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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 review: A lighter design, excellent displays, useful FlexWindow and solid battery life make this Samsung’s most polished clamshell yet.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Samsung’s Best Clamshell Foldable Gets Even Better

<h3>The Galaxy Z Flip8 is slimmer, lighter and more useful than ever, with excellent displays and solid battery life, though slow charging and performance throttling remain compromises.</h3>

Samsung&rsquo;s Flip phones have traditionally been the easier entry point into foldables. Instead of chasing the tablet-like experience of the Fold series, they took a familiar smartphone and made it smaller, more pocketable and considerably more fun.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 is perhaps the best execution of that idea so far. It is slimmer and lighter, packs more powerful hardware, and its FlexWindow has become useful enough that I could handle several everyday tasks without unfolding the phone.
But Samsung has complicated matters this year.
The new Galaxy Z Fold8 adopts a much more compact passport-style design, making the Fold experience considerably easier to live with. Having used both, the gap between Samsung&rsquo;s two foldable philosophies suddenly doesn&rsquo;t feel quite as wide.
That leaves the Flip8 facing an unusual question. It might be Samsung&rsquo;s most polished clamshell yet, but with the Fold8 stealing some of its compactness advantage, is the Flip still the more appealing foldable?
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Design</h2>
There is very little about the Galaxy Z Flip8 that immediately separates it from its predecessor. Samsung has largely retained the same clamshell aesthetic, so the improvements here are less about how the phone looks and more about how it feels once you start using it.
Weight makes the biggest difference. The Flip8 comes in at 180 grams, compared to 188 grams for the Flip7, while its unfolded thickness has dropped to 6.1mm. Close it and you&rsquo;re looking at 13.1mm. Individually, these changes sound fairly modest, but together they make the phone noticeably more comfortable to carry. I especially appreciated the reduced heft when using it one-handed, while its compact footprint makes slipping it into a pocket remarkably easy.
The Armour FlexHinge has been improved too. When folded, both sides meet cleanly without leaving a gap, and the mechanism itself has a reassuring amount of resistance. It stays firmly in position at different angles, which makes Flex Mode particularly handy for taking photos, joining video calls or simply propping the phone up for a video.
Samsung has also continued its assault on the infamous foldable crease. It hasn&rsquo;t disappeared entirely, but it is now subtle enough that I stopped paying attention to it fairly quickly. You&rsquo;ll still spot it with the display switched off or under certain lighting, and your finger can detect it when scrolling across the centre.
Materials remain suitably premium. The frame uses Armour Aluminium, the exterior gets Gorilla Glass Victus 2, and IP48 protection provides some reassurance against dust and water. My Pink review unit also hid fingerprints surprisingly well, with Mint, Graphite and Cream completing the colour choices.
The side-mounted fingerprint scanner remains quick and conveniently placed. Connectivity covers USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and eSIM.
It may look familiar, but the Flip8&rsquo;s physical refinements make a meaningful difference where it counts.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Displays</h2>
The FlexWindow has gradually evolved from a glorified notification panel into an important part of the Flip experience. On the Flip8, it measures 4.1 inches and uses a Super AMOLED panel with a 948 x 1048 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. It is sharp, fluid and bright enough to remain perfectly usable outdoors.
More importantly, there&rsquo;s now plenty you can do without opening the phone. Notifications, quick settings, calendar appointments, weather updates, Now Brief and music controls are all accessible here, while Gemini works directly from the cover display. I frequently used the FlexWindow for quick replies, navigation and controlling music, although some apps still struggle to adapt properly to its unusual dimensions.
Open the Flip8 and you&rsquo;re greeted by a much more conventional 6.9-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel. It has a 1080 x 2520 resolution and an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz.
As expected from a Samsung flagship, there&rsquo;s very little to complain about. Colours look rich, contrast is excellent, HDR10+ content has plenty of impact, and visibility remains strong under bright sunlight. The elongated 21:9 format also works particularly well for reading and endlessly scrolling through social media.
Flex Mode adds another dimension by splitting supported apps between content and controls across the two halves. Interestingly, Samsung&rsquo;s passport-style Galaxy Z Fold8 doesn&rsquo;t offer the same feature. The crease, meanwhile, becomes surprisingly easy to overlook once the display is showing content.
Stereo speakers complement the screens nicely, offering good volume, clear vocals and respectable separation. Dolby Atmos broadens the presentation slightly, although bass remains limited.
Neither display needed a dramatic overhaul, and Samsung wisely hasn&rsquo;t forced one.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Performance</h2>
Samsung has equipped the Indian Galaxy Z Flip8 with its new Exynos 2600, a flagship chipset built on the 2nm process. It is accompanied by 12GB of RAM, with either 256GB or 512GB of speedy UFS 4.0 storage.
There&rsquo;s certainly no shortage of raw performance. The Flip8 managed 2,727,135 points in AnTuTu, while Geekbench 6 produced scores of 3,080 and 10,668 in the single and multi-core tests respectively. Away from benchmarks, that translates into a suitably slick experience. One UI runs smoothly, apps are quick to open and juggling multiple applications doesn&rsquo;t cause any noticeable slowdown.
The more revealing result comes from 3DMark&rsquo;s Wild Life Extreme Stress Test. Its strongest loop reached 7,094, but that figure eventually fell to 2,813, giving the Flip8 a stability score of only 39.6 per cent. In other words, peak GPU performance drops considerably once the phone is pushed continuously.
That&rsquo;s hardly surprising given the hardware Samsung is working with. When unfolded, the Flip8 is just 6.1mm thick, leaving precious little room for an extensive cooling solution. Throttling becomes necessary once enough heat builds up.
In practice, however, I didn&rsquo;t find this particularly troublesome. Games ran well, everyday performance remained consistently responsive, and those benchmark limitations rarely surfaced during normal usage.
The Flip8 isn&rsquo;t the phone I&rsquo;d choose for hours of sustained gaming or demanding workloads. But for its intended audience, there&rsquo;s easily enough performance here to deliver a flagship experience.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Software</h2>
The Galaxy Z Flip8 ships with One UI 9 on top of Android 17, bringing Samsung&rsquo;s familiar combination of extensive features and deep customisation. The interface remains easy enough to navigate despite everything packed into it, while Samsung&rsquo;s long software support gives the Flip8 another advantage for long-term ownership.
But One UI becomes far more interesting when you start using the FlexWindow. Straight out of the box, the cover screen handles notifications and offers widgets for weather, calendar, music and Now Brief. Gemini is available here as well, so simple questions and tasks can be handled without opening the phone.
Unfortunately, Samsung still doesn&rsquo;t let you freely run regular apps on the FlexWindow by default.
To do that, I had to download Good Lock from the Galaxy Store, install the MultiStar module, and then choose apps through its Launcher widget. None of this is particularly difficult, but it feels needlessly complicated for such an important part of the Flip experience. It&rsquo;s also something I&rsquo;ve complained about with previous generations, so seeing the same restriction again is frustrating.
Go through the setup, though, and the FlexWindow becomes significantly more useful. I could reply on WhatsApp, follow directions through Google Maps, browse Spotify and access several other apps without unfolding the Flip8. Not everything scales neatly to the compact display, but having that freedom makes a huge difference.
Galaxy AI adds the usual collection of photo editing, writing and translation features, alongside Now Brief.
One UI 9 is excellent overall. It&rsquo;s just baffling that Samsung still keeps the FlexWindow&rsquo;s best functionality tucked behind additional software.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Cameras</h2>
Camera hardware isn&rsquo;t where Samsung has spent its upgrade budget this year. The Galaxy Z Flip8 carries forward a 50MP f/1.8 primary camera with OIS, accompanied by a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide and a 10MP selfie camera on the folding display.
Thankfully, the 50MP main camera remains dependable. In good light, it captures plenty of fine detail, handles highlights and shadows well, and delivers the saturated colours typically associated with Samsung&rsquo;s processing. Skin tones are handled naturally, while portrait mode produces convincing separation around subjects. Without a dedicated telephoto, the 2x crop becomes the only option for getting closer, and the results hold up surprisingly well.
Low-light performance is respectable too, although darker scenes expose some of the hardware&rsquo;s limitations. Fine textures become softer and noise starts creeping into shadow areas.
The ultrawide follows a similar pattern. Daylight results are good, with colour tuning that remains fairly close to the primary camera. Once lighting deteriorates, however, detail takes a more noticeable hit. Autofocus would have made this camera considerably more versatile as well.
Where the Flip8 gets genuinely interesting is how you can use these cameras. I particularly like turning the FlexWindow into a viewfinder and shooting selfies with the 50MP primary instead of relying on the 10MP inner camera. The improvement in quality is substantial.
Flex Mode effectively provides a built-in tripod for hands-free shots, while Camcorder Grip offers a dedicated Zoom Rocker. Super Steady&rsquo;s Horizontal Lock also helps keep moving footage level.
The sensors may be unchanged, but few conventional phones can match the Flip8&rsquo;s sheer shooting flexibility.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Battery Life and Charging</h2>
The Galaxy Z Flip8 retains the same 4,300mAh battery as the Flip7, which seems rather small by modern flagship standards. However, the efficiency gains from the 2nm Exynos 2600 help Samsung make surprisingly good use of that limited capacity.
With WhatsApp, social media, photography, YouTube, music streaming and occasional navigation thrown into the mix, I could comfortably make it through a working day. Most days ended with enough charge remaining that an evening top-up wasn&rsquo;t necessary.
Charging is where the Flip8 feels decidedly behind the curve. Wired speeds remain capped at 25W, with a full charge taking just over an hour during testing. You also get 15W wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare.
I would certainly prefer faster charging, but dependable all-day endurance is ultimately the more important win for a compact foldable.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Verdict</h2>
The Galaxy Z Flip8 isn&rsquo;t trying to reinvent Samsung&rsquo;s clamshell. Instead, almost every improvement is aimed at making an already successful formula better to use.
The slimmer, lighter body makes it more pocketable, both displays are excellent, performance is suitably flagship-grade, and battery life reliably lasts through the day. Its folding design also continues to give the familiar camera hardware capabilities that conventional phones simply cannot offer.
I particularly enjoyed using the FlexWindow, although requiring Good Lock and MultiStar to unlock regular apps still feels unnecessarily cumbersome.
At ₹1,24,999 for 12GB + 256GB and ₹1,44,999 for 512GB, the Flip8 is undeniably expensive. The 25W charging and performance throttling also leave room for improvement.
Its toughest competition, however, comes from the excellent Galaxy Z Fold8. But for anyone specifically looking for a compact clamshell foldable, the Flip8 remains Samsung&rsquo;s most accomplished effort yet.

Realme P4s 5G review: We test its 8,000mAh battery, 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display, Dimensity 7400 Ultra, HyperVision+ gaming and 80W charging.

Realme P4s 5G Review: 8,000mAh Battery, 144Hz Display and AI Gaming Tested

The Realme P4s 5G packs an 8,000mAh battery, 144Hz AMOLED display, Dimensity 7400 Ultra and HyperVision+ AI gaming. Here’s how it performs in real-world use.

Realme P4s 5G Review: Big Battery, Smooth Gaming and Serious Value

The Realme P4s 5G combines an 8,000mAh battery, 144Hz AMOLED display, capable cameras and AI-assisted gaming, making it a well-rounded mid-range phone with only a few compromises.

Figuring out India's mid-range smartphone space in 2026 feels more complicated than ever. With prices shifting constantly and recent devices pushing entry-level specs under mid-tier price tags, pinning down genuine value is tough.
The Realme P4s 5G looks to break away from that frustrating pattern, offering a compelling set of internals starting at ₹34,999 for the base model. Instead of just offering minor tweaks over the previous P3 lineup, Realme loaded this handset with a colossal 8,000mAh Titan battery, a sharp 144Hz 1.5K Samsung AMOLED screen, and a custom Hyper Vision+ AI display processor running alongside the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra.
I daily-drove the Titanium Grey edition for a full seven days before launch to see how it actually holds up in real life.
<h2>Realme P4s 5G Review: Unboxing and Design</h2>
Unboxing the Realme P4s brought an immediate sense of relief when I saw the complete 80W charging brick tucked inside the package. Given how soaring hardware prices have pushed companies to trim retail contents, getting a full-speed adapter is no longer guaranteed. Brands like iQOO dropped the <a title="iQOO Z11 Review: A Balanced Mid-Range Powerhouse" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/iqoo-z11-review-a-balanced-mid-range-powerhouse-1787209803814" target="_blank">Z11</a> down to 44W after shipping a 90W charger on the older model, so I appreciate that Realme did not cut corners. Alongside the phone and 80W brick, the packaging includes an 8A Type-C cord, a standard transparent TPU sleeve, and a SIM ejector.
Holding the Titanium Grey variant, the styling heavily mirrors the <a title="Realme P4 Power 5G Review:29 Hours later, it still wouldn&rsquo;t die" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/realme-p4-power-5g-review-29-hours-later-it-still-wouldn-t-die-1769672775457" target="_blank">Realme P4 Power</a>. What sets it apart visually are the orange highlights on the power button and a matching orange plate bearing "VOOC" right beside the rear camera module. That square camera deck features two working sensors, a flash, an IR blaster, and an extra cosmetic lens added purely for visual balance. It looks great initially, but the glossy rear surface attracts oily fingerprints the second you pick it up. Keeping the provided cover on is virtually mandatory if you dislike constant smudging.
Button and port placement remains familiar. The right spine houses a tactile power switch and volume rocker. The base contains the dual-SIM slot, USB Type-C port, main mic, and speaker vents, while the top edge holds the second speaker and another mic. The left frame is bare. Media playback through the stereo pair delivers solid volume, even if low-end bass feels somewhat lean.
An 8.6mm thickness is fairly typical now that phone makers know how to pack massive cells tightly. What surprised me was the overall feel in hand. The spec sheet quotes 208g, yet the balance makes it feel way lighter than most 8,000mAh devices. When evaluating rivals like the Redmi Note 17 and Poco M8 Power with identical 8,000mAh capacities, both pushed past 225g. Realme definitely got the weight balance right.
Full IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings round out the chassis, giving you solid protection against heavy downpours and unexpected water dips.
<h2>Realme P4s 5G Review: Display</h2>
Dominating the front is a flat 6.78-inch Samsung 1.5K AMOLED screen shielded by AGC DT-Star D+ glass. Ditching curved glass in favor of a flat surface made typing with one hand and gaming free of accidental palm triggers far more practical. While the surrounding borders might not break industry records, they are noticeably slimmer than on most competitors in this price tier, letting you watch videos or scroll through long reads without visual distractions.
Realme opted for an LTPS panel here. General swiping and system animations stay smooth, with menus and popular apps hovering between 90Hz and 120Hz. The top-tier 144Hz refresh rate is not for the everyday interface; it is aimed directly at supported gaming titles like BGMI.
Video streaming on this display is genuinely enjoyable. The factory color profile avoids the cheap, oversaturated look, keeping tones realistic and natural. Streaming HDR content on Netflix and YouTube worked without hiccups, delivering deep shadows and crisp contrast during dark movie scenes.
Visibility outdoors never gave me trouble. While the screen lowers its output nicely for comfortable late-night reading, stepping out under bright afternoon sun showed off its real punch. With high brightness mode hitting 1,400 nits and local HDR highlights reaching up to 6,500 nits, reading maps and browsing text remained sharp with zero washed-out gray cast.
The in-screen optical fingerprint scanner proved snappy and dependable throughout my testing. Thanks to the phone's dimensions and thoughtful scanner placement slightly above the bottom chin, unlocking the screen felt completely natural without any awkward thumb gymnastics.
<h2>Realme P4s 5G Review: Camera</h2>
On the photography side, the Realme P4s 5G brings a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 16MP front camera for selfies. Seeing a genuine ultra-wide shooter included here felt like a breath of fresh air. With several phone makers removing secondary lenses to save money and leaving buyers with a single usable camera, Realme deserves credit. The brand built its early reputation around delivering capable camera hardware on a sensible budget. I still rely on my <a title="Realme 14 Pro+ Review ft. Comparison with Poco X7 Pro!" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/realme-14-pro-review-ft-comparison-with-poco-x7-pro-1737041107332" target="_blank">Realme 14 Pro Plus</a> as a daily phone, and even after nearly eighteen months, it continues to take impressive photos for what it costs. After feeling let down by some recent launches, taking the P4s out for testing was a pleasant surprise.
The 50MP main sensor delivers great results in standard daylight shooting. Photos look sharp with plenty of resolved detail, well-controlled highlights, and wide dynamic range. The color processing leans slightly punchy and saturated, which works well if you prefer photos that look vibrant right away. The 8MP ultra-wide lens handles the essentials. It serves its purpose when you need to capture a broad scenery shot, though fine details soften up significantly in lower light.
Having a 16MP selfie shooter is another welcome inclusion over the disappointing 5MP or 8MP sensors rivals throw into budget phones. In daily use, however, my impressions were mixed. The front camera tends to smooth out facial textures aggressively, even with all beauty enhancements turned off. Selfies and portrait shots reproduce pleasant skin tones, but background separation proved inconsistent, sometimes smudging stray hair strands and collar lines. You do get portrait selfie support as well.
Video capture reaches up to 4K at 30fps on the rear camera and 1080p at 30fps on the front. Rear video looks detailed with punchy colors, though walking introduces minor jitters. The front camera shows even more movement while recording on the go, so keeping your hands steady is important.
<h2>Realme P4s 5G Review: Performance</h2>
Under the hood, the Realme P4s relies on the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra, a familiar 4nm processor seen across several devices lately. While it is not cutting-edge flagship silicon, Realme backed it with a custom HyperVision+ AI chip that leverages frame interpolation and software optimizations to lift the gaming experience.
My test device packed 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with support for virtual memory expansion using the internal drive.
Synthetic tests reflect dependable mid-tier power. The phone hit 988,338 points in AnTuTu, alongside Geekbench results of 905 in single-core and 2,995 in multi-core. Thermal stability stood out during the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, where it scored 99.7 percent consistency with high and low loops of 1,031 and 1,028.
Daily workloads run without hiccups. Flicking through social feeds, video conferencing, media streaming, and juggling multiple apps felt snappy from start to finish.
Mobile gaming is where the P4s shows its real value. In BGMI, which is natively locked to 90FPS, the phone held an average of 71 to 72FPS over a 30-minute run. Toggling the HyperVision+ chip activates frame interpolation, lifting visual delivery on screen to around 143 to 144FPS.
That boost translates to real visual fluidness you can immediately feel, especially when compared directly against competitors like the Vivo S2, iQOO Z11, or Infinix Note 60 Pro. It also lets you finally take advantage of the 144Hz panel during matches.
Heat control holds up admirably as well. The device gets slightly warm under load, but noticeable warmth only built up during back-to-back benchmark runs and after around 55 minutes of non-stop gaming, helped by the 7,000 sq. mm AirFlow VC cooling setup.
It might not break synthetic record boards, but mobile gamers will find a lot to like here.
<h2>Realme P4s 5G Review: Software and UI/UX &amp; AI Features</h2>
Setting up the Realme P4s 5G puts you on Realme UI 7.0 running atop Android 16, with Realme noting that phones will shift toward ColorOS as the year winds down. Let's be real, custom Android skins feel increasingly interchangeable these days since nearly every brand is borrowing from Apple's glossy, translucent style.
Even so, navigating this interface offers that familiar Realme touch: responsive, quick, and easy to figure out. App launches glide along nicely without attempting to reinvent anything drastic.
You will still spot pre-loaded apps, but the clutter is way better managed here. Rather than packing trashy arcade games that drag down the handset's vibe, the bundled apps are mostly mainstream social platforms or practical utilities, all easily removed in seconds. For pure daily stability and polish, Realme UI remains an easy recommendation, backed further by their 72-Month Smoothness promise.
The integrated AI features also proved genuinely practical instead of gimmicky. For drafting quick text, summarizing articles, and sorting daily notes, the productivity suite turned out to be a solid time-saver. Whether you are studying, working an office gig, or writing daily like I do, these tools deliver genuine convenience alongside steady security updates.
<h2>Realme P4s 5G Review: Battery and Charging</h2>
Fitting a massive 8,000mAh cell inside the Realme P4s 5G easily turns battery life into its most impressive feature. With my typical daily use, coasting through two straight days without plugging in was completely hassle-free. Light users who stick to quick messaging and casual web scrolling could easily stretch that runtime into a third morning.
To test its limits, I topped the battery up to 100 percent and subjected the device to a solid three-hour drain test, which included half an hour of gaming. Even after that sustained workload, the battery gauge stayed at 83 percent, proving just how power-efficient this setup is.
Replenishing the phone was just as dependable. Realme advertises a zero-to-full charge time of around 75 minutes, and my real-world testing with the included 80W brick landed right near that estimate. Having bypass charging built in was another great touch.
If you are sick of lugging power banks around, this phone solves that problem entirely
<h2>Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
Instead of attempting drastic gimmicks, the Realme P4s 5G zeros in on solving daily annoyances that matter most to users. Packing an enormous 8,000mAh battery that avoids feeling heavy in hand, paired with a bright flat 1.5K screen and a dedicated AI gaming chip that truly leverages high frame rates, it delivers serious value for money.
It is not without small compromises: the glossy rear finish is a magnet for oily fingerprints, the front camera softens facial details too much, and there is no expandable microSD storage. Even so, if you care primarily about trouble-free two-day battery endurance, dependable daily software response, and sustained gaming without uncomfortable heating, the Realme P4s 5G is easy to stand behind.
In a confusing segment filled with underwhelming options, this is a sensible, well-rounded phone that delivers real substance.

The iQOO Z11 packs a Dimensity 7500 Turbo chip, 7,050mAh battery, 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display and 50MP camera. Here’s our detailed review.

iQOO Z11 Review: Powerful Dimensity 7500 Turbo, 7,050mAh Battery and 1.5K AMOLED Display

With a huge 7,050mAh battery, Dimensity 7500 Turbo, 1.5K AMOLED display, capable cameras and impressive thermals, the iQOO Z11 makes a strong case in the mid-range segment.

iQOO Z11 Review: A Balanced Mid-Range Powerhouse

The iQOO Z11 delivers excellent battery life, cool and stable performance, a vibrant 1.5K AMOLED display and capable cameras, though slower charging, bloatware and limited 60 FPS gaming hold it back.

