellent. Moreover, the instrumentals struck a perfect balance between depth and vocals.We also found Bollywood tracks to be immersive on the Costar Diamond On T300. Overall, the Diamond On T300 is ideal for audiophiles who want to treat themselves to a superior music session. We constantly kept the music maximum at 70 percent. We found the best audio output at 60 percent. However, if you listen to music at 80 percent or above, it will feel quite harsh on the ears.Seamless Connectivity & User-Friendly Touch ControlsThe process of pairing the Diamond On T300 is simple as A, B, and C. When you take the earbuds out of the box for the first time, simply press and hold them for about 5 seconds. Now, this will activate the pairing mode. Next, turn on the Bluetooth on your laptop or smartphone. The Costar Diamond On T300 will appear under the Available devices section.All you need to do to pair the earbuds to your device is to tap on the earbuds’ name.鑱絋hese earbuds use Bluetooth 5.0 for a quick pairing like the OnePlus Buds Z. We found the pairing process to be seamless. Also, it offers a pretty good range. We went to another room, leaving the paired device behind but the earbuds did not disconnect. You can use various touch controls on the earbuds to access different modes.Tap on the earbuds twice to answer or end callsPress on the earbuds for about 2 seconds to reject incoming callsTap on the left/right earbud three times to summon a voice assistantYou can tap on either of the earbuds to play or pause music and videoTo skip to the next video or music, simply tap twice on one of the earbudsBy pressing and holding the earbuds for 2 seconds, you can activate the transparency modeYou can press and hold on the earbuds for 2 seconds to turn on ANCFinally, you can tap on the earbuds thrice to enter into gaming modeEnhance Your Gaming ExperienceThe Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds offers avid gamers something to cheer about. This feature-laden audio device comes with a dedicated game mode. You can reduce the latency to 70ms while playing your favorite titles. We played WWE2K on a smartphone and GTA: San Andreas on a laptop without experiencing any latency after turning on the game mode.The firing sounds and reloads were clearly audible and in sync. Further, the mic quality on these earbuds is pretty good. We used them for calls and the receiver could hear our voice clearly. You can further enhance the calling experience by activating the ANC feature.Long Lasting Battery LifeThe Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds deliver reliable battery life for the price. We watched several episodes of our favorite web series for nearly two hours when the battery was fully charged. After two hours of usage, the battery has dropped to 60 percent. We even activated the ANC and transparency mode but the battery did not disappoint. Further, the case takes roughly about 60-80 minutes to charge fully. Also, you can extend the battery life by deactivating the ANC mode.VerdictIf you’re in the market for feature-rich earbuds that don’t cost a bomb, the Diamond On T300 will fill the bill. Moreover, its unique design will definitely turn heads. Overall, they help you stand out from the crowd. We’ve been using these earbuds for watching videos, gaming, and listening to music even while traveling. The ANC feature comes in handy to provide an immersive listening experience even on the go.So, the Diamond On T300 is worth considering if you’re a frequent traveler who consumes a lot of media. Further, both ANC and the transparency mode turned out to be excellent for the price. If you play a lot of games on your mobile phone or laptop, you might want to get your hands on these earbuds. The game mode on the earbuds considerably reduces latency while gaming. Also, the earbuds offer sufficiently good mic quality and battery life.Price & Where To BuyThe Diamond On T300 TWS earbuds are available on the official Costar website. Alternatively, you can buy earbuds from Amazon. Moreover, you can avail yourself of a whopping 58 percent discount on the earbuds. The Diamond On T300 earbuds are currently available for a lowered price of just INR 1,799 on Amazon India. The discount is also available on the company’s official online store.Any organization’s information security is defined not only by the effective defense against cyberattacks but also by the secure storage of sensitive data like passwords, the disclosure of which may gravely undermine a corporation of any size. For that, we propose to test Passwork, which is a self-hosted solution with a variety of features designed to simplify password management for your business.Passwork: What is it?Although there are numerous password managers on the market, Passwork offers a solution that appeals to both users and administrators thanks to its features, ease of use, and platform administration. Passwork aims to make corporate passwords more secure and convenient to use.It serves businesses of various sizes, including:IT teams 閳 Provides user rights management, private and organizational vaults, API for integration, auditable history, and password security audits.User rights management, LDAP connectivity, and GDPR compliance for small-to-medium organizations.Enterprise organizations: multi-site deployment flexibility, clustering and failover for high availability.There are two variations of the Passwork solution. Companies can select the solution that best suits their unique company requirements and management principles. Two categories of licenses exist:Standard license: for companies that do not need LDAP group-to-role mapping, installation in branches, SSO integration, or a number of additional capabilities.Advanced license: for businesses that require both a personal manager and the whole complement of password management functions.Security with PassworkSecurity is one of the main criteria for businesses using password management solutions. However, security with the self-hosted version is obvious because everything depends on your business.Passwork adheres to encryption-related security best practices. All data are securely saved on your server using the AES-256 method, and only system administrators have access to them. You can install Passwork on Linux and Windows with or without Docker and operates on PHP and MongoDB.Features reviewThe key benefit of Passwork is that passwords are kept in an encrypted storage and the program is installed on the company’s server. They are only accessible to organization personnel. There is no effect on the performance of the product when disabling cloud services.Passwork is a customizable solution for separating access privileges that enables giving corporate employees access to only certain passwords. The application may be configured to set user access levels and responsibilities in order to do this. As a result, it is feasible, for instance, to ensure that workers only communicate using a limited number of passwords, according to their roles and responsibilities.Passwork lets IT administrators easily locate all the credentials that former workers had access to by keeping a history of all user activity in the system, recording any password changes, and keeping track of all user actions. As a result, the software package may be in use to look into data leaks and information security issues. Passwork can perform a password security check and alert you to passwords that are outdated, insecure, or hacked.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramThe simplicity with which Passwork may integrate an organization’s IT infrastructure is a key feature. The application enables working with Active Directory / LDAP and authorization using SAML SSO, as well as flexible import and export of data in JSON and CSV formats. It also has its own API for setting up data interchange with the systems used by the company.A specific browser extension (for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari) is available to make using the password manager more convenient. It enables you to enter, create, and manage enterprise passwords. Additionally, it may be in use to automatically save data, complete authorization forms, and lookup passwords. Additionally, Passwork provides an iOS and Android app that enables mobile access to corporate passwords.The number of users supported and the capabilities are different amongst the different editions of the password manager that are available. When you subscribe, you will get technical support and updates renewed indefinitely after the first purchase. Passwork maintains the price of the product at the same level and has no plans to raise it, notwithstanding the present state of the market.Customers may deploy Passwork simultaneously across many branches and take advantage of fast technical assistance. The development company’s technical experts will assist with installation and provide any needed information.Also, Passwork is a tool that helps businesses deal with limitations on the use of other software; and is appropriate for use in government organizations.Passwork鑱絙rowser extensionI should also mention that Passwork provides a great browser extension that allows you access to the majority of the password manager‘s most crucial functions.When you log in to websites, the extension automatically provides permission information; and it also gives you the option to remember the password you used to register. Also, you may access a list of all your vaults in the extension itself, update passwords, add new ones, and utilize a flexible password generator.Passwork Mobile ApplicationsThe mobile app is responsive, fully functional, and compatible with both Apple and Android devices. The majority of features are available within the mobile application, just like with the browser extension. Biometric and PIN code authentication is on to secure the mobile application. The most secure option is by far using biometrics.VerdictThere are numerous fantastic features in Passwork that will probably meet the needs of different-sized enterprises. We have only touched on a small portion of its capability in this post. Working with the interface, managing entries, and setting up the organization’s settings in the environment of Passwork was a pleasant experience.Solutions for password management don’t have to be difficult. End users are less likely to use solutions that are complex and difficult. The Passwork solution is a fantastic example of how to develop a password management system that supports enterprise password security while also keeping simplicity.Visit Passwork’s website to find out more, try out the demo, or download a self-hosted demo to discover all the features of this great password manager.
