Name: AI-driven voice cloning scams on the rise, warns McAfee
Uploaded: 2023-05-08T16:16:16.000+05:30
Duration: T00M41S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: There is a dark side to the rapid and unregulated rise of AI tools.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: refined design, Privacy Display, top-tier performance, improved cameras, and strong battery life. Not a huge upgrade on paper, but one of the most polished Android flagships you can buy in 2026.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Everything You Need to Know

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Familiar on the surface, the Galaxy S26 Ultra focuses on refinement. You get a great display with Privacy Display, top-tier performance, improved cameras, and solid battery life&mdash;making it a very polished, if expensive, flagship.
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Xiaomi 17 combines top-tier performance, Leica cameras, and a compact design. A premium flagship experience without the usual bulk.

Xiaomi 17 Review: Proper Flagship Power In a Pocket-Friendly Size

<h3 data-start="376" data-end="491">A rare compact flagship that delivers speed, strong cameras, and all-day battery without feeling like a compromise.</h3>

Among all the glitz and glamour surrounding the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the younger sibling in the 17 series, the Xiaomi 17, has largely slipped under the radar. That feels a little surprising, especially at a time when compact flagship phones are starting to enjoy something of a revival.
Starting at ₹89,999, the Xiaomi 17 may seem expensive at first, especially when you compare it with other compact phones currently available. But a closer look at the spec sheet quickly reveals that this is not a trimmed-down or quasi-flagship.
Instead, the Xiaomi 17 is a full-fledged flagship, complete with a flagship chipset, a flagship display, and hardware you would normally expect from a much more expensive device. As with any Xiaomi flagship, the Leica-powered camera system again takes centre stage.
I spent a week using the phone as my daily driver. Xiaomi India even took me to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, for a series of photowalks and to thoroughly test out the phone, and see whether this compact phone truly delivers the full flagship experience, or if there are compromises hiding beneath that smaller form factor. And honestly, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the Xiaomi 17 came across.&nbsp;
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Design &amp; Build Quality</h2>
The Xiaomi 17 is a properly compact phone, and I absolutely loved the way it felt in my hand from the moment I took it out of the box. The rear panel is made from fibreglass, but much like the Ultra, it feels remarkably close to glass. In practical terms, that means the phone still feels plush and premium when you hold it. The flat panels and the flat aluminium frame further reinforce that flagship feel, giving the device a clean and solid presence in the hand.
Our review unit comes in the Black finish, and it handles fingerprints and smudges reasonably well. It is not completely immune to them, but the surface does a good job of hiding marks for quite a while before they become noticeable. If black is not quite your style, Xiaomi also offers the phone in Alpine Pink, Ice Blue, and Venture Green.
Despite being a compact device, the Xiaomi 17 feels reassuringly dense in the hand. It measures 8.06mm in thickness and weighs just over 191 grams, which gives it a sturdy, well-balanced feel. The phone feels tough and solid, almost as if it has been built like a small tank rather than a delicate compact device.
The durability credentials back up that impression as well. The phone carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Up front, Xiaomi uses its own Shield Glass for protection. While it may not be the latest Corning glass, it has proven reliable in handling the occasional drop, and in my experience devices using Xiaomi&rsquo;s Shield Glass tend to hold up quite well against everyday scratches.
Apart from the size, the most obvious difference between the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the regular Xiaomi 17 is the camera module design. The Xiaomi 17 uses a square camera island with rounded corners. It still houses three cameras and a flash, but each element now sits in its own individual housing, giving the module a slightly more structured look.
Button placement is exactly where you would expect it. Unlike the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, however, the volume controls use a traditional single-bar rocker. Being a flagship device, the phone also supports eSIM, along with NFC, an IR blaster, and a USB Type-C port rated at USB 3.2, rounding out a design that feels both compact and properly premium.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Display and Audio</h2>
The Xiaomi 17 comes with a 6.3-inch &ldquo;CrystalRes&rdquo; OLED display, and apart from the smaller size, it is almost identical to the panel on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. It uses a 2656 &times; 1220 resolution panel with a pixel density of 460ppi, which is actually higher than the Ultra. In day-to-day use, I found the display to be extremely sharp, with text and images looking crisp and detailed.
Just like the Ultra, Xiaomi uses a 12-bit panel that can produce over 68 billion colours. The display also supports a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, which means it can dynamically switch between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on what I was doing. Scrolling through apps and social media felt very smooth, while the adaptive refresh rate helped conserve battery when the screen was mostly static.
HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support are present, even on Netflix. While watching content across YouTube and Netflix, the display consistently looked vibrant and immersive. Colours felt lively without appearing oversaturated, and the blacks were deep and inky thanks to the OLED panel. The display also covers the DCI-P3 colour gamut, which helps maintain strong colour accuracy. Peak HDR brightness reaches 3500 nits, and during my time using the phone outdoors in bright Vietnamese sunlight, I never struggled to read the screen.
Like most 2026 flagships, the Xiaomi 17 also gets an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. In my experience it was quick, reliable, and positioned comfortably for one-handed use.
For audio, the stereo speakers get reasonably loud with Dolby Atmos, but the compact size limits bass. Hi-Res and Hi-Res Wireless audio support are also present.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Cameras</h2>
The Xiaomi 17 comes with a triple-camera setup, and on paper it looks very similar to what Xiaomi has been doing with its recent flagships. The main camera uses a 50MP Light Fusion 950 sensor with OIS and Leica&rsquo;s tuning. You also get a 50MP telephoto camera with OIS, again paired with Leica&rsquo;s colour science. The ultrawide camera is another 50MP sensor with a 17mm field of view, slightly narrower than last year&rsquo;s 14mm lens, but surprisingly it still lacks autofocus.
Now, the images from the Xiaomi 17 are not quite as wildly characterful as what I have seen from the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, particularly when I compared shots from the telephoto lens. That said, the overall camera system is still very capable, even if it does not quite reach the same level as the Ultra when placed side by side.
The main camera produces excellent daylight photos. I consistently saw wide dynamic range, balanced contrast, and reliable white balance. Colours appear vibrant without looking exaggerated, and fine details remain sharp while still retaining a natural look. The default 12.5MP output strikes a very nice balance between clarity and processing.
Low-light performance from the main camera is also impressive. Exposures remain well balanced, highlights stay controlled, and shadows retain good detail. Images remain clean overall, although the level of detail can look slightly less natural compared to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
The ultrawide camera is the weakest part of the system. Colours and dynamic range remain decent, but the lack of autofocus also limits its usefulness for close subjects. In low light, that softness becomes more noticeable at times
Zoom performance, however, is very impressive. The 2x crop from the main sensor delivers sharp images, while the dedicated 2.6x telephoto adds extra reach with natural colours and strong detail. Even the 5x zoom remains quite usable.
Portraits look excellent, with sharp subject detail, natural skin tones, and convincing background separation. The upgraded 50MP selfie camera adds more detail and autofocus, although colours could occasionally appear slightly more vibrant.
For video, the phone supports up to 4K60 across all cameras and 8K30 on the main sensor, with strong stabilisation and good dynamic range in daylight footage.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Performance</h2>
Do not be fooled by its compact size or the absence of a &ldquo;Pro&rdquo; or &ldquo;Ultra&rdquo; label, because the regular Xiaomi 17 packs performance that comes very close to what the Xiaomi 17 Ultra offers. Like its bigger sibling, the phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and fast UFS 4.1 storage.
In everyday use, I immediately noticed how fluid everything felt. Scrolling through the interface, downloading large files, switching between apps, and multitasking all felt quick and effortless. The phone simply keeps up with whatever you throw at it. Benchmark numbers reflect that experience as well.
In AnTuTu, the Xiaomi 17 scored just over 3.1 million points. That figure is slightly lower than what the Xiaomi 17 Ultra manages, but it is still an extremely strong result and firmly places the phone among the fastest Android devices right now. Geekbench results also come very close to the Ultra, which further shows how capable the hardware is.
That said, the smaller frame does introduce some limitations. Because the phone is more compact, it does not dissipate heat quite as effectively as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, even with Xiaomi&rsquo;s 3D IceLoop cooling system.
I noticed this during longer gaming sessions. When I played BGMI for about an hour, the phone maintained a solid 120fps, but it did begin to warm up. It never became uncomfortable to hold, though the heat was noticeable. To be fair, this is fairly common with compact flagship phones.
In normal day-to-day use, however, the Xiaomi 17 barely seemed to break a sweat. Even while testing the phone outdoors in the harsh Vietnamese sun during my time in Phu Quoc, I did not notice any performance drops.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Software and AI</h2>
I will not go too deep into the software side of the Xiaomi 17 because it is essentially the same experience as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The phone runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16, and most of the core features remain unchanged.