When the iQOO Z10 landed last year, it quickly became an easy phone to recommend to anyone on a tight budget. It focused on raw speed, offered ridiculously long battery life, and cost very little. But the market has moved relentlessly fast, and with the new Z11, iQOO is actively stepping out of that entry-level tier and into the proper mid-range ring.
Priced at ₹31,499 for the base 6 GB + 128 GB variant, that shift changes the game completely. Once you cross into this price bracket, buyers stop forgiving cheap plastics, washed-out displays, or sub-par cameras just because a device promises performance.
The Z11 arrives with a fresh chipset, a noticeably slimmer build, and huge battery numbers on paper, but stepping up in price means facing much stiffer competition. I spent the last week using it as my daily phone to see if it actually justifies the upgrade.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
Unboxing the iQOO Z11 brings an immediate reality check: nestled inside is a 44W FlashCharge adapter. That is a noticeable step down from the snappy 90W brick shipped with last year&rsquo;s Z10. The rest of the retail package is standard fare, including a USB Type-C cable, a SIM eject tool, and a clear TPU case. It looks like faster charging was sacrificed to keep the internal hardware affordable.
Pick the device up, though, and it immediately wins you back with its ergonomics. While massive batteries are practically becoming the standard across the segment, the Z11 actually dips slightly to a 7,050mAh cell compared to the massive 7,300mAh capacity inside its predecessor, the Z10. While that is a compromise of sorts, at least on paper, I am genuinely impressed by how slim and light it feels despite that hardware.&nbsp;
Measuring just 7.99mm thick and tipping the scales at 199g, the weight distribution is spot-on; it never feels like a bottom-heavy brick during extended gaming sessions or single-handed scrolling.
The Aurora Green unit that I have for review looks remarkably understated, swapping aggressive gamer accents for a clean, minimalist matte aesthetic. Indoors, it pulls off a calm sage-green tone, catching vibrant blue undertones under direct sunlight. The only downside is that the smooth back panel attracts smudges easily, so popping on the bundled case is practically a must. Also, if green isn&rsquo;t your vibe, iQOO also offers the device in sleeker Phantom Black and Lunar Silver colourways.
Around the back, the camera module gets a major structural redesign. The old circular dial of the Z10 is gone, replaced by a horizontal pill-shaped island clearly inspired by the Vivo X300 FE or the recently launched <a title="Vivo S2 Review: Massive Battery, Premium Design, Minimal Compromises" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/vivo-s2-review-massive-battery-premium-design-minimal-compromises-1786105671836" target="_blank">Vivo S2</a>. Alongside the dual lenses sits the flash, which also doubles as a mini dynamic light. It works fine as a soft fill light, though it lacks colour options, which makes it less exciting.
Rounding out the hardware is an IR blaster on top and genuinely balanced dual stereo speaker grilles at either end. As for durability, it gets IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings, and honestly, that is more than enough for most people.
<h2>Display</h2>
The very first time I turned the Z11 over, the curved glass threw me off a bit. Pretty much every handset landing on my desk these days rocks a flat slab, so seeing the curved panel on a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel felt slightly retro. I am usually the first person to complain about curved edges because of issues with false touches, but the taper here is subtle enough that I never dealt with annoying phantom touches while gaming or typing. The bezels are trim too, meaning the screen easily blends into the background whenever I fire up a movie.
iQOO talks up a 144Hz refresh rate on the spec sheet, but in real life, you will not see that figure running constantly. Since this is an LTPS screen rather than an LTPO unit, I noticed the system hopping mostly between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz depending on what I opened, saving the full 144Hz for just a few supported apps. Still, browsing my feeds, reading long documents, and navigating around the UI felt plenty responsive.
Streaming on this screen was easily one of my favourite parts of testing it. Out of the box, the colours look clean and grounded, avoiding that neon, oversaturated look you often get in this price bracket. Thanks to the 449 PPI density, text in PDFs stayed sharp, and HDR playback kicked in right away on Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video, with solid shadow detail.
Outdoor visibility genuinely impressed me. Walking around under the brutal afternoon sun of Delhi&rsquo;s summers, the 2,000-nit High Brightness Mode and 3,000-nit local peak brightness meant I never had to squint or shield the glass with my hand just to read a text or pull up directions. Indoors, the auto-brightness handled dark rooms without blinding me.
I also liked the in-display optical fingerprint scanner. Instead of placing it right against the bottom edge, iQOO positioned it slightly higher, so I never had to stretch my thumb awkwardly to unlock the phone.
<h2>Camera</h2>
The <a title="iQOO Z11 Shows What Useful Smartphone AI Should Look Like" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/iqoo-z11-shows-what-useful-smartphone-ai-should-look-like-1786614402824" target="_blank">iQOO Z11</a> packs a dual-rear camera setup featuring a 50MP Sony main sensor with OIS paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens on the back. I usually associate iQOO with raw performance rather than photography, so the Z11 surprised me. Most brands in this budget have practically given up on multi-camera setups, ditching everything in favour of a single usable sensor. Seeing a functional ultra-wide lens alongside the main shooter here was a very welcome change.
Shooting outdoors during the day, the primary camera captures plenty of sharp detail. The colours lean slightly saturated at times, but I personally prefer that vibrant look straight out of the phone without needing extra edits. Highlights are handled well, and the dynamic range holds up nicely in bright sunlight.
The front camera is another solid win. Instead of tossing in a cheap 5MP or 8MP unit meant only for video calls, iQOO packed in a 32MP selfie shooter that actually delivers crisp, usable shots. You can also take portrait selfies with it. Speaking of portraits in general, the rear camera does a decent job with subject separation, though edge detection remains hit-or-miss. I noticed odd smoothing around stray hairs and clothing borders, which clearly needs some software tuning.
For video, having 4K recording at 30fps on both the front and rear cameras is a massive perk at this price point. The rear footage stays steady enough for casual clips, but the front camera lacks decent stabilisation, resulting in noticeable jitter if you try vlogging while walking.
Overall, while it is not a dedicated camera flagship, iQOO has clearly put genuine effort into the optics this time instead of treating them as an afterthought.
<h2>Performance</h2>
The iQOO Z11 runs on the new MediaTek Dimensity 7500 Turbo. It is also one of the first phones in India to launch with this chipset. Day to day, it never felt sluggish or choked up. Opening apps was practically instantaneous, while UI transitions and jumping between half a dozen background tasks never triggered random app closures or stutters.
To see what the silicon could really do, I put it through a heavy run of benchmarks. On AnTuTu, my unit scored 1,103,367 points. Geekbench 6 posted 1,094 in single-core and 3,188 in multi-core, which comfortably edges out a good chunk of rival phones around this price. Over on 3DMark Wild Life Extreme, it logged a best loop score of 1,165 with 84.8% stability, while the CPU Throttling test held up at an impressive 94% of maximum performance.
Where the device genuinely surprised me was heat control. I fired up two back-to-back AnTuTu rounds, jumped straight into a pair of Geekbench runs without letting it rest, and then, after just ten minutes of downtime, pushed it through 3DMark before immediately loading the CPU throttling test. Even with that kind of abuse, the surface temperature never climbed past 38&deg;C. It warmed up gently, but I never felt an uncomfortable hot patch under my fingers.
Gaming told a very similar story. I threw both BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile at it. In BGMI, the frame rate hovered at a rock-steady 58.9 FPS on average, with 99.8% stability and roughly 3.24W of power consumption. Both games are stuck at 60 FPS for now, which honestly is a bit of a letdown since the chipset clearly has the muscle to push 90 FPS. Hopefully, iQOO pushes an update soon to unlock that headroom. Until then, you get smooth, locked-in 60 FPS gameplay paired with superb thermals.
<h2>Software, UI/UX &amp; AI Experience</h2>
Out of the box, the Z11 boots OriginOS 6.0 on top of Android 16. Swiping around the interface gave me that immediate, snappy responsiveness that you associate with iQOO phones. App launch animations are clean, moving between tasks feels light, and the UI never felt bogged down during my daily grind.
What really tested my patience, though, was the sheer pile of bloatware. I found myself staring at multiple random bubble-shooter games and redundant utility apps that nobody asked for. You can delete most of them manually, of course, but having to spend my first ten minutes unpicking spam from a brand-new handset always chips away at that new-phone excitement.
Once I stripped the junk away, the onboard AI tools ended up being surprisingly useful. iQOO skipped the usual marketing gimmicks and focused on features that actually help you get work done. The real-time webpage translation, quick voice-note summaries, and drafting aids inside the Notes app slotted right into my daily writing and editing routine. In fact, with great accuracy, you can also get a word-for-word transcription of a live, ongoing meeting. If you are balancing coursework or managing articles and drafts throughout the day, these shortcuts save genuine effort.
On the longevity front, iQOO promises three years of Android version updates alongside five years of security patches, backed by a 60-month smoothness guarantee. As long as you do not mind that initial clean-up chore, the software delivers a genuinely fast and dependable day-to-day experience.
<h2>Battery and Charging</h2>
The battery is easily my favourite part of using the Z11. That 7,050mAh cell inside is no joke; with regular use, I rarely had to think about plugging it in before the second night.
To see how far I could push it, I took it off the charger at 100% and put it through over three hours of non-stop torture, including multiple benchmark loops and a 30-minute gaming session. When I finally put it down, the battery was still sitting at 77%. Getting through that kind of punishment with three-quarters of the charge left tells you everything about its efficiency.
Topping it back up is just as drama-free. Plugging the bundled brick into a completely dead phone got me back to 100% in a little over an hour and ten minutes. Sure, it is not the fastest out there compared with some of the crazy high-wattage technologies available, but I never felt stuck waiting on it. Considering the battery is built for long-term health, taking roughly seventy minutes to deliver what can amount to two full days of usage feels like a totally fair trade.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
At ₹31,499, the iQOO Z11 steps out of the budget zone and into cut-throat territory, and mostly pulls it off. You lose the blazing 90W fast charging of its predecessor, and having to purge bloatware on day one remains annoying. Plus, mobile gamers will rightly gripe until iQOO unlocks 90 FPS support.
Yet, what you get in return makes a compelling case. The battery endurance is ridiculously good, the Dimensity 7500 Turbo runs remarkably cool under heavy loads, and the curved 1.5K display makes media consumption a treat. Add in dependable cameras, capable 4K front video, and solid IP68/IP69 protection, and the Z11 stops being just another spec-sheet brawler.
If you want a reliable daily driver that prioritises two-day battery life, snappy productivity tools, and balanced sustained performance, the Z11 is easy to recommend.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review: A slimmer design, 5,000-nit display, Snapdragon Wear Elite and an 800mAh battery make this Samsung’s best Ultra yet.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Samsung Finally Nails Its Ultra Smartwatch

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 brings a slimmer design, brighter display, bigger battery and stronger fitness features, making it Samsung&rsquo;s most complete smartwatch yet.

Samsung took two years to follow up the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, and that extra breathing room seems to have paid off. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 isn't a dramatic reinvention, but Samsung has made meaningful upgrades in almost every area that mattered on the original.
The familiar 47mm &lsquo;pizza in a box&rsquo; design, (Samsung calls it a cushion design) remains, but the watch is now thinner, gets a slightly larger and significantly brighter 5,000-nit AMOLED display, and switches from Samsung's Exynos silicon to Qualcomm's new Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset. More importantly, the battery has jumped from 590mAh to a massive 800mAh, addressing one of my biggest complaints with the first Ultra.
Samsung has also leaned harder into the 'Ultra' part of the name. You now get improved Trail Running features, proper diving support, turn-by-turn navigation, new health and recovery insights, and Gemini integration through Wear OS 7 and One UI Watch 9.
On paper, then, this is the Galaxy Watch Ultra Samsung probably wanted to make the first time around. But does it actually feel that way on the wrist after weeks of use?
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Design</h2>
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 doesn't look dramatically different from its predecessor, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Samsung has retained the same chunky 47mm design, with a circular display sitting inside a squarish titanium frame. It is still a big watch, though, and with no smaller size available, people with slimmer wrists may find it a little overwhelming.
The biggest change is something you notice more on the wrist than in photographs. Samsung has reduced the thickness from 12.1mm to 10.7mm, which makes the Ultra2 feel noticeably less cumbersome. That's particularly impressive considering the battery has grown substantially. There is a very slight increase in weight, but it still is manageable at just a hair under 62 grams.
Build quality continues to be excellent. You get a Grade 4 titanium frame and sapphire crystal over the display, along with IP68, IP69K and 10ATM water resistance. There's MIL-STD-810H certification too, while the new EN13319 certification allows the Ultra2 to function as a dive computer down to 40 metres.
The familiar three-button arrangement returns, with the customisable Quick Button sitting between the Home and Back buttons. I still wish Samsung had given us a physical rotating bezel, especially for outdoor use. The touch bezel works reasonably well, but it simply isn't as precise or satisfying.
Samsung has also redesigned the strap, making it softer and lighter. Combined with the slimmer case, it makes a surprisingly big difference to comfort, especially when wearing the Ultra2 throughout the day and overnight.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Display</h2>
The display gets one of the more noticeable upgrades this year. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 uses a slightly larger 1.52-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 498 x 498 resolution, up from the 1.47-inch, 480 x 480 display on the original Ultra. The difference in size and sharpness isn't something you'll immediately notice, but the increase in brightness certainly is.
Peak brightness has jumped from an already impressive 3,000 nits to a massive 5,000 nits. The original Ultra was never particularly difficult to read outdoors, but the Ultra2 takes visibility another step forward. Even under harsh sunlight, text, workout information and notifications remain exceptionally easy to read. That additional brightness should also prove useful underwater, particularly given Samsung's greater emphasis on diving this generation.
As before, the AMOLED panel itself is excellent. Colours are vibrant, blacks are properly deep, animations look crisp, and touch response is excellent. There's also an always-on display, although keeping it enabled naturally has an impact on battery life.
The display continues to be protected by sapphire crystal, while the slightly raised bezel provides some additional protection against accidental knocks and scrapes.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Performance And Tracking</h2>
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 gets a major change under the hood, with Samsung ditching its Exynos chipset for Qualcomm's 3nm Snapdragon Wear Elite. Paired with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, performance is excellent. Apps open quickly, animations remain fluid and moving between workouts, notifications and widgets feels consistently responsive. That said, the original Ultra was already pretty smooth, so the difference isn't transformative in everyday use.
Tracking is where the Ultra2 starts earning its name. Samsung's BioActive sensor handles heart rate, SpO2, ECG and body composition, while the watch also tracks HRV, skin temperature, stress and sleep. You also get newer metrics such as Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index, Heart Health and Vitals, which use your accumulated data to provide a broader picture of recovery and overall fitness.
Workout tracking is equally comprehensive, with support for more than 100 activities and dual-frequency GPS. Heart-rate tracking appears particularly dependable.
Trail Running gets more attention this year. The Ultra2 can provide turn-by-turn route guidance, elevation information, pace suggestions and hydration reminders based on estimated sweat loss. Samsung has also expanded the diving functionality. The watch is certified to 40 metres and can measure depth and water temperature, with more advanced Mares-powered diving features arriving later.
Sleep tracking remains detailed, covering stages, blood oxygen, heart rate, respiratory rate and skin temperature. The sheer size of the Ultra2 still makes sleeping with it something of an acquired taste, but the lighter strap and thinner chassis make overnight tracking noticeably easier than before.
Automatic workout detection is useful for everyday walks and runs, while advanced running metrics provide detail for anyone interested in improving form.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Software</h2>
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 runs One UI Watch 9 on top of Wear OS 7, and if you've used a recent Galaxy Watch, you'll feel right at home. Samsung hasn't dramatically changed how you navigate the interface, but everything feels polished, responsive and particularly well suited to the Ultra2's large display.
The bigger changes happen around the watch. Both Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable have been redesigned, with cleaner layouts that make it easier to find health data, change watch faces and customise settings. Samsung Health remains particularly good at taking the enormous amount of information the Ultra2 collects and presenting it without becoming overwhelming.
Gemini is now integrated more deeply as well. You can use it to answer questions, send messages, set timers, create reminders or interact with supported apps. There's also a new raise-to-talk gesture, letting you lift your wrist and immediately speak to Gemini. It's a great idea, although reports suggest that activation can still be inconsistent.
Gesture controls go beyond Gemini. You can double-pinch to make selections, use a knocking gesture to launch an assigned app, or shake your wrist to dismiss calls and alarms.
The biggest advantage remains Wear OS itself. You get proper third-party apps including Spotify, Strava and Google Maps, alongside calls, messages, NFC payments and LTE connectivity without needing your phone nearby.
Samsung is also promising five years of major OS upgrades, giving the Ultra2 considerably more longevity than most people will realistically need from a smartwatch.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Battery</h2>
Battery life was one of my biggest complaints with the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, and Samsung has addressed it properly this time. The Ultra2 packs a massive 800mAh battery, up from 590mAh, despite the watch itself becoming thinner.
That translates into noticeably better endurance. With the always-on display enabled, you can realistically expect close to three days of use, even with regular health tracking and a few GPS-enabled workouts thrown in. Turn the always-on display off, and four days of use is entirely achievable depending on how heavily you're using GPS and LTE.
That's a significant improvement over the roughly two-day endurance I experienced with the original Ultra, and it makes the Ultra2 considerably more practical for weekend trips, long treks or endurance activities where charging isn't always convenient.
Charging speed is a more mixed story. The Ultra2 introduces Samsung's first fast-charging support on a Galaxy Watch, with the company claiming up to 40% battery in 30 minutes. In practice, though, that improvement is hard to spot. A full charge from empty still takes around 90 minutes to two hours on the bundled 10W wireless puck.&nbsp;
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Review: Verdict</h2>
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 feels like the upgrade Samsung's original Ultra deserved. Waiting two years has allowed the company to make improvements that actually matter, rather than simply changing a few specifications and calling it a new generation.
The slimmer design makes it more comfortable, the 5,000-nit display is fantastic outdoors, and the Snapdragon Wear Elite keeps everything running smoothly. More importantly, the move from a 590mAh to an 800mAh battery addresses one of my biggest complaints with the original. Getting close to three days with the always-on display enabled makes a substantial difference to everyday usability.
Samsung has also strengthened the 'Ultra' proposition. Improved Trail Running, hydration guidance, dual-frequency GPS and proper diving support make this a considerably more capable adventure watch, while Samsung Health remains one of the most comprehensive health platforms available on Android.
There are still compromises. It's enormous, charging remains slow, there's still no physical rotating bezel, and some health features work best within Samsung's ecosystem.
But if you want a rugged Android smartwatch with excellent health tracking, proper Wear OS functionality and genuinely good multi-day endurance, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is easily Samsung's most complete smartwatch yet.

Redmi Note 17 review: Find out if its 8,000mAh battery, AMOLED display, 50MP camera and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 make it worth buying at ₹24,999.

Redmi Note 17 Review: 8,000mAh Battery, AMOLED Display & More

The Redmi Note 17 delivers an 8,000mAh battery, 120Hz AMOLED display and capable 50MP camera, but its software and performance have some limitations.

Redmi Note 17 Review: Is It Still Worth Buying?

Redmi Note 17 combines an 8,000mAh battery, 120Hz AMOLED display and capable 50MP camera with solid everyday performance, but average speakers, basic video and cluttered software hold it back.

There was a time when recommending a budget or mid-range smartphone in India was almost ridiculously easy. If someone wanted good hardware without spending a fortune, chances are a Redmi Note was somewhere near the top of the list. That formula worked incredibly well for Xiaomi, turning the Note series into one of its biggest success stories in India.
But the playground is a lot more crowded now. Realme, Motorola, CMF and iQOO are fighting aggressively for the same buyers, while POCO gives Xiaomi some competition from within its own house. Prices have gone up too, so the Redmi Note badge alone doesn't carry quite the same weight anymore.
Enter the Redmi Note 17.
Redmi is playing to its strengths here, with a large display, capable everyday performance, a promising primary camera and an absolutely enormous battery.
Prices start at ₹27,999 for the 6GB + 128GB model, dropping to ₹24,999 with bank offers, while the 8GB + 128GB variant costs ₹30,999.
So, can the Note 17 still stand out?
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Review: Plastic, But Far From Boring&nbsp;</h2>
For a phone built almost entirely out of plastic, the<a title="Redmi Note 15 Pro+ Review: A serious upgrade that plays it safe" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/redmi-note-15-pro-review-a-serious-upgrade-that-plays-it-safe-1770104872693" target="_blank"> Redmi Note</a> 17 does a surprisingly good job of not looking boring. A lot of that comes down to the Starlight Purple variant I&rsquo;ve been using. The back has this lovely starry finish, with a shooting-star effect that reveals itself as you move the phone under light. It&rsquo;s playful without going completely overboard. If that isn&rsquo;t your thing, Arctic Blue and Dark Night are the more restrained alternatives.
I also quite like what Redmi has done with the cameras. The squarish camera island houses a pill-shaped section for the lenses and flash, giving the back some visual identity without an enormous camera bump.
What&rsquo;s more impressive is how Redmi has squeezed an 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery into an 8.4mm body. There is a trade-off, though. At 225 grams, the Note 17 is undeniably heavy, and I could feel that weight during longer one-handed sessions. The plastic frame and back don't exactly scream premium either, but the phone itself feels sturdy.
You get Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, and a reinforced chassis. HydroTouch 2.0 is useful too, keeping the touchscreen responsive when your fingers are wet.
The connectivity package is fairly straightforward, with USB Type-C 2.0, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 5. Redmi has also retained the IR blaster, which is always handy. More importantly, there&rsquo;s microSD expansion for up to 2TB, something that&rsquo;s becoming increasingly difficult to find even at this end of the market.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Review: Bright, Vibrant and Seriously Smooth</h2>
The 6.9-inch Full HD+ TrueColour AMOLED display is easily one of my favourite things about the Redmi Note 17. It&rsquo;s big, bright and generally a lovely screen to use, whether I was catching up on YouTube, scrolling through Instagram or squeezing in a quick gaming session. The 120Hz refresh rate keeps everything looking smooth, while the 240Hz touch sampling rate makes the phone feel responsive enough during games and everyday use.
I particularly liked the way Redmi has tuned the colours. With 100% DCI-P3 coverage, there&rsquo;s plenty of punch without everything looking unnecessarily saturated. You also get the deep blacks and excellent viewing angles you&rsquo;d expect from AMOLED, while the Full HD+ resolution keeps things suitably sharp.
Unfortunately, HDR and Dolby Vision are both missing. That takes some shine off the experience if you watch a lot of OTT content, although videos still look quite good thanks to the panel itself.
Outdoor visibility is excellent too. Redmi claims 1,800 nits of peak brightness, and I had no difficulty reading messages or using the phone under harsh sunlight. HydroTouch 2.0 also keeps the touchscreen working reliably with wet or oily fingers.
For eye comfort, there&rsquo;s 960Hz PWM, DC dimming and T&Uuml;V Rheinland Low Blue Light and Circadian Friendly certifications.
I just wish the speakers were equally impressive. The stereo setup gets seriously loud, especially with the 200% volume mode, but sound lacks bass, depth and character. It&rsquo;s perfectly fine for Reels, Shorts and casual videos, but for movies or OTT shows, I found myself reaching for earphones instead.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Review: Cameras That Punch Above Their Weight</h2>
The Redmi Note 17 keeps things fairly simple when it comes to cameras, with the 50MP primary sensor doing most of the work. Thankfully, it&rsquo;s a pretty capable shooter for the price. Give it plenty of daylight and you can get some genuinely good-looking photos, with plenty of detail and respectable dynamic range. Colours are pleasing too, although Redmi&rsquo;s processing tends to favour slightly cooler tones.
There&rsquo;s also a 2x in-sensor zoom, which I found surprisingly usable. Images at 2x retain a decent amount of detail and are perfectly good for sharing on social media. Go any further, however, and the limitations of digital zoom become obvious, with finer details quickly turning soft.
Things are understandably less impressive once the sun goes down. Low-light photos are usable, with decent highlight control, while the dedicated Night Mode does a reasonable job of brightening darker scenes. Portraits fare well too, with mostly accurate edge detection and fairly natural background separation.
You also get AI HDR, AI Scene Detection, Dynamic Shots, AI Bokeh and an AI Editor for tweaking photos afterwards.
Video is more restrictive, topping out at 1080p 30FPS. Colours are fine, but stabilisation could certainly be better, particularly when recording while walking.
Finally, the 8MP front camera gets the basics done. It&rsquo;s absolutely fine for video calls and the occasional selfie, but anyone serious about selfies will want more.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Review: Built for Consistency, Not Speed</h2>
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 powering the Redmi Note 17 isn&rsquo;t going to win any benchmark battles, but that&rsquo;s not really what this phone is trying to do. This 4nm chip is geared more towards efficiency and consistent everyday performance, and for the most part, it delivers.
My review unit came with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage, along with another 8GB of virtual RAM if needed. There&rsquo;s also microSD expansion for up to 2TB.
Day-to-day performance was pleasantly smooth. Apps opened quickly, jumping between them wasn&rsquo;t a problem, and I rarely encountered stutters or slowdowns during regular use. An AnTuTu score of around 6.35 lakh reinforces that this is firmly mid-range territory.
Gaming follows much the same story. BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile run at around 60FPS, and while that won&rsquo;t excite competitive gamers, frame rates remained remarkably consistent during longer sessions. The massive 10,416mm&sup2; graphite cooling layer also keeps temperatures nicely under control.
Redmi&rsquo;s Long-Term Fluency Engine supposedly manages resources to maintain performance over time, with the company promising 48 months of lag-free use. I obviously can&rsquo;t test that claim yet, but it&rsquo;s reassuring for anyone planning to keep the Note 17 for several years.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Review: HyperOS Comes With Baggage</h2>
<a title="Xiaomi 17T Review: A Camera-First Flagship That Gets Almost Everything Right" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/xiaomi-17t-review-a-camera-first-flagship-that-gets-almost-everything-right-1780568820261" target="_blank">HyperOS 3</a>, based on Android 16, feels pretty much exactly how you&rsquo;d expect on the Redmi Note 17. It&rsquo;s smooth, animations look polished, and there are enough customisation options to make the phone feel like your own. If you&rsquo;ve used a recent Xiaomi or Redmi device, you&rsquo;ll feel at home almost immediately.
Unfortunately, some familiar annoyances have made the journey across too. There are plenty of pre-installed apps, along with system ads that make the software feel unnecessarily cluttered straight out of the box. Most can be removed or disabled with a little effort, but I&rsquo;d much rather not have to clean up a new phone in the first place.
The AI toolbox is fairly extensive. You get AI summaries, AI photo editing and Google Gemini, alongside Circle to Search. Xiaomi also includes HyperIsland for live notifications, while its Intelligent AI Engine can learn your usage patterns and prioritise frequently used apps.
The strongest part of the software package, though, is long-term support. Redmi promises four Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates, which is excellent for this segment and makes the Note 17 a much easier phone to consider keeping long-term.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Review: Built to Outlast Your Weekend&nbsp;</h2>
Charging the Redmi Note 17 every night quickly became unnecessary. With an 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery inside, I could comfortably use the phone for two days before reaching for the charger. More conservative users could potentially squeeze even more out of it.
And with that much battery available, Redmi lets you share some of it. The Note 17 supports 22.5W reverse wired charging, so it can double up as an emergency power bank for another phone or your accessories.
Eventually, though, you will have to plug it in. The bundled charger delivers 45W wired charging, which feels relatively slow when there&rsquo;s an enormous 8,000mAh cell to fill.
Longevity looks promising on paper as well. Redmi says the battery is designed to retain at least 80% of its original capacity even after 1,600 charging cycles, which should be reassuring if you intend to keep the phone for several years.
<h2>Verdict: Still a Note Worth Considering&nbsp;</h2>
After using the Redmi Note 17, I don&rsquo;t think it needs to be the fastest or most feature-packed phone around ₹25,000 to make sense. Its strength lies elsewhere: it gets the fundamentals right and then throws genuinely exceptional battery life into the equation.
That 8,000mAh silicon-carbon battery is easily my favourite thing about the phone. Two days between charges became completely normal during my time with it, and the fact that Redmi has managed this without creating an unwieldy brick makes it even better. The large AMOLED display is another highlight, especially for watching videos and scrolling through social media.
Elsewhere, things are more straightforward. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is perfectly comfortable with everyday tasks and casual gaming, while the 50MP camera can take some impressive daylight photos. Redmi&rsquo;s promise of four Android upgrades and six years of security patches is another meaningful advantage if you don&rsquo;t replace your phone every couple of years.
There are rough edges. The speakers sound rather lifeless, video capabilities are basic, demanding games quickly expose the chipset&rsquo;s limitations, and HyperOS 3 still comes with unnecessary clutter.
Would I buy it? At the ₹24,999 offer price, yes, especially if battery life and display quality sit high on your priority list. At ₹30,999 for the 8GB model, no. There are simply too many stronger options once you cross ₹30,000, especially when you look at last year&rsquo;s phones.
The Note 17 isn&rsquo;t a return to Redmi&rsquo;s giant-killing days, but at the right price, it doesn&rsquo;t need to be.

Google Pixel 11 series is here with Tensor G6, Gemini AI, upgraded cameras and new designs. Check Pixel 11, Pro, Pro XL and Pro Fold prices in India.

Google Pixel 11 Series Launched in India: Price, Specs & Features

Google has launched the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold with Tensor G6, enhanced cameras, deeper Gemini AI and new designs.

Google Pixel 11 Series Launched With Tensor G6 and Deeper Gemini AI

Google has launched the Pixel 11 series in India with Tensor G6, deeper Gemini AI integration, upgraded cameras and refined designs, alongside the Pixel Watch 5 and new Pixel accessories.