The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 The Camon 19 Pro features a fast refresh rate, good battery life, really good cameras, a beautiful design, and is very comfortable to hold. But, it鈥檚 relatively expensive, has an average chipset, and is not ideal for gaming. Design 8.9 Performance 8.9 Camera 8.9 Battery 8.9 Package 8.9 I guess that by now, the name TECNO isn鈥檛 something you look at for the first time 鈥 and for a good reason I might add. The Chinese company is one of the biggest surprises of the year, after launching several impressive smartphones one after the other. Recently the company unveiled the Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Edition, which features a distinctive back panel design聽and we have it for review.The phone comes with a Mondrian-inspired back changes color when light strikes it and is considered by the manufacturer as one of their biggest hits of the year. We had it in our hands for a couple of days so here鈥檚 a really鈥 artistic review of it.TECNO CAMON 19 Pro 鈥 Main featuresMondrian Edition (color changing back)64MP Bright Night Portrait (OIS)The 0.98mm Slimmest Bezel50MP 50mm Pro Portrait Camera32MP Pro Selfie Camera120Hz FHD+ High Gamut Display (6.8″)33W Flash Charge,5000mAhHelio G96 Octa-Core256GB+8GB Memory128GB+8GB Memory79 x 74.55 x 8.58mmTechnical SpecificationsHeight: 166.79 mmWidth: 74.55mmThickness: 8.58mm120Hz FHD+ High Gamut Display (6.8″)1080*2460 Resolution256GB ROM + 8GB RAM Memory128GB ROM + 8GB RAM MemoryHelio G96 Octa-Core33W Flash Charge5000mAhGSMGPRSFULL EDGEWCDMAHSPA+FDD LTEWiFiBluetoothFMOTGNFC32MP Front Camera64MP Triple Rear Camera with Quad FlashG-SensorAmbient Light and Distance SensorFingerprint SensorYou can find more info about the device hereMondrian Edition: Pure art and technology聽First, let me clarify that the Mondrian Edition is not that of a different phone than the original Camon 19 Pro. It鈥檚 mostly the same device under the hood 鈥 TECNO and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston have joined to bring the unique vision of Piet Mondrian – the Dutch pioneer of abstract art best known for his bold and colorful block paintings – to a new format that is accessible to consumers in a way not previously explored.The Mondrian Edition launched on the heels of the CAMON 19 Pro, with the same key features, including:First high-clear crystal sensitive lens with RGBW sensorfor the 64MP Bright Night PortraitThe 0.98mm bezeloffers the industry’s slimmest form factor, framing a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, to deliver an unsurpassed immersive experienceDual-ring triple-camera design聽perfectly balances the camera and back panel aesthetic to create a seamless overall feeling. The metal dual-ring is perfectly integrated with the triple camera using an anodizing process, bringing a sense of professional performance.50MP 2X Optical-Zoom Lensfor clearer, more detailed portraitsAI Face Beauty technology聽intelligently identifies different facial structures and skin tones, and delivers smoothing complexions and accurate skin tonesPowerful performance聽optimizes the phone for the clarity, brightness, and color accuracy for a stunning viewing experience. Certified by TuV Rheinland, the display minimizes blue light for more comfortable viewing, reducing eye strain and fatigue.Dressed to impressIt鈥檚 an impressive mid-range phone, packing a 64MP primary camera with OIS and Laser AF features. It also uses a new RGBW sensor which improves the quality of photos and videos from the camera, making it a treat for all those influencers out there.TECNO considers this phone as 鈥渢he world’s first smart device that uses “sunlight drawing” technology to allow the phone to change colors in sunlight鈥 鈥 creating a device that is both artistic and intuitive. In addition to the device, included in the special edition gift set is a pair of TECNO TWS SONIC 1 earbuds, and other two Mondrian-style accessories.I must admit the phone looks spectacular. It boasts TECNO鈥檚 “sunlight drawing” technology 鈥 more formally known as polychromatic photo isomer technology 鈥 is a process that breaks through the technical limitations of single-color or dual-color discoloration, and inspired by the impressionist works of Mondrian, enabling the phone’s shell to follow geometrical patterns of color change in the sun. Just watch the video below:Display and quality buildI loved the artistic part of the device, but how about the quality? The phone is made from glass (front) and plastic (everywhere else) but still feels like more luxurious than you鈥檇 think. On the right side you can find the volume rock and power button (also the fingerprint scanner). On the bottom frame there鈥檚 the speaker, USB Type-C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack 鈥 yes it has one! The display size of the Tecno Camon 19 Pro is 6.8-inches. It鈥檚 an IPS LCD panel with high color Gamut, that comes with 120Hz refresh rate support and has a peak brightness of 500 nits. As per the design, the Camon 19 Pro comes with two rings on the rear that houses three camera sensors. On the front, it has a simple punch-hole that houses the selfie camera. The phone also has very slim bezels, flat-screen, sharp edges, and it鈥檚 about 9mm thick.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramChipset and Performance聽This phone is surely not for the game addicts, nor for the business aficionados. It鈥檚 a mid-range device with impeccable design, that packs the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset. The chipset is built on a 12nm process node technology and has a maximum CPU frequency of 2.05GHz. For gaming and graphic work, it uses the Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU which is just adequate for this type of entertainment. So don鈥檛 expect it to let you play graphic-intensive games. However, it can let you play PUBG and call of Duty, reducing the graphics settings and dropping the frame rates. Using the phone for extended periods made it heat up too soon, affecting somewhat its performance. In any case this didn鈥檛 affect our experience with it, so here are some of the benchmark tests we made. Photography is kingAccording to Tecno, all its Camon phone lineup is made for shooting photos and videos. The Camon 19 Pro lives up to its name and packs quite a punch: a 64MP primary camera with RGBW sensor, OIS, and Laser AF, a 2 Bokeh lens, a 50MP portrait lens, and a 32MP front camera. I really liked its quad light flash that offers impressive brightness during night photos. But that鈥檚 not all: there鈥檚 also Night Mode and Super Night Mode for Selfies and impressive nightlife photos.For the first time, the Laser AF function works like a charm, as the phone can focus on objects in 0.1 seconds along with the 2 bokeh lens that can deliver impressive portraits in no time. There are a lot of pre-installed features in the Camera app (impressive backgrounds, selfie effects, AI Scenes, Night Mode and Super Night Mode settings etc). The videos are not bad at all. The Camon 19 Pro comes with an OIS feature and a gyro-EIS feature that helps to stabilize photos and videos, while the shooting can get up to 2K of resolution (not 4K I am afraid).聽TECNO CAMON 19 Pro Mondrian Edition Camera Features:First high-clear crystal sensitive lens with RGBW sensor聽for the 64MP Bright Night PortraitThe 0.98mm bezel聽offers the industry’s slimmest form factor, framing a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, to deliver an unsurpassed immersive experienceDual-ring triple-camera design聽perfectly balances the camera and back panel aesthetic to create a seamless overall feeling. The metal dual-ring is perfectly integrated with the triple camera using an anodizing process, bringing a sense of professional performance.50MP 2X Optical-Zoom Lens聽for clearer, more detailed portraitsAI Face Beauty technology聽intelligently identifies different facial structures and skin tones, and delivers smoothing complexions and accurate skin tonesPowerful performance聽optimizes the phone for the clarity, brightness, and color accuracy for a stunning viewing experience. Certified by TuV Rheinland, the display minimizes blue light for more comfortable viewing, reducing eye strain and fatigue.Android and memory optionsTecno Camon 19 Pro comes with 8GB RAM + 256GB of internal storage, but there鈥檚 also microSD slot support that can beef up your storage if you wish. It also packs Android鈥檚 latest memory fusion (virtual memory extension) gimmick that can increase its memory up to extra 5GB of RAM 鈥 taking space from the storage. It runs on HIOS 8.6 based on Android 12 out of the box, with some bloatware inside like AHA Games, BoomPlay, Hi Browser, Phone Master etc. There鈥檚 also Ella (!) 