In everyday use, the interface feels polished and responsive. Animations look smooth, apps open quickly, and navigating through the system rarely feels sluggish. Xiaomi has clearly taken some visual inspiration from Apple in certain areas. The Control Centre, for example, has a layered and minimal layout that feels somewhat similar to iOS. Xiaomi has also introduced touches of what it calls its &ldquo;liquid glass&rdquo; design language across parts of the interface.
One of the more noticeable additions this year is Super Island. Positioned around the camera cut-out, it displays contextual information from apps running in the background. In practice, it works in a very similar way to Apple&rsquo;s Dynamic Island.
AI features are another major focus. Xiaomi groups these under HyperAI, which includes AI writing, speech recognition, AI interpreter, AI subtitles, and AI-powered wallpapers. The gallery app also gets AI editing tools for removing objects from photos.
Xiaomi promises five Android updates and six years of security patches.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Battery</h2>
This is where things get a little interesting. The international Xiaomi 17 comes with a smaller battery than the Chinese variant, 6330mAh versus 7000mAh. Even so, the compact Xiaomi 17 actually packs a larger battery than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which gets a 6000mAh unit.
In my use, battery life was noticeably better than what I experienced with the 17 Ultra. I was easily getting 45 minutes or so more than the Ultra, which itself gave me an SoT of over 6-7 hours.
Charging is also faster. The Xiaomi 17 supports 100W wired charging compared to the Ultra&rsquo;s 90W, which means a full charge takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour. You also get 50W wireless charging and 22.5W reverse wired charging.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Review: Verdict</h2>
The Xiaomi 17 proves that a compact phone does not have to compromise on flagship performance. Even without the &ldquo;Ultra&rdquo; branding, it delivers most of the same core experience. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 keeps everything feeling extremely quick, the LTPO OLED display is sharp and vibrant, and the overall build quality feels every bit like a proper premium flagship.
What I appreciated the most during my testing was how manageable the phone felt in daily use. The smaller form factor makes it comfortable to hold and easy to use one-handed, without sacrificing power. Performance remained consistently strong across multitasking, heavy apps, and gaming, while the larger battery actually gave me slightly better endurance than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
The camera system is also very capable. The main sensor and telephoto camera produce excellent results in most conditions, although the images do not quite have the same character or consistency as what I saw from the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The ultrawide camera also remains the weakest part of the setup.
At ₹89,999, the Xiaomi 17 is not cheap, but if you want flagship power in a genuinely compact phone, it makes a very convincing case.

Xiaomi Pad 8 delivers Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 power, a sharp 3.2K display, premium metal build, and strong battery life at a smart price.

Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Premium Performance at a Smart Price

<h3 data-start="782" data-end="909">Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 power, a crisp 3.2K display, and premium build make the Xiaomi Pad 8 one of the smartest tablet buys today.</h3>

The Xiaomi Pad 8 has some pretty big shoes to fill. The Pad 7 turned out to be wildly popular, mostly because of the kind of value it offered. It delivered strong performance, a great display, and premium build quality, all at a price that made it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a good Android tablet.&nbsp;
Naturally, that also means expectations are fairly high for the Pad 8, especially now that Xiaomi is trying to build on the success of the previous model.
At first glance, the Pad 8 looks like a fairly straightforward upgrade. Xiaomi has refreshed the hardware with a faster Snapdragon chip, a sharp high-resolution display, and support for accessories like a floating keyboard and stylus that push it closer to being a proper productivity device.
But the landscape has also shifted since the last model. Tablet prices across the industry have crept up, and starting at ₹33,999 for the 8+128GB variant, the Pad 8 does not feel quite as aggressively priced as its predecessor once did.
So the real question becomes fairly simple: does the Xiaomi Pad 8 still deliver the same kind of value that made the previous model so compelling, or has the balance changed this time around?
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Design and build</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 immediately gives off the kind of premium feel you would normally expect from tablets that cost significantly more. Xiaomi has used a full metal chassis, and the tablet feels solid, well finished, and reassuringly sturdy in the hand. At just 5.75mm thick, it is also impressively slim, giving the device a sleek and modern profile.
What I noticed fairly quickly while using the Pad 8 was how manageable it feels during everyday use. The tablet is noticeably smaller than many large-screen tablets, and that makes a big difference when it comes to ergonomics. At 485 grams, it is also quite light for a tablet in this category. Because of that, I found it far easier to hold for longer periods, whether I was reading, browsing, or watching videos. Even when using it with one hand, the tablet remained comfortable to handle and never felt awkward or unwieldy.