Google has officially announced its latest flagship smartphone portfolio, introducing the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Engineered around custom silicon and running the latest Gemini Nano model, the new lineup brings a more intuitive, proactive, and effortless AI experience directly to users. Alongside hardware refinements across the board, Google also expanded its wearable lineup with the Pixel Watch 5, new audio updates, and a redesigned range of accessories.
<h2>Custom Silicon and Built-in Security</h2>
At the core of the entire Pixel 11 lineup is the all-new <a title="Google's Tensor chip could be a re-branded Exynos processor from Samsung: reports" href="https://www.editorji.com/story/google-s-tensor-chip-could-be-a-re-branded-exynos-processor-from-samsung-reports-1628353397128" target="_blank">Google Tensor </a>G6 processor. Co-designed alongside Google DeepMind, the chip delivers fluid overall performance, up to 20 percent better power efficiency, 25 percent faster web browsing, and 50 percent more TPU computing power compared to the previous generation. Running the latest Gemini Nano model on-device, Tensor G6 handles complex local AI workloads&mdash;such as live translations and proactive assistance&mdash;with higher quality and lower latency.
Hardware security starts at the chip level with the new Titan M3 co-processor. Working in tandem with Tensor G6, Titan M3 utilizes post-quantum cryptography to guard against advanced digital attacks, matching gold-standard security certifications used for banking cards. Furthermore, all devices in the Pixel 11 series are backed by seven years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates.
<h2>Refined Designs and Brighter Displays</h2>
The <a title="Google Pixel 10a Review: The Smartest &ldquo;Mid-Range&rdquo; Phone You Can Buy" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/google-pixel-10a-review-the-smartest-mid-range-phone-you-can-buy-1772874508674" target="_blank">Pixel</a> 11 family introduces a masterfully redesigned camera bar with edge-to-edge glass flowing into a polished or satin metal frame. Across the series, the devices carry an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, ensuring long-term durability.
The base Pixel 11 features a 40 percent thinner camera bar profile, a 3,000-nit Actua display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 12GB of RAM, and a 30+ hour Adaptive Battery. It is available in Frost, Hibiscus, Pistachio, and Obsidian.
The Pixel 11 Pro and Pro XL introduce a 3,600-nit Super Actua display featuring a new coating that makes the glass twice as scratch-resistant. Available in Canyon, Fog, Olive, and a new all-matte Obsidian, the Pro models include up to 16GB of RAM, an advanced cooling vapor chamber, and ultra-fast wired charging capable of reaching up to 75 percent power in approximately 30 minutes on the Pro XL.
For foldable enthusiasts, the Pixel 11 Pro Fold delivers big-screen capabilities in a package that is nearly 1mm thinner, 10 percent lighter, and three times stronger than its predecessor. Built with a ceramic cover glass, a composite back, and a redesigned hinge, the Pro Fold unfolds to a 20 percent brighter 8-inch Super Actua Flex display designed for seamless side-by-side multitasking.
<h2>Proactive AI Tools and Camera Upgrades</h2>
Google has integrated deep AI innovations into daily phone interactions:
HiLight Ambient LEDs: Exclusive to Pro devices, HiLight uses an array of LED lights built around the rear flash to output gentle, color-coded glows. This gives glanceable visual alerts when receiving calls from favorite contacts or when Gemini is listening and responding hands-free. Rambler Voice Input: This Gemini-powered feature transcribes natural speech cleanly, automatically removing hesitation filler words like "um" and "ah" to output polished text instantly.
Next-Gen Photography Features: Magic Capture automatically analyzes hundreds of frames in real time to select, unblur, and crop spontaneous photos into ready-to-share memories. Camera Looks enables sensor-level film style customization while preserving equitable skin tones via Real Tone technology.
Hardware Upgrades: The base Pixel 11 features a 48MP main camera with 56 percent greater light sensitivity and 30x Super Res Zoom. The Pro models boast a 50MP main sensor and a 48MP telephoto lens supporting up to 120x Pro Zoom, Instant Night Sight, and 8K Pro Stable Video. Pro users also gain access to the Creator Suite, which includes an integrated teleprompter and Storyboard editing tools.
<h2>Pixel Watch 5 and Other Accessories</h2>
Adding to their accessories, Google introduced the Pixel Watch 5 in 41mm and 45mm sizes. Powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platform, the watch runs 20 percent faster and introduces Offline Gemini assistance. Its new Health Guardian suite offers 15 percent more accurate sleep tracking alongside trend summaries for blood pressure and insulin resistance.
Audio updates were announced for the Pixel Buds Pro 2, including enhanced adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, Sleep Sync functionality to pause media when the user falls asleep, and a new Olive colorway. Additionally, Google unveiled magnetic Pixelsnap compatibility across its lineup, introducing color-matched magnetic cases&mdash;including clear cases for the first time&mdash;and Pixelsnap Ring Stands.
<h2>Pricing and Availability</h2>
Pre-orders for the Pixel 11 series and Pixel Watch 5 are open now, with retail availability beginning August 20, 2026.
In India, pricing for the lineup is as follows:
<ul>
<li>Pixel 11: Starting at ₹89,999</li>
<li>Pixel 11 Pro: Starting at ₹1,19,999</li>
<li>Pixel 11 Pro XL: Starting at ₹1,34,999</li>
<li>Pixel 11 Pro Fold: Starting at ₹1,86,999</li>
<li>Pixel Watch 5: Starting at ₹42,900 (41mm) and ₹45,900 (45mm)</li>
</ul>
To support the launch, Google is bundling 6 months of the Google AI Pro plan with all Pro and Fold purchases. Indian consumers can also take advantage of instant bank cashback with HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, up to 24-month no-cost EMI plans, zero down payment loans through Bajaj Finance and IDFC FIRST Bank, and an assured buyback value of up to 62.5 percent after nine months via the Pixel Upgrade Program.

The Marshall Bromley 450 delivers powerful 400W sound, immersive 360° audio, premium amp-inspired design and impressive battery life, making it a stylish party speaker.

Marshall Bromley 450 Review: 400W Sound, 360° Audio & 40+ Hour Battery Life

The Marshall Bromley 450 combines iconic amp-inspired design with powerful 400W sound, 360&deg; audio and impressive battery life. It offers versatile connectivity and outdoor durability, but its ₹79,999 price and hefty build may give buyers pause.

Party speakers have never really been my thing. I understand the appeal of massive sound, thumping bass and enough volume to annoy an entire neighbourhood, but aesthetically, most of them leave me cold. The category is packed with large plastic boxes covered in RGB lighting, which might look perfect at home beside a pool or at a house party, but considerably less so in a nicely put-together living room.
So, when the Marshall Bromley 450 landed on my radar, I was genuinely curious.
At ₹79,999, it certainly isn&rsquo;t cheap, but Marshall is approaching the party-speaker formula rather differently. Instead of looking like oversized DJ equipment, the Bromley 450 borrows heavily from the brand&rsquo;s classic guitar amps, complete with that unmistakable rock-and-roll character.
There&rsquo;s plenty of muscle underneath, too. You get 400W of output, Marshall&rsquo;s 360-degree True Stereophonic sound and over 40 hours of claimed battery life.
I&rsquo;ve spent the past two weeks using the Bromley 450 at home, pushing it hard and, crucially, actually living with it. And I have some thoughts.
<h2>Marshall Bromley 450: A Classic Rock Look With a Modern Party Twist</h2>
The Marshall Bromley 450 immediately stands out with its unmistakable rock-and-roll aesthetic. The black-and-brass finish feels much more refined than the flashy designs you typically see on party speakers. The textured black vinyl covering gives it that classic Marshall amp character, while the brass logo, control knobs, and accents add just enough contrast to keep things interesting.
One of my favourite touches is the lighting tucked behind the front grille. Instead of going overboard with aggressive RGB effects, Marshall keeps things relatively understated, with three lighting presets that gently pulse and respond to whatever you&rsquo;re listening to. It adds some atmosphere without making the speaker look like a gaming accessory.
At 12.32kg, the Bromley 450 isn&rsquo;t exactly lightweight, although it is considerably easier to handle than the 23.9kg Bromley 750. There&rsquo;s a built-in handle to help with carrying it, but wheels would have made transporting it around much more convenient.
The IP55 rating is another practical addition, offering protection from dust and light water exposure. It even handled a surprise drizzle outdoors without any issues.
<h2>Marshall Bromley 450: Serious Hardware Under the Hood</h2>
The Bromley 450 isn&rsquo;t just about looking like a classic Marshall amp; there&rsquo;s plenty going on behind that grille. It packs two 6.5-inch woofers dedicated to handling the lower frequencies, along with four 2-inch full-range drivers that take care of vocals and the mid-range detail.
Marshall has also added a pair of passive radiators to help move more air and give the speaker deeper bass, reaching down to 42Hz. Powering the setup is a hefty 400W RMS output through custom-tuned Class-D amplification.
In practical terms, the Bromley 450 can get seriously loud, with output reaching up to 100dB at a distance of one metre. More importantly, it manages to maintain its composure when you start pushing the volume.
<h2>Marshall Bromley 450: Big, Balanced Sound That Fills the Room</h2>
I threw pretty much everything at the Bromley 450, from Fleetwood Mac and Daft Punk to Kendrick Lamar and Hans Zimmer, and it handled the mix of genres surprisingly well. Unlike many party speakers that push bass so hard that everything else gets lost, the Bromley 450 keeps the low end controlled and purposeful.
Daft Punk&rsquo;s &ldquo;Get Lucky&rdquo; was a great example. The bass had plenty of punch and warmth, without becoming boomy or overpowering. It won&rsquo;t shake the room like a speaker with a massive dedicated subwoofer, but the combination of its woofers and passive radiators delivers more than enough low-end presence for a living room or outdoor gathering.
What impressed me more was the detail higher up the frequency range. Guitars sounded lively, vocals stayed clear, and acoustic instruments retained their natural character. Even above 80% volume, I didn&rsquo;t notice any obvious distortion or unpleasant harshness.
The 360-degree True Stereophonic sound also works remarkably well. During a gathering, I could hear a consistent, immersive sound whether I was standing in front of the speaker or behind it. There&rsquo;s no obvious sweet spot, making it ideal when you want the entire room to be part of the listening experience.
<h2>Marshall Bromley 450: A Connectivity Powerhouse With Bluetooth 5.3</h2>
The Bromley 450 feels more like an all-in-one audio system than a conventional party speaker. Wireless connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5.3, with support for SBC and AAC, while LC3 and Auracast &mdash; referred to as Broadcast by Marshall &mdash; add some welcome future-proofing.
The wired options are even more impressive. You get a 3.5mm AUX connection, RCA inputs, USB Type-C, and dual XLR/6.35mm combo inputs. That makes the speaker surprisingly versatile, whether you&rsquo;re connecting older audio equipment, plugging in instruments, or using it for a more involved setup.
Marshall&rsquo;s companion app gets the job done, although it feels a little basic. I would have liked more control over the EQ and lighting effects. Still, the presets are well judged, and the lighting manages to add atmosphere without making the speaker feel unnecessarily flashy.
<h2>Marshall Bromley 450: Battery Life That Actually Delivers</h2>
Marshall&rsquo;s claim of more than 40 hours of wireless playback sounded a little optimistic to me, so I decided to put it through a real-world test rather than simply taking the advertised figure at face value.
I used the Bromley 450 at around 50% volume for a week, which is more than sufficient for casual listening and background music at a gathering. The battery held up remarkably well, giving me roughly 38 hours of mixed playback before I had to reach for the charger. That&rsquo;s seriously impressive for a speaker of this size.
Running low isn&rsquo;t much of a headache either. A quick 20-minute charge can restore up to six hours of playback, which is handy when you&rsquo;re in a hurry.
Another thoughtful touch is the replaceable LFP battery. Once the battery eventually starts losing capacity, you can replace the pack instead of having to retire the entire speaker.
<h2>Marshall Bromley 450: A Premium Party Speaker That Looks as Good as It Sounds</h2>
The Marshall Bromley 450 is one of those speakers that manages to make a strong impression before you even press play. Its classic amplifier-inspired design looks fantastic in a living room, while the sound quality backs up the visual appeal. Vocals remain clear, treble has plenty of detail, and the bass delivers a satisfying punch without becoming messy, even when you push the volume.
The 360-degree sound projection is another big win, especially when you&rsquo;re entertaining. It spreads audio evenly around the room instead of forcing everyone into one listening position. Battery life is equally impressive, with more than 40 hours of playback, fast charging, and a replaceable battery pack. The microphone and instrument inputs are also a lot of fun, particularly for impromptu karaoke or jam sessions. Add the IP55 rating, and it feels well suited to parties and outdoor use.
There are, however, a few things to consider. At around ₹79,999, the Bromley 450 is undeniably expensive. Its 12kg-plus weight also means portability is limited, despite the built-in handle. The companion app could do with more advanced controls for EQ and lighting, too.
Still, I think Marshall has struck an excellent balance between style, performance, and practicality here. If you want a speaker that can handle a house party while looking genuinely premium in your home, and the price isn&rsquo;t a concern, the Bromley 450 is an easy recommendation.

The Vivo S2 combines a massive 7,050mAh battery, premium curved AMOLED display, reliable cameras, and excellent thermals. Read our in-depth Vivo S2 review.

Vivo S2 Review: 7050mAh Battery, AMOLED Display & Camera Test

With a huge 7,050mAh battery, premium curved AMOLED display, dependable cameras, and impressive thermal performance, the Vivo S2 delivers one of the most balanced smartphone experiences in its segment.

Vivo S2 Review: A Premium Mid-Ranger That Nails Battery Life

The Vivo S2 impresses with exceptional battery life, a premium curved AMOLED display, dependable cameras, and efficient thermals, making it one of the most balanced premium mid-range smartphones despite modest benchmark scores.

Back in 2019, Vivo struck a sweet spot with the original S1 by pairing distinct flair with a budget-friendly price point. Jump forward seven years, and its direct follow-up, the Vivo S2, enters a far more crowded landscape. Today&rsquo;s mid-range market frequently trades away essential features just to chase eye-catching designs or massive battery claims.
Vivo tackles that exact compromise by stuffing a massive 7,050mAh battery inside an impressively thin shell, without skimping on display quality or everyday power.
Starting at Rs 39,999 for the 8GB + 128GB tier and stepping up to Rs 44,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model, it sits in a higher price tier. That said, premium positioning has become the norm for capable mid-rangers today.
I spent two weeks testing the S2 as my main phone to see if it carries the legacy of the original S1 forward.
<h2>Design</h2>
Holding the Vivo S2 for the first time, the hand feel immediately catches your attention. The Silk White unit I reviewed comes in at 199 grams with an 8.10mm profile&mdash;a surprisingly manageable footprint considering the massive battery tucked inside. For those who prefer different aesthetics, the Sapphire Blue and Regal Bronze options shave off a bit more bulk, dropping to 197 grams and a slim 7.99mm thickness.
Instead of glossy plastic, Vivo went with a subtle satin glass finish across the back plate. It reflects ambient light smoothly without turning into a smeared, greasy mess after a few minutes of handling. Up top, the camera module draws heavily from the <a title="Vivo X300 FE Review: Flagship Performance in a Pocket-Friendly Body" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/vivo-x300-fe-review-flagship-performance-in-a-pocket-friendly-body-1778065708933" target="_blank">Vivo X300 FE</a> layout, housing the camera hardware next to the circular Aura Light. It looks minimalist, refined, and uncluttered.
Button placement feels completely natural. The volume rocker and power key sit along the right rail. The bottom edge houses the dual-mic setup, primary speaker, SIM slot, and USB-C port, while the top edge packs an IR blaster and an extra speaker unit. The resulting stereo setup gets loud enough for daily media consumption, prioritizing voice clarity rather than heavy low-end punch.
Robustness is another solid suit here. Vivo packs in MIL-STD-810H shock resistance alongside IP68 and IP69 water and dust certification. While I didn't dunk the phone in a pool to prove a point, it easily offers more than enough protection against sudden rainstorms, kitchen accidents, or accidental desk slips.
<h2>Display</h2>
The front panel is dominated by a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel featuring 3D curved glass. While most manufacturers are rapidly shifting toward flat panels, Vivo's decision to stick with curved sides stands out as an intentional design choice.
According to Vivo, this approach specifically targets users who want a sleek, high-end feel coupled with an immersive view for media consumption and gaming.
Practically speaking, those tapered edges make edge-swipe gestures feel incredibly natural. The screen pushes a 2800 &times; 1260 resolution at 449 PPI, rendering sharp text and vivid tones without pushing colors into artificially saturated territory. Native HDR playback functions smoothly across both YouTube and Netflix right away. Tucked under the glass, the optical fingerprint sensor triggers fast and accurate unlocks.
Screen brightness handles real-world scenarios with ease. Indoor visibility is a breeze, but outdoors, the 2,000-nit High Brightness Mode shines. Overcast Delhi weather initially limited sunlight testing, but a trip to Greater Noida via Rapido changed that. When the driver's phone died mid-route, using the S2 for direct-sunlight navigation proved how legible the panel remains under bright skies. Peak HDR brightness tops out at a massive 3,000 nits.
Instead of an LTPO display, Vivo sticks with an LTPS screen, though the 120Hz refresh rate maintains smooth scrolling throughout UI navigation. The panel uses VM9 light-emitting materials backed by SGS eye-comfort certifications, which actively cuts down glare and keeps late-night reading sessions easy on the eyes.
<h2>Camera</h2>
Vivo has built a strong track record with smartphone photography, and the S2 sticks to that formula. Its rear array pairs a 50MP main camera driven by Sony&rsquo;s IMX852 sensor with a secondary 2MP lens.
Daytime shots turn out sharp and detailed, featuring clean shadows and balanced dynamic range. While this model drops Zeiss branding and custom color modes, Vivo's default image processing keeps everyday scenes looking natural rather than oversaturated.
Low-light performance is where the setup really gets fun, mostly due to the integrated Aura Light ring. Instead of glaring like a standard flash, it operates more like a pocket studio light. You can tweak its brightness across Photo, Portrait, and Video modes, yielding soft, flattering illumination on faces without washing out key details.
Portrait shots deliver clean edge separation around fine hair and outfit borders. Human skin tones lean a touch brighter than actual life, which might not suit purists, but the photos look punchy and ready for social feeds right from the gallery.
Up front sits a 32MP selfie shooter. Many brands in this market tier treat front-facing sensors like low-priority extras, but Vivo avoids taking shortcuts here. It captures consistently detailed selfies with pleasing face tones.
Video capture tops out at 4K resolution at 30fps across both front and back cameras. Main camera video stays steady with realistic colors, though the front camera skips stabilization, causing noticeable jitter during handheld walking clips. You also get a Dual View Video mode to capture simultaneously from both sides for quick vlog recording.
<h2>Performance</h2>
Under the hood, the Vivo S2 runs on MediaTek's Dimensity 7360-Turbo chipset, backed by 8GB of RAM and snappy UFS 3.1 storage. Being realistic, high benchmark scores were never the main goal here. Synthetic tests backed this up: AnTuTu posted roughly 965,906 points, Geekbench 6 clocked 1,043 in single-core and 2,954 in multi-core, and 3DMark&rsquo;s Wild Life Stress Test recorded a peak loop result of 3,161. These metrics fall short of topping segment leaderboards, but numbers do not show the complete picture.
Day-to-day usability stays consistently snappy. Applications open fast, feed scrolling remains smooth, and jumping between background tasks never triggered random app kills or crashes.
Gaming output delivered a pleasant surprise. Extended sessions across BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile ran smoothly throughout. Even capped at 90fps, frame delivery held steady in heavy firefights without jarring stutters or drops. Hardcore competitive players might look elsewhere, but casual gamers will find little to complain about.
Heat handling stood out as the biggest highlight. Plenty of slim mid-rangers heat up quickly after short gaming sessions, but the S2 stayed barely warm even after two straight hours of heavy gaming. 3DMark verified this efficiency with a strong 99% stability rating under long stress loads. Real-world execution easily outshines what raw benchmark sheets imply.
<h2>Software, UI/UX and AI Features</h2>
The Vivo S2 boots up with OriginOS 6 running on top of Android 16. Vivo commits to three major OS upgrades alongside five years of security updates, guaranteeing solid future-proofing.
In daily operation, the UI feels fast and fluid. Origin Island stands out as a particularly neat trick, expanding around the selfie punch-hole to surface active media controls, charging status, and incoming alerts without cluttering the display.
On the downside, the system comes bundled with a noticeable amount of bloatware right away.
The built-in AI tools actually offer practical everyday utility. Gallery integration includes an AI Erase feature that lets you draw a circle around stray objects or people to erase them cleanly with few visual defects. Circle to Search quickly became a daily go-to for translating snippets or looking up items directly from social feeds. Deep Google Gemini integration allows live camera and screen sharing for instant contextual help.
<h2>Battery and Charging</h2>
Endurance stands out as the single strongest reason to consider the <a title="Vivo X300 Ultra Review: This Flagship Is Basically a Mirrorless Camera" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/vivo-x300-ultra-review-this-flagship-is-basically-a-mirrorless-camera-1778668885531" target="_blank">Vivo</a> S2. Squeezing a huge 7,050mAh cell into a slim 8.10mm frame sounded like a recipe for hidden trade-offs, but actual runtime blew past my initial expectations.
Under demanding daily use, the phone easily stretches close to two full days. My usage involved heavy camera testing, endless social feed scrolling, active GPS navigation, and routine gaming sessions.
An hour of playing BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile drained just 9% of power, while an hour of Wi-Fi video streaming on YouTube barely registered. Range anxiety simply is not a concern here.
When the battery hits zero, the included 44W FlashCharge brick tops it back up to 100% in a little over an hour and ten minutes. For a battery of this scale, that speed is remarkable.
Vivo claims the cell will retain good health over six years across roughly 1,600 charge cycles. There is also a Bypass Charging option that manages heat during plugged-in gaming, meaning you can leave the portable charger at home.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
The Vivo S2 shines by prioritizing real-world practicalities over headline-grabbing spec sheets. It concentrates on core user priorities: phenomenal battery endurance, a reliable camera setup backed by the flexible Aura Light, and remarkable thermal efficiency under long gaming loads.
It will not draw in benchmark chasers, and pre-installed bloatware remains a downer. Nevertheless, given its IP68 and IP69 ratings, vivid 120Hz curved AMOLED panel, steady 4K video recording, and five years of security patches, it provides a well-balanced overall package.
Priced at Rs 39,999, it faces stiff market rivalry. Even so, if you want a sleek, dependable phone that delivers outstanding battery life without thermal issues or mid-day battery drain, the Vivo S2 earns a easy recommendation

TraceX Labs launches GEOX AI, an AI-powered visual geolocation platform that analyses images and videos using visual clues without relying on GPS or EXIF metadata.

TraceX Labs Launches GEOX AI For AI-Powered Image Geolocation

TraceX Labs launches GEOX AI, a visual geolocation platform that uses AI to analyse images and videos and estimate their real-world locations without GPS or EXIF metadata.

TraceX Labs has launched GEOX AI, an AI-powered visual geolocation platform that analyses images and videos using visible environmental clues. It offers location estimates, maps, confidence scores and intelligence reports.

TraceX Labs has launched GEOX AI, an AI-powered visual geolocation platform designed to identify the real-world location of images and videos using visible clues instead of GPS or EXIF metadata.
According to TraceX Labs, the platform analyses elements such as architecture, road layouts, vegetation, terrain, signage, lighting and other environmental details to estimate where visual content was captured.
<a href="https://tracexlabs.com/products/GEOX-AI/">GEOX AI</a> offers Fast and Advanced analysis modes, with results displayed through interactive satellite maps. The platform also provides confidence scores, possible location matches and exportable intelligence reports.
The technology has been highlighted for potential applications in OSINT, digital forensics, law enforcement investigations, journalism, threat intelligence and disaster response.
The platform has also attracted attention for its potential use in defence and intelligence scenarios. At the same time, its capabilities highlight privacy concerns, as images may reveal sensitive location information through visible environmental clues even when metadata has been removed.

Tech

The Xiaomi Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact offers quiet operation, useful smart controls and capable filtration, making it a strong first purifier for smaller rooms.

Xiaomi Mijia Air Purifier 4 Compact Review India: Price, Features And Performance

<h3>Xiaomi Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact is a quiet, affordable way to clean the rooms you actually use, whether it is a bedroom, study or home office.</h3>

Xiaomi has returned to India&rsquo;s air-purifier market under its Mijia smart-home label, launching the Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact alongside the larger Air Purifier 6. The 4 Compact is the entry-level model, priced at ₹7,999, but it does not feel like a stripped-down appliance.
That price is its biggest advantage. It gives first-time buyers a fairly low-risk entry into air purification, and it also makes a room-by-room approach possible. A purifier in the bedroom and another in the study is usually more useful than asking one machine in the hallway to solve every air-quality problem in the house.
<h2>Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact Review: Design and Set-Up</h2>
Xiaomi has gone for function over flair with the Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact. It is a compact white cylinder with a black touch panel sitting on top, measuring 22cm across and 35.5cm high. At 2.2kg, it is easy to place on a desk, side table or floor, and light enough to move to another room when needed.
A handle would have made it more convenient to carry around the house, but the low weight keeps this from being a serious omission. This is not a purifier you will struggle to lift.
The setup is equally uncomplicated. Remove the protective cover from the filter, connect the power cable and switch it on. It can be used straight away through the top panel. Xiaomi Home takes a few more minutes to pair, but the app is useful for settings that are not available directly on the machine.
Air is pulled in through the perforated lower section and pushed out from the top. This makes the placement rules fairly obvious: keep the lower vents and upper grille clear. The purifier will still run if it is wedged against a wall, but it will not be operating at its best.
At the rear, there is an opening for the particulate matter sensor. It should be kept clean, since the sensor feeds the Auto Mode and helps the purifier decide when to increase fan speed.
The touch controls include power, light adjustment and mode selection. Auto, Sleep and Manual each have their own indicator, alongside status icons. The light strip gives a quick read on the air it detects: green for 0&ndash;35, yellow for 36&ndash;75, orange for 76&ndash;150 and red beyond 150. It is simple, visible and useful from across a room.
<h2>Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact Review: Filtration</h2>
The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact uses a cylindrical filter that combines three layers. There is a pre-filter for larger particles such as hair and household dust, a HEPA filter for finer matter, and activated carbon for odours. Air is pulled in through the bottom vents, passes through those layers and exits from the top.
Xiaomi rates the filtration system at 99.97 per cent for particles down to 0.3 microns. Its list includes dust, pollen, smoke and pet dander, while T&Uuml;V Rheinland Allergy Care certification gives it an added allergy-focused credential. For people who wake up with itchy eyes or spend half the morning dusting a desk, those are the claims that matter most.
Its particle CADR is 230m&sup3;/h, and Xiaomi advertises coverage of more than 400 sq ft. The small print is important here: the coverage calculation assumes two air changes an hour. The purifier can therefore be used in a larger room, but its size and airflow make it a more convincing pick for a bedroom, small living room, study or personal office. That is where it can keep working through the room&rsquo;s air at a more useful pace.
The activated carbon layer is the compromise. During an incense test, it made quick work of the visible smoke, but the fragrance stayed in the room much longer. The purifier is clearly better at removing particulate pollution than it is at clearing stubborn odours. Buyers who need help with smoke and pollen will be happier than those looking to neutralise heavy cooking smells.
Auto Mode is the sensible default. The onboard sensor responds to changing air quality and takes care of fan speed on its own. Sleep Mode switches off the display and is rated at 20dB. In everyday use, the purifier is quiet even outside Sleep Mode. With a ceiling fan on, I could not hear it from roughly two feet away.
Manual Mode lets you set the purifier&rsquo;s speed through Xiaomi Home. You can select Manual on the device itself, but any adjustment to its level happens in the app.
<h2>Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact Review: App &amp; Features</h2>
The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact can be operated entirely from its top panel, so Xiaomi Home is optional. The app adds useful controls that make it more convenient.
Remote power control means you can start it before reaching home. You can also set timers, move between Auto, Sleep and Manual modes, and change display brightness. The child lock disables the buttons on the purifier, while notification sounds, device sharing, automation routines and firmware updates are also covered. Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support are included too.
Manual Mode benefits most from the app. Xiaomi does not give you a row of numbered fan levels. Instead, you choose room coverage with a slider, and the purifier sets its speed to suit. Once saved, selecting Manual on the purifier brings that setting back without needing to open the app again.
Xiaomi Home does not present air-quality information particularly well. The purifier&rsquo;s main page shows a broad &ldquo;Good&rdquo; status, which is reassuring but offers little detail. The home dashboard can display a particulate reading in &micro;g/m&sup3;, though it is not carried through to the device page. There is no history chart either.
That makes Xiaomi Home useful for control and automation, but less helpful if you want to track how quickly the purifier has improved the room.
<h2>Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact Review: Living With It</h2>
The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact works best in Auto Mode. Its sensor manages the fan, increasing speed when air quality worsens and reducing it once the room is back in shape. There is little reason to keep changing settings yourself.
Noise is one of its strengths. Xiaomi rates Sleep Mode at 20dB, and the purifier is quiet enough to keep beside a bed. You can also switch off the screen at night. Outside Sleep Mode, the fan is still well controlled. You will notice it at a higher speed, but it avoids the strained noise cheaper purifiers often make.
The 27W power rating makes it practical to leave running for long periods. Xiaomi estimates 24 hours of maximum-power use at roughly 0.7kWh. Everyday use on Auto should be lower again.
Changing the filter takes a minute. Twist open the base, slide the cylindrical cartridge out and fit a new one. Xiaomi Home gives filter-life reminders. The remaining question is replacement-filter cost and availability in India.
<h2>Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact Review: Verdict</h2>
The Mijia Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact is an easy first air purifier to recommend at ₹7,999. It is small enough to place almost anywhere, quiet enough for a bedroom, and happy to sit in Auto Mode while you get on with your day.
The three-layer filter, app controls and 27W rating make it more rounded than a basic budget purifier. It also suits homes that would rather use smaller purifiers in the rooms that need them than expect one large unit to handle everything.
The app does not show air-quality data particularly well, and the small carbon layer cannot tackle every strong smell. Filter cost and availability will matter over time, though Xiaomi says replacements will remain readily available during peak demand.
Those are manageable compromises. This is an affordable, quiet and capable way to bring cleaner air into the rooms you use most.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review: Excellent sound, reliable ANC, improved comfort and replaceable batteries make these premium TWS earbuds stand out.

Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 5: Built To Outlast Most Premium Earbuds

<h3>The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 brings excellent sound, strong ANC and a rare repairability advantage, with replaceable batteries in both earbuds and the case.</h3>

Flagship TWS earbuds usually compete on a predictable checklist: stronger ANC, a new codec or a few extra app features. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 has all of that, but its most important addition is far more practical. Both the earbuds and charging case use replaceable batteries.
The ₹29,990 MTW5 also brings Bluetooth 6.0, aptX Lossless, Dolby Atmos with head tracking, adaptive ANC, multipoint support and a claimed 40 hours of total playback.&nbsp;
Sennheiser has also made the earbuds smaller and more comfortable than their predecessors, while retaining the rich, detailed sound that defines the Momentum line. I found that combination particularly compelling. Premium earbuds are rarely built for long-term ownership, and the MTW5 gives buyers a credible reason to expect more from theirs.
<h2>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: Design &amp; Comfort</h2>
The Momentum True Wireless 5 is not a minor refresh. Sennheiser has reshaped both the earbuds and case around a smaller, more ergonomic form, and the difference is obvious once you put them in.
The earlier Momentum models I used were comfortable enough, but their larger shells were always noticeable. The MTW5 feels less intrusive. Its smoother housing and shorter nozzle sit more naturally in the ear canal, creating a secure fit without the pressure that can make earbuds tiring after an hour or two. I wore them through work, travel and longer viewing sessions without feeling the need to take them out.
Sennheiser supplies XS, S, M and L ear tips. Choosing the right one matters, as a proper seal improves comfort, bass response and noise cancellation while keeping the earbuds stable when you are moving around. With the right tips, the MTW5 stays firmly in place despite lacking wings or stabilising fins.
The case is slimmer and more pocket-friendly than earlier Momentum designs. It has a clean finish and looks suitably premium, although my unit had a small amount of play in the lid. It is not a dealbreaker, but it is something Sennheiser should tighten up at this price.
The earbuds carry an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance. They should be fine with gym sessions, sweat and occasional rain, but the charging case has no similar protection.
Sennheiser's most important design decision is invisible: the batteries in both earbuds and the case can be replaced. The buds use small screws, the case uses one, and the process requires a tiny precision screwdriver and the included pry tool. The batteries are proprietary, so replacement pricing and local availability will be important to watch.
Even so, this makes the MTW5 unusual in the flagship TWS market. Most models become disposable once battery capacity declines. These offer a practical route to extending their usable life, and that gives the redesign much more weight than a cosmetic makeover.
<h2>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: Audio Quality</h2>
The Momentum True Wireless 5's strongest argument remains sound quality. Sennheiser uses 7mm TrueResponse drivers, and the result is a rich, composed signature that has enough punch for modern music without sacrificing clarity.
Bass is the immediate highlight. It extends low and gives electronic and pop tracks satisfying weight. Crucially, it does not spill into the midrange. On The Weeknd's Take My Breath and Radiohead's The National Anthem, the low-end drive remains present, but vocals and instrumental layers stay intelligible.
That control carries over to hip-hop and percussion-led tracks. KR$NA and Dhanda Nyoliwala's Boomshakalaka is a useful example. The kick has definition, the bassline has proper physicality, and the earbuds avoid turning the track into a thick, one-note thump. Sub-bass is substantial, while the mid-bass remains full and warm. The MTW5 is not basshead-tuned, but its low end has welcome authority.
The midrange is equally well judged. Vocals are clean and natural, while guitars and acoustic instruments retain a convincing sense of body. On Ghost's Mary On a Cross, individual layers remain clearly separated. I found that this was one of the MTW5's most appealing traits: busy songs do not collapse into the centre, and quieter recordings do not sound thin.
Treble performance is detailed and crisp. Pasoori by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill is particularly effective for judging this, as its strings, percussion and vocal inflections all remain easy to follow. There is occasional extra energy in the upper frequencies on brighter recordings, though, which can make the presentation a little sharp for sensitive listeners.
The Smart Control Plus app offers several ways to address that. Its EQ uses fixed bands rather than a fully parametric system, but a modest reduction smooths the sound without reducing its detail. Bass Boost, presets and Sound Personalisation are also available.
Dolby Atmos and head tracking are part of the feature set. Atmos can add scale to compatible films, but stereo remains the better music mode. It is more natural, cohesive and closer to Sennheiser's core sound signature.
<h2>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: ANC and Call Quality</h2>
The Momentum True Wireless 5 improves ANC where it matters most. It reduces persistent, low-frequency sound particularly well, softening traffic, bus engines, aircraft cabins, air conditioners and office fans to a far less distracting level.
Fit plays a major role. Once I found the right ear tips, the passive seal and adaptive ANC made the MTW5 especially effective for travel and work. It is also worth installing the latest firmware straight away. The review unit initially had some ANC issues, but they disappeared after the update.
Higher-pitched noise and nearby conversations are not removed completely, but they are softened enough that they do not constantly interrupt music or podcasts.
Transparency mode is well judged. It lets you hear an announcement or hold a quick conversation without removing the earbuds, and your own voice comes through clearly enough. Apple's AirPods Pro still offers a more natural effect, but the MTW5 remains a useful option for everyday awareness.
Calls are strong in quieter places. Sennheiser uses multiple microphones, beamforming, a bone-conduction voice sensor and AI processing to isolate speech. In noisier environments, surrounding sound is reduced effectively, although voice quality can become slightly processed when the system is under pressure.
<h2>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: Connectivity and Controls</h2>
The Momentum True Wireless 5 supports Bluetooth 6.0, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and multipoint. Pairing with my work laptop and Google Pixel 11 Pro XL was quick, the connection stayed stable, and moving between the two devices was straightforward.
Codecs include SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless. Compatible Android phones can access the advanced aptX options, while iPhone users are restricted to AAC and SBC, because of iPhone&rsquo;s codecs. That matters on paper, but sound remains the main attraction.
The Smart Control Plus app is well designed and easy to use. It lets you adjust ANC and transparency, manage connections, customise gestures, personalise sound, build location-based Sound Zones and use Find Headphones.
The ability to disable touch controls completely is particularly useful. It removes the annoyance of accidental taps when adjusting the earbuds, a smart everyday touch.
<h2>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review: Battery</h2>
Sennheiser rates the MTW5 for 12 hours per charge with ANC off, six hours with it on and 40 hours with the case. Six hours with ANC is the relevant figure, and it is enough for commutes, most flights and a full workday.
I measured about 90 minutes for a full charge. A 10-minute top-up gives roughly one hour of listening, while USB-C and Qi wireless charging add welcome flexibility.
Its biggest battery benefit is repairability. Replace the ageing cells instead of replacing the earbuds.
<h2>Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Review Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
The Momentum True Wireless 5 is Sennheiser's most complete flagship TWS package yet. It improves comfort, case portability, sound, ANC and app functionality.
Its real advantage is repairability. The batteries in the earbuds and case can be replaced, giving the MTW5 a long-term ownership case that very few premium TWS products can match. At ₹29,990, that matters as much as its audio quality.
There are a few caveats. Apple's AirPods Pro remains more natural in transparency mode, calls can become slightly processed in heavy noise, and the treble may need a minor EQ adjustment for sensitive listeners.
Those shortcomings do not alter the core verdict. If sound quality, comfort and the prospect of keeping your earbuds for years matter to you, the Momentum True Wireless 5 is an excellent premium choice.

Sony WH-1000XM6 long-term review: Outstanding ANC, richly detailed sound, strong battery life and a folding design that makes travel easier.

Sony WH-1000XM6 Long-Term Review: Still Worth It?

<h3>Months later, Sony&rsquo;s premium headphones still deliver incredible ANC, excellent sound and genuinely reliable battery life.</h3>

When I reviewed the Sony WH-1000XM6 for the first time, my conclusion was fairly straightforward: if noise cancellation mattered above everything else, these were the headphones to beat. Months later, that assessment has not really changed.
The XM6 still sound excellent. There is real weight to the bass without it overwhelming the mix, vocals come through with warmth and clarity, and busy tracks retain enough detail that you can still notice the smaller instruments and production touches. They work just as well for a long music session as they do for films, flights and the daily commute. More importantly, they remain headphones I actively want to use.
Sony&rsquo;s ANC is still among the finest you can get, while the transparency mode is genuinely useful rather than an afterthought. Battery life remains reassuringly strong, and the return of the folding design makes these far easier to pack than their predecessor.
There are, however, a couple of frustrations that have become clearer over time. The clamp is still a touch firmer than I would prefer, while my biggest complaint is oddly tied to the feature Sony does best: noise cancellation.
So, after months of use, are the WH-1000XM6 still worth nearly ₹40,000?
<h2>Sony WH-1000XM6 Long-Term Review: Design</h2>
After several months of commuting, flights and being repeatedly packed into bags, the Sony WH-1000XM6 have held up extremely well. The construction still feels reassuringly sturdy, and the folding hinges have not developed any looseness or creaking. That is particularly important here, given how often these are likely to be carried around.
At roughly 254g, the XM6 look a little more substantial than they actually feel. They are not featherweight, but they are far more manageable than Apple&rsquo;s AirPods Max. Put the two side by side and the difference is obvious: Sony&rsquo;s headphones are much easier to wear through a film, a long playlist or a workday.
The ear cushions have aged well too. They remain plush, sit comfortably around the ears and create a good seal before the active noise cancellation even gets involved. They do get warm after extended listening, but that is a familiar compromise with leatherette-style over-ear pads. Unless a headphone uses fabric cushions, some warmth is almost inevitable.
Sony also made the right call by reviving the folding mechanism. The XM5 were awkward to pack because of their fixed design, whereas these fold down neatly into the supplied case. The magnetic closure on that case is a small but genuinely useful touch.
Comfort is where the experience becomes less straightforward. The headband cushioning is fine, though the older XM4 still had the better-padded design. More noticeably, the clamp remains tighter than I would like. It may have eased slightly with use, but after a few hours, the pressure around my head is still hard to ignore.
<h2>Sony WH-1000XM6 Long-Term Review: Noise Cancellation</h2>
The WH-1000XM6 remain exceptional when it comes to active noise cancellation. Sony&rsquo;s QN3 processor and 12-microphone array make short work of the familiar low-frequency sounds: aircraft hum, air conditioners, traffic and the steady rumble of a train. What has impressed me more over time is their ability to reduce sounds that are less constant.
Conversations nearby, office keyboards, station announcements and the general chaos of a commute are all pushed much further away than you would expect. You are not placed in complete silence, of course, but the XM6 make it remarkably easy to focus on music, a film or simply your own thoughts.
Transparency mode is equally strong. It is Sony&rsquo;s most convincing effort yet, with voices sounding natural and environmental noise coming through clearly enough to have a quick chat without taking the headphones off.
There is one caveat, and it is a personal one. I remain sensitive to the pressure-like sensation created by aggressive ANC, and the XM6 have not changed that. The technology is outstanding, but anyone who finds ANC uncomfortable should try these before committing.
<h2>Sony WH-1000XM6 Long-Term Review: Sound Quality</h2>
Put on a good track and most of the WH-1000XM6&rsquo;s minor frustrations become much easier to forgive. Sony&rsquo;s tuning remains one of the most enjoyable in this category, offering warmth, solid bass and a level of detail that keeps music engaging across genres.
The low end is abundant, but it has better definition than the bass on the WH-1000XM4. It adds heft without becoming a shapeless thud, and that lets the rest of the track stay intact. Ghost&rsquo;s Mary on a Cross is an excellent showcase for this. The bassline has proper presence, yet there is still clarity around the vocals and instrumentation.
The same balance carries over to French Montana&rsquo;s Unforgettable and Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd&rsquo;s Moth to a Flame. These are tracks where bass can easily dominate, but the XM6 retain enough separation for background textures and smaller elements to remain audible. With Arctic Monkeys&rsquo; Do I Wanna Know?, the headphones capture the dense weight of that signature guitar line while giving the drums enough force to make the song feel lively.
Sony also handles vocals very well. Adele&rsquo;s Rolling in the Deep and Skyfall sound clear, textured and controlled, without the higher notes becoming tiring. Arijit Singh&rsquo;s catalogue is similarly rewarding, as his vocals stay well placed in the mix without pushing the accompanying instruments too far back.
The XM6 are not only for music. They make films and shows more immersive too. Watching Dhurandhar 1 and Dhurandhar 2, I could pick up on background effects and ambient sounds that would often blur together on less capable headphones. Their soundstage remains fairly close and intimate, rather than vast. But given these are portable, wireless noise-cancelling headphones, the overall sound is outstanding.
<h2>Sony WH-1000XM6 Long-Term Review: Battery And Features</h2>
Sony&rsquo;s claimed 30-hour battery life with ANC enabled has held up well in everyday use. Even after months with the WH-1000XM6, charging is rarely something I need to plan around. They comfortably last through commutes, work sessions and travel, which is exactly what a premium pair of noise-cancelling headphones should do.
Fast charging is another real advantage. Sony says just three minutes of charging can deliver hours of playback, and it remains one of those features that proves its worth in a hurry. If you notice the headphones are low moments before leaving home, a brief top-up can be enough to get you through the day.
There are two areas where the XM6 feel less forward-looking. First is the battery. Given the price and the otherwise durable construction, a replaceable battery would have made a great deal of sense. The headphones are built well enough to remain usable for years, but like most wireless audio products, declining battery health will eventually limit their lifespan.
The second issue is USB-C audio. Sony retains the 3.5mm port, so wired playback is still possible when the battery dies. However, phones increasingly lack headphone jacks, while USB-C is now standard almost everywhere. Letting users connect via USB-C and listen without Bluetooth would have been a far more useful implementation.
<h2>Sony WH-1000XM6 Long-Term Review: Verdict</h2>
Living with the WH-1000XM6 for several months has not radically changed my view of them. It has simply made their strengths and weaknesses easier to understand.
Sony still delivers outstanding sound, phenomenal active noise cancellation and one of the best transparency modes in the business. Battery life remains excellent, the construction has proved durable, and bringing back the folding hinge makes these much more practical for travel than the XM5.
There are familiar limitations. The clamp remains firmer than I would prefer, while the ANC pressure effect can be genuinely unpleasant for those sensitive to it. USB-C audio should be present on headphones this expensive, and long-term battery replacement deserves more attention too.
Even so, the XM6 have earned their place in my daily rotation long after the review period ended. For anyone who wants exceptional ANC and richly enjoyable sound in one portable package, they remain a superb choice.

Redmi Note 17 Pro Max review: Xiaomi pairs a 10,000mAh battery, 100W charging and a Dolby Vision AMOLED display with extreme durability. Is it worth ₹49,999 in India?

Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Review: 10,000mAh Battery, Display And Performance Test India

The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max has all the ingredients of a standout phone. Its price makes the story more complicated.

There is a lot about the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max that feels excessive. Xiaomi has given it a whopping 10,000mAh battery, 100W charging and a 1.5K AMOLED panel with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Durability is equally bonkers, with IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings, while the design manages to stand out from the usual mid-range crowd.
Curiously, performance is not one of those things.
Clearly, the priorities here are battery life, entertainment and longevity rather than benchmark supremacy or chasing ever-higher camera megapixel counts.
That becomes important once you see the prices.
The 8GB + 256GB model costs ₹49,999, while 12GB + 256GB takes that figure to ₹55,999. Having 256GB as standard is welcome, but ₹55-60K territory is ambitious for a phone powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5.
The question, then, is whether Xiaomi has spent that money wisely elsewhere. After using it, I have some thoughts.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Design: Built For A Rough Life</h2>
The first thing you notice about the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max is its size. At roughly 230g, this is a heavy phone, although its 8.6mm thickness is surprisingly reasonable when you remember there is a 10,000mAh battery inside.
Thankfully, it carries that weight quite well. The balance is good, and after using it for a couple of days, I found it reasonably comfortable despite the heft.
Visually, Xiaomi has kept the overall shape simple, with flat edges and a flat rear panel. The Secret Sunrise colourway, however, is anything but simple.&nbsp;
Under normal indoor lighting, the back looks predominantly off-white, with hints of cream. Step into sunlight and UV exposure activates the photochromic finish, bringing colours like red and orange, that give it an almost sunset-like appearance. Of all the available finishes, this would be my pick.
The construction itself is more ordinary. Both the frame and rear are polycarbonate, while Gorilla Glass Victus 2 handles protection up front.
Durability, though, is where things get ridiculous. Xiaomi has equipped the phone with IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings, alongside additional protection from prolonged water immersion and accidental drops. It should comfortably survive considerably rougher treatment than most mid-range phones.
The power and volume buttons sit on the right, while connectivity and extras include dual-SIM support, eSIM, USB-C, stereo speakers and Xiaomi&rsquo;s useful IR blaster.
There is one downside to that rear finish. While the smooth matte surface barely picks up fingerprints, it can feel surprisingly slippery in the hand.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Display: Made For Binge-Watching</h2>
If you spend a lot of time watching content on your phone, the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max has plenty going for it.
Up front is a massive 6.83-inch flat AMOLED panel, running at a 2772 &times; 1280 resolution, or 1.5K. It is a 12-bit display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while Xiaomi claims peak brightness can reach 3,500 nits.
Numbers aside, it looks fantastic. Text and images are incredibly sharp, colours are vibrant without appearing excessively saturated, and viewing angles leave little to complain about. Scrolling through apps and navigating the interface also feels wonderfully fluid at 120Hz.
This is not an LTPO display, though. Instead, the phone switches between predetermined refresh rates based on whatever is happening on screen.
Brightness is another strong point. I could comfortably use Maps, read messages and frame photos outdoors, even with harsh sunlight hitting the display directly.
The bigger advantage over the regular Note 17 Pro comes when you start streaming. Unlike its cheaper sibling, the Pro Max supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, with compatibility across major streaming services. Netflix and YouTube consequently look excellent, particularly with HDR videos where brighter highlights really stand out.
You also get 3840Hz PWM dimming, which should make the screen easier on the eyes at lower brightness.
Then there are the stereo speakers. They are extremely loud, and Xiaomi even includes a 400% volume boost. I would reserve that for emergencies, since clarity takes a hit when pushed that far. Keep things at sensible levels, though, and the speakers sound full and clear for films, YouTube and casual music.
Between the panel and speakers, content consumption is easily one of this phone&rsquo;s biggest strengths.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Cameras: Mostly A One-Camera Show</h2>
Xiaomi has for sure been a bit conservative with the cameras on the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max. There is a 50MP primary shooter with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide and a 32MP camera up front.
Most of the heavy lifting is done by that 50MP sensor. Give it enough light and you get sharp, detailed photographs with vibrant colours and solid dynamic range. Contrast can sometimes be a little aggressive, but the results generally look good straight out of the camera.
The main sensor also provides a 2x crop, which comes in handy for portraits and tighter compositions. Results hold up well outdoors, although finer details start getting softer as lighting deteriorates.
Interestingly, the primary camera remains quite capable after sunset. OIS certainly helps here, with the phone retaining a decent amount of detail while keeping colours fairly accurate. Bright light sources are handled reasonably well too, without highlights getting completely blown out.
Things are more ordinary with the 8MP ultrawide. Daylight shots offer respectable colours and dynamic range, but there is a noticeable drop in detail compared to the primary camera. Low-light conditions only widen that gap.
The 32MP selfie camera produces social-media-ready photos with pleasant skin tones and decent dynamic range, although the level of detail is not quite what the resolution might suggest.
For video, the main camera maxes out at 4K 30fps. Daylight footage looks good, but stabilisation could be stronger when recording while walking.
Ultimately, the cameras are reliable enough, but they are hardly the headline attraction here.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Performance: Consistency Over Raw Speed</h2>
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 is perhaps the clearest indication that outright performance was not Xiaomi&rsquo;s priority with the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max.
Paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, this 4nm chip handles everyday workloads perfectly well. HyperOS runs smoothly, switching between apps is quick, and browsing, social media, streaming, photography and general multitasking rarely give the phone trouble.
Push it harder, however, and its mid-range positioning becomes obvious. My unit returned 1,024,566 points in AnTuTu v12. Geekbench 7 produced a single-core score of 960 and 2,997 in multi-core. Perfectly respectable, yes, but hardly numbers you would associate with a performance-focused Pro Max device.
What impressed me more was how consistently it maintained that performance. In 3DMark&rsquo;s Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, the best loop scored 1,199 while the lowest managed 1,192, giving the phone an excellent 99.4% stability score.
Gaming tells a similar story. BGMI is currently capped at 60fps, but gameplay within that limit was consistently smooth. I encountered no major stutters during my sessions, nor did temperatures climb to concerning levels.
For most people, there is enough performance here. Those chasing raw speed or high-frame-rate gaming can find considerably faster alternatives for similar money. The Note 17 Pro Max instead excels at maintaining the performance it can deliver.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Software: Familiar Xiaomi, Smarter Around The Edges</h2>
HyperOS 3 does not dramatically change how the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max feels to use, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Built on Android 16, the interface will immediately feel familiar to anyone coming from a recent Xiaomi device. There are redesigned system icons and some refreshed animations, but otherwise, Xiaomi has largely stuck with its established look. Everything runs smoothly too, with barely any noticeable hesitation when opening or switching between apps.
Hyper Island is the more obvious new addition. Essentially Xiaomi&rsquo;s answer to Apple&rsquo;s Dynamic Island, it uses the area surrounding the camera cutout to surface ongoing activities. Depending on app support, you can see things such as calls, timers, calendar events and media playback here. It is handy, although broader developer support will ultimately determine how useful it becomes.
AI features are scattered throughout the software as well. Gemini serves as the assistant, while Xiaomi HyperAI handles writing, transcription, translation, search, subtitles and even wallpaper generation.
Cross-device connectivity has also become considerably broader. Beyond Xiaomi&rsquo;s own ecosystem, HyperOS 3 now offers integration with Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones and iPads.
There is still some pre-installed clutter, and the interface can feel busier than cleaner Android alternatives. Fortunately, most unwanted additions can either be removed or ignored.
Long-term support is reassuring, with Xiaomi promising four Android OS upgrades alongside six years of security updates.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Battery: Charging Every Night Feels Unnecessary</h2>
A 10,000mAh battery sounds excessive until you actually start living with one. On the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max, it means charging your phone becomes something you simply do far less frequently.
Xiaomi uses a silicon-carbon battery here, and during my testing, two days between charges was comfortably achievable. That included my usual combination of calls, WhatsApp, scrolling through social media, watching YouTube, taking photos and squeezing in some gaming. Cut back on the heavier stuff and reaching a third day is entirely realistic.
Thankfully, replenishing such a massive battery does not require leaving the phone plugged in for hours either. With 100W HyperCharge, I managed to go from practically empty to fully charged in around an hour, which is seriously impressive for a 10,000mAh cell.
There is another useful trick too. The phone supports 27W reverse wired charging, so you can use that enormous battery to charge other devices when required, essentially turning the Pro Max into a power bank.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Max Verdict: The Hardware Is Good, But The Price&hellip;</h2>
The Redmi Note 17 Pro Max would be much easier to recommend if it simply cost less.
There is plenty to like here. The 10,000mAh battery comfortably lasts two days and can stretch into a third, while 100W charging keeps top-ups relatively quick. The 1.5K AMOLED display is excellent, the speakers get seriously loud, durability is impressive and six years of security updates adds some welcome longevity. Even the relatively modest camera setup proves dependable for everyday photography.
The problem is performance. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 runs everyday tasks smoothly and maintains its performance remarkably well, but ₹49,999 puts it against considerably more powerful hardware.
At least the base variant gives you 8GB RAM and a sensible 256GB of storage. The 12GB + 256GB version at ₹55,999 is much harder to defend, particularly when expectations for both performance and cameras rise considerably at that price.
So, while the Pro Max nails battery life, display quality and durability, its launch price works against it. I would wait for discounts before seriously considering one.

Sennheiser’s Momentum 5 Wireless headphones and True Wireless 5 earbuds launch in India with replaceable batteries. Check prices, features and sale dates.

Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless, TWS 5 Launched In India, Come With Replaceable Batteries

<h3>Sennheiser has launched the Momentum 5 Wireless headphones and Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds in India for ₹39,990 and ₹29,990. Both offer Dolby Atmos and user-replaceable batteries. Pre-orders are open, with sales starting October 1.</h3>

Wireless audio products rarely make battery replacement a selling point. Sennheiser is doing exactly that with its new Momentum 5 Wireless headphones and Momentum True Wireless 5 earbuds, which have now launched in India.
The over-ear headphones cost ₹39,990, while the earbuds are priced at ₹29,990. Pre-orders opened on September 24, ahead of general sales on October 1.
<h2>What Do The Momentum 5 Wireless Headphones Offer?</h2>
Sennheiser is promising a substantial step up in noise cancellation. Its new eight-microphone system is claimed to cut midrange sounds, such as nearby conversations, up to three times more effectively than the Momentum 4. Even with ANC running, the headphones are rated to last up to 57 hours.
Sound comes from 42mm drivers that draw inspiration from Sennheiser&rsquo;s HD 600 range. There is support for Hi-Res Audio, Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless, while Dolby Atmos with head tracking adds a spatial audio option.
The 700mAh battery and ear pads are replaceable by the user. Sennheiser also supplies USB-C and 3.5mm cables for wired listening. Black and Denim are the initial colour options; White, Bronze and Lavender are set to follow.
<h2>What About The Momentum True Wireless 5 Earbuds?</h2>
The earbuds take a similar approach to longevity. Owners can replace the batteries in both the earbuds and the charging case, an unusual feature for this category.
Each earbud houses a 7mm TrueResponse driver. Bluetooth 6.0, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless are supported, with playback of up to 24-bit/96kHz audio. Dolby Atmos with head tracking is available here too.
Sennheiser has included adaptive hybrid ANC and a mode that automatically tackles wind noise. For voice calls, the earbuds use four microphones, a voice accelerometer and AI-based speech processing. Battery life is rated at up to 12 hours from the earbuds and 40 hours in total with the case. They carry an IP54 rating and come in Graphite, Cream, Copper, Denim and Lavender.
<h2>India Price, Pre-Order Offer And Sale Date</h2>
Both models can be pre-ordered through Sennheiser&rsquo;s website, online marketplaces and participating stores. The pre-order offer includes a BTD 600 Bluetooth USB dongle, valued at ₹5,990, with further benefits varying by retailer. The Momentum 5 Wireless and Momentum True Wireless 5 go on sale in India on October 1.

Apple’s new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro, and Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra, are now available in India. Prices start at ₹99,900.