鈥 TECNO鈥檚 virtual assistant inside, that can help you navigate the device and interact better with it. The good thing is that Tecno promises one year of major software updates and two years of monthly security patches for this phone. This means a lot!TECNO CAMON 19 Pro: Battery and ChargingIt鈥檚 always nice to see a budget friendly phone packing a large battery (5000 mAh) with support for 33W fast charging speed. This means that it can fully charge the device in just under 60 minutes 鈥 impressive time for the category. I had about 5-6 hours SOT of continuous heavy usage, but it could reach up to 8 hours if you use the phone modestly.I didn鈥檛 notice any overheating issues when charging, or any sudden drops of battery percentage. Very nice work TECNO, well done.Surprise insideIn the main package of the TECNO CAMON 19 Pro – Mondrian Edition I was happy to find a set of TWS earbuds. They鈥檙e called TECNO SONIC 1 and compliment the whole TECNO CAMON 19 Pro Mondrian Edition Gift Set. They provide extended battery life of 50 hours, significantly increased when compared to other TWS sets in the market. They also incorporate magnetic absorption technology.This enables free switching between in-ear and half-in-ear wearing modes, to meet the needs in different scenarios, and ensure the comfort for long-lasting usage.Our opinion about TECNO CAMON 19 ProSo, who should buy the Tecno Camon 19 Pro, and who should avoid buying this phone? If you value cameras (photography and videography) more than performance, then the Tecno Camon 19 Pro is for you. But, if you value performance over cameras (that is you, love, playing games), then you might want to look the way of other phones with better performance.There are so many good things about the Tecno Camon 19 Pro as there is also some room for improvements. The Camon 19 Pro features a fast refresh rate, good battery life, really good cameras, a beautiful design, and is very comfortable to hold. But, it鈥檚 relatively expensive, has an average chipset, and is not ideal for gaming.The Breakdown 4.5 8.9 The Camon 19 Pro features a fast refresh rate, good battery life, really good cameras, a beautiful design, and is very comfortable to hold. But, it鈥檚 relatively expensive, has an average chipset, and is not ideal for gaming. Design 8.9 Performance 8.9 Camera 8.9 Battery 8.9 Package 8.9 I guess that by now, the name TECNO isn鈥檛 something you look at for the first time 鈥 and for a good reason I might add. The Chinese company is one of the biggest surprises of the year, after launching several impressive smartphones one after the other. Recently the company unveiled the Camon 19 Pro Mondrian Edition, which features a distinctive back panel design聽and we have it for review.The phone comes with a Mondrian-inspired back changes color when light strikes it and is considered by the manufacturer as one of their biggest hits of the year. We had it in our hands for a couple of days so here鈥檚 a really鈥 artistic review of it.TECNO CAMON 19 Pro 鈥 Main featuresMondrian Edition (color changing back)64MP Bright Night Portrait (OIS)The 0.98mm Slimmest Bezel50MP 50mm Pro Portrait Camera32MP Pro Selfie Camera120Hz FHD+ High Gamut Display (6.8″)33W Flash Charge,5000mAhHelio G96 Octa-Core256GB+8GB Memory128GB+8GB Memory79 x 74.55 x 8.58mmTechnical SpecificationsHeight: 166.79 mmWidth: 74.55mmThickness: 8.58mm120Hz FHD+ High Gamut Display (6.8″)1080*2460 Resolution256GB ROM + 8GB RAM Memory128GB ROM + 8GB RAM MemoryHelio G96 Octa-Core33W Flash Charge5000mAhGSMGPRSFULL EDGEWCDMAHSPA+FDD LTEWiFiBluetoothFMOTGNFC32MP Front Camera64MP Triple Rear Camera with Quad FlashG-SensorAmbient Light and Distance SensorFingerprint SensorYou can find more info about the device hereMondrian Edition: Pure art and technology聽First, let me clarify that the Mondrian Edition is not that of a different phone than the original Camon 19 Pro. It鈥檚 mostly the same device under the hood 鈥 TECNO and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston have joined to bring the unique vision of Piet Mondrian – the Dutch pioneer of abstract art best known for his bold and colorful block paintings – to a new format that is accessible to consumers in a way not previously explored.The Mondrian Edition launched on the heels of the CAMON 19 Pro, with the same key features, including:First high-clear crystal sensitive lens with RGBW sensorfor the 64MP Bright Night PortraitThe 0.98mm bezeloffers the industry’s slimmest form factor, framing a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, to deliver an unsurpassed immersive experienceDual-ring triple-camera design聽perfectly balances the camera and back panel aesthetic to create a seamless overall feeling. The metal dual-ring is perfectly integrated with the triple camera using an anodizing process, bringing a sense of professional performance.50MP 2X Optical-Zoom Lensfor clearer, more detailed portraitsAI Face Beauty technology聽intelligently identifies different facial structures and skin tones, and delivers smoothing complexions and accurate skin tonesPowerful performance聽optimizes the phone for the clarity, brightness, and color accuracy for a stunning viewing experience. Certified by TuV Rheinland, the display minimizes blue light for more comfortable viewing, reducing eye strain and fatigue.Dressed to impressIt鈥檚 an impressive mid-range phone, packing a 64MP primary camera with OIS and Laser AF features. It also uses a new RGBW sensor which improves the quality of photos and videos from the camera, making it a treat for all those influencers out there.TECNO considers this phone as 鈥渢he world’s first smart device that uses “sunlight drawing” technology to allow the phone to change colors in sunlight鈥 鈥 creating a device that is both artistic and intuitive. In addition to the device, included in the special edition gift set is a pair of TECNO TWS SONIC 1 earbuds, and other two Mondrian-style accessories.I must admit the phone looks spectacular. It boasts TECNO鈥檚 “sunlight drawing” technology 鈥 more formally known as polychromatic photo isomer technology 鈥 is a process that breaks through the technical limitations of single-color or dual-color discoloration, and inspired by the impressionist works of Mondrian, enabling the phone’s shell to follow geometrical patterns of color change in the sun. Just watch the video below:Display and quality buildI loved the artistic part of the device, but how about the quality? The phone is made from glass (front) and plastic (everywhere else) but still feels like more luxurious than you鈥檇 think. On the right side you can find the volume rock and power button (also the fingerprint scanner). On the bottom frame there鈥檚 the speaker, USB Type-C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack 鈥 yes it has one! The display size of the Tecno Camon 19 Pro is 6.8-inches. It鈥檚 an IPS LCD panel with high color Gamut, that comes with 120Hz refresh rate support and has a peak brightness of 500 nits. As per the design, the Camon 19 Pro comes with two rings on the rear that houses three camera sensors. On the front, it has a simple punch-hole that houses the selfie camera. The phone also has very slim bezels, flat-screen, sharp edges, and it鈥檚 about 9mm thick.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramChipset and Performance聽This phone is surely not for the game addicts, nor for the business aficionados. It鈥檚 a mid-range device with impeccable design, that packs the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset. The chipset is built on a 12nm process node technology and has a maximum CPU frequency of 2.05GHz. For gaming and graphic work, it uses the Arm Mali-G57 MC2 GPU which is just adequate for this type of entertainment. So don鈥檛 expect it to let you play graphic-intensive games. However, it can let you play PUBG and call of Duty, reducing the graphics settings and dropping the frame rates. Using the phone for extended periods made it heat up too soon, affecting somewhat its performance. In any case this didn鈥檛 affect our experience with it, so here are some of the benchmark tests we made. Photography is kingAccording to Tecno, all its Camon phone lineup is made for shooting photos and videos. The Camon 19 Pro lives up to its name and packs quite a punch: a 64MP primary camera with RGBW sensor, OIS, and Laser AF, a 2 Bokeh lens, a 50MP portrait lens, and a 32MP front camera. I really liked its quad light flash that offers impressive brightness during night photos. But that鈥檚 not all: there鈥檚 also Night Mode and Super Night Mode for Selfies and impressive nightlife photos.For the first time, the Laser AF function works like a charm, as the phone can focus on objects in 0.1 seconds along with the 2 bokeh lens that can deliver impressive portraits in no time. There are a lot of pre-installed features in the Camera app (impressive backgrounds, selfie effects, AI Scenes, Night Mode and Super Night Mode settings etc). The videos are not bad at all. The Camon 19 Pro comes with an OIS feature and a gyro-EIS feature that helps to stabilize photos and videos, while the shooting can get up to 2K of resolution (not 4K I am afraid).聽TECNO CAMON 19 Pro Mondrian Edition Camera Features:First high-clear crystal sensitive lens with RGBW sensor聽for the 64MP Bright Night PortraitThe 0.98mm bezel聽offers the industry’s slimmest form factor, framing a 6.8-inch FHD+ display, to deliver an unsurpassed immersive experienceDual-ring triple-camera design聽perfectly balances the camera and back panel aesthetic to create a seamless overall feeling. The metal dual-ring is perfectly integrated with the triple camera using an anodizing process, bringing a sense of professional performance.50MP 2X Optical-Zoom Lens聽for clearer, more detailed portraitsAI Face Beauty technology聽intelligently identifies different facial structures and skin tones, and delivers smoothing complexions and accurate skin tonesPowerful performance聽optimizes the phone for the clarity, brightness, and color accuracy for a stunning viewing experience. Certified by TuV Rheinland, the display minimizes blue light for more comfortable viewing, reducing eye strain and fatigue.Android and memory optionsTecno Camon 19 Pro comes with 8GB RAM + 256GB of internal storage, but there鈥檚 also microSD slot support that can beef up your storage if you wish. It also packs Android鈥檚 latest memory fusion (virtual memory extension) gimmick that can increase its memory up to extra 5GB of RAM 鈥 taking space from the storage. It runs on HIOS 8.6 based on Android 12 out of the box, with some bloatware inside like AHA Games, BoomPlay, Hi Browser, Phone Master etc. There鈥檚 also Ella (!) 