That is not to say that the tablet feels flimsy. It is extremely well built and feels tough as nails.&nbsp;
Xiaomi has also included pogo pins on the rear of the tablet for connecting accessories such as keyboards or other add-ons. Their placement does look a little unusual at first glance, but they work as expected for accessory support. The camera module on the back is another design element that stands out. While it is functional, the way it sits on the rear panel makes it look slightly out of place compared to the otherwise clean design.
On the connectivity front, the Pad 8 gets a USB Type-C port at the bottom that supports USB 3.1 speeds. That is actually a big win because some tablets in this price range still cut corners here. Xiaomi has also included an IR blaster, which can come in handy for controlling appliances or TVs.
We do have some disappointing omissions in terms of biometrics and cellular connectivity. There is no fingerprint scanner on the device, and the unit I tested does not include a SIM card slot. That means there is no 5G connectivity, no eSIM support, and no expandable storage either.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Display and speakers</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 comes with an 11.2-inch display, and during my time using it, I immediately appreciated how manageable the overall size felt. The panel has a resolution of 3200 &times; 2136, which Xiaomi refers to as a 3.2K display. Because the screen is relatively compact while maintaining such a high resolution, the pixel density climbs to about 345ppi. In everyday use, I found text looking extremely crisp and images appearing sharp across the interface.
You get somewhat slim bezels, which goes with the way the tablet is built. On tablets, you want some bezel to make holding the tablet easy, and the Xiaomi Pad 8 absolutely nails the balance.
Xiaomi has gone with a 3:2 aspect ratio for this panel, which gives the screen a more square-like shape compared to traditional widescreen tablets. In practice, I found this format much better for productivity. When I was working on documents, browsing through spreadsheets, or even scrubbing through video timelines, the extra vertical space made the experience noticeably more comfortable.
The display itself is an IPS LCD panel, but Xiaomi has packed it with a long list of display features. It supports up to a 144Hz refresh rate and uses a 12-bit panel capable of displaying over 68 billion colours. The screen also supports DCI-P3 colour, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR Vivid, and Xiaomi&rsquo;s Pro HDR processing.&nbsp;
Even though LCD panels do not produce the same deep blacks you get from AMOLED displays, I still found the viewing experience to be quite impressive. Content on Netflix and YouTube looked vibrant and colourful, and the colour depth helped scenes appear rich and lively. You get HDR support on YouTube, and Netflix shows both HDR10 and Dolby Vision content.
Brightness goes up to around 800 nits in high brightness mode, and in my testing, I did not find outdoor visibility to be an issue. The display also includes useful features like Reading Mode and Adaptive Colours, which help reduce eye strain during longer usage sessions.
For audio, the Xiaomi Pad 8 uses a quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support. In my experience, the speakers get sufficiently loud for movies, music, and gaming. However, while the volume levels are solid, I did feel that the overall sound character lacks a bit of depth compared to some other tablets I have used. The good thing is, you get support for Hi-Res &amp; Hi-Res Wireless Audio.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Cameras</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 comes with a 13MP rear camera, and in my experience, it performs exactly the way most tablet cameras do. It is perfectly usable for scanning QR codes, capturing documents, or taking a quick photo when your phone is not nearby. That said, I would not expect anything particularly special from it. The quality is serviceable, but clearly not designed to replace a proper smartphone camera.
On the front, the tablet gets an 8MP camera that works well enough for video calls. One feature I particularly liked is Xiaomi&rsquo;s FocusFrame, which tracks your face and keeps you centred in the frame during calls.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Accessories</h2>
Xiaomi offers a couple of accessories for the Pad 8 that really change how the tablet can be used day to day. The two main ones are the Focus Keyboard, which costs ₹8,999 and the Focus Pen Pro, costing ₹5,999, and having used them extensively, I found that they push the Pad 8 much closer to being a proper productivity and creative device rather than just a tablet for watching videos.
The Focus Keyboard is easily the more interesting of the two. Xiaomi has gone with a floating keyboard design here, very similar to the Magic Keyboard on the iPad. In practice, this makes the whole setup extremely simple to use. I could just attach the tablet and start working. There is no need to deal with folding stands or awkward covers. Once attached, the tablet sits suspended above the keyboard, and the whole thing opens and shuts like a compact laptop. For writing documents, replying to emails, or working on spreadsheets, it feels surprisingly natural.