Apple Mac mini With M6, Mac Studio With M5 Ultra Now Available In India

Apple’s desktop Macs just got seriously more powerful

<h3>Apple&rsquo;s new Mac mini and Mac Studio are now on sale in India. Here are their prices, chips, key upgrades and availability details.</h3>

Apple has made its latest desktop Macs available in India, bringing the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro chips, alongside refreshed Mac Studio models powered by M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors.
The new Mac mini starts at ₹99,900, while the M5 Pro-powered version starts at ₹2,09,900. The Mac Studio, aimed at demanding creative and professional workflows, starts at ₹2,79,900 with the M5 Max, rising to ₹6,29,900 for the M5 Ultra variant.
Both desktops are now available through Apple Store locations, Apple&rsquo;s online store, the Apple Store app and authorised resellers.
<h2>Mac mini gets M6 chip, faster AI performance</h2>
The updated Mac mini retains its compact design but receives Apple&rsquo;s new M6 chip, which promises significant gains in AI, graphics and CPU performance over the previous generation.
Apple says the M6 version delivers up to four times faster AI performance, twice the graphics and storage performance, and up to 40 per cent faster CPU performance. It features a 12-core CPU, 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine.
The base model starts with 16GB of unified memory and can be configured with up to 32GB. The M5 Pro model is intended for users with heavier workloads, offering up to an 18-core CPU, a 20-core GPU and support for up to 64GB of unified memory.
Both versions include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and 2.5Gb Ethernet, with a 10Gb Ethernet option also available. Students and educators can purchase the M6 Mac mini from ₹88,900 through Apple&rsquo;s education store.
<h2>Mac Studio targets video editors, VFX artists and AI users</h2>
The Mac Studio remains Apple&rsquo;s most capable desktop for professional users, and is now available with either the M5 Max or the new M5 Ultra chip.
The M5 Max model features an 18-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU and up to 128GB of unified memory. It is designed for workflows including music production, photography, software development, 3D work and motion graphics.
For users with far more demanding requirements, the M5 Ultra Mac Studio can be configured with up to a 36-core CPU, an 80-core GPU and a massive 512GB of unified memory. Apple says this makes it suitable for real-time 8K colour grading, complex VFX rendering and running large language models locally.
Both Mac Studio models feature Thunderbolt 5 ports with transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps. They can also support up to eight displays, or four Studio Display XDR monitors at 5K resolution and 120Hz.
<h2>macOS 27 and Apple Intelligence features included</h2>
The new desktops ship with macOS 27 Golden Gate, which introduces updated Apple Intelligence tools and a more capable Siri AI experience.
Apple says Siri AI can use personal context across messages, emails and photos, while also working across apps. It is integrated into Spotlight and system-wide context menus, and can answer questions about on-screen content through Visual Intelligence.
Other additions include AI-powered tab organisation and website-change alerts in Safari, natural-language automation creation in Shortcuts, and enhanced editing tools in Photos. Apple has also introduced more customisation for its Liquid Glass interface, including a slider that lets users adjust its transparency.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro series: See what’s new with A20 Pro, variable aperture cameras, better cooling, battery and charging.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: What’s New

The iPhone 18 Pro looks familiar, but most of Apple’s upgrades are under the hood.

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<h3 class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="0" data-end="160">iPhone 18 Pro looks familiar but packs major upgrades, including the A20 Pro, better cooling, variable aperture camera, longer battery life and faster charging.</h3>
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Apple wants ₹1.65 lakh for the base iPhone 18 Pro in India.
That is a lot of money for a phone that, at first glance, looks remarkably similar to the iPhone 17 Pro it replaces.
The dimensions are unchanged, Apple has stuck with the aluminium unibody design introduced last year, and you still get a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion. The Pro Max similarly sticks with its massive 6.9-inch panel.
In fact, barring the new colours and a redesigned, smaller Dynamic Island, you&rsquo;d be hard-pressed to spot many differences from the outside.
Inside, however, Apple has been considerably busier.
So, if we put the iPhone 18 Pro next to the iPhone 17 Pro, what exactly does the new ₹1.65 lakh flagship offer that last year&rsquo;s phone doesn&rsquo;t?
<h2>iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: Most Of The Design Is Unchanged</h2>
Apple made its big design switch with the iPhone 17 Pro, moving from titanium to an aluminium unibody construction, and that basic formula carries over.
You still get Ceramic Shield protection, the same display sizes and ProMotion, while familiar features such as the Action button and Camera Control remain.
The biggest visual changes are the new colours and smaller Dynamic Island, which Apple says can now display up to three Live Activities simultaneously.
Interestingly, the iPhone 18 Pro is also slightly heavier than its predecessor.
So, if you were expecting the 18 Pro to look or feel radically different, it doesn&rsquo;t. This generation is primarily about what Apple has changed underneath.
<h2>iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: A20 Pro And Much More Serious Cooling</h2>
This is where things get interesting.
The A19 Pro makes way for the new 2nm A20 Pro. It retains a six-core CPU but moves from six GPU cores to seven, while memory bandwidth has increased by 50%.
The Neural Engine gets an even larger upgrade. Instead of the 16-core Neural Engine on the A19 Pro, A20 Pro uses a Dual 16-core design, effectively doubling the number of Neural Engine cores available for on-device AI workloads.
Apple has also redesigned how the chip itself is packaged. An M-series-inspired layout places the silicon die alongside the memory rather than stacking them in the thermal path, allowing the chip to connect more directly with the vapour chamber.
And that vapour chamber is now enormous.
Apple says it has three times the surface area of the one introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro. Combined with the A20 Pro and new thermal materials, the company claims up to 40% better sustained performance.
There&rsquo;s also a new C2 modem, which promises improved cellular reliability, lower power consumption and up to 50% faster uploads in supported markets.
<h2>iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: The Camera Gets Actual Moving Parts</h2>
Look purely at the megapixels and the camera systems appear almost identical.
Both generations give you three 48MP rear cameras, including Main, Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras, with up to 8x optical-quality zoom.
But the iPhone 18 Pro introduces something entirely new for Apple: a physical variable aperture on its 48MP Fusion Main camera.
The aperture can switch between f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8 and f/4.0, automatically adjusting depending on lighting and the depth of field required. Apple also gives Pro users manual aperture controls.
That means the camera can open wider to pull in more light or stop down to keep more of a scene in focus, giving photographers genuine optical control instead of relying entirely on computational photography.
Apple claims around 50% better low-light performance from the Main camera as a result.
For photographers and video creators, this is probably the most meaningful difference between the two generations.
<h2>iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro: More Battery And Faster Charging</h2>
Battery life gets a bump too.
On eSIM-only models, Apple rates the iPhone 18 Pro for up to 36 hours of video playback, while the 18 Pro Max stretches that figure to 45 hours. The latter represents six additional hours over the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Charging is quicker as well. The iPhone 18 Pro can reach 50% in around 15 minutes with a compatible wired charger, compared with roughly 20 minutes on the previous generation.
Wireless charging can hit 50% in around 30 minutes.
<h2>So, What Does ₹1.65 Lakh Actually Get You?</h2>
Compared with the iPhone 17 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro isn&rsquo;t a dramatic reinvention.
The design and displays are largely familiar, and even the basic camera configuration hasn&rsquo;t changed.
Instead, Apple has concentrated its efforts underneath the surface.
You&rsquo;re getting considerably more AI processing power, improved sustained performance, much more aggressive cooling, a newer modem, better battery life and faster charging.
And then there&rsquo;s the variable-aperture Main camera, arguably the one upgrade that fundamentally changes what the hardware can actually do.
So, the iPhone 18 Pro may look almost identical to the 17 Pro.
Underneath, though, there&rsquo;s quite a bit more going on.

Mobiles

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE first impressions: Explore its design, display, Exynos 2500 performance, cameras, battery, and software before the full review.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: A Worthy Upgrade?

The Galaxy S26 FE brings Exynos 2500 performance, a versatile camera setup, 45W charging, and seven years of updates. Here’s what stands out so far.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Promising, But Pricing Matters

Samsung&rsquo;s Galaxy S26 FE brings better performance, premium build, versatile cameras, and longer software support, but familiar hardware and pricing will determine whether it delivers compelling value.

The Galaxy S26 FE has a tough act to follow. Last year&rsquo;s Galaxy S25 FE was a big hit in India, winning over enthusiasts while also delivering strong sales for Samsung.
And that really is the appeal of the FE series. For Samsung fans who want the Galaxy S experience without paying flagship prices, these phones have traditionally offered a pretty compelling middle ground. You get a lot of what makes the premium S series desirable, but at a more accessible price.
The smartphone market, however, looks very different today. Rising RAM and storage costs have pushed prices up, and outside the premium segment, we&rsquo;re increasingly seeing phones that struggle to justify what they cost.
So, can the Galaxy S26 FE still make the FE formula work in this market? I&rsquo;ve spent some time with it, and here are my initial impressions.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Design</h2>
The Galaxy S26 FE doesn&rsquo;t stray too far from Samsung&rsquo;s familiar design language. The overall shape remains largely unchanged, but the rear cameras now sit together on a raised island instead of using three separate camera rings.
My review unit is the Pistachio variant, which I find the most interesting of the three available colours, with Blueberry and Graphite being the other options. Samsung has switched to a glossy finish this year, and while it looks premium, I personally preferred the subtler matte finish on the <a title="Vivo X200 FE vs Oppo Reno 14 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: The ultimate camera test" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/vivo-x200-fe-vs-reno-14-pro-vs-s25-fe-the-ultimate-camera-test-1759300685064" target="_blank">S25 FE</a>. The glossy back also picks up fingerprints quite easily.
Build quality, however, remains excellent. The phone uses an aluminium alloy frame, gets Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, and carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Overall, it feels sturdy and appropriately premium in the hand.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Display</h2>
The Galaxy S26 FE gets a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a claimed peak brightness of 1,900 nits.
As you would expect from <a title="Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Samsung&rsquo;s Small Foldable Makes a Big Impression" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/samsung-galaxy-z-flip8-review-samsung-s-small-foldable-makes-a-big-impression-1787741847511" target="_blank">Samsung</a>, the panel looks great. Colours are vibrant, contrast levels are excellent, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations feel smooth. It also gets bright enough to remain comfortably visible outdoors.
The problem is that there isn't much here that feels new. It is very similar to the S25 FE's display, right down to the slightly uneven bezels and thicker chin. You also don't get the broader adaptive refresh rate range found on Samsung's LTPO flagship displays, with the S26 FE switching between 60Hz and 120Hz instead.
It's an excellent display overall, but certainly not a meaningful generational upgrade.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Performance</h2>
Performance is one area where the Galaxy S26 FE gets a more substantial upgrade. Samsung has equipped the phone with the Exynos 2500, paired with 8GB of RAM.
So far, the experience has been quite good. The S26 FE feels snappy in everyday use, apps launch quickly, multitasking is smooth, and I haven't noticed any major slowdowns or stutters.
Samsung has also added a fairly large 5,526mm&sup2; vapour chamber, which should help with thermals during longer gaming sessions and other demanding workloads. I'll be testing that more extensively for the full review.
That said, the Exynos 2500 isn't Samsung's most powerful chipset, while 8GB of RAM feels a little modest for a near-flagship phone in 2026. Even so, there's a clear performance improvement over the Galaxy S25 FE, and the initial experience has been promising.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Cameras</h2>
Samsung is putting a lot of emphasis on the Galaxy S26 FE&rsquo;s cameras, with photography taking centre stage, followed by video and portrait capabilities.
The actual camera hardware, however, hasn&rsquo;t changed much. You still get a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide and an 8MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom.
Based on my initial testing, the main camera is easily the strongest of the three. It captures plenty of detail, handles dynamic range well and delivers the vibrant colour processing we&rsquo;ve come to expect from Samsung. The ultrawide also performs well in good lighting, while the dedicated 3x telephoto gives you more flexibility than phones that depend entirely on digital zoom.
Samsung is also focusing heavily on low-light photography this year, backed by its computational photography and AI processing.
Still, I would have liked to see some meaningful hardware upgrades. The 8MP telephoto, in particular, is starting to feel dated, especially in low light. I&rsquo;ll be testing all three cameras much more extensively for the full review.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Software, Features and AI</h2>
Software is perhaps where the Galaxy S26 FE comes closest to delivering on Samsung&rsquo;s promise of bringing the flagship Galaxy experience to a more accessible phone.
It ships with Android 17 and One UI 9 out of the box, along with several features that have trickled down from Samsung&rsquo;s more expensive devices.
One of the more interesting additions is My FanCam, which we recently saw on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. You also get AI-powered features such as Audio Eraser, along with productivity tools including DocuSign integration.
There&rsquo;s Digital Car Key support for compatible vehicles from select manufacturers, wireless charging, and access to Samsung&rsquo;s wider suite of Galaxy AI features.
More importantly, Samsung is promising seven years of major OS upgrades. If you tend to hold on to your phones for several years, that level of long-term software support remains a major advantage for the Galaxy S26 FE.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE First Impressions: Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
The Galaxy S26 FE comes with a 4,900mAh battery, but the bigger upgrade this year is support for 45W wired charging.
Samsung says the phone can go from empty to around 70 per cent in 30 minutes, which is a welcome improvement over the relatively slow charging speeds we&rsquo;ve seen on several Galaxy phones in the past.
As for endurance, my initial experience has been promising so far. However, I&rsquo;ll need considerably more time with the S26 FE before drawing any conclusions about its real-world battery life.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Early Impressions: Promising, But Pricing Will Be Crucial</h2>
The Galaxy S26 FE sticks closely to the formula that has worked well for Samsung, while making a few meaningful upgrades where they matter.
Performance is better, build quality remains premium, the display is excellent, and the cameras offer plenty of versatility. You also get several flagship-level AI features and Samsung&rsquo;s excellent long-term software support. At the same time, quite a bit of the hardware feels familiar, particularly the display and camera setup.
That makes the price incredibly important.
On paper, the Galaxy S26 FE still looks like a compelling entry point into Samsung&rsquo;s premium ecosystem. But with smartphone prices climbing across the board, simply being a good phone isn&rsquo;t enough anymore. It also needs to offer good value.
Whether the Galaxy S26 FE manages to strike that balance is something I&rsquo;ll explore in the full review.

Samsung's latest foldables refine every aspect of the experience. Here's my first impression of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra & Z Flip 8: A More Mature Foldable Family

I spent time with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8 in London. Here's how the redesigned foldables impressed me in my first hands-on.

<h3>Samsung's latest foldables refine every aspect of the experience. Here's my first impression of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra and Z Flip 8.</h3>

Samsung's foldable lineup feels more focused than it has in years. Instead of building three devices that largely chase the same audience, Samsung has given each of its latest foldables a clear purpose. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is positioned as the everyday entertainment device, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is aimed squarely at power users and creators, while the Galaxy Z Flip 8 continues to refine the compact clamshell experience.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with all three devices ahead of their global debut at Galaxy Unpacked in London, and what stood out immediately wasn't any single specification. It was the level of refinement across the lineup. Every phone feels exceptionally well built, the redesigned hinge inspires far more confidence than before, and the crease has been reduced to the point where it quickly disappears from view during normal use.
None of these devices feels like a dramatic departure from its predecessor, but that's clearly not what Samsung was trying to achieve. Instead, this year's updates focus on improving the experience in ways you'll actually notice every day. Based on my first impressions, the company's latest foldables feel more polished, more purposeful and more complete than any generation before them.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 First Impressions: A New Form Factor</h2>
The Galaxy Z Fold series has traditionally been about pushing productivity on a smartphone, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like Samsung has shifted its priorities. After spending some time with it, I came away feeling that this is the Fold most people are likely to enjoy. Whether I was catching up on YouTube, reading long-form articles or simply browsing social media, the larger display made everything feel immersive without demanding that I constantly multitask.
That experience starts even before you unfold the device. Samsung has widened the 5.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display, and the difference is immediately noticeable. Typing feels less cramped, replying to messages is easier, and I found myself using the outer screen far more often than I expected. The adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate, 428ppi pixel density and Vision Booster ensure it remains sharp, fluid and easy to read outdoors.
Opening the phone reveals a stunning 7.6-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 403ppi pixel density and peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. Samsung has also added a low-reflection coating, making the display comfortable to use even under bright lighting. More importantly, the crease is subtle enough that it quickly fades into the background, allowing the display to take centre stage.
Samsung has also refined the hardware in meaningful ways. At 201g, this is the lightest Galaxy Fold yet, making it noticeably easier to hold for longer sessions. The redesigned Armour FlexHinge feels reassuringly robust, while the Flex Titanium display structure gives the phone a reassuring sense of rigidity.
Power comes from Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, paired with up to 16GB of RAM, as much as 1TB of storage and a 4,800mAh battery supporting 45W wired and 20W wireless charging. The dual 50MP cameras also make clever use of the foldable form factor through features like Dual Recording and My FanCam, adding another layer of versatility to what already feels like Samsung's most approachable Fold yet.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra First Impressions: The Productivity Flagship</h2>
If there was one device that showcased just how far Samsung's foldable engineering has come, it was the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. While the standard Fold 8 feels tailored for entertainment, the Ultra is clearly aimed at people who want to replace more of their laptop workflow with a smartphone. The larger display, flagship hardware and creator-focused features all reinforce that ambition.
The highlight is undoubtedly the expansive 8-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X inner display. With a sharp 422ppi pixel density and an adaptive refresh rate that scales from 1Hz to 120Hz, it feels incredibly fluid whether you're juggling multiple apps, editing documents or simply browsing. The crease is still present, but like the standard Fold, it quickly fades into the background once you begin using the phone. The 6.5-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X cover display is equally impressive. It's spacious enough that I comfortably replied to emails, browsed the web and handled day-to-day tasks without constantly opening the device, while Vision Booster kept everything clearly visible outdoors.
Despite housing such a large display, the Fold 8 Ultra feels surprisingly manageable. At just 4.1mm thick when unfolded and weighing 215g, it's remarkably slim without sacrificing rigidity. Samsung's redesigned hinge feels reassuringly robust, making every fold feel smooth and confidence inspiring.
Under the hood, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy is paired with up to 16GB of RAM, as much as 1TB of storage and a larger 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W wired and 20W wireless charging. Samsung has also equipped the Ultra with a 200MP primary camera, alongside a 50MP ultra-wide and a 10MP 3x telephoto sensor. Features such as enhanced Nightography, 8K recording using Samsung's APV codec and Cine LUT support make it clear that content creators are a key part of the target audience.
After my brief hands-on, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra felt like Samsung's most refined foldable yet. More importantly, it finally delivers a premium foldable experience without many of the compromises that once came with the category.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 First Impressions: The Flip Finally Grows Up</h2>
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 doesn't rely on nostalgia to justify its existence. Instead, Samsung has refined almost every aspect of the experience, making this feel less like a fashionable alternative and more like a genuinely practical flagship. After spending some time with it, I came away convinced that the Flip series has become a lot more than a compact foldable.
The biggest change is the new 4.1-inch Super AMOLED FlexWindow. Running at up to 120Hz and enhanced by Vision Booster, it has evolved into a display that you can comfortably use without constantly unfolding the phone. During my hands-on, I replied to messages, checked navigation, interacted with Gemini and experimented with Samsung's AI-powered tools, all from the cover screen. Features such as Now Brief also surface useful contextual information at a glance, making the outer display feel genuinely functional rather than an afterthought.
Open the phone and you're greeted by a larger 6.9-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate and a sharp 400ppi pixel density. Colours look vibrant, animations feel exceptionally smooth, and, perhaps most importantly, the crease quickly disappears from your attention during everyday use. Samsung has also redesigned the hinge, which now feels sturdier and noticeably smoother when opening and closing the phone.
Despite these upgrades, the Flip 8 remains incredibly compact. Weighing just 180g and measuring only 6.1mm when unfolded, it's the slimmest Galaxy Flip Samsung has produced so far. It slips comfortably into a pocket, feels balanced in the hand and continues to showcase the biggest advantage of the clamshell design: portability without sacrificing a flagship experience.
Powering everything is Samsung's new Exynos 2600 processor, paired with 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage and a larger 4,300mAh battery with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging. The 50MP primary camera and 12MP ultra-wide sensor are complemented by foldable-specific features including Flex Mode, Cover Screen Preview, Camcorder Grip, Super Steady and Horizontal Lock. Together, they make the Flip 8 one of the most enjoyable smartphones for casual photography and content creation.
<h2>Early Impressions</h2>
Samsung's latest foldables don't feel like products chasing the next big headline feature. Instead, they feel like the result of years of refinement, with every improvement focused on making the overall experience better. After my hands-on in London, what stood out most was how clearly each device fits into a different role. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 prioritises entertainment and everyday usability, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra caters to users who want a true productivity powerhouse, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8 continues to make the clamshell form factor more practical than ever.
Across the lineup, the hardware feels noticeably more polished. The redesigned hinges inspire greater confidence, the creases are far less noticeable than before, and One UI 9 appears far better optimised for foldables. That said, this was only an initial hands-on. I'll need considerably more time to evaluate camera performance, battery life and sustained performance before drawing any firm conclusions. Even so, Samsung's latest foldable family already feels like its most cohesive and well-rounded lineup to date.

OnePlus has confirmed the end of OxygenOS. OxygenOS 16 will be the final version before all future OnePlus phones transition to Oppo's ColorOS with Android 17.

OnePlus Ends OxygenOS: ColorOS to Replace It on Future Phones Starting with Android 17

OnePlus has officially confirmed that OxygenOS is being retired. Here's what the move to Oppo's ColorOS means for future OnePlus phones, existing devices and software updates.

The End of OxygenOS: OnePlus Confirms Transition to Oppo's ColorOS

OnePlus has confirmed OxygenOS 16 will be its final release. Future OnePlus phones and existing supported devices will transition to Oppo's ColorOS, while promised Android updates will continue.

OnePlus is about to lose one of the things that made it unmistakably OnePlus. After more than a decade, the company has confirmed that OxygenOS is coming to an end, with future smartphones set to ship with Oppo's ColorOS instead. OxygenOS 16 will be the final release under the branding, while existing OnePlus devices will also make the switch as part of future software updates, a transition that's expected to begin alongside Android 17.
For years, OxygenOS wasn't just another Android skin. It was a key part of OnePlus' identity, earning a loyal following for its clean interface, fluid performance and restrained approach to software. At a time when most Android manufacturers were packing their phones with increasingly feature-heavy interfaces, <a title="OxygenOS 16 Review: OnePlus sets the benchmark on how smartphones should do AI" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/oxygenos-16-review-oneplus-sets-the-benchmark-on-how-smartphones-should-do-ai-1760628833515" target="_blank">OxygenOS</a> stood out by doing the opposite.
OnePlus insists this isn't the result of a full merger with Oppo, maintaining that its hardware business will continue to operate independently. Even so, after integrating its after-sales service network with Oppo earlier this year, the move to ColorOS is another sign that the two brands are becoming increasingly intertwined, even if they continue to wear different logos.
<h2>OnePlus is retiring OxygenOS, but existing update promises will be honoured</h2>
According to OnePlus, OxygenOS 16 will be the final release under the OxygenOS branding. Every new OnePlus smartphone launched after the transition will run Oppo's ColorOS instead, while current devices will gradually migrate to the new software during their update cycle.
Importantly, OnePlus says all existing software support commitments will be honoured. Devices promised Android version upgrades and security patches will continue receiving them, even after switching to <a title="Oppo Find X9 Ultra Review: A No-Compromise Ultra Phone" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/oppo-find-x9-ultra-review-a-no-compromise-ultra-phone-1779876430160" target="_blank">ColorOS</a>.
Although the company has repeatedly dismissed rumours of a full merger with Oppo, it has acknowledged that certain processes are being streamlined between the two brands. The move to a single software platform is the latest example of that strategy.
Earlier this year, OnePlus also integrated its after-sales network with Oppo in India, allowing OnePlus customers to visit Oppo service centres for repairs and warranty claims. Together, these changes point towards a closer operational relationship between the two companies, even if they continue to operate as separate consumer brands.
<h2>OxygenOS and ColorOS: Same foundations, but different</h2>
For many enthusiasts, the news may feel more emotional than practical.
At their core, OxygenOS and ColorOS already share the same software foundation. Ever since OnePlus merged OxygenOS with ColorOS' underlying codebase in 2022, the two operating systems have steadily grown closer. The fact that almost every Android skin has also been borrowing interface ideas and features from iOS has only narrowed the gap further.
Even so, OxygenOS managed to retain its own personality.
Compared to ColorOS, OxygenOS offered a cleaner, more restrained interface with fewer visual flourishes. It was generally regarded as slightly lighter and more responsive in everyday use, particularly among long-time OnePlus users who preferred a near-stock Android experience. ColorOS, by comparison, leans into greater customisation, richer animations and a broader suite of AI-powered tools for editing, productivity and personalisation.
The practical differences between the two are no longer dramatic, but the philosophy behind them remains distinct. OxygenOS appealed to users who wanted simplicity, while ColorOS has increasingly focused on offering as many features as possible.
<h2>A Defining Part of OnePlus' Identity</h2>
From a purely technical standpoint, consolidating software development makes sense.
Maintaining multiple Android skins that already share much of the same code requires separate development, testing and quality assurance teams. Moving OnePlus onto ColorOS should allow Oppo to streamline development, roll out updates more efficiently and quickly, fix bugs faster and concentrate resources on new features rather than maintaining parallel software experiences.
But software has always been about more than features.
For years, OxygenOS represented what made OnePlus different from every other Oppo brand. Even as the hardware became increasingly similar across Oppo, OnePlus and Realme devices, OxygenOS remained a reminder that OnePlus still had its own identity.
With ColorOS now set to replace it entirely, that distinction becomes much harder to see.
OnePlus says its hardware business will continue to chart its own course, and that may well prove true. Yet with service operations already integrated and software now being unified under Oppo, OxygenOS' retirement feels like the end of an era for a brand whose identity was built as much on its software as the hardware of its smartphones.

Nothing Phone (4b) makes a strong first impression with its transparent design, Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, 6000mAh battery, Nothing OS 4.1 and capable cameras.

Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Premium Design, Big Battery & Clean Software

Nothing Phone (4b) combines a unique transparent design, polished software, dependable cameras and a huge battery. Here's our first impressions after early testing.

Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: A Promising New Mid-Range Contender

Nothing Phone (4b) impresses with its signature transparent design, clean Nothing OS 4.1, Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset and a massive 6000mAh battery, making it a promising new mid-range smartphone.