鈥 TECNO鈥檚 virtual assistant inside, that can help you navigate the device and interact better with it. The good thing is that Tecno promises one year of major software updates and two years of monthly security patches for this phone. This means a lot!TECNO CAMON 19 Pro: Battery and ChargingIt鈥檚 always nice to see a budget friendly phone packing a large battery (5000 mAh) with support for 33W fast charging speed. This means that it can fully charge the device in just under 60 minutes 鈥 impressive time for the category. I had about 5-6 hours SOT of continuous heavy usage, but it could reach up to 8 hours if you use the phone modestly.I didn鈥檛 notice any overheating issues when charging, or any sudden drops of battery percentage. Very nice work TECNO, well done.Surprise insideIn the main package of the TECNO CAMON 19 Pro – Mondrian Edition I was happy to find a set of TWS earbuds. They鈥檙e called TECNO SONIC 1 and compliment the whole TECNO CAMON 19 Pro Mondrian Edition Gift Set. They provide extended battery life of 50 hours, significantly increased when compared to other TWS sets in the market. They also incorporate magnetic absorption technology.This enables free switching between in-ear and half-in-ear wearing modes, to meet the needs in different scenarios, and ensure the comfort for long-lasting usage.Our opinion about TECNO CAMON 19 ProSo, who should buy the Tecno Camon 19 Pro, and who should avoid buying this phone? If you value cameras (photography and videography) more than performance, then the Tecno Camon 19 Pro is for you. But, if you value performance over cameras (that is you, love, playing games), then you might want to look the way of other phones with better performance.There are so many good things about the Tecno Camon 19 Pro as there is also some room for improvements. The Camon 19 Pro features a fast refresh rate, good battery life, really good cameras, a beautiful design, and is very comfortable to hold. But, it鈥檚 relatively expensive, has an average chipset, and is not ideal for gaming.
The Breakdown 4.1 8.1 The SoC is energy efficient and stable while software is rich but needs some polishing to remove some of the bloatware. There is a 5000mAh battery with top standby times, and the charging speed is adequate with a 18W charger. I loved the pricing of the Spark 9 Pro: with just 170$ you can get a VFM device! Nice work TECNO. Performance 8.1 Battery 8.1 Selfie Camera 8.1 Main Camera 8.1 Value for money 8.1 Build quality 8.1 There鈥檚 significant competition in the mobile phone industry in recent years, and a lot of brands like OPPO, TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), Samsung, Huawei, Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi launched their new mobile phone products with better features and design, giving the youth of today more and more choices. TECNO is no stranger to us, we have loved their creations the past years, as they focus on affordable yet quite impressive smartphones, that deliver what the customer wants. Take TECNO Spark 9 Pro for example: it鈥檚 their latest smartphone aiming almost exclusively on selfies and this鈥 it does well according to our review!TECNO鈥檚 success in the global emerging market has been attributed to tailoring its phones鈥 features to the needs of the local market and is always committed to provide the users the latest technologies for the youth-generation consumers who are “young at heart”. This brand new Spark 9 Pro model comes with impressive 32MP super clear selfie camera to boost young people鈥檚 confidence in self-expression by enabling them to take clearer and brighter selfies. It provides higher number of pixels and better photosensitive performance thanks to the updated features like Super Night Mode 3.0 and AI Portrait Restoration.We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our review impressions using this device as a main smartphone for mostly pleasure but also business.TECNO Spark 9 Pro – UnboxingThe handset of our review comes in a white/orange box with a nice finish using “9 Pro” letters and a large white SPARK font. Around the box there are stickers with information about the included device. The Spark 9 Pro in our hands is the 4/128 GB version in Quantum Black . Tecno informs us that the smartphone has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Generally speaking this is a nice retail box. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The Spark 9 Pro smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA 18 Watt wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA hard plastic caseJudging from the above I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. An e-manual exists in the Settings of the smartphone however 鈥 a choice which is good for the environment I have to say. A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a solid tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The plastic case is very nice but if you tend to drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO Spark 9 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 9 Pro – DesignTecno has designed a very nice phone that has nothing to envy from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme.聽 The 6.6 inch display comes with medium sized bezels, having a bit bigger 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a water drop hole for the selfie camera on the top middle area. Spark 9 Pro is modern and not an old notched design smartphone. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there鈥檚 a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear. There is also a notification (white) light placed on the top right side of the display. What’s insideThe side frame is connected to the back panel and is one big flat piece of plastic. There is a line to separate them as a design detail but there is only one panel here. On the left side we can see the tray where 2 SIM cards and a microSD card fit. On the right side we can see two volume buttons and under them the lock/power on button. The position of them is ok, I can reach them easily with my thumb.The three buttons are well made without rattling. There are no visible bands because the smartphone’s sides and back are plastic. The top has nothing of interest while the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille. A welcomed sight is the inclusion of a Type-C port, that offers faster data transfer speeds and a more modern look to the device. Nice work here TECNO.Build qualityThe back panel鈥檚 feeling is quite impressive. The smartphone is separated in parts – there is a horizontal part with almost glossy design (in black color) that takes some space on the top side. The rest is matte (in black color as well) and looks like sand-blast texture. On the left we have a huge but elegantly designed camera area. The big vertical setup is divided into the top part, where we can see 3 camera sensors and into the right part where we see the TECNO SPARK logo.The camera part is mirrorish here with the thinner right side providing an almost clear reflection. On the thin right side, inside the camera area we can see a LED. On the lower right side, there鈥檚 a glossy logo: 鈥淪TOP AT NOTHING鈥 that mainly describes the company鈥檚 commitment to provide quality smartphones. The division between matte and sand-blast texture and the very beautiful camera area makes up for a very elegant device. TECNO is focusing on the artistic / presentation of this device and have surely succeeded in it.According to TECNO, there鈥檚 decent protection for the SIM tray from water or dust. There鈥檚 a red rubber ring to prevent water and dust ingress which is good, but still I would be very careful to avoid getting the phone in touch with water.TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – HardwareThe display is a 6.6 inches IPS LCD panel. The optimized screen design enables better visual experience and makes the scrolling smoother and touch feedback more sensitive for mobile entertainment including playing games and watching videos. It has a 90.2% screen-to-body ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels. This means that we get 403 ppi of density, an impressive screen quality. The panel is not very bright, you will have to shade it in mid-summer sun. Colors and angles of view are good. Generally this is a good budget panel for all kind of usage.The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G85 SoC. It is an 8-core chipset that was announced on late 2020, manufactured using a 12-nanometer process technology. The chipset packs 8 cores: Two fast ARM Cortex-A75 cores with up to 2 GHz for performance tasks and six small ARM Cortex-A55 with up to 1.8 GHz for efficiency. Obviously this is a decent SoC that provides good processing power but you will not be able to play high render 3D games or multitask. We can also find Mali-G52 MC2 for graphics and eMMC 5.1 for storage. The smartphone comes with only 4/128GB versions. There is no software lagging or heating issues. Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramSpark 9 Pro has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions and by the way, its GPS is instantaneous.TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Spark 9 Pro is its impressive AI Selfie camera. It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Customized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shapeTECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect! The phone in our review has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects.More camera featuresTECNO SPARK 9 Pro have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions.All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review.The main camera setup on the back comprises of 3 lenses:50 MP, f/1.6, (PDAF)2 MP, f/2.4, (Bokeh)8 W, f/2.0, (AI cam)They all support HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes, while having the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈Camera featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are. The 50 MP sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times, but seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera.Video resolutions include shooting them at 30fps for 720p, 1080p and at 2K. While it provides similar quality with the photography day or night there is ZERO stabilization. The result is good only when the phone is stable somewhere. If you move it a bit it becomes a mess. Sound is not recorded well, I would prefer fewer lenses and EIS / sound improvements.