The keyboard also includes a backlight, which I genuinely appreciated when working in low light. That said, the keyboard layout itself is not perfect. The keys are noticeably small, and during longer typing sessions, I did find myself adjusting to the tighter layout. The Enter key in particular feels unusually tiny. The trackpad is also a bit cramped for my liking, although it still supports gesture controls for navigating through the interface.
The Focus Pen Pro is the other accessory that really adds to the Pad 8&rsquo;s versatility. In my experience, the stylus feels responsive and precise. Latency is low, pressure sensitivity works well, and writing or sketching feels natural on the display. Plus it weighs just about 17 grams
Xiaomi has also added a few gesture controls to the stylus. In the MiCanvas app, I could slide along the pen to increase or decrease brush size, pinch to bring up a quick menu while sketching, and double-tap to switch between brushes. These small touches make the stylus particularly useful for note-taking and drawing.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Performance</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 runs on Qualcomm&rsquo;s Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, and in day-to-day use it feels extremely capable. Xiaomi offers the tablet in two variants: an 8GB LPDDR5X RAM model paired with 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and a higher-end version with 12GB of LPDDR5T RAM and 256GB of faster UFS 4.1 storage.
In benchmark testing, the tablet delivered strong results. On AnTuTu, the Pad 8 scored around 2.29 million points. In Geekbench, it posted a single-core score of 2031 and a multi-core score of 6347.&nbsp;
GPU performance also held up well during testing. In 3DMark&rsquo;s Wildlife Extreme stress test, the tablet maintained solid loop scores with stability hovering around 87 percent and sometimes higher. Considering how compact the tablet is, those are impressive results.
Gaming performance is also very solid. During my testing, Call of Duty: Mobile ran consistently at 120FPS without noticeable drops. BGMI held steady at around 90FPS during extended gaming sessions. I did not see 144FPS modes enabled in the titles I tested, but the gameplay experience still felt smooth and responsive.
What stood out more to me, however, was how the tablet behaved during everyday tasks. Benchmarks are useful for context, but they only tell part of the story. In real usage, the Pad 8 felt fast and reliable across a wide range of activities. Exporting video files in VN, downloading large files, switching between multiple apps, and scrolling through social media all felt fluid and consistent.
Thermal management also seemed well under control. Even during longer gaming sessions or heavier workloads, the tablet remained comfortable to hold without noticeable overheating. Overall, performance on the Pad 8 feels more than capable for both productivity and entertainment.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Software</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16, and during my time using it, the software felt reasonably well optimised for a large-screen device. That is not always the case with Android tablets, but Xiaomi seems to have spent time adapting the interface to the tablet form factor.
The overall visual style will feel familiar if you have used a Xiaomi phone before. However, the layout scales well across the larger display. Interface elements are sized appropriately, apps make good use of the available screen space, and nothing feels awkwardly stretched or oversized.
At the same time, some parts of the interface are starting to look a little dated. The icons and certain visual elements still feel closer to Xiaomi&rsquo;s older design language rather than something that feels completely fresh.
Despite that, the overall experience remains smooth. Animations and transitions generally run well. In daily use, the interface feels stable and consistent rather than flashy, which actually works well when you are using the tablet for longer sessions.
HyperOS also includes several multitasking features designed for tablets. One of the more interesting additions is Workstation Mode. When enabled, the interface shifts to something that feels closer to a desktop environment. Apps can open in resizable windows, and multitasking becomes easier to manage.
There are a few preloaded apps on the tablet, but most of them are practical additions designed for productivity and note-taking rather than unnecessary bloat. Overall, the software experience feels well-suited to a tablet.
Xiaomi has also introduced a set of AI-powered tools under its HyperAI suite. These include features such as AI Calculator, Xiaomi Creation, AI Writing, AI Live Subtitles, and AI Voice Enhancement. In practice, these tools are designed to assist with productivity, content creation, and communication tasks, adding a layer of smart functionality to the tablet&rsquo;s software experience.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Battery and charging</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 packs a 9,200mAh battery, and in my experience, it delivers very solid endurance. With my typical usage that included browsing, streaming, note-taking, and occasional gaming, the tablet comfortably lasted about two days before I needed to reach for the charger. For a device of this size and performance level, that kind of battery life feels reassuringly dependable.
Charging speeds top out at 45W, which is reasonably quick for a tablet. Xiaomi has also included 22.5W reverse wired charging, which means I could use the Pad 8 to top up smaller devices like my TWS earbuds or even give my phone a quick boost when needed.