Over the past few years, Nothing has steadily expanded its smartphone portfolio with flagship and upper mid-range devices. Now, the company is taking a different approach. The Phone (4b) introduces an entirely new 'b' series, a fresh lineup that Nothing is positioning squarely in the mid-range segment.&nbsp;
Importantly, the brand avoided stripping away the core features that put it on the map. This device holds onto a lot of flagship character, retaining the iconic see-through aesthetic, the functional Glyph Bar, Nothing OS 4.1, and their newest AI integrations.
Launching a competitive device around the ₹ 35,000 price point is an uphill battle especially in today&rsquo;s climate. Spiking hardware costs and an incredibly tight global memory supply mean manufacturers everywhere are forced to compromise. It is a tough reality that both Nothing and its sub-brand CMF understand perfectly. So some compromises should be expected.
Our limited time with the Phone (4b) though, made us realise that Nothing made the right calls, though the complete review will tell the full story.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b): Price and Launch Details</h2>
Nothing is dropping the Phone (4b) in Blue, Black, and White. You can pick between two configurations. The base 8GB+128GB version starts at ₹34,999, while doubling the storage to 8GB+256GB costs ₹38,999.
Thankfully, launch offers makes the pricing more palatable. An instant 7.5 per cent bank discount and exchange promotions temporarily lower those prices to an effective ₹29,999 and ₹33,699. Open sales begin on July 14. You can grab one via Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, or authorised physical retail shops.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Design</h2>
Nothing continues to reject the sea of generic smartphone designs, and the Phone (4b) confidently doubles down on that distinct identity. Heavily inspired by the <a title="Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: This One Finally Feels Complete" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/nothing-phone-4a-pro-review-this-one-finally-feels-complete-1773988838263" target="_blank">Phone (4a) Pro</a>, this model retains the signature transparent rear panel and a sleek unibody construction. The biggest visual shift centres around a subtly redesigned camera module, which now seamlessly integrates the updated Glyph Bar.
While plastic builds often suffer from a cheap reputation, the 4b&rsquo;s full-polycarbonate body tells a different story. A clever matte finish prevents smudges and fingerprints from spoiling the aesthetic, complemented by a textured upper segment that adds a nice touch of contrast. Additionally, the rounded edges ensure comfortable handling during extended browsing sessions.
The structural rigidity here is particularly impressive. Subjecting the device to twists and pressure revealed zero flexing or cheap creaks, demonstrating a level of build quality rarely seen in this price bracket.
The Glyph Bar remains a standout, highly functional feature rather than a simple visual trick. It easily tracks active countdowns, charging progress, and app notifications, all while the display stays asleep. It is also great to see the brand retain the iconic red recording LED found on its premium models. It is a minor touch that successfully anchors the company's design language.
Durability takes a step forward as well. The device secures an IP64 dust and splash resistance rating, and the updated frame structure is designed to handle bending pressures far better than its predecessor. A definitive conclusion requires long-term testing, but these initial impressions point toward reliable everyday endurance.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Display</h2>
Testing the Phone (4b) reveals a highly capable 6.77-inch FullHD+ Super AMOLED display. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate ensures that navigating the user interface and scrolling through content feels incredibly fluid, all while managing power consumption intelligently. Everything from daily social feeds to streaming media appears perfectly crisp.
Some users might express disappointment over the lack of a sharper 1.5K panel at this price point. However, with component costs rising sharply, it is completely understandable why Nothing prioritised a balanced overall package over purely chasing extra pixels. It feels like a sensible trade-off.
Despite being an 8-bit panel, the colour accuracy is impressive. Nothing avoided the temptation to over-saturate tones, meaning you still get the rich, deep blacks and vibrant contrast that AMOLED panels are known for. While peak brightness held up well during early testing, a definitive judgement will have to wait until the screen is tested under punishing, direct sunlight. For the time being, it is simply a very satisfying display for daily use.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Camera</h2>
The imaging hardware setup is quite standard. Nothing relies on a 50MP Samsung primary sensor equipped with both OIS and EIS, paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 16MP front-facing shooter. While these specifications do not necessarily sound revolutionary on paper, the real-world performance is surprisingly impressive.
Images captured by the primary camera deliver excellent results. Beyond the high level of detail, the natural colour calibration is a major highlight. <a title="Nothing Phone 4a Review: A Refreshingly Different Take On The Mid-Range Smartphone" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/nothing-phone-4a-review-a-refreshingly-different-take-on-the-mid-range-smartphone-1772709668233" target="_blank">Nothing</a> avoids aggressive over-saturation, allowing photos to remain true to life while preserving plenty of rich contrast.&nbsp;
The HDR processing balances challenging exposures effectively, protecting details in bright skies and deep shadows without creating an artificial, over-processed appearance. As expected, the ultra-wide lens shows a slight drop in outright sharpness, but its colour profile remains highly consistent with the main sensor.
Daytime selfies offer accurate skin tones and crisp facial details. On the video front, options include 4K recording at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, along with Ultra XDR, slow-motion, and dual-capture capabilities. A definitive verdict requires pushing the image stabilisation and low-light capabilities further over the coming days, so keep an eye out for the full breakdown.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Performance &amp; Gaming</h2>
Under the hood, the core specifications look solid. Nothing opted for a Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset to power the Phone (4b), pairing the silicon with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a maximum of 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.&nbsp;
The brand claims this package delivers a healthy step up in processing muscle and graphics capabilities compared to the older model. To keep temps in check when you are pushing the hardware, they have also buried a generous vapour chamber cooling system inside the frame.
On the gaming front, Nothing claims the phone can push BGMI up to 90fps, while less demanding games such as Wild Rift or Subway Surfers can max out at a fluid 120fps. Throw in a highly responsive 1,000Hz touch sampling rate alongside dual stereo speakers, and you have a hardware combination that ticks every major box for casual players.
All of this points to a snappy, hassle-free daily experience, and my brief time with the device confirms just that. Apps launch without hesitation, hopping between different tasks feels entirely seamless, and the camera shutter snaps instantly. For everyday chores, it just works beautifully.
That said, the most rigorous testing is still to come. I will need to put the phone through my usual benchmark stress tests, check closely for thermal throttling, and spend some serious hours gaming before delivering a final verdict.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Software</h2>
Clean software continues to be a major draw for Nothing devices, and the Phone (4b) carries that torch beautifully. It arrives running Nothing OS 4.1 on top of Android 16, serving up the same minimalist, bloat-free user interface found on its premium siblings. Refreshingly, the brand skipped the usual budget-phone cost-cutting, keeping the exact same flagship Essential AI features intact.
That means utilities like Essential Search, Essential Voice, and Essential Space are fully available. The handy Live Updates feature makes a return as well, working in tandem with the rear Glyph Bar to flash real-time alerts for delivery statuses, navigation cues, or upcoming calendar entries. The newly introduced Soundscape widget is another great addition, letting you quickly trigger relaxing ambient audio when you need to focus or wind down.
Future-proofing looks equally reassuring. Nothing commits to three years of major Android system upgrades and a full six years of security patches, giving long-term buyers plenty of confidence.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
The power department is undeniably a headline feature for the Phone (4b). Indian retail units pack a colossal 6,000mAh battery, marking the highest capacity Nothing has ever crammed into a phone. During my initial days of testing, any form of battery anxiety completely vanished.
When it is time to top up, the device handles 33W fast charging. Nothing claims this allows the phone to zip from 1 to 50 per cent in roughly 27 minutes, with a full charge taking close to 80 minutes. There is also 7.5W reverse wired charging support on board, which is handy if you need to revive a dying accessory. I will run formal endurance benchmarks and log exact charging metrics for the full review, but these initial figures look stellar.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4b) First Impressions: Final Thoughts</h2>
Testing the Phone (4b) shows that Nothing is off to a really solid start with this new 'b' series line. Instead of just loading up a spec sheet to look good on paper, they focused on everyday balance. It pays off, giving you a completely unique look, incredibly polished software, reliable cameras, and what looks like massive battery life.
Naturally, a price this aggressive means you have to accept some cut corners. A crisper 1.5K display and faster UFS 3.1 storage would have been excellent additions, but I get the realities of the market right now. Spiking component prices mean every phone maker has to make tough compromises.
An initial hands-on only gives you a partial picture, though. I still need to run my standard benchmark tests, track gaming frames, shoot in tricky lighting, and see how the battery handles real-world drain. For now, it is a really compelling package, and I can't wait to see how it holds up during my long-term testing for the full review.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE launched in India at Rs 79,999 with Exynos 2500, 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, 4,900mAh battery, triple cameras and One UI 9.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Launched in India at Rs 79,999: Specs, Features, Offers

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE brings Exynos 2500, a 120Hz AMOLED display, triple cameras, One UI 9 and seven years of software support to India at Rs 79,999.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Launched in India at Rs 79,999

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE launches in India at Rs 79,999 with Exynos 2500, 120Hz AMOLED display, triple cameras, 4,900mAh battery, One UI 9 and seven years of software support.

Samsung has launched the Galaxy S26 FE in India, expanding its flagship Galaxy S26 family with a more affordable Fan Edition model. The smartphone is priced at Rs 79,999 and will be available in a single 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration, with Pistachio, Blueberry and Graphite colour options.
The Galaxy S26 FE is also the first phone in the S26 series to ship with Android 17-based One UI 9. Its other highlights include a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, the Exynos 2500 chipset, a 4,900mAh battery and seven years of software support.
<h2>Galaxy S26 FE Brings New Camera and AI Features</h2>
<a title="Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 Review: Samsung&rsquo;s Small Foldable Makes a Big Impression" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/samsung-galaxy-z-flip8-review-samsung-s-small-foldable-makes-a-big-impression-1787741847511" target="_blank">Samsung </a>has equipped the Galaxy S26 FE with a triple rear camera system comprising a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilisation, a 12MP ultrawide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom. A 12MP camera handles selfies and video calls.
My FanCam, previously seen on Samsung&rsquo;s foldables, is making its way to the FE series. The feature can identify a selected person and automatically keep them centred while recording. Super Steady with Horizontal Lock is designed to produce smoother and more level footage, while Nightography targets clearer low-light photos.
Photo Assist lets users edit images through natural-language prompts. Gemini Omni can also create and edit video clips using photos and videos stored in the Gallery. Eligible buyers will receive a six-month Google AI Pro trial with 5TB of cloud storage.
One UI 9 adds an updated Now Brief with customisable cards, weather information, wellness insights and contextual suggestions. Circle to Search can now identify multiple objects in a single search.
<h2>Exynos 2500, 120Hz AMOLED Display and 45W Charging</h2>
The Galaxy S26 FE is powered by Samsung&rsquo;s 3nm Exynos 2500 processor. It features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 60Hz and 120Hz modes, along with a claimed peak brightness of 1,900 nits.
Its 4,900mAh battery supports 45W wired charging, with Samsung claiming a 69 per cent charge in around 30 minutes using a compatible adapter. The phone also supports 15W wireless charging and Wireless PowerShare.
The handset measures 7.4mm thick and weighs 193g. Connectivity options include 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, while an IP68 rating provides protection against dust and water.
<h2>Galaxy S26 FE Price and Launch Offers in India</h2>
The Samsung Galaxy S26 FE costs Rs 79,999 for its sole 8GB and 256GB variant. Buyers can choose between an upgrade bonus of up to Rs 8,000, Rs 7,000 cashback on eligible bank cards, or selected no-cost EMI offers. Samsung says these offers are mutually exclusive.
The phone will receive seven generations of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates from its global launch date. Samsung has also upgraded Smart Switch, allowing Android and <a title="Apple iPhone Duo Price In India: What Do You Get For ₹2,99,900?" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/apple-iphone-duo-price-in-india-what-do-you-get-for-2-99-900-1789041876818" target="_blank">iOS </a>users to transfer data including passwords, passkeys, call history, accessibility settings and compatible eSIM information by scanning a QR code.

Apple iPhone Duo starts at ₹2,99,900 in India. We break down its 7.6-inch foldable display, A20 Pro chip, cameras, battery, iOS 27 features and more.

Apple iPhone Duo Price In India, Specifications, Features, Cameras & A20 Pro

<h3>Apple&rsquo;s first foldable iPhone starts at ₹2,99,900 in India. Here&rsquo;s what the iPhone Duo offers for nearly ₹3 lakh.</h3>

After years of watching Samsung, Google, Oppo and others experiment with foldable smartphones, Apple has finally entered the category with the iPhone Duo.
And naturally, Apple hasn&rsquo;t exactly dipped its toes into the affordable end of the pool.
The iPhone Duo starts at ₹2,99,900 in India for 256GB of storage. The 512GB model climbs to ₹3,24,900, while the 1TB version costs ₹3,74,900. Go all the way to 2TB and you&rsquo;re looking at an almost comical ₹4,49,900.
That&rsquo;s used-car money. It&rsquo;s also enough for a rather nice international holiday or a substantial home renovation.
Making matters worse, the Duo starts at $1,999 in the US, roughly ₹1.90 lakh at current exchange rates before applicable sales taxes. That leaves an enormous gap between the American and Indian sticker prices.
Still, there&rsquo;s more to the Duo than an outrageous price tag. Apple&rsquo;s first foldable packs some genuinely interesting hardware, and it looks like the company has spent its late arrival trying to iron out several traditional foldable compromises.
<h2>iPhone Duo Gets Apple&rsquo;s Biggest iPhone Display Yet</h2>
Apple has effectively given the Duo two different personalities.
Keep it folded and there&rsquo;s a 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR outer display, which Apple says provides around 90% of the usable screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro. Unfold the device and a much larger 7.6-inch panel takes over.
Both displays support ProMotion, Always-On functionality and peak outdoor brightness of up to 3,000 nits.
The folding display is where Apple&rsquo;s engineering flex becomes more apparent. There&rsquo;s a nano-texture treatment designed to tackle reflections and make the crease less noticeable, while the display stack combines high-strength glass, custom adhesives, multiple layers and a titanium plate.
Then there&rsquo;s the hinge, which alone comprises more than 100 individual components.
Apple has wrapped everything inside a Grade 5 titanium frame and somehow managed an IP68 rating, something particularly notable for a device with this many moving parts.
The Duo is also eSIM-only globally. Removing the physical SIM hardware gives Apple some precious extra room inside an already cramped foldable chassis.
<h2>iPhone Duo Doesn&rsquo;t Compromise On Performance</h2>
Foldable or not, Apple isn&rsquo;t treating the Duo as a performance downgrade.
It uses the same 2nm A20 Pro found inside the iPhone 18 Pro family, complete with a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and Dual 16-core Neural Engine.
Apple has also fitted a custom vapour chamber for cooling and divided the battery between the two halves of the phone.
The company claims 24 hours of mixed use, while video playback is rated at 31 hours on the larger inner display and 44 hours when using the outer screen. Wired charging can apparently take the battery to 50% in around 20 minutes, with MagSafe and Qi2 doing it in approximately 30.
Cameras, however, are where the Duo differs considerably from Apple&rsquo;s Pro flagships.
There&rsquo;s a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide, with the former providing a 2x optical-quality crop. There&rsquo;s no elaborate Pro-style triple-camera arrangement here, which feels rather strange considering the Duo costs substantially more than an iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The fold itself does unlock some neat tricks, though. Duo Preview turns the outer display into a preview screen for your subject, while you can use the main cameras for higher-quality selfies. Smart Take can even recognise when everyone is posing and automatically capture the photograph.
<h2>iOS 27 Is Where The Duo Starts Making Sense</h2>
Perhaps the biggest challenge Apple faced wasn&rsquo;t building a folding iPhone. It was making iOS work properly on one.
iOS 27 has consequently been reworked specifically for the Duo.
Unfold it and two apps can finally run side by side on an iPhone. Users can create saved app pairs, launch multiple windows of the same application and seamlessly shift between the outer and inner displays.
Apple has even reconsidered familiar interface elements such as the Dock, Dynamic Island and status indicators for the larger canvas.
That software work might ultimately prove more important than the complicated hinge or titanium construction. Apple has had years to watch where other foldables work and where they become awkward.
At ₹2,99,900, none of this suddenly makes the iPhone Duo affordable. It remains an extraordinarily expensive smartphone, particularly in India.
But Apple clearly isn&rsquo;t selling this as merely another iPhone with a folding screen. Between its display engineering, A20 Pro hardware and heavily redesigned software, the Duo represents Apple&rsquo;s attempt to rethink the iPhone around an entirely different form factor.
Whether that rethink is worth ₹3 lakh is another matter.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE review: Find out how the Exynos 2500, 120Hz AMOLED display, cameras, battery and seven-year updates perform in daily use.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Performance, Cameras, Battery & Price

The Galaxy S26 FE brings an Exynos 2500 chip, 120Hz AMOLED display, 3x telephoto camera, Galaxy AI and seven years of updates.

Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: A Premium FE With Few Compromises

The Galaxy S26 FE offers a premium build, 120Hz AMOLED display, strong Exynos 2500 performance, capable cameras and seven years of updates, but USB 2.0 and its ₹79,999 price raise questions.

The Galaxy S26 FE has a harder case to make than previous FEs. The gap to the regular Galaxy S range has shrunk, so its compromises need careful judging.
It certainly does not look under-equipped. The phone brings a glass back, aluminium frame, 120Hz AMOLED display, Exynos 2500 chip, 3x optical telephoto camera, wireless charging, Galaxy AI features and a seven-year software commitment. For most buyers, that covers the essentials expected from a premium Samsung handset.
The India model comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and costs ₹79,999. Samsung&rsquo;s launch offers can lower the effective price to ₹71,999.
The question, then, is not whether the S26 FE is capable. It plainly is. The real question is whether Samsung has made enough improvements over the S25 FE, and whether its compromises become easier to accept once you compare it with the Galaxy S26. That makes its positioning interesting.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Design</h2>
The S26 FE looks more premium than previous FE phones , primarily because of its redesigned camera module.
Samsung has replaced the separate rear camera rings of the <a title="Vivo X200 FE vs Oppo Reno 14 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S25 FE: The ultimate camera test" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/vivo-x200-fe-vs-reno-14-pro-vs-s25-fe-the-ultimate-camera-test-1759300685064" target="_blank">S25 FE</a> with one raised camera housing. It is a small change, but it gives the back a neater appearance and makes this generation look current. The downside is practical: the module protrudes enough for the phone to rock about when it is lying on a table.
In hand, the phone is better than its 6.7-inch screen size might suggest. At 7.4mm thick and 193g, it is slim and light for a large device. The aluminium alloy sides have a firm feel, while Gorilla Glass Victus+ protects the front and rear. IP68 protection is here too, so there is no cost cutting around durability.
I have been using the Pistachio colourway, and it is the one I would choose. It is not loud, but it has more personality than the usual safe finishes. Graphite is available for a restrained look, while Blueberry offers an alternative.
The controls and ports follow Samsung&rsquo;s familiar layout. Power and volume buttons sit on the right. Along the bottom, you will find the SIM tray, USB-C port and one of the stereo speakers. The optical fingerprint reader is built into the display, and it has been quick and accurate for me.
The Galaxy S26 uses Armour Aluminium, which is a step up on paper. Even so, the S26 FE does not feel cheap or flimsy. Samsung has made sensible material choices, and this is one part of the FE experience where the difference to a flagship is difficult to notice in daily use.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Display &amp; Speakers</h2>
There is no mistaking this for anything other than your typical Samsung display. The S26 FE&rsquo;s 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel is bright, colourful and excellent for the things most people will use it for, whether that is scrolling, reading articles or watching a film in bed.
It runs at Full HD+ resolution, supports HDR10+ and reaches up to 1,900 nits, according to Samsung. I found it viewable outdoors, even under direct sunlight. Images have contrast and deep blacks, while text remains crisp enough that the Full HD+ resolution never felt like a limitation. YouTube and Netflix are especially enjoyable on a screen this large, and HDR10+ titles gain a lift in contrast and highlights. Dolby Vision is not supported.
What has not changed is the underlying panel technology. Samsung has again used 8-bit LTPS instead of LTPO, meaning the refresh rate is restricted to either 60Hz or 120Hz. The standard <a title="Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Pros, Cons &amp; Real-World Test" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/samsung-galaxy-s26-ultra-review-pros-cons-real-world-test-1773923373353" target="_blank">Galaxy S26</a> can adjust its refresh rate through a broader range, which should be more efficient and makes the S26 FE&rsquo;s display one of the clearer cost-saving decisions.
That said, it does not feel compromised while you are using it. The 120Hz mode keeps animations and scrolling smooth, and the viewing experience remains premium.
The stereo speakers complement the display well. They are loud enough for videos, music and podcasts, with clear dialogue and decent separation. The lower speaker is stronger than the earpiece, but the pair produces a satisfying soundstage.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Cameras</h2>
The S26 FE&rsquo;s cameras work best when you treat them as a dependable point-and-shoot system. Samsung has retained the S25 FE&rsquo;s hardware: a 50MP OIS main camera, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP OIS telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP selfie camera.
The main camera carries the system. In daylight, it produces detailed photos with attractive colours and dynamic range. Samsung&rsquo;s processing is restrained enough that images do not look excessively saturated. The 2x crop remains useful, and portrait mode handles edge detection and background blur well.
The telephoto and ultrawide need decent light. The 3x camera gives you useful reach for outdoor subjects, but it begins losing fine detail as the light falls. The ultrawide produces good daytime photos and broadly matches the primary camera&rsquo;s colours. It lacks autofocus, though, so close-up photography is not its strength.
Once it gets dark, stick with the main camera. It retains colours well and captures respectable detail, while Night mode can lift darker scenes. The telephoto and ultrawide are less convincing here, with softer results and more noise. Night mode can also make some photos look overly processed.
The 12MP front camera produces sharp selfies, with pleasing skin tones and dynamic range.
Video is one of the S26 FE&rsquo;s strong area. The main camera records at up to 8K30 or 4K60. The ultrawide and telephoto reach 4K30, while the front camera supports 4K60. Stabilisation is excellent across the rear cameras, especially while walking or panning. Pro Video adds frame-rate choices for users who want control.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Performance</h2>
The Exynos name may still make some buyers cautious, but the Galaxy S26 FE gives little reason to worry about speed in real use. It is powered by Samsung&rsquo;s 3nm Exynos 2500, alongside 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, replacing the Exynos 2400 found in the S25 FE.
One UI feels quick throughout. Apps launch promptly, moving between several applications is effortless and I did not run into stutters during normal use. It is also a very capable gaming phone. BGMI runs at high frame rates and stays smooth through longer sessions, without the performance suddenly falling away.
The benchmark results explain why. My unit reached 2,727,349 points in AnTuTu 12, with the GPU alone scoring just over one million. Geekbench 7 returned 2,061 points in single-core and 7,596 in multi-core testing. Those are firmly flagship-grade results, not merely respectable numbers for an FE handset.
Sustained stress does reveal some throttling. In 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, the S26 FE managed 61.8% stability, dropping from 4,198 at its best to 2,596 at its lowest. Still, that did not translate into an uncomfortable experience. The phone gets warm during prolonged gaming and repeated benchmarks, but it never became too hot to hold. Samsung has clearly improved thermal control compared with recent Exynos devices.
There is an unnecessary downgrade elsewhere. Samsung has moved from USB 3.2 on the S25 FE to USB 2.0, which means slower transfers and removes DisplayPort output and wired DeX. Wireless DeX remains available, but this is a functionality Samsung should not have taken away.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Software</h2>
If you keep a phone for years, the S26 FE&rsquo;s software promise matters. It arrives with One UI 9 on Android 17, and Samsung says it will receive seven Android generation upgrades plus seven years of security updates. That is flagship-level support.
The interface remains a Samsung advantage. One UI is packed with options, but it is still easy to settle into. It feels responsive and polished. Samsung has tidied up Quick Settings, while the Galaxy AI hub is simpler to browse, important because there are tools available.
Several are designed to assist throughout the day. Now Brief pulls together relevant information, Now Nudge offers prompts and Circle to Search has been improved. Bixby has also become more useful for general questions through its Perplexity integration.
The most practical AI additions are the editing tools. Gallery gives you a substantial set of options for cleaning up, changing and reworking images without moving to another app.
My FanCam is the feature that stands out. Choose a person in a video you have recorded, and the phone identifies them as the subject. It then tracks that person through the clip, adjusting the crop, framing and zoom automatically. For a child, pet or anyone moving around during a recording, it can rescue a video that was not perfectly framed in the first place.
Samsung has not restricted this Galaxy AI suite to the pricier S26 phones. Combined with its update policy, the S26 FE offers the same software experience for less.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Battery</h2>
The S26 FE delivers dependable all-day battery life, but nothing more.
Samsung has used the same 4,900mAh battery as the S25 FE. Calls, messaging, browsing, social media, streaming and some camera use will comfortably take you from morning to night. Push the phone with long gaming sessions, navigation or heavy photography, however, and you should expect to charge before the following day.
The charging hardware has not moved either. The S26 FE supports 45W wired charging, but Samsung does not include an adapter. It also offers 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging for earbuds or accessories.
The results are adequate, but Samsung&rsquo;s battery approach looks cautious beside rivals adopting bigger cells and faster charging.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Review: Verdict</h2>
The Galaxy S26 FE has little wrong with it. Samsung has delivered a premium-feeling build, a lovely display, strong Exynos 2500 performance, dependable cameras, all-day battery life and useful software support. One UI 9 and the seven-year update commitment make it easy to live with over time.
That sounds like a strong FE package. The problem begins only when you look at what Samsung is asking for it.
The S26 FE costs ₹79,999 for its 8GB and 256GB configuration. At the same price, with a discount, Samsung sells the regular Galaxy S26. The S26 has a smaller screen, but it brings more RAM, better performance and a more capable camera system. Launch offers reduce the FE to ₹71,999, yet an ₹8,000 saving does not settle the equation.
The USB 2.0 port and missing wired DeX are peculiar steps backwards from the S25 FE.
Once the street price falls, the S26 FE could become a very sensible purchase. Until that happens, Samsung&rsquo;s own Galaxy S26 is the more logical choice.

Gadget Review

Redmi Note 17 Pro review: With a 9,000mAh battery, 120Hz AMOLED display, rugged IP69K build and six years of security updates, is it worth Rs 36,999?

Redmi Note 17 Pro Review: Brilliant Display, 9000mAh Battery, But Is It Worth Rs 36,999?

The Redmi Note 17 Pro packs a massive 9,000mAh battery, bright 120Hz AMOLED display and rugged build, but its performance, cameras and Rs 36,999 starting price leave room for debate.

Redmi Note 17 Pro Review: Massive Battery, Brilliant Display, But There’s a Catch

The Redmi Note 17 Pro impresses with a huge 9,000mAh battery, excellent 120Hz AMOLED display and rugged build, but modest performance, average cameras and its Rs 36,999 price hold it back.