聽TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. This is the first time that I used HIOS 8.6. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. The customisation is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.Unlock featuresThere are two ways to unlock 7 Pro. Face-unlock is very fast. There is no IR light for unlocking during the night, so in total darkness this method may not work. iA minimal light source is needed for this functionality. The company says the Face Unlock enables closed eye protection and screen fill-in light. Please remember that this is not the safest method to unlock your phone so it is not the advised usage outside your usual premises. The other way is the side panel fingerprint reader. Be careful here, you must do a good setup else the scanner is not working probably, as it did in my case. I deleted all data and passed my fingerprints again and the result was a very accurate and extremely fast process. The in-display camera sensor will meet your needs in all day usage – most of us wear masks – and it is very secure. My opinion is to use it only and disable Face Unlock for the reasons I explained. Adding also on this, is the speed that the in-display camera sensor unlocks the phone – it is ultra fast, the company advertises a speed of聽 0.12 seconds.聽Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 8-9 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 18W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 2,5 hours for a full change and there is no flash charge in case of need.TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – ConclusionIndeed, this is THE selfie phone for those who are on a tight budget, but still want to impress their friends/followers in social media. The TECNO Spark 9 Pro can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography, and more. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of electronic image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts the total performance in the area.The Breakdown 4.1 8.1 The SoC is energy efficient and stable while software is rich but needs some polishing to remove some of the bloatware. There is a 5000mAh battery with top standby times, and the charging speed is adequate with a 18W charger. I loved the pricing of the Spark 9 Pro: with just 170$ you can get a VFM device! Nice work TECNO. Performance 8.1 Battery 8.1 Selfie Camera 8.1 Main Camera 8.1 Value for money 8.1 Build quality 8.1 There鈥檚 significant competition in the mobile phone industry in recent years, and a lot of brands like OPPO, TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), Samsung, Huawei, Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi launched their new mobile phone products with better features and design, giving the youth of today more and more choices. TECNO is no stranger to us, we have loved their creations the past years, as they focus on affordable yet quite impressive smartphones, that deliver what the customer wants. Take TECNO Spark 9 Pro for example: it鈥檚 their latest smartphone aiming almost exclusively on selfies and this鈥 it does well according to our review!TECNO鈥檚 success in the global emerging market has been attributed to tailoring its phones鈥 features to the needs of the local market and is always committed to provide the users the latest technologies for the youth-generation consumers who are “young at heart”. This brand new Spark 9 Pro model comes with impressive 32MP super clear selfie camera to boost young people鈥檚 confidence in self-expression by enabling them to take clearer and brighter selfies. It provides higher number of pixels and better photosensitive performance thanks to the updated features like Super Night Mode 3.0 and AI Portrait Restoration.We used this phone for two weeks and below you can read our review impressions using this device as a main smartphone for mostly pleasure but also business.TECNO Spark 9 Pro – UnboxingThe handset of our review comes in a white/orange box with a nice finish using “9 Pro” letters and a large white SPARK font. Around the box there are stickers with information about the included device. The Spark 9 Pro in our hands is the 4/128 GB version in Quantum Black . Tecno informs us that the smartphone has 13 months of guarantee as a 12+1 offer. Generally speaking this is a nice retail box. Inside the box we can see the normal sum for most of the smartphones in this price range:The Spark 9 Pro smartphoneA USB-C to USB-A data transfer / charging cableA 18 Watt wall chargerA SIM tray ejection pinA set of headphonesA hard plastic caseJudging from the above I am really happy that earphones are included in the box – these times even a charger is considered a luxury. On the other hand, a first for me is the absence of user manuals, quick set up guides and the guarantee leaflet. An e-manual exists in the Settings of the smartphone however 鈥 a choice which is good for the environment I have to say. A plastic screen protection film is pre-installed on the phone. It can be easily scratched and I advise the addition of a solid tempered glass sooner than later after removing this film. The plastic case is very nice but if you tend to drop your smartphone more times than you desire add a harder protective case.You can buy TECNO Spark 9 Pro from hereTECNO Spark 9 Pro – DesignTecno has designed a very nice phone that has nothing to envy from smartphones in the category, even the best sellers from Redmi or Realme.聽 The 6.6 inch display comes with medium sized bezels, having a bit bigger 鈥渃hin鈥? There is a water drop hole for the selfie camera on the top middle area. Spark 9 Pro is modern and not an old notched design smartphone. The display itself is flat and big. Over the display there鈥檚 a wide hidden horizontal line for the earphone, perfectly designed to listen to your caller without having to center a smaller earpiece to your ear. There is also a notification (white) light placed on the top right side of the display. What’s insideThe side frame is connected to the back panel and is one big flat piece of plastic. There is a line to separate them as a design detail but there is only one panel here. On the left side we can see the tray where 2 SIM cards and a microSD card fit. On the right side we can see two volume buttons and under them the lock/power on button. The position of them is ok, I can reach them easily with my thumb.The three buttons are well made without rattling. There are no visible bands because the smartphone’s sides and back are plastic. The top has nothing of interest while the bottom has a 3.5mm audio jack, a noise-canceling microphone and a speaker grille. A welcomed sight is the inclusion of a Type-C port, that offers faster data transfer speeds and a more modern look to the device. Nice work here TECNO.Build qualityThe back panel鈥檚 feeling is quite impressive. The smartphone is separated in parts – there is a horizontal part with almost glossy design (in black color) that takes some space on the top side. The rest is matte (in black color as well) and looks like sand-blast texture. On the left we have a huge but elegantly designed camera area. The big vertical setup is divided into the top part, where we can see 3 camera sensors and into the right part where we see the TECNO SPARK logo.The camera part is mirrorish here with the thinner right side providing an almost clear reflection. On the thin right side, inside the camera area we can see a LED. On the lower right side, there鈥檚 a glossy logo: 鈥淪TOP AT NOTHING鈥 that mainly describes the company鈥檚 commitment to provide quality smartphones. The division between matte and sand-blast texture and the very beautiful camera area makes up for a very elegant device. TECNO is focusing on the artistic / presentation of this device and have surely succeeded in it.According to TECNO, there鈥檚 decent protection for the SIM tray from water or dust. There鈥檚 a red rubber ring to prevent water and dust ingress which is good, but still I would be very careful to avoid getting the phone in touch with water.TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – HardwareThe display is a 6.6 inches IPS LCD panel. The optimized screen design enables better visual experience and makes the scrolling smoother and touch feedback more sensitive for mobile entertainment including playing games and watching videos. It has a 90.2% screen-to-body ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels. This means that we get 403 ppi of density, an impressive screen quality. The panel is not very bright, you will have to shade it in mid-summer sun. Colors and angles of view are good. Generally this is a good budget panel for all kind of usage.The driving power behind this smartphone is the Mediatek Helio G85 SoC. It is an 8-core chipset that was announced on late 2020, manufactured using a 12-nanometer process technology. The chipset packs 8 cores: Two fast ARM Cortex-A75 cores with up to 2 GHz for performance tasks and six small ARM Cortex-A55 with up to 1.8 GHz for efficiency. Obviously this is a decent SoC that provides good processing power but you will not be able to play high render 3D games or multitask. We can also find Mali-G52 MC2 for graphics and eMMC 5.1 for storage. The smartphone comes with only 4/128GB versions. There is no software lagging or heating issues. Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramSpark 9 Pro has a single loudspeaker and music sounds ok in all levels of volume. Sound in calls and video-calls is ok but nothing to brag about. Connectivity is also good. Full signal in call conditions. Bluetooth is ok too – I 鈥榲e used the smartphone with my wireless headphones daily for review purposes without interruptions and by the way, its GPS is instantaneous.TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – CameraObviously, the main reason one should buy the Tecno Spark 9 Pro is its impressive AI Selfie camera. It provides several interesting features for youngsters mainly:Customized beauty adjustmentSmart AISmooth skinSkin tone adjustment3D sculpting/Nose shapeEye shapeTECNO has invested a lot in the selfie camera department, and I believe the result is impressive. I really enjoyed the AR Shot, with Animoji/stickers, the face recognition software that can transform our face in an instance, the portrait restoration technique that we can find embedded and of course a seriously sick bokeh effect! The phone in our review has an eye-tracking autofocus – a first for me and weird to look at, it reminds me of a sci-fi film. The user can also take pictures only by smiling! The camera app has Super Night, Portrait, Google Lens, Beauty, Video, AI cam and Short Video. The latter is for usage on social media and has a lot of extras for visual effects.More camera featuresTECNO SPARK 9 Pro have also optimized the Super Night Mode 3.0 with AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm and the cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. This appropriately brightens your image to make it both clear and natural even shooting in a dark environment. What鈥檚 more, the Ring Screen Fill-in Light provides an even, three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions.All in all, the company has added fun in the usage of the camera and I spent a lot of time playing with it during our review.The main camera setup on the back comprises of 3 lenses:50 MP, f/1.6, (PDAF)2 MP, f/2.4, (Bokeh)8 W, f/2.0, (AI cam)They all support HDR/Super Night Mode/Panorama modes, while having the ability to shoot 120/240fps Slow Motion videos, 2K lapse videos, and huge Panorama photos that will impress you. There鈥檚 also AI support in Beauty Mode, optimized for retouching the user鈥檚 body parts! You can easily now become鈥 slimmer with the touch of a button 馃槈Camera featuresTaking into consideration the camera installation I was surprised at how good daylight pictures are. The 50 MP sensor works perfectly. I can鈥檛 tell whether the depth / AI lenses help. This phone could be sold with a single camera in other times, but seeing how multi-camera phones push sales, all companies provide extra lenses. Night photos are good in case of light and get better with Night mode. I don鈥檛 think anyone will complain about the camera.Video resolutions include shooting them at 30fps for 720p, 1080p and at 2K. While it provides similar quality with the photography day or night there is ZERO stabilization. The result is good only when the phone is stable somewhere. If you move it a bit it becomes a mess. Sound is not recorded well, I would prefer fewer lenses and EIS / sound improvements.聽TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – SoftwareThe smartphone comes with Android 12 which is an amazing offer for this price segment. This is the first time that I used HIOS 8.6. It brings all the functions and abilities ROMs have these days. I have to mention that there’s some bloatware and advertisement as we see in other similarly priced smartphones. There were no major bugs or limitations and I believe that – with a little polishing- HIOS can stand next to other skins. The customisation is rich with many features, a theme shop and a dark mode. We can find a memory boost app, Phone Master – a general taking care app, a private app shop called Palm Store, a browser, Instant Apps – a very nice shortcut app to various games and apps that you can use without installing, a Community app for Tecno, various tools, and various other applications like music stores, data share apps etc. Especially in Notifications we are constantly bombarded by information and advertisement鈥 The good thing is that we can find Google Services and you can instantly start removing any application you don鈥檛 use/need. In 20-30 minutes the software is more light and user friendly. I have the feeling that the people behind HIOS will do a good job onwards since this very rich skin covers all needs of a user and does it with good speed and minimal energy consumption. I hope Tecno will continue to provide updates for this phone.Unlock featuresThere are two ways to unlock 7 Pro. Face-unlock is very fast. There is no IR light for unlocking during the night, so in total darkness this method may not work. iA minimal light source is needed for this functionality. The company says the Face Unlock enables closed eye protection and screen fill-in light. Please remember that this is not the safest method to unlock your phone so it is not the advised usage outside your usual premises. The other way is the side panel fingerprint reader. Be careful here, you must do a good setup else the scanner is not working probably, as it did in my case. I deleted all data and passed my fingerprints again and the result was a very accurate and extremely fast process. The in-display camera sensor will meet your needs in all day usage – most of us wear masks – and it is very secure. My opinion is to use it only and disable Face Unlock for the reasons I explained. Adding also on this, is the speed that the in-display camera sensor unlocks the phone – it is ultra fast, the company advertises a speed of聽 0.12 seconds.聽Review: Battery The huge Li-Po 5000 battery and the software added by TECNO is an excellent combination that provides two days of light usage or one day of medium usage (no gaming). SOT is about 8-9 hours which is a top performance.I was happily impressed by the charging speed. The brand new Type-C 18W wall charger is a welcomed addition to the setup. It provides 2,5 hours for a full change and there is no flash charge in case of need.TECNO Spark 9 Pro review – ConclusionIndeed, this is THE selfie phone for those who are on a tight budget, but still want to impress their friends/followers in social media. The TECNO Spark 9 Pro can easily cover your needs in terms of social media photography, and more. Main camera setup has good performance, but the lack of electronic image stabilization and sound of the video recording hurts the total performance in the area.
The Breakdown We were pleasantly surprised by the OneOdio Monitor 60 and the OneOdio A70 headphones. At a very affordable price, the headphones do not lack arguments in their favor and will appeal to those looking for versatile and high-performance headphones. Both haedphones are perfect for amateurs who want to benefit from superior sound quality during their sound-related activities. Build quality – 85% Sound – 90% Comfort of use – 95% Connectivity – 85% Value for money – 90% Pros Sounds very good, Very comfortable, Value for money, Good build quality for this price, 50 hours of autonomy for the A50, Bluetooth connection with excellent range and low latency, Allows two simultaneous analog inputs (3.5mm and 6.35mm). Cons They are a bit big. Also, they do not isolate too much from outside noise The audio equipment market, particularly in the headphones and earphones segment, is split between two trends. On the one hand, brands that offer inexpensive products, but of questionable quality. On the other, well-known brands whose catalog is full of premium products, but at particularly high prices. It is therefore difficult to find a satisfactory in-between both in terms of quality and price.This is where brands like OneOdio come in. Founded more than ten years ago, this Chinese company aims to offer its audio equipment at the best price (often under $100), without skimping on manufacturing quality and performance. The result is a range of products tor music lovers who do not have a high budget. A philosophy and a positioning rare enough to be underlined and of which OneOdio is the spokesperson with its headphones such as OneOdio A70 and the OneOdio Monitor 60.OneOdio Monitor 60 wired headphones specifications:Type: WiredColour: BlackDrivers: 50mmImpedance: 38惟Sensitivity: 110dB卤3dBFrequency Response: 20Hz-40KHzMax input power: 1600mWPlug Type: 3.5mm/6.35mm stereoShareport: Daisy-Chain supportFeatures: headphones for tracking, mixing, DJ, mastering, broadcast, monitoring, personal listeningOneOdio Monitor 60 Review:The OneOdio Monitor 60 or M60 are the brand’s new commitment to high-quality audio and aims to improve the Pro-50 headphones.What鈥榮 in the box锛烖/h3>Monitor 60Storage bagUser Manual3.5mm to 3.5mm cable with microphone (1.2M)3.5mm to 6.35mm coiled cable (1.5M~3M)3.5mm-to 3.5mm cable (3M)Design and comfortThe M60s come in black with some silver accents, giving them a classic look. The quality of the plastics is reasonably good for its price. And overall the build quality is good. The earphones have a good touch, they seem solid and they don’t creak at all when using them.The rotating hinge mechanisms that allow us to adjust the headphones to the shape of our head have a perfect fit and no looseness. I think they are completely plastic, but they seem sturdy. The turning is quite smooth, perhaps too smooth.The cups can also rotate up and down very smoothly, also too smooth for some tastes because you have to be holding them when you put on or take off the headphones, but overall I don’t think it’s a problem for most users.However, what stands out most about the M60 are the generous padding on the cups and headband. They are impressive. Because of that, the earphones are big and bulky, which is what one expects from an over-ear Hi-Fi earphone. The weight of 333 grams also places them as mid-weight high-fidelity headphones on the high side, although once worn they are very comfortable thanks to the padding.ConnectivityThe headphones feature a 3.5mm connection on the right cup and a 6.35mm connection on the left cup. This means that the cables are fully removable which is excellent for durability. Of course, some very good quality cables are included.