<h2>Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Verdict</h2>
The Xiaomi Pad 8 ends up being a tablet that focuses on getting the fundamentals right. In everyday use, it feels fast, stable, and dependable. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 handles gaming, multitasking, and heavier tasks like exporting video files without slowing down, and across most tasks the tablet simply feels smooth and responsive.
At ₹33,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, the Pad 8 also sits at a very attractive price point. For that money, you are getting a premium metal build, a sharp 3.2K display with a 144Hz refresh rate, strong performance, and battery life that comfortably stretches to about two days with regular use.
The accessories also add meaningful value to the experience. The Focus Keyboard is easy to live with thanks to its floating design, backlit keys, and the pogo-pin connection that lets it attach instantly without setup friction. The Focus Pen Pro also performs well, with good pressure sensitivity and intuitive gesture controls that make writing notes or sketching feel very easy and intuitive.
If you want a powerful Android tablet without overspending, the Xiaomi Pad 8 makes a very convincing case.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra brings a 1-inch Leica camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 power, and a stunning AMOLED display. A true camera-first flagship for 2026.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: A Leica-powered Camera Beast Built for Serious Photography

<h3 dir="ltr">The Xiaomi 17 Ultra puts photography first with a one-inch Leica camera and 200MP periscope zoom. Paired with a sharp AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, and solid battery life, it stands out as one of 2026&rsquo;s best camera-focused flagships.</h3>
&nbsp;

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the company&rsquo;s latest attempt at building a no-compromise flagship, and it becomes clear very quickly that Xiaomi still treats the Ultra series as its playground for serious camera hardware.
On paper, the phone checks most of the boxes you would expect from a top-tier device in 2026. There is a large AMOLED display, Qualcomm&rsquo;s newest Snapdragon silicon, a sizeable battery, and a camera system built around a one-inch sensor.
To really put that camera system through its paces, Xiaomi flew me out to Phu Quoc in Vietnam, where I spent several days shooting photos and videos around the island. From bright coastal sunlight to evening street scenes and long outdoor days, it turned out to be a great setting to see what the cameras could actually do outside controlled test conditions.
Now, with a price tag of ₹1,39,999 for the sole 16GB+512GB variant, it isn&rsquo;t cheap. You&rsquo;re certainly paying a Leica tax here. But, one thing became abundantly clear, the more I used the phone. This phone knows exactly what it wants to prioritise, and that is its camera.
However, that doesn&rsquo;t mean that the rest of it has been put together just for the sake of it. No. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, for the most part, is uncompromising in every way imaginable.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Design and build</h2>
When I first picked up the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, it immediately felt familiar. If you have used any of Xiaomi&rsquo;s previous Ultra phones, the overall silhouette will look recognisable. But once I started using it, a few small refinements became obvious. Xiaomi has moved to completely flat panels on both the front and the back this year. Combined with the composite fibreglass rear panel and the flat aluminium alloy frame, the phone feels cleaner and more modern than older models. In the hand, it comes across as minimal and surprisingly comfortable for a device carrying this much hardware.
Of course, the moment you turn the phone around, the camera module grabs your attention. The camera bump is still huge and still sits high on the back, occupying a big portion of the upper half of the phone. Xiaomi has tried to make it look a bit tidier this year. The layout appears slimmer and a little more organised, largely because the company has dropped one sensor from the module. Normally I am not the biggest fan of camera bumps this large, but considering Xiaomi is using a one-inch sensor here, I can honestly live with it.
That camera hardware does affect the weight balance. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is not a light phone, and you can definitely feel a bit of top heaviness when you first pick it up. That might also explain Xiaomi&rsquo;s decision to use a fibreglass back instead of frosted glass. My review unit is the black variant, and visually it still resembles a frosted glass finish, but the fibreglass construction probably helps keep the overall weight under control.
The camera island itself is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, which is reassuring given how prominent that module is. Despite packing such serious camera hardware, the phone remains impressively slim at just 8.29mm.
In day-to-day use, I never found the weight uncomfortable. It is definitely not a light phone, but Xiaomi has managed the weight distribution well enough that long usage sessions never became tiring.
The black finish on my unit might actually be my favourite Xiaomi Ultra finish so far. The fibreglass surface feels soft to the touch and the back panel is pleasant to hold. It also does a great job resisting fingerprints, which is rare for a dark coloured phone. The only small downside is that it can feel slightly slippery, so using a case is probably a good idea.
Button and port placement is exactly where you would expect on a flagship Android phone. I also really like the rounded volume buttons on the side. They have this very retro vibe to it, and I personally love it. Plus, they feel tactile and are very easy to reach.