The Redmi Note 17 Pro has a fairly clear idea of what it wants to be: a phone that lasts for days, can take plenty of abuse and still delivers a good experience for everyday work, streaming and casual gaming.
And the hardware certainly backs that up. There&rsquo;s a massive 9,000mAh battery, a 6.83-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP69K protection. Redmi is also promising surprisingly solid software support. Even the design has some personality, especially the Purple Vibe variant I have been using, which is a refreshing change from the endless black glass slabs.
The problem is the price.
The Redmi Note 17 Pro starts at ₹36,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, while the 8GB + 256GB model costs ₹39,999. That puts it in seriously competitive territory, where faster performance, better cameras and more premium materials are fairly easy to find.
So, are that enormous battery, rugged build and big AMOLED display enough to make the Note 17 Pro worth considering? Let&rsquo;s find out.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Design: Big, Bold And Built To Take A Beating</h2>
Durability is clearly one of the Redmi Note 17 Pro&rsquo;s biggest strengths, and Redmi has packed in pretty much everything you could ask for here.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while the phone gets IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings for protection against dust and water. Redmi also claims it can survive drops from up to three metres. That is an impressive level of protection, especially considering how large and heavy this phone is.
And yes, it is quite heavy. The Note 17 Pro weighs 226g, although <a title="Redmi Turbo 5 Review: Big Battery, Fast Gaming, Great Value" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/redmi-turbo-5-review-big-battery-fast-gaming-great-value-1781778612906" target="_blank">Redmi </a>has managed to keep the thickness down to 8.6mm despite squeezing in a massive 9,000mAh battery. You will notice it in your pocket, but I found the size fairly comfortable to manage with my larger hands.
The Purple Vibe variant I have looks quite nice as well. The lavender-toned fibre finish gives the back some texture and, more importantly, makes it less slippery while keeping fingerprints away. You can also get the phone in Cloud Blue and Stealth Black.
The camera layout is slightly unusual. Individual metallic camera rings sit within a pill-shaped section, which is then placed inside a larger squircle-shaped island. There are multiple layers to the design, but it remains fairly understated.
Both the frame and back are polycarbonate. The phone still feels sturdy and well put together, but considering prices start at ₹36,999, I would have preferred something a little more premium.
As for the essentials, you get USB-C 2.0, a speaker grille, microphone and an IR blaster. There is also dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 and a dual SIM tray.. The optical in-display fingerprint scanner is reliable as well.
Overall, the Note 17 Pro is not trying to be particularly slim or compact. Instead, Redmi has focused on making it comfortable enough to use, difficult to damage and practical for everyday use.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Display And Speakers: Great For Binge-Watching</h2>
If you spend a lot of time watching videos on your phone, the <a title="Redmi Note 17 Review: Still Worth the Note Name?" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/redmi-note-17-review-still-worth-the-note-name-1786700453605" target="_blank">Redmi Note 17</a> Pro has plenty going for it. The 6.83-inch flat AMOLED panel is massive, with a 2772 x 1280 resolution, 12-bit colour depth and a 120Hz refresh rate.
And it is a very good display for content consumption. YouTube videos look sharp, Netflix shows are enjoyable, and the sheer size of the panel makes movies much more immersive. I also prefer the flat screen here, since there are no curved edges eating into the usable viewing area.
Colours are vibrant without looking unnecessarily saturated, while the 1.5K resolution keeps finer details nice and sharp. Brightness is another strong point. Redmi claims a peak of 3,500 nits, and its Sunlight Display mode makes the phone easy to use outdoors. That extra brightness is particularly useful for something like checking Google Maps under harsh sunlight.
There is, however, one notable omission. You do not get Dolby Vision or HDR10+ on the Note 17 Pro. Both formats are available on the Pro Max instead. It does not suddenly make the display bad, but at this price, their absence is difficult to ignore.
Everything else is fairly well covered. The 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and animations smooth, while gamers get up to 3,200Hz instantaneous touch sampling. There is also 3,840Hz PWM dimming, DC dimming and T&Uuml;V eye-protection certification for more comfortable viewing at night.
The dual speakers complement the display nicely. They can comfortably fill a small room, and the 300% volume boost comes in handy when you do not have earbuds around. Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio are supported as well. They obviously cannot match a dedicated Bluetooth speaker, but the output is fuller and more enjoyable than many phones in this segment.
For streaming, gaming or simply spending hours scrolling through social media, the display and speakers are easily among the Note 17 Pro&rsquo;s strongest features.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Performance: Smooth Enough, But Gamers Should Look Elsewhere</h2>
The Redmi Note 17 Pro&rsquo;s performance is certainly not it&rsquo;s headline feature. Just look at the SoC it uses, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and you&rsquo;ll get what we are on about. The focus here is clearly on delivering reliable everyday performance rather than chasing benchmark records.
For regular use, that is perfectly fine. Apps open quickly, scrolling remains smooth and multitasking does not cause any major problems. The phone scored 956,058 on AnTuTu, while Geekbench 7 produced a single-core score of 891 and a multi-core score of 2,633.
Storage speeds depend on the variant you choose. The 128GB model uses UFS 2.2, whereas the 256GB version gets the faster UFS 3.1 standard. Given the choice, I would spend extra on the 256GB variant, especially if you plan on keeping the phone for a few years.
The more interesting result came from the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test. The Note 17 Pro recorded 99.1% stability, with its best loop scoring 775 and its lowest managing 768. Those scores highlight the limited graphics performance, but such a small difference between the highest and lowest loops also shows that sustained performance remains remarkably consistent. Thermal management is pretty decent as well.
We skipped our usual gaming benchmarks because this simply is not a gaming-focused device. You can still play BGMI or Call of Duty: Mobile comfortably for a casual half-hour session. Push beyond that, though, and occasional jitters and dropped frames begin creeping in.
For work, social media, streaming and some casual gaming, performance is perfectly adequate. Serious mobile gamers, however, can find considerably more powerful hardware at this price.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Software: Six Years Of Support Is The Big Win</h2>
One of the biggest reasons to consider the Redmi Note 17 Pro for long-term use is its software support. The phone ships with Android 16-based HyperOS 3 and gets four Android version upgrades alongside six years of security updates, taking support all the way to 2032. That is excellent for this segment.
HyperOS 3, meanwhile, feels largely familiar. It is quick, colourful and gives you plenty of ways to customise the interface. Animations are fluid, the widgets are useful, and HyperIsland displays live notifications and ongoing activities around the front camera in an easily accessible strip.
Unfortunately, some familiar Xiaomi annoyances remain. There are pre-installed apps, promotional notifications and several things worth cleaning up during the initial setup. Most of these can be disabled or removed, but users really should not have to spend their first hour doing that.
There are plenty of AI features as well. Google provides Gemini and Circle to Search, while Xiaomi adds its own tools for writing assistance, live transcription and on-device translation.
HyperConnect makes transferring content between Xiaomi devices easier. There is also Offline Communication, which lets compatible devices exchange messages without relying on a mobile network. I can see that being particularly useful while travelling through areas with patchy connectivity, even if it is unlikely to become an everyday feature for most people.
HyperOS 3 still feels busier than necessary, but six years of security updates and four Android upgrades give the Note 17 Pro a major advantage if you plan on keeping your phone for several years.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Cameras: Good Enough For Everyday Photos</h2>
Cameras are not really the Redmi Note 17 Pro&rsquo;s strongest suit, although the setup is perfectly usable for everyday photography. You get a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide and a 16MP camera at the front.
Most of your photos will naturally come from the 50MP main camera, and daylight results are generally good. There is enough detail, skin tones look natural and dynamic range is decent. Colours occasionally get a slight boost, but rarely to the point where they look unnatural. Portrait mode works reasonably well too, although edge detection can struggle with hair and more complicated outlines.
Things become less impressive once the light starts fading. Detail takes a hit and heavier processing becomes noticeable, although OIS helps with keeping shots steady. You can still get perfectly usable nighttime photos, just do not expect flagship-level results.
The 8MP ultrawide is handy for landscapes, interiors or fitting larger groups into the frame, but there is a noticeable drop in detail and dynamic range compared to the main camera. Its limitations become even clearer in low light.
Selfies from the 16MP front camera are perfectly fine for social media and video calls, without doing anything particularly special.
Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps across the front and rear cameras. Stabilisation is adequate for casual clips, but anyone serious about shooting video should look elsewhere.
Overall, these cameras cover the basics well enough, but they are unlikely to be the reason you buy the Note 17 Pro.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Battery: Two Days Is Easy, Three Is Possible</h2>
If there is one area where the Redmi Note 17 Pro really stands out, it is battery life. The massive 9,000mAh silicon-carbon battery can comfortably deliver more than two full days of use. Xiaomi claims up to three days, and based on my experience with the 120Hz display running at around 70% brightness, that seems achievable with lighter usage.
Charging such a massive battery obviously takes some time. Redmi includes a 67W charger in the box, which takes roughly 90 to 95 minutes for a full charge. That is certainly not the quickest around, but when you only need to plug in every couple of days, it becomes much easier to live with.
You also get 22.5W wired reverse charging, letting the phone top up earbuds, smartwatches or even another smartphone when needed.
For frequent travellers, heavy users or anyone who simply hates charging their phone every night, this exceptional endurance is easily one of the Note 17 Pro&rsquo;s biggest selling points.
<h2>Redmi Note 17 Pro Verdict: A Great Everyday Phone, If Found At The Right Price</h2>
The Redmi Note 17 Pro makes the most sense for someone who values battery life, durability and a great multimedia experience over outright performance.
That 9,000mAh battery is easily the highlight, but the large AMOLED display, loud speakers, excellent protection and long software support make it a dependable everyday phone as well. For travellers and heavy users in particular, there is plenty to like.
There are compromises, though. At 226g, it is heavy, while the plastic frame feels underwhelming at this price. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 is perfectly capable for daily use but not demanding gaming, and the cameras are decent rather than exceptional. Missing out on Dolby Vision and HDR10+ when the Pro Max gets both is disappointing too.
My biggest concern is the price. The Note 17 Pro feels slightly expensive for what it offers, so I would definitely look for discounts. Get it at the right price, though, and it becomes a very easy phone to recommend for long-term everyday use.

Poco X8 Power review: We test its 10,000mAh battery, 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, cameras, 100W charging and overall performance.

Poco X8 Power Review: 10,000mAh Battery Phone Done Right?

The Poco X8 Power packs a massive 10,000mAh battery, 100W charging, a 1.5K AMOLED display and IP69K protection. Here’s how it performs in the real world.

Poco X8 Power Review: An Endurance Champion With a 10,000mAh Battery

The Poco X8 Power delivers exceptional three-day battery life, a sharp 1.5K AMOLED display and rugged protection, but its performance and cameras lag behind some similarly priced rivals.

A few years ago, putting a 10,000mAh battery in a smartphone would have sounded absurd. In 2026, it feels far less unusual. Even 8,000mAh cells are becoming common, so the Poco X8 Power needs more than sheer capacity to stand out.
Its biggest talking point is still that 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery. More impressive, however, is how Poco has fitted it inside an 8.65mm chassis that weighs 229g. The rest of the package is fairly ambitious too. There is a 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP69K protection and 100W charging, along with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage.
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 is where things become less straightforward. It feels like an unusual choice for a phone starting at ₹35,999, particularly when everything else sounds so competitive. So, is the Poco X8 Power genuinely a well-rounded smartphone, or is that enormous battery doing most of the selling?
<h2>Poco X8 Power Review: Design</h2>
The yellow <a title="POCO X8, X8 Power Launched in India With Up to 10,000mAh Battery, 100W Charging" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/poco-x8-x8-power-launched-in-india-with-up-to-10-000mah-battery-100w-charging-1788512739591" target="_blank">Poco </a>X8 Power is anything but discreet. Its bright vegan-leather rear sits against a black frame and matching camera module, giving the phone a bold, slightly playful look. I quite like the contrast, but the finish is useful too. The textured back offers a secure grip and keeps fingerprints far less visible than glossy plastic or glass.
Of course, there is no disguising the size. At 229g and 8.65mm thick, the X8 Power feels substantial from the moment you pick it up. Still, once you remember that Poco has packed a 10,000mAh battery inside, those figures feel surprisingly reasonable. It is a large phone, but not the awkward brick I had expected.
Poco has also taken durability seriously. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protects the display, while IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings provide extensive resistance against dust and water. That is a stronger set of protections than you typically find in this price segment.
Elsewhere, the phone includes an optical fingerprint scanner beneath the display, stereo speakers and an IR blaster. Wireless connectivity covers Bluetooth 6.0 and dual-band Wi-Fi 5, with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac.
There are compromises, though. The USB-C port only supports USB 2.0 speeds, while NFC and eSIM are both missing. With no NFC, tap-to-pay services are unavailable, and these omissions feel particularly noticeable on a phone priced at ₹35,999. Neither issue ruins the overall experience, but buyers who rely on either feature will need to look elsewhere. That remains rather difficult to overlook here.
<h2>Poco X8 Power Review: Display</h2>
If you watch plenty of OTT shows or YouTube videos on your phone, the Poco X8 Power makes a strong case for itself. Its 6.83-inch flat LTPS AMOLED panel has a 2772 &times; 1280 resolution, so this is a proper 1.5K display rather than a standard FHD+ one. It also supports 12-bit colour, the DCI-P3 gamut and a 120Hz refresh rate.
The screen looks excellent in everyday use. Images are crisp, contrast is strong and colours have plenty of punch without appearing excessively saturated. Poco claims a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, and outdoor visibility is impressive. I had little difficulty reading the display even under bright sunlight.
However, the phone may run at 60Hz by default, so you will need to select 120Hz manually. The difference is immediately apparent in scrolling and system animations. That small change makes the phone feel much quicker and ensures you are actually getting the experience this panel was built to deliver.
Streaming is another highlight. Both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are supported, with Dolby Vision working on compatible Netflix content. Wet Touch 2.0 and TUV triple eye protection are included as well. Touch sampling can reach 3,200Hz instantaneously, although that maximum is only available through Game Turbo.
The stereo speakers are equally difficult to ignore. They support Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, while Poco advertises a 400% volume-boost mode. Honestly, that sounds more like an elaborate name for a very loud pair of speakers.
And loud they certainly are. At around 70 to 80% volume, there is already enough output for videos and films without headphones. At 400%, things become properly loud. Crucially, the speakers offer more than volume alone. Combined with the large, sharp Dolby Vision display, they turn the X8 Power into a genuinely enjoyable phone for entertainment.
<h2>Poco X8 Power Review: Cameras</h2>
Photography is not the reason to buy the Poco X8 Power, but its cameras are dependable enough for everyday use. Rather than crowding the rear with unnecessary sensors, Poco provides a 50MP primary camera with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide.
Most of my better shots came from the main camera. Its wide f/1.5 aperture helps capture a healthy amount of detail in daylight, while skin tones generally remain accurate. The processing sometimes pushes colours further than I would prefer, though the results are usually ready to share without demanding much editing before they go online. That large aperture also creates pleasing background separation naturally, so Portrait mode is not always necessary. A 2x in-sensor zoom is available when you need a closer view.
The ultrawide is mainly useful for fitting more into the frame. Its 8MP resolution leaves it short on fine detail, and the quality drops further when the lighting becomes weaker.
Video capabilities are surprisingly flexible. The primary camera records at 4K30 or 1080p60, whereas the ultrawide tops out at 1080p30. Shooting modes include Portrait, Pro, Ultra HD, Panorama, Dual Video and Live Moments.
Selfies come from a 32MP f/2.2 front camera. It produces reasonably detailed pictures, although the beautification can sometimes smooth skin too aggressively. The selfie camera also supports 4K30 and 1080p60 recording, which is a welcome inclusion.
Ultimately, this is a capable camera system rather than a standout one. The main camera handles the essentials well, but buyers prioritising photography will find stronger options elsewhere.
<h2>Poco X8 Power Review: Performance</h2>
This X8 Power is the first smartphone in the country that is powered by the all-new Snapdragon 6 Gen 5. This basically means raw speed is not the X8 Power&rsquo;s strongest suit.&nbsp;
What it does offer, however, is remarkable consistency, and that matters once you start playing games for longer stretches.
The clearest evidence comes from 3DMark&rsquo;s Wild Life Extreme Stress Test. Its best loop score was 1,190, while the lowest stood at 1,179. That works out to 99.1% stability, which is exceptional. BGMI supports 60fps, and my experience reflected those results initially. Gameplay stayed smooth for roughly 30 minutes, with no major temperature concerns. After around 45 minutes, occasional frame drops and some sluggishness started creeping in. It is not a gaming phone, but longer BGMI sessions remain perfectly enjoyable.
Regular use is even less demanding. Apps launch quickly, scrolling is fluid and multitasking generally happens without fuss. The limitations only become obvious in benchmark results. The phone scored around 980,000 in AnTuTu v11, while Geekbench 7 produced 962 in the single-core test and 3,007 in multi-core. For a phone starting at ₹35,999, those figures are difficult to celebrate.
That distinction is important. The phone rarely feels slow when handling ordinary tasks, yet it does not have the extra headroom you might expect at this price. Buyers chasing high benchmark scores or demanding gaming performance should set their expectations accordingly before buying one.
Poco pairs the chipset with LPDDR5X RAM, but storage needs closer attention. UFS 4.1 is reserved for the top 256GB version. The cheaper 128GB model misses out on that. We reckon it may be using UFS 2.2 instead. That difference makes the 256GB variant my clear recommendation. Overall, the X8 Power prioritises dependable sustained performance over outright pace.
<h2>Poco X8 Power Review: Software</h2>
The Poco X8 Power runs HyperOS 3 on top of Android 16. If you have used a recent <a title="Redmi Note 17 Review: Still Worth the Note Name?" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/redmi-note-17-review-still-worth-the-note-name-1786700453605" target="_blank">Xiaomi </a>or Poco phone, everything will feel familiar, from the general layout to the customisation options. I particularly like how much freedom HyperOS gives you to change the lock screen and the wider look of the interface.
The more obvious annoyance appears during setup. Poco preloads several apps and games, including the Indus Appstore. Thankfully, most of them can be uninstalled, so cleaning up the phone does not take particularly long. Glance is not enabled on the lock screen by default either, which is a welcome decision.
For the most part, the software feels smooth in daily use. Apps behave as expected and navigating the interface rarely causes trouble. I did, however, notice occasional jitters while switching between apps. Notifications were also delayed a couple of times when the phone was locked, possibly because HyperOS was managing background activity too aggressively. These issues were infrequent, but they were still noticeable.
There are some useful additions beneath that clutter. Circle to Search is available, while Xiaomi Offline Communication lets compatible nearby Xiaomi and Poco phones communicate over Bluetooth without cellular connectivity.
Poco also promises four years of Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates. That should take it to Android 20.
<h2>Poco X8 Power Review: Battery</h2>
The 10,000mAh silicon-carbon battery is the reason the Poco X8 Power exists, and its endurance is every bit as impressive as the capacity suggests.
This is comfortably a three-day phone. With calls, browsing, social media and streaming in the mix, I regularly ended a full workday with around 60-65% charge left. Lighter users may be able to stretch it beyond three days. Even synthetic benchmarks reduced the battery by just 3%, which is something I have never seen from another phone.
Charging such a large battery still takes time, despite the 100W HyperCharge support. Using the included 100W adapter, a complete charge took around 50-55 minutes during testing. The X8 Power also supports 27W wired reverse charging, letting it charge your other devices when required.
<h2>Poco X8 Power Verdict: An Endurance Champion</h2>
At ₹35,999, the Poco X8 Power is not the choice for every buyer. Its Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 handles daily tasks without trouble and can run BGMI reasonably well, but faster phones are available for similar money. The cameras are serviceable, although they are unlikely to satisfy anyone placing photography near the top of their list.
What sets this phone apart is endurance. The 10,000mAh battery can deliver three days of use, while 100W charging prevents refilling it from becoming a painfully long affair. Its 27W reverse-charging support is genuinely practical as well.
The supporting hardware makes the proposition stronger. You get an excellent 1.5K AMOLED screen, extremely loud stereo speakers, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP69K protection. Together, those features make it well suited to watching content and surviving demanding days away from home.
Ultimately, your priorities decide whether the X8 Power makes sense. Look elsewhere if performance or cameras matter most. But for frequent travellers, heavy content consumers or anyone tired of watching the battery percentage, few phones offer this level of reassurance.

vivo Buds review: We test the ₹1,999 wireless earbuds for sound quality, battery life, comfort, calls, gaming, and features to see if they are worth buying.

vivo Buds Review: Best Budget Earbuds Under ₹2,000?

The vivo Buds offer impressive battery life, a lightweight fit, punchy sound, spatial audio and dual-device pairing at ₹1,999. Here’s how they perform in real-world use.

vivo Buds Review: Excellent Battery Life at ₹1,999

The ₹1,999 vivo Buds deliver excellent battery life, a lightweight fit, punchy sound and reliable dual-device pairing, making them a strong budget pick despite average calls and no ANC.

Buying a pair of earbuds under two grand usually feels like a gamble that you are destined to lose. Most brands love throwing fancy spec buzzwords onto the retail box, but the moment you pop them into your ears, you get tinny audio, cheap, creaky plastics, or a Bluetooth connection that stutters the second you drop your phone into your pocket.
Vivo is trying something different with the new vivo Buds. At ₹1,999, there is zero overpromising here. The pitch stays dead simple: give buyers huge battery endurance, a super-light fit, seamless two-device pairing, spatial audio, and audio that actually packs some punch.
I carried the Nilgiri Green pair around everywhere for a full week, using them across daily office work, chaotic bus commutes, and late-night gaming sessions. Here is my take on how they hold up.
<h2>Design and Comfort</h2>
Right out of the box, the vivo Buds look very impressive and very polished, with a full glossy finish on both the case and the earbuds. You get a Type-C port at the bottom and no pairing button anywhere in sight. Pop the lid open, and you see the buds sitting inside in a full monochromatic look. The design surely feels like it's punching above its price tag.
I got my hands on the Nilgiri Green unit, which has this calm, minty green tone that I ended up really liking because it is not loud. While it kept my oily fingerprints out of sight, it was an absolute magnet for dust and pocket scuffs. Just three or four days of sliding it in and out of my jeans pocket, I started spotting fine scratches all over, which showed up easily against the pale green plastic.
Another thing I noticed was the lid hinge. At first, it gave me this super-crisp, loud click whenever I snapped it shut, which felt great. But after a week of fidgeting with it, the hinge definitely developed a bit of loose play.
The earbuds carry that same glossy plastic that we see on the case, and they weigh just 3.8 grams each. The moment I put them on, that featherweight build paid off. The tips sealed into my ears effortlessly without making me feel that stuffy, inner-ear pressure. I even shook my head around vigorously to see if they would slip, but they stayed firmly in place.
I kept them on for several multi-hour editing shifts and felt no earache. Plus, with their IP54 rating, I did not have to stress when I got sweaty during quick evening runs or was caught in a light drizzle.
<h2>Audio Quality</h2>
At this price point, nobody should go in expecting god-level sound, and the <a title="Vivo S2 Review: Massive Battery, Premium Design, Minimal Compromises" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/vivo-s2-review-massive-battery-premium-design-minimal-compromises-1786105671836" target="_blank">vivo</a> Buds certainly are not pulling off audio miracles. Still, packing a 10mm high-resolution moving-coil driver inside, they hold their ground surprisingly well.
Whenever I test any audio gear, I queue up tracks across different genres to get a genuine feel for what the drivers can do. I kicked off my testing with vocal-heavy acoustic tracks and subtle piano arrangements, such as Raabta by Arijit Singh, All of Me by John Legend, and Imagine by John Lennon.
The overall delivery was decent for what you pay, but I did notice that the background instrumentation got a bit muddy during busier passages. Even with that slight muddiness, if you want my honest opinion, the sound comes across as much more vibrant and lively than I anticipated from a budget pair.
In fact, these buds handle bass-heavy tracks far better than pure acoustic melodies. It is not mind-blowing sub-bass, but it packs enough punch to keep things energetic. I cycled through my usual rotation of hip-hop, Punjabi beats, and rap to test the low-end thump, and the results were seriously impressive for the price tag.
The rhythm feels punchy and fun, though in that chase for bass energy, the buds do end up losing some of the finer instrumental details that audiophiles would crave.
On the codec front, you get standard AAC and SBC support. That is pretty much what every brand offers in this segment, so no surprises there. There is also no active noise cancellation here. Expecting ANC at this price point would honestly be an unfair ask, but I will admit that missing out on it made my daily metro commutes and walks through crowded markets a bit chaotic, since you can still hear the outside chatter cutting right through your music.
<h2>Call Quality</h2>
When it comes to taking calls, my experience with the vivo Buds has been pretty decent, but with clear boundaries. If you are sitting in a quiet office cabin, your bedroom, or anywhere without too much commotion around, the dual-mic setup works completely fine.
My voice came through loud, crisp, and natural on the other end, and I had no issues breezing through long catch-ups and routine work meetings.
The trouble begins once you step outside into genuine chaos. The moment I took calls along packed streets, near blaring traffic horns, or in crowded transit areas, such as during my metro commutes, the experience quickly turned unpleasant for both me and the person on the other end and me.
While the onboard AI noise cancellation and cross-flow wind duct try their best to suppress ambient racket, sharp street noises and chatter still managed to leak right into the conversation. My voice would sometimes sound slightly distant or compressed as the algorithm aggressively tried to fight the background noise.
If you mostly take calls indoors or in relatively controlled spaces, these buds get the job done reliably. But I definitely would not recommend relying on them for important calls while standing in the middle of a noisy market.
<h2>Software Support</h2>
Over the years, the software experience for the Vivo TWSs has gotten just better. If you use a Vivo or iQOO phone, you get a few extra ecosystem perks, but I did a chunk of my testing paired with my <a title="Vivo X300 FE Review: Flagship Performance in a Pocket-Friendly Body" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/vivo-x300-fe-review-flagship-performance-in-a-pocket-friendly-body-1778065708933" target="_blank">Vivo X300 FE</a>.
On third-party phones, you have to download the vEarphones app, but honestly, the overall difference in day-to-day use felt fairly negligible.
The app covers all the essentials well, including control remapping and dual-device pairing. Spatial audio is part of the package too, though right now it only works if you are paired with the Vivo X300 FE or the Vivo X300 Ultra. Vivo claims updates are on the way to fix that.
Naturally, you miss out on wear detection, so tracks will not pause when you pull a bud out, but at this price, that did not bother me at all.
What genuinely stood out was the low-latency mode. I do not have the lab tools to measure whether it actually hit the claimed 42ms mark, but during my gaming sessions, the sync was flawless. Gunshots fired on time, and footsteps came through right when they happened on screen.
The app interface is far from the prettiest software I have ever used, but it gets the job done without crashing or lagging.
<h2>Battery and charging</h2>
If there is one area where the vivo Buds completely won me over, it has to be the battery endurance. Vivo packs a 51mAh battery into each earbud and a 513mAh cell inside the charging case. On paper, they promise up to 12 hours on a single charge and a massive 50 hours with the case.
In my real-world routine, keeping the volume around 65 to 70 per cent, I easily pulled around 9&ndash;10 hours of continuous music and video playback. That is phenomenal endurance value, especially for the price.
I used these buds through an entire workweek of editing, work calls, and daily listening without having to hunt down a charging brick once. When I finally ran them down, the charging was dependable too.
Dropping the buds into the case for just 10 minutes gave me roughly four full hours of playback, which was more than enough to cover my evening commute. Juicing the whole case back up over Type-C took about two hours, just as claimed. For anyone tired of constant battery anxiety, this setup feels practically bulletproof.
<h2>Final verdict: Should you buy it?</h2>
For two thousand rupees, the vivo Buds do not try to pull off any miracles, which honestly works in their favour. Rather than slapping on weak, gimmick-grade ANC just for marketing, Vivo got the daily stuff right.
You get crazy-good battery backup that easily beats most rivals around this price, a super-light fit you can wear all day, spatial audio, and two-device pairing that actually works without fuss.
Are there compromises? Absolutely. That shiny case picks up scratches way too fast, outdoor calls get messy in traffic, and I really missed having auto-pause when pulling an earbud out.
Still, if your week looks like mine, with hours of continuous music, quick gaming rounds, and jumping between a phone and a laptop without Bluetooth headaches, these give you serious value. If you have two grand in your pocket, buying these is practically a no-brainer.

The Pixel 11 Pro XL promises better cameras, smarter AI and improved Tensor G6 performance. After a week of use, here’s where Google’s flagship excels and falls short.

Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Is Google’s ₹1.35 Lakh Flagship Worth It?

The Pixel 11 Pro XL doubles down on cameras, AI and software polish, while Tensor G6 and slow charging remain its biggest compromises.