聽Specifically, 3 cables are included:A long 3.5mm cable: it has both minijack connections and is 3 meters long. Plus, it’s thick and sturdy. It is ideal for use at home with the Hi-Fi equipment, the amplifier or the computer.A short 3.5 mm cable with a microphone: both connections are minijack sized and are one and a half meters long. It is perfect to use it with the mobile and to be able to use it with calls. In the microphone part it has a button that is used to pause and resume the music.A mixed cable: This is a cable with a 6.35mm plug and a 3.5mm plug. It can be connected in both ways to the headphones. The cable has a smooth part and a spring part. It is also a thick and robust cable.SoundEach earphone mounts a 50mm dynamic driver with a diaphragm made from a “protein-enhanced” fabric. By the way, although the design can be misleading, they are closed headphones, although the passive isolation is not very good either.I would say that they isolate very little from outside noise, but the music is reduced quite a bit before going outside. Even so, if we have the volume high, the people around us will be able to hear what the headphones play.OneOdio has opted for a very present bass with a lot of body and strength, but contained and defined. They are quality basses, but they do not stand out excessively above the rest of the frequencies as it happens in many headphones.The mids are very good. Lead vocals and instruments are direct and very natural. They have strength and definition. Also, the instrument separation is quite good, in general, and very good considering the price of the M60. The soundstage is fine, but it doesn’t stand out too much, perhaps because of the closed design of these headphones.The highs have a very good level of detail, which gives cymbals and high-pitched strings a sparkle without ever becoming harsh. In addition, they sound natural and relatively warm.In general, the OneOdio M60 have a fairly balanced sound with slightly boosted bass frequencies. I think they have followed the maxim that everyone likes bass, but without letting it take center stage over the rest of the frequencies. And they have succeeded. The overall sound stands out for being very sharp and clear in all frequencies. With an excellent level of detail and a very good separation of instruments.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramOpinionThe OneOdio Monitor 60 has an excellent sound quality for headphones that usually cost $80. I don’t think there are many headphones in this price range that can compete with them. In addition, they are very comfortable, the cables are removable and they come with 3 quality cables. As negative points, we can say that they are quite bulky and that they do not isolate too much from outside noise.OneOdio A70 wireless & DJ headphones specifications:Speaker: 40mmSensitivity: 110dB 卤 3dBTransmission Frequency: 2402MHz-2480MHzPlug Type: 3.5mm/6.35mm stereoBattery: 650mAhPlay Time: 72 HoursImpedance: 32 OhmsTransmission Frequency: 2402MHz-2480MHzFrequency Response: 20Hz-20KHzCable Length: 1.5m-2.8m coiled cableBluetooth Version: 5.2OneOdio A70 ReviewThe OneOdio A70 are headphones that can be used via Bluetooth or via cable. In addition, via cable they can play two audio sources simultaneously, one through the 3.5 mm connection and the other through the 6.35 mm connection. The headphones are also quite comfortable and the sound quality is good for a $45 headphone.What鈥榮 in the box锛烖/h3>Wireless headphonesPouch for headphones3.5 mm audio cableDual-duty cable for 6.35mm and 3.5mm socketsUSB charging cableUser guideDesign and comfortThe headphones are mostly made of plastic, although they do have metal internals like the headband. Still, the plastics are pretty good and the build quality is outstanding. Nothing creaks or makes noise when using them and the adjustment mechanisms move well and feel robust.The headphones have a certain angle in the joints that make them adapt better to the shape of the head. The fit is very good, although visually they can be a bit more cumbersome than other designs. For example, these OneOdio A70s are bulkier than alternative headphones.The cup pads are quite large and my whole ear fits inside them, so for me they are circumaural headphones. But, big people or people with generous ears may not fit them.ConnectivityThe headphones feature Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. The connection is very stable, I have not had a drop at normal distances, and the range is excellent. I can go to the kitchen with them and continue listening to the computer in the room via Bluetooth, something that few headphones achieve. The supported codecs are the typical SBC and AAC.In terms of latency, they defend themselves quite well. In videos the sound and image are completely synchronized and in video games they are usable without any problem, if you concentrate a lot you may notice a small lag in fast games (FPS), but it is minimal and does not bother.As we have already said, the headphones also have 3.5mm and 6.35mm connections to be used as auxiliary inputs. Both can be used at the same time so we can listen to two sources at the same time, something that can be very useful for DJs or musicians.SoundThe OneOdio A70 mount 40mm dynamic drivers and have an impedance of 32惟. And, although the cups cover the entire ear, their passive noise cancellation is inferior to other similar headphones.n terms of sound, the general equalization is relatively balanced, although the basses are somewhat raised, but nothing excessive.The focus of the headphones is on the bass, even so, they are not too exaggerated. Of course, in certain songs they can dirty other frequencies a little. They don’t sound thunderous either, though, and they hold their own pretty well in all genres of music.The lower mids have quite a punch as well. Although the upper mids are somewhat weaker and some voices may lack a bit of prominence. Even so, the voices sound quite direct and natural. The separation of instruments is not great, but they do not tend to blur with complex melodies either. Of course, they could have a little more clarity.The treble is somewhat worse. They don’t go too high up and don’t reach out to help produce a more open sound. Even so, when they reach the frequency they don’t sound bad at all.AutonomyThe A70s have an internal 950 mAh battery with which they achieve autonomy, according to the manufacturer, up to 72 hours. And with my experience, I think the real autonomy is very close to 50 hours. Of course, we can use the headphones without a battery via cable and the microphone will still work.OpinionI like the OneOdio A70 headphones a lot because they are comfortable, they can be connected in many ways and they have excellent autonomy. The sound quality is not the most impressive thing about the headphones, but it is enough for me to listen to music while working, watch a movie or play a quick game. The truth is that you can’t ask for much more for the $40 they cost.VerdictThe OneOdio Monitor 60 is perfect for amateurs who want to benefit from superior sound quality during their sound-related activities. Compatible with musical instruments as well as amps or a tablet, it offers great versatility that makes it an ideal partner for everyday life.With its A70, OneOdio offers a Bluetooth headset suitable for everyday use. Equipped with 40mm speakers that deliver deep, warm sound, it stands out above all for its excellent battery life, which peaks at almost 72 hours in normal use. A little more significant, its CVC 8.0 noise reduction microphone which improves the quality of your calls by reducing external interference. Which makes this headset offered at less than $50 a great choise.Buy the OneOdio Monitor 60 and OneOdio A70 headphonesOneOdio Monitor 60The Breakdown 4.1 8.1 The Poco X4 Pro 5G comes as a nice upgrade over its predecessor in terms of features and design. Xiaomi suggests it鈥檚 a premium gaming smartphone, but I guess it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 a VFM mid-range killer. Battery 8.1 Quality 8.1 Performance 8.1 Camera 8.1 POCO has been very busy the past couple of years, announcing smartphones both for the masses and for the 鈥渇ew鈥樷€? The Chinese company unveiled the Poco X4 Pro 5G during this year鈥檚 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, dubbing it as the 鈥榠ndustry standard鈥 for the mid-range price point. Nice name don鈥檛 you agree? To be honest the device packs a lot of juice inside, such as a 6.67in 120Hz AMOLED display, 67W fast charging and more, all for a budget-friendly price of US $254. How well does it fare compared to the competition from (either Xiaomi) or other brands such as OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, Realme? Let鈥檚 have a look in our Poco X4 Pro 5G review鈥 (sent to us by Hekka.com).POCO X4 Pro 5G specifications6.67-inch FHD+ (1080脳2400 pixels) AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, DCI-P3 color gamut, 1200 nits peak brightnessOcta Core Snapdragon 695 8nm Mobile Platform (2.2GHz x 2+1.8GHz x 6 Kryo 560 CPUs) with Adreno 619L GPU6GB LPDDR4X RAM with 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM with 256GB UFS 2.2 internal storage, expandable memory up to 1TB with microSDAndroid 11 with MIUI 13Hybrid SIM (nano + nano / microSD)108MP rear primary camera with Samsung HM2 sensor, f/1.9 aperture, 8MP 118掳 ultra-wide angle camera, 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture16MP front camera with f/2.4 apertureSide-mounted fingerprint sensor, IR blaster3.5mm audio jack, Stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio certificationDimensions: 164.19 x 76.1 x 8.12mm; Weight: 205g5G SA / NSA (n1,3,5,7,8,20,28,38,40,41,77,78), Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C, NFC5000mAh (typical) battery with 67W fast chargingAppearance:I must admit, that this surely doesn鈥檛 look like a mid-range smartphone. I鈥檇 call it a semi-flagship looking device. It packs a premium design with relatively slim bezels and flat edges, a