For durability, Xiaomi has given the 17 Ultra both IP68 and IP69 ratings, so it should handle dust, water immersion and even strong water jets without trouble. The display is protected by Xiaomi&rsquo;s Shield Glass 3.0, which the company says is way more shatter-resistant than any other hardened glass . During my time using the phone, it held up without any issues.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Display and audio</h2>
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra gets a massive 6.9-inch AMOLED display that can produce over 68 billion colours. In all likelihood, Xiaomi is using a 12-bit panel here. Resolution comes in at 1200 &times; 2608 pixels, which technically puts it in the 1.5K category rather than a full 2K display.
In practical use though, that distinction barely matters. At roughly 416 PPI, the screen looks extremely sharp. Text appears crisp, images carry plenty of detail, and even when I compared it with some newer flagships that push a full 2K resolution, I genuinely struggled to notice a meaningful difference in day-to-day use.
Being a proper 2026 flagship, the panel comes loaded with all the expected features. You get a 120Hz refresh rate with LTPO technology, high-frequency PWM dimming, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and several T&Uuml;V certifications. Watching content on this screen is genuinely enjoyable. Whether I was watching Netflix, scrolling through YouTube, or reviewing videos I had just shot on the phone, the display consistently looked vibrant. Colours feel lively without appearing oversaturated, and the blacks are deep and inky, which adds to the sense of immersion.
The display also covers the DCI-P3 colour gamut, which helps with colour accuracy. Peak brightness goes up to 3500 nits in HDR, and during my time testing the phone outdoors in bright Vietnamese sunlight, the screen never really struggled. I used it frequently for navigation, reviewing photos and videos, and general browsing, and at no point did I feel like the display needed to be brighter.
Xiaomi has also included several eye-protection certifications. The panel is T&Uuml;V Rheinland low blue light certified, T&Uuml;V Rheinland flicker-free certified, and T&Uuml;V Rheinland circadian friendly certified, which should make longer viewing sessions easier on the eyes.
Under the display, you get an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. Xiaomi has positioned it sensibly, making it easy to reach. In my testing, it proved quick and reliable. Even with slightly wet or sandy fingers during outdoor shooting sessions, the scanner unlocked the phone without much trouble.
The audio setup is also quite good. The phone gets stereo speakers that are impressively loud. Because the device itself is fairly large, the speakers manage to produce a bit of depth and bass, which gives the sound more character than most smartphones. I would even go as far as saying these are among the better smartphone speakers available right now.
You also get Dolby Atmos support along with Snapdragon Sound, and for wireless listening the phone supports Hi-Res Audio as well.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Camera performance</h2>
Now, coming to the star of the show, the cameras. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs a 50MP main camera with a one-inch sensor and OIS, a 50MP ultrawide, and a 200MP periscope telephoto with a continuous optical zoom range from 3.2x to 4.3x.&nbsp;
On paper that already sounds impressive, but in actual use the camera system is easily the highlight of the phone.
Starting with the Leica-powered main camera, the one-inch sensor really makes a difference. In my testing, photos consistently came out sharp and detailed, but without the overly processed look some phones tend to produce.&nbsp;
Colours are vibrant yet still natural, and the auto white balance is very reliable. Xiaomi is also using LOFIC sensor technology, which allows the camera to capture HDR information in a single exposure instead of stitching multiple frames together. The result is faster capture, excellent highlight control, and very clean shadows.
Portrait shots from the main camera look excellent too. Skin tones appear natural, facial details are well preserved, and there is already some optical background separation even without enabling portrait mode.&nbsp;
The Leica-tuned 50MP ultrawide camera performs better than expected as well. Ultrawide photos are noticeably sharper than what this hardware usually produces, with excellent colours and strong dynamic range. In many scenes, the gap between the ultrawide and the main camera is surprisingly small.
Then there is the Leica-tuned 200MP telephoto camera, which uses a periscope setup with a movable lens system. This allows continuous optical zoom from 3.2x (75mm) to 4.3x (100mm), and across that entire range image quality remains excellent. Detail is superb, colours stay consistent with the main camera, and both focal lengths work beautifully for portraits. The natural background blur at 75mm especially makes portrait mode almost unnecessary.
Beyond that range, the phone can push to 8.6x zoom (around 200mm) using in-sensor cropping, and then go beyond, digitally. In good lighting, these shots remain surprisingly usable with solid detail, although darker areas can start to soften slightly.