There&rsquo;s a certain comfort that comes with picking up a new Pixel. You pretty much know the kind of experience Google is going for, and after spending more than a week with the Pixel 11 Pro XL as my primary phone, I don&rsquo;t think that predictability works against it at all.
Yes, the new colours immediately caught my eye when the phone arrived in August, but the more interesting changes reveal themselves once you actually start using it. Tensor G6 sits at the heart of the experience, Android 17 feels wonderfully polished, Google has stuffed the phone with new AI features, and there are some important camera improvements to explore as well.
None of this transforms what a Pixel is supposed to be. Instead, Google seems increasingly comfortable refining the things that already make its phones distinctive.
Then there&rsquo;s the price. The 12GB/256GB Pixel 11 Pro XL costs ₹1,34,999, which is undeniably premium. Yet, with flagship prices climbing steadily higher, it ends up looking surprisingly competitive. More importantly, it delivers the kind of well-rounded, polished experience I expect when spending this much on a phone.
<h2>Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Design</h2>
Google&rsquo;s horizontal camera bar has become such a recognisable part of the Pixel that I&rsquo;m happy to see it return. This time, glass covers the entire camera housing from one edge to the other, which gives the Pixel 11 Pro XL a cleaner finish from the back.
India gets Canyon, Olive, Fog and Obsidian. Canyon is certainly the showstopper, but my Obsidian review unit has grown on me considerably. Every colour gets matte glass, although Obsidian is the only one that carries that treatment over to the aluminium frame. The others use polished aluminium. Personally, I prefer the all-matte approach, especially since fingerprints were barely noticeable despite my sweaty hands.
This is still a pretty big phone. It weighs 226g and measures 8.5mm thick, so reaching across that large body with one hand isn&rsquo;t always effortless. What helps is the excellent weight distribution. There&rsquo;s also virtually no rocking when you use it on a table because the camera bar stretches across the phone.
HiLight is the most interesting new design flourish. Built into the camera housing alongside the cameras, flash, microphone and laser hardware, this RGB light can alert you to calls from favourite contacts and animate while Gemini listens, thinks or responds. It&rsquo;s a fun addition, and more control over its colours and behaviour would make it even better.
For protection, there&rsquo;s Gorilla Glass Victus 2, IP68 certification and Google&rsquo;s anti-scratch shield, claimed to more than double scratch resistance.
Finally, you get an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, USB-C 3.2, nano-SIM and eSIM support, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, NFC and compatibility with PixelSnap accessories.
<h2>Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Display and Speakers</h2>
The sheer size of the Pixel 11 Pro XL makes it a natural fit for watching content, but thankfully, Google has also given it a display good enough to make the most of all that real estate.
We&rsquo;re looking at a 6.8-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED panel with a 2K (1344 x 2992) resolution, HDR10+ support and an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. Google quotes 2,400 nits of HDR brightness and a peak of 3,600 nits, and I never had to squint at the screen while using it outdoors.
What impressed me more was how good everything looked indoors. OLED gives you wonderfully deep blacks, contrast is excellent, and colours have just the right amount of punch. Fire up a movie or a YouTube video and the large canvas really comes into its own. It&rsquo;s the closest this phone gets to feeling like a miniature tablet.
The 120Hz refresh rate also makes a difference outside entertainment. Scrolling through webpages feels slick, animations are fluid and the entire interface responds beautifully. Thin, uniform bezels help with immersion, while Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and Google&rsquo;s anti-scratch shield protect the panel.
Google hasn&rsquo;t neglected audio either. The stereo speakers can get seriously loud while maintaining clear dialogue and a nicely balanced sound. There&rsquo;s good stereo separation in landscape, and music has enough body that I regularly ended up using the phone itself instead of reaching for a speaker.
Spatial Audio is supported with compatible content, apps and headphones too. Taken together, the screen and speakers make the Pixel 11 Pro XL an excellent little entertainment machine.
<h2>Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Cameras</h2>
What I enjoy most about photographing with the Pixel 11 Pro XL is the consistency. Whether I&rsquo;m quickly capturing something during the day, zooming into a distant subject or shooting after sunset, I rarely have to think too much about getting the shot right.
Google has some serious hardware backing that experience. The main camera uses a new 50MP f/1.68, 1/1.3-inch sensor, joined by a 48MP f/1.7 autofocus ultrawide with Macro Focus. The 48MP f/2.8 5x telephoto gets a larger 1/1.95-inch sensor with OIS, which Google says gathers 32% more light. There&rsquo;s also a 42MP ultrawide autofocus selfie camera.
Results across the three rear cameras are excellent. Images retain plenty of detail, dynamic range is superb and colours generally stay nicely balanced. Google&rsquo;s characteristic processing is still visible, particularly the sharpening and brighter shadows, giving photos that recognisable Pixel flavour.
Zoom is another highlight. The 5x camera produces some lovely results, while 10x remains surprisingly capable. Pro Zoom can reach a rather bonkers 120x when you want to experiment.
Instant Night Sight is far more practical. Google claims captures can be up to 4.5 times faster, meaning considerably less time spent trying to keep your hands perfectly still.
Camera Looks lets you customise the character of your photos, while Magic Capture can extract high-quality stills from recorded video.
Video options are extensive too, including Pro Stable Video, Video Boost, Night Sight Video, 10-bit HDR, Macro Focus Video, Audio Magic Eraser and boosted recording up to 8K.
The specifications are impressive, but Google&rsquo;s computational photography is ultimately what makes the entire camera experience click.
<h2>Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Performance</h2>
Benchmarks tell one story about the Pixel 11 Pro XL. Actually using it tells another, and that distinction is important when talking about Google&rsquo;s new Tensor G6.
Google claims the new chip delivers 25% faster web browsing and 15% quicker app launches compared to the Tensor G5. The TPU also gets 50% more compute for AI workloads, while the Pro XL uses a vapour chamber to keep temperatures in check.
In my day-to-day use, the phone rarely gave me anything to complain about. I routinely had Chrome, Gmail, WhatsApp, Slack, YouTube, Google Photos and plenty of other apps running, with constant switching between them. Everything remained fluid, apps opened quickly and RAM management was particularly good. Even with around 30 apps sitting in memory, most returned exactly where I had left them.
Synthetic benchmarks are less flattering. The Pixel scored 1.79 million in AnTuTu, while Geekbench returned 2,091 and 5,095 in the single and multi-core tests respectively. Those are modest figures when you consider what other flagship processors are capable of.
The GPU shows the biggest gap. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, the best loop came in at 2,995, dropping to 2,061 at its lowest. Interestingly, stability was a decent 68.8%, so the Tensor G6 can sustain a reasonable proportion of the performance it starts with. Its GPU simply starts from a lower ceiling than its flagship rivals.
That doesn&rsquo;t make the Pixel a poor gaming phone. BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile both ran nicely during my casual gaming sessions, and I&rsquo;d happily play either on it.
It&rsquo;s only if mobile gaming is a major priority that the Tensor G6 becomes harder to recommend. For everything else I actually do with my phone, the Pixel 11 Pro XL feels fast, responsive and thoroughly flagship-grade.
<h2>Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Software</h2>
What separates Google&rsquo;s latest AI features from many of the ones I&rsquo;ve tried recently is that I didn&rsquo;t have to remind myself they existed. Several naturally worked their way into how I used the Pixel 11 Pro XL.
Rambler is the best example. I dictate messages and notes fairly regularly, and it does much more than convert speech into text. It removes filler, sorts out punctuation and can turn a messy stream of thoughts into coherent sentences. I was particularly impressed by how well it coped with background noise and switching between languages.
Pixel Search became another regular shortcut. Instead of hunting through different menus, it provides one place to search for apps, settings and information stored across the phone and supported Google services.
Then there are Gemini&rsquo;s Proactive Suggestions. Gemini can recognise relevant information within supported apps and recommend what to do next. When a location appeared in a conversation, for example, it correctly offered to take me straight to Maps. It wasn&rsquo;t flawless, though, and struggled when I asked it to find an address buried in an email.
Live Translate proved more dependable. Once you download the appropriate language pack, translated captions can appear over supported videos, podcasts and voice messages.
All of this sits on top of Android 17, seven years of OS, security and Pixel Drop updates, and a clean interface without unnecessary duplicate apps. Pixel staples including Call Screen, Now Playing and Pixel Screenshots return as well.
There&rsquo;s a lot of AI here, but crucially, much of it feels designed to save me time rather than simply show me what AI can do.
<h2>Google Pixel 11 Pro XL Review: Battery</h2>
The 5,115mAh battery inside the Pixel 11 Pro XL is actually smaller than the 5,200mAh unit Google used in its predecessor, but that hasn&rsquo;t stopped it from delivering impressive endurance.
With my usual combination of WhatsApp, Chrome, social media, photography, YouTube and time split between Wi-Fi and 5G, I managed around seven hours of screen-on time after disabling the Always-On Display. Keeping it enabled reduced that figure to about four hours and 45 minutes. Google claims the phone can last beyond 30 hours.
I only wish charging matched that performance. Google advertises up to 75% in roughly 30 minutes with a compatible 45W PPS adapter, but a full charge took my unit close to two hours.
Wireless charging fares well, with Qi2.2-certified PixelSnap support delivering up to 25W. There&rsquo;s an Extreme Charging Mode available as well. Ultimately, battery capacity may have gone backwards on paper, but the actual endurance certainly hasn&rsquo;t.
<h2>Verdict: A Flagship I&rsquo;d Happily Keep Using</h2>
The best compliment I can give the Pixel 11 Pro XL is that after using it as my primary phone, there&rsquo;s very little about the overall experience I&rsquo;d want to change.
Its 6.8-inch display is superb, the speakers make watching content genuinely enjoyable, battery life comfortably handled my routine and the cameras remain a major reason to choose a Pixel. Tensor G6 also delivers excellent everyday performance, while Google&rsquo;s software and increasingly useful AI tools give the phone an identity that goes beyond specifications.
There are areas Google can improve. Charging was slower than I expected, HiLight could be far more versatile and Tensor G6 isn&rsquo;t going to satisfy someone buying primarily for hardcore gaming. None of those, however, stopped me from thoroughly enjoying the phone.
At ₹1,34,999, it faces plenty of excellent competition. Pixel 10 Pro XL users don&rsquo;t need to rush out and upgrade, but anyone considering a premium Android flagship should absolutely have the Pixel 11 Pro XL on their shortlist.

The Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) turns two gorgeous 3K OLED displays into a genuinely useful portable workstation, but its ₹2,78,990 price keeps it firmly in enthusiast territory.

Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: The Dual-Screen Laptop That Makes Multitasking Better

<h3>Two 3K OLED screens, strong performance and a 99Wh battery make the Asus Zenbook Duo unlike most laptops.</h3>

Reviewing tech for a living means it takes something genuinely different for a laptop to get me excited. I&rsquo;ve used countless thin-and-lights, ridiculously powerful gaming machines and plenty of experimental form factors, so the novelty wears off pretty quickly. Somehow, though, the Asus Zenbook Duo still scratches that itch.
Now in its second generation, it remains one of those rare laptops that makes me want to experiment with how I use it, especially with that dual-screen setup.
Asus has also given it some meaningful upgrades this year. You get two 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreens, Intel&rsquo;s Core Ultra 7 355, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 1TB SSD and a huge 99Wh battery.
Our configuration costs ₹2,78,990, which makes this a seriously expensive machine. So, does the Zenbook Duo actually do enough to justify that price?
<h2>Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: Design</h2>
With the keyboard attached, the Zenbook Duo could almost pass for a slightly chunky 14-inch laptop. Pull it away, though, and you suddenly have a completely different machine, with a second full-sized display underneath.
The keyboard connects magnetically using pogo pins, which also keep it charged. Detach it and the second display automatically switches on, while the keyboard moves over to Bluetooth. From there, you can stack both screens vertically, rotate the Duo for a book-style setup, use the second display flat, or go back to a conventional laptop layout.
I mostly stuck with the vertical setup. The built-in kickstand is reassuringly sturdy, and having two displays stacked wherever I was working became surprisingly addictive. The redesigned hideaway hinge helps too, reducing the gap between the screens by roughly 70 per cent while allowing the laptop to open completely flat to 180 degrees.
Despite all these moving parts, the Duo feels remarkably solid. The Ceraluminum chassis has a premium finish, while the Moher Gray colour keeps things understated. You also get MIL-STD 810H certification.
At 1.65kg, it certainly isn't the lightest 14-inch machine around, but considering you're effectively carrying two displays and a detachable keyboard, I found the weight perfectly manageable.
Connectivity is excellent too, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1 FRL and a 3.5mm jack. Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 handle wireless connectivity.
<h2>Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: Display &amp; Speakers</h2>
The two displays were easily among my favourite things about the original Zenbook Duo, and Asus has managed to make an already excellent setup even better this time around.
You get two identical 14-inch ASUS Lumina Pro OLED touchscreens, both with a 2880 x 1800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio and refresh rates of up to 144Hz.
And they look absolutely gorgeous. Colours have plenty of punch, blacks are wonderfully deep, and everything from text to high-resolution photos looks incredibly crisp. Crucially, I couldn't spot any meaningful difference in quality between the upper and lower panels, so moving content between them feels completely natural.
For creators, both displays cover 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and are Pantone validated. You also get VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification, with Asus claiming 500 nits during regular use and up to 1,000 nits for HDR content.
There's an anti-reflective coating that does a decent job of controlling reflections, although harsh outdoor lighting can still make visibility tricky. T&Uuml;V Rheinland and SGS Eye Care certifications are welcome additions too, especially when you're potentially staring at two displays all day.
The 144Hz refresh rate also makes a noticeable difference. Scrolling, animations and simply dragging windows between screens all feel beautifully smooth. Both panels support touch and stylus input as well.
Audio is another pleasant surprise. The six-speaker Harman Kardon-tuned system combines four woofers with two tweeters and supports Dolby Atmos. It gets properly loud without becoming muddy, while vocals remain crisp. There is some bass, although the tuning definitely favours vocals.
For serious multitaskers, though, those displays remain the Duo's killer feature. It's effectively a portable dual-monitor workstation without the hassle of carrying an external display.
<h2>Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: Keyboard, Trackpad &amp; Webcam</h2>
The detachable keyboard is a huge part of the Duo experience. It snaps into place magnetically, charges through pogo pins, and automatically switches to Bluetooth when detached. I had no issues with connectivity during my time with it.
Typing is comfortable too, thanks to well-spaced keys and 1.7mm of travel, although the feedback does feel slightly mushy.
The large precision touchpad is responsive and supports edge gestures for adjusting brightness, volume and media controls. I expected them to be gimmicky, but ended up using them quite often.
You also get an FHD webcam with an IR sensor for quick Windows Hello logins. Microsoft Pluton and firmware TPM add another layer of hardware-level security.
<h2>Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: Performance &amp; Software</h2>
Our Zenbook Duo gets Intel&rsquo;s Core Ultra 7 355 with 8 cores and 8 threads, alongside 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. There&rsquo;s also an NPU capable of 50 TOPS, with Intel&rsquo;s integrated GPU handling graphics.
For everyday productivity, performance is excellent. I regularly had both displays packed with browser tabs, documents, Slack and other apps, and the Duo barely broke a sweat. Even with both screens in constant use, I never felt like the unusual setup was dragging performance down.
Creative workloads are where the Duo really comes into its own. Photoshop is fantastic on those colour-accurate OLED panels, but Premiere Pro is where the dual-screen setup really shines. I could keep my timeline on one display and move the preview, effects and other panels to the second. It genuinely feels like a portable editing workstation.
Performance holds up well too. Scrubbing through 4K 60fps footage with multiple effects and elements on the timeline was smooth, without any major hiccups. Thermals are equally well controlled, with the laptop staying comfortable during everyday use and heavier workloads.
Gaming, however, isn't its forte. Lighter titles are perfectly manageable, but the lack of discrete graphics rules out serious AAA gaming. GeForce NOW offers a neat workaround if you have a fast enough connection, particularly given those 3K 144Hz OLED displays.
On the software side, you get Windows 11 Home with Copilot+ features such as Recall, Live Captions and Windows Studio Effects. ScreenXpert makes managing apps across both displays much easier, while MyASUS handles updates, diagnostics and performance settings.
My main gripe is the bloatware. McAfee LiveSafe, Adobe offers and other bundled apps simply shouldn't be cluttering up a laptop costing nearly ₹2.8 lakh.
<h2>Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Two 3K OLED displays running at up to 144Hz sounds like a recipe for terrible battery life. Thankfully, the Zenbook Duo surprised me here.
Asus has squeezed in a huge 99Wh battery, up considerably from the 75Wh unit in the previous generation. With medium to heavy usage and both displays regularly active, I consistently managed around 7 to 8 hours on a single charge.
That was enough for me to comfortably use the Duo as my primary work machine without constantly worrying about finding a power socket. For a laptop built around portable dual-screen productivity, that matters quite a bit.
The bundled 100W USB-C adapter handles charging, with a complete top-up taking around 90 to 95 minutes in my testing.
Given that it is powering two high-resolution OLED panels, the battery life Asus has managed here is genuinely impressive.
<h2>Asus Zenbook Duo (2026) Review: Verdict</h2>
At ₹2,78,990, there&rsquo;s no pretending the Zenbook Duo is affordable. But with laptop prices going slightly bonkers lately, that figure doesn&rsquo;t feel quite as outrageous once you consider what Asus is offering.
You&rsquo;re getting two excellent 14-inch 3K 144Hz OLED displays, strong performance, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, solid build quality and a massive 99Wh battery. More importantly, the second screen actually changes how you work. I quickly got used to spreading research and documents across both displays or turning Premiere Pro into a genuinely useful dual-screen workspace.
There are compromises. At 1.65kg, it isn&rsquo;t particularly light, there&rsquo;s no discrete GPU, and the bundled bloatware feels especially unnecessary at this price.
Still, few laptops make me excited about experimenting with the form factor anymore. The Zenbook Duo does. It&rsquo;s expensive and definitely not for everyone, but for serious multitaskers who work on the move, this is one of the most interesting laptops you can buy.

Our Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro review tests its rugged build, 5,200mAh battery, 120Hz display, Helio G81 performance, cameras, AI features and charging.

Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro Review: Rugged Build, Battery Life & Performance

A rugged build, 5,200mAh battery and useful AI features make the Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro an interesting budget phone. Here’s how it performs in daily use.

Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro Review: Rugged Build Meets Everyday Essentials

The Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro offers a rugged build, dependable battery life and useful AI features, but its basic cameras, slow charging and lack of 5G limit its appeal.

Finding a value-for-money, no-nonsense budget phone these days feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. With recent market price hikes, most companies have quietly stripped away basic essentials just to protect their bottom line. So, when the Tecno Spark Go 3 Pro landed on my desk with a starting price of Rs.15,999, I was genuinely curious to see what Tecno had managed to pull off.
Rather than chasing pointless gimmicks or pretending to be a specification beast at its price, this phone focuses on surviving actual, messy daily life. I swapped my primary SIM into this handset for a full week, taking it through crowded commutes and endless calls, to see if it genuinely earns your money. Here is my breakdown of how it actually held up.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
Opening the box threw me off in the best way possible. Right next to the 10W brick, a Type-C to Type-C cable, and the SIM ejector pin, Tecno has packed in a pair of wired Type-C earphones. They will not blow you away with deep bass or crazy volume, but with the retro trend of people ditching wireless buds and going back to wired earphones, seeing them included in the box earns Tecno some massive brownie points.
Pick the phone up, and it becomes obvious where <a title="Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Review: The case for bigger batteries in slim phones" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/tecno-pova-curve-2-5g-review-the-case-for-bigger-batteries-in-slim-phones-1771573690938" target="_blank">Tecno</a> is drawing its inspiration from. Still, I think it looks sharp. The all-plastic rear has a neat matte texture that stayed fairly clean on my Eclipse Black unit, though you can also get it in Burgundy Red, Sunrise Orange, or Mist Silver. The real smudge magnet is the large rectangular camera island housing the lens and IR blaster, which has a glossy finish that picks up grease instantly.
The button placement feels natural. On the right, you get the volume keys and the power button, which also doubles as a snappy fingerprint scanner. Both offer good, tactile feedback. The left side houses the SIM tray with a dedicated microSD slot, while the bottom houses the Type-C port, microphone, and main speaker.
Tecno has also thrown in a second speaker on the top edge. Getting a genuine stereo speaker setup in this price tier is rare these days, especially after the recent market price hikes. Honestly, they sounded pretty loud and packed enough bass that I was not even expecting from a phone at this price.
The phone feels huge in hand, but at just 194g, the weight distribution is definitely balanced.
Where the phone truly shines is build toughness. This is the segment&rsquo;s first phone to come with IP69 and IP68 water and dust resistance, along with an SGS drop-resistance certification. With new budget rivals from brands such as Boltt entering the market, this rugged setup gives Tecno a massive edge. I did not toss it into an ocean or smash it onto concrete, but after handling it daily on my desk and during rough commutes, the chassis feels solid, dense, and built to survive accidental abuse.
<h2>Display</h2>
I spent a lot of time testing the 6.79-inch IPS LCD display. Right out of the gate, you cannot miss the chunky bezels. That bottom chin, in particular, stands out quite a bit, so every time I put on a film or a video clip, I was instantly reminded of the entry-level price tag. Still, I was really relieved that Tecno picked a modern centre punch-hole cutout for the front camera instead of sticking us with that tired old waterdrop notch.
Watching content felt fine for what the phone costs. Colours pop well enough on YouTube, and skin tones do not look overly washed out. You do not get HDR on YouTube, so, obviously, Netflix HDR is out of the picture too, but honestly, nobody expects that here. My main gripe came down to overall sharpness. Stretching an HD+ resolution (720 x 1526 pixels) across a huge 6.78-inch frame drops clarity down to about 260 PPI. Whenever I spent time reading long tech write-ups or news threads on Chrome, the edges around text felt noticeably soft and fuzzy.
Tecno claims a 120Hz refresh rate on paper. In my daily use, though, the UI mostly sat locked around 90Hz while jumping through apps and the home menu. Only a handful of screens ever pushed the 120Hz smoothness. That said, I did not run into any weird jitter, so simple feed scrolling still felt fluid enough under the thumb.
Outdoor legibility was where I struggled the most. The screen tops out at 580 nits in high-brightness mode. Sitting in my room or walking around under decent shade, visibility was never an issue. Step out under direct, blazing noon sun, though, and I found myself cupping my palm over the panel just to see directions on Maps or reply to a text. It gets the job done for casual indoor browsing, but you will definitely feel the pinch on bright, sunny days.
<h2>Camera</h2>
Let us be real here: you do not buy a phone at this price expecting extraordinary photo quality. The 13MP rear sensor on the Spark Go 3 Pro performs right in line with expectations. While numbers alone rarely show how a camera actually shoots, here, the 13MP tag tells you most of what you need to know.
During my outdoor daytime walks, it captured perfectly usable photos. Colours looked pleasant enough, and the shots work fine for quick Instagram Stories or snapping bills and documents. That said, if you are looking for crisp sharpness, rich dynamic range, or accurate skin tones, this setup will not wow you. Once the sun set, it really struggled. Streetlights suffered from heavy light bleeding, and darker areas quickly dissolved into soft, noisy patches.
The 8MP front camera gave me clear enough video calls on WhatsApp and decent quick selfies in bright rooms, but it stays strictly basic.
On the video side, both lenses let you record at up to 2K at 30fps. Standing still, it produces clear enough clips, but without proper stabilisation, any step you take turns the footage shaky.
At the end of the day, having wild expectations here would be unfair. It covers the bare essentials, and for the money, that is totally fine.
<h2>Performance</h2>
Tecno went with the MediaTek Helio G81 processor here. My review unit came with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB of internal storage, though there is a 128GB option floating around too. Tecno loves to slap a &ldquo;12GB RAM&rdquo; badge on its marketing, but you should know that 8GB of that is through virtual memory pulled from your storage. At its core, it is a 4GB RAM phone.
I ran both AnTuTu and Geekbench straight away. The scores were fairly basic, around 3 lakhs on Antutu, exactly what I expected from a chip in this bracket. Despite the low score, what actually surprised me was how smooth the phone felt in day-to-day use. Basic apps opened without long, painful loading pauses. I could jump between WhatsApp, my browser tabs, and YouTube without the system randomly choking or killing apps in the background.
Obviously, you are not buying a budget phone to play competitive titles. Casual games runs fine without hiccups. To see how much it could take, I downloaded BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile. Both titles were surprisingly playable for the first 10 or 15 minutes. Once I crossed the 20-minute mark, though, the phone started getting warm around the camera island, and frame drops had an impact on the gaming performance.
For everyday chores, scrolling through feeds, and light use, the overall speed works just fine.
<h2>Software, UI/UX &amp; AI Features</h2>
The phone runs on Tecno&rsquo;s HiOS based on Android 16, and right after setting it up, the heavy iPhone influence is hard to miss. From the lock-screen font styles and wallpapers to the text-selection pop-ups and translucent blur effects, it feels unmistakably<a title="iPhone 17 Review: Why the entry iPhone is now the one to get" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/iphone-17-review-why-the-entry-iphone-is-now-the-one-to-get-1759225187581" target="_blank"> iOS</a>-like. Still, navigating through the menus felt clean.
As you would expect in this price bracket, there are several pre-installed bloatware apps you will have to manually clean up. My bigger concern is software longevity. Tecno offers two years of security patches, but there&rsquo;s no word about any major Android OS upgrades. If you plan on holding on to this phone for three or four years and want fresh Android versions, that is something worth checking out.
What really caught me off guard was the AI toolset. A couple of years ago, most of these tricks were reserved for expensive flagships, so seeing them on a budget device is great. The Tecno AI suite gives you quick writing tools, AI caption generation, and contextual text suggestions. You also get Circle to Search and Google Gemini baked right in, which made looking up on-screen text and images quick and seamless.
Add in the AI noise cancellation that cleans up background traffic noise on regular calls, and the software offers far more practical daily utility than most rivals in this segment. But do not forget: it is a 4G phone.
<h2>Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Battery life was easily my favourite part of using this phone. Sure, it does not touch the massive 7,000mAh packs we are starting to see floating around, but 5,200mAh is still huge for a phone this affordable.
With my normal mix of scrolling, YouTube streaming, and WhatsApp calls, it easily got me through an entire day without breaking a sweat. On lighter days, I even had enough juice left to carry over into the next morning. Now, if your screen time regularly crosses seven to eight hours, you will definitely be reaching for a plug before hitting the bed, but I never had to worry about it dying on me during my daily commute.
What really tested my patience was the charging speed. Tecno gives you a basic 10W charger in the box, and it is painfully slow. Juicing this big battery all the way from dead flat to 100 per cent took me nearly three hours. You basically have to plug it in overnight because quick daytime top-ups are out of the question.
That said, I am just glad Tecno actually gave us a power adapter in the box instead of making us buy one separately like the bigger brands do now. At this price, you cannot complain too much.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
Living with the Spark Go 3 Pro for a week made one thing clear to me: you have to judge it for what it is, not what it is not. No, you will not be running heavy tournament matches on it, and the missing 5G tag might bother spec nerds.
Yet, for anyone pinching pennies, the trade-offs feel totally fair. Having real IP68 and IP69 certification at this price point is wild, and the battery simply refuses to die on a normal workday. I see this fitting right into the hands of college kids managing tight monthly allowances, folks stepping into Android for the first time, or even as a simple, durable gift for elderly parents who just need WhatsApp, YouTube, and loud calls. At Rs.15,999, it does the everyday basics surprisingly well.

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