mirror like effect at the back side, while remaining thin at just 8.1mm and weighs 205 gr. A lot ex Poco owners describe it as a huge refresh of the notorious POCO X3 Pro and I tend to agree. The 2021 smartphone was much bulky, heavier and had a huge POCO logo all over the place. Today, its successor is slimmer, neat, and powerful.If you鈥檙e a camera addict, then the rear side of the device will be of your interest. It packs a 108Mp sensor housing, with a refractive pattern that catches the light and gives it a unique shimmer. In this area we can find the 108MP rear primary camera with Samsung HM2 sensor and f/1.9 aperture, an 8MP 118掳 ultra-wide-angle camera, along with a 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture. All in all, the POCO X4 Pro may appear as a quality looking smartphone, but in truth it鈥檚 made out of plastic and aluminium frame. This means that it may seem cheap when you hold it, but in fact it鈥檚 more durable (won鈥檛 shatter like glass when dropped) and lighter as well. While it won鈥檛 be for everyone, it鈥檚 not something I noticed much after my first day with the smartphone.What else caught my eye? The decent IP53 certification, giving decent dust and water resistance, along with a 3.5mm audio jack on top and USB-C connectivity at the bottom. DisplayThe display of the POCO X4 Pro 5G is 鈥 no doubt 鈥 one of the main selling points of the device. I wouldn鈥檛 call it mid-range 鈥 quite the contrary! It鈥檚 an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sample rate, along with fairly high res at 1080 x 2400 pixels too. I was quite pleased with the DCI-P3 support and the true colors during day or night, thus making the default choice for those who wish to enjoy Netflix movies/series, TikTok videos or YouTube.Watching videos at a 120Hz refresh rate is great for those who prefer this type of multimedia fun. There鈥檚 also HDR10+ support to further improve the movie-watching experience on offer, with a peak brightness of 1300nits when watching HDR content. I had no problems using the display under the Spring sun of Greece, but also during the night 鈥 the light sensor works miracles and lowers the ambiance almost instantly.The hole punch camera placed at the top of the display is quite small 鈥 smaller than the competition with only 4mm diameter but I鈥檓 sure there will be some of you out there not fond of its placement. And that鈥檚 OK.If I were to mention something negative about the whole display area of the device, then I would have to mention the bezels (top and bottom). They could be smaller, I guess.POCO X4 Pro 5G performanceI don鈥檛 know why but POCO mentions that their newest X4 Pro is a 鈥済aming鈥 smartphone 鈥 but I wouldn鈥檛 suggest it. It鈥檚 surely capable of excellent gaming in most cases, but there鈥檚 always some lagging in certain applications. Lagging isn鈥檛 something you鈥檇 like with a smartphone is it?Inside the device there鈥檚 Qualcomm鈥檚 Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage depending on the option you鈥檒l choose. Oh, and if 128/256GB of storage isn鈥檛 quite enough for your needs, you can add up to 1TB of additional storage via microSD. That鈥檚 not exactly a gaming behemoth, just fairly impressive for a smartphone that costs 鈧?99.Buy Poco X4 Pro 5G from Hekka.comYou can also use the coupon: Giz10聽to get 10$ discount for any order over 29$!One thing you鈥檙e going to love however is Xiaomi鈥檚 Dynamic RAM Expansion technology that utilises storage as extra RAM, boosting the RAM up to 8GB and 11GB respectively when required 鈥 using storage space as extra RAM space.Dynamic RAM expansionTo be honest I hate when companies resort to gimmicks such as Dynamic RAM expansion 鈥 to admit that they didn鈥檛 want to make the phone more expensive by adding real extra RAM. However, the Poco X4 Pro 5G DOES have great performance with responsive scrolling, quick app switching and relatively speedy image processing capabilities.Gizchina News of the week Join GizChina on TelegramBut when you kill it with heavy apps like Instagram, Facebook or when you open 50 Chrome tabs simultaneously, that鈥檚 when you truly know that it is a mid-ranger phone you have in your hands 鈥 not a flagship. If you ask me about gaming performance, then you won鈥檛 get 60fps gaming in Call of Duty Mobile for sure (nor 120 fps obviously) but still you will enjoy the gaming procedure 鈥 no problem at all. You won鈥檛 find any game specific switches, liquid cooling like the Black Shark phones obviously. Only decent gaming by a mid-range smartphone. Have a look at the benchmarks above and below, they will verify my saying 馃槈 CameraLet鈥檚 have a look at the camera bulge, ok? POCO insists that the gaming smartphone they designed can shoot impeccable 108MP photos and I can confirm that it does. The main camera on the rear is paired with an 8Mp 118-degree ultra wide lens and a 2Mp macro lens that aren鈥檛 quite as exciting, but still do the job. When choosing to shoot 108MP photos, the device鈥檚 sensor utilizes Xiaomi鈥檚 9-in-1 pixel binning technology and in basic terms snaps photos one with the other together. The standard 12MP photos look great in general: they鈥檙e well balanced, with decent focus, exposure, and color accuracy. As one could expect, daylight photos are much better than those low-light shooters. If you decide however to go for the whole 108MP caveat then you may not see any real difference when looking at them from the device鈥檚 display. These photos are good only for cropping or using them for typical printing 鈥 not for huge quality. The POCO X5 Pro 5G doesn鈥檛 have any telephoto lens so don鈥檛 expect miracles when zooming in. There is a nice zoom effect (2x) but it could be so much better if it had a dedicated telephoto lens.Low light shotsLow light photos are just鈥 nice. The phone doesn鈥檛 have any OIS, so despite the size of the sensor and low aperture it cannot do much. Night photos have a lot of digital noise when you zoom in.Finally, on the front, you鈥檒l find a 16Mp selfie camera that performs fairly well overall, making it a great option for selfies and video calls. There鈥檚 also support for Portrait photography that blurs the background, although the edge tracking could be much better 鈥 I admit.As for video recording? The best you can do is 1080p at 30fps, and even dropping down to 720p won’t raise that frame rate. MIUI 13 SoftwareI guess one reason for choosing to buy a POCO smartphone, is the MIUI interface inside. The device comes with Android 11 and MIUI 13 skin 鈥 Xiaomi鈥檚 notorious UI over the years. The latest iteration of the UI is much more stylish. Really smart but remains buggy sometimes and Xiaomi fans are not happy when this happens. MIUI 13 brings several performance improvements over the previous release 鈥 MIUI 12.5. Xiaomi claims that the latest version of its custom Android skin offers better app fluency with 15% fewer dropped frames in third-party applications when compared to the previous release. Xiaomi鈥檚 native apps also run better on the new release, with 23% fewer dropped frames.Xiaomi claims that MIUI 13 ranks at the top in Master Lu鈥檚 fluency test, beating Android skins from other OEMs. The company has also improved the multitasking capabilities on MIUI 13. The software now lets you have up to 14 apps open in the background on a device at any given time. They have also worked on making MIUI 13 more secure for the end-users. This means new features like face verification protection, privacy watermark, and fraud protection.The fraud protection feature, consists of a couple of different measures to protect users from online and telecom frauds. Like 鈥淓-fraud warning,鈥 鈥淥fficial logo,鈥 Fraud application installation interception,鈥 and 鈥淭ransfer protection.鈥滷urthermore, MIUI 13 comes with a host of new live wallpapers that showcase crystal formation. Xiaomi says that these wallpapers were captured using a polarization microscope via 8K timelapse photography.There are a lot of pre-installed apps, but most of them are non-removable. There鈥檚 a More Apps folder where we can find some of them. You can also find a Games folder, and others are peppered around the main and second screens. Furthermore, if you’re in one of those two folders, the screen’s bottom row of icons wants to suggest ‘promoted apps’. It’s all rather messy.MIUI Interface: love or hate situationAs much as one may love the MIUI interface, another could easily hate it. Chinese vendors are often poor in software updates and POCO is no stranger to this. The Settings menu is still confusing, I’m sorry to say. The Camera app difficult to navigate while shooting, and some important details are hidden in the menus. If you previously owned a Xiaomi/POCO device, then you will have no trouble navigating. If you come from another Chinese vendor, then you will need some hours to get to know it better.Oh, I really liked Mi Remote and the IR blaster of the device. It reminds me of my old Symbian days.My opinionThe Poco X4 Pro 5G comes as a nice upgrade over its predecessor in terms of features and design. Xiaomi suggests it鈥檚 a premium gaming smartphone, but I guess it鈥檚 not. It鈥檚 a VFM mid-range killer, made for those who wish to have a decent overall experience without breaking the bank.I loved the 120Hz AMOLED display. It is bright, vibrant and buttery-smooth, with one of the smallest camera cutouts out there. The 67W fast charging support guarantees that you鈥檒l go from 0 to 100% in just over 40 minutes. That’s an excellent charging speed for any average user. Yes, there鈥檚 a 67W charger in the box.The 108Mp camera is an impressive addition to the whole performance of the POCO X4 Pro 5G. It provides decent colour representation in well-lit environments and decent video quality in FHD. However the lack of OIS means night photography performance could be better.Xiaomi鈥檚 MIUI interface isn鈥檛 my favorite, but the lack of a decent update policy by POCO is a negative. Despite all the above, the newest POCO X4 Pro 5G remains one of the best choices out there. Buy Poco X4 Pro 5G from Hekka.com
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