The selfie camera has also been upgraded this year. Xiaomi now uses a 50MP sensor with autofocus, replacing the older 32MP setup. Selfies look detailed and well balanced, and the autofocus helps keep faces sharp even when framing changes.&nbsp;
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra can record up to 8K at 30fps across its rear cameras. For 4K, the main and telephoto cameras go up to 120fps, that too with Dolby Vision, or log, while the ultrawide tops out at 4K60.&nbsp;
In daylight, videos look very good with strong dynamic range and accurate colours, and all three cameras match each other fairly well. Stabilisation is excellent across all cameras.
Overall, this is easily one of the most versatile and capable camera systems I have used on a smartphone this year.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Photography Kit Pro</h2>
Xiaomi also sent me its Photography Kit Pro with the 17 Ultra, and it genuinely changes how the phone feels when you use it for photography. The kit includes a new camera grip, a case, and an interchangeable ring that sits around the camera module. The case already comes with one ring installed, while the second ring lets me attach 67mm filters like ND filters or polarizers.
The camera grip connects to the phone through a USB-C port, and once attached, the phone feels much more like a proper camera. I get a dedicated shutter button, a separate video recording button, and a zoom toggle. Xiaomi has also added a rotary dial next to the shutter this year. Most of the buttons can be remapped. For instance, I set the dial to control shutter speed instead of exposure compensation.
There is also a small thumb rest on the back that improves grip while shooting. A side lock secures the grip to the case so it does not slide out. At the bottom, you get an indicator light, a USB-C charging port, and a loop for a lanyard. Xiaomi includes one in the box, and during my Phu Quoc photo trip, I ended up using it more than expected.
The grip also houses a 2000mAh battery, which can top up the phone in emergencies.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Performance</h2>
Powering the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage on my unit, the phone has more than enough muscle for anything you throw at it.
In daily use, the phone simply feels effortless. Moving through the interface is quick, animations remain smooth, and jumping between apps happens instantly. During my testing, I often kept a large number of apps open in the background, but the system handled it without slowing down or aggressively closing them. Everything stayed responsive, which is exactly what I expect from a device in this price category.
Gaming performance has also been very solid. I spent quite a bit of time playing BGMI, usually in sessions lasting around 40 to 45 minutes. Even during those longer sessions, the phone maintained stable performance. Frame rates stayed consistent and the device only became mildly warm.
Xiaomi has also clearly worked on the cooling this year. The 17 Ultra uses a 3D dual-channel vapour chamber cooling system, and in practice it does a very good job of managing heat. The phone never became uncomfortably warm, and I didn&rsquo;t notice any obvious throttling or sudden dips in performance.
Overall, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra behaves exactly like a flagship should. It feels fast, stable, and reliable, whether you&rsquo;re just scrolling through apps or pushing the hardware harder with demanding games.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Software and AI features</h2>
On the software front, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. In daily use, I found the interface to be quite polished, although Xiaomi has clearly taken a bit of visual inspiration from Apple in some areas. The control centre, for instance, has a very clean and layered look that reminded me a little of iOS. It is not a direct copy, but the visual style definitely leans in that direction. I also noticed touches of what Xiaomi calls its &ldquo;liquid glass&rdquo; design language across parts of the UI.
One of the biggest UI additions this year is something Xiaomi calls Super Island. It appears around the camera cut-out and shows contextual information for apps running in the background. If the idea sounds familiar, that is because it works in a very similar way to Apple&rsquo;s Dynamic Island. In my usage, it proved quite handy for things like timers, music playback, and quick notifications without needing to open the full app.
Since this is a 2026 flagship, AI features are everywhere. Xiaomi groups most of them under what it calls HyperAI. You get tools such as AI writing, AI dynamic wallpapers, speech recognition, AI interpreter, and AI subtitles. The gallery app also gets a number of AI-powered editing tools that can quickly clean up photos or remove unwanted objects.
You also get Google&rsquo;s Gemini built into the system, which adds another layer of AI capabilities.
Xiaomi has added some useful connectivity tools as well. I was able to share photos and videos not just with PCs but also with an iPhone. Once everything was set up, transfers were quick and smooth, although I did find the initial setup slightly convoluted.
In everyday use, I found HyperOS 3 to be quite responsive. It may not feel as polished as OriginOS or OxygenOS yet, but during my testing the system remained smooth and reliable
Xiaomi also promises five major Android OS upgrades along with six years of security updates, which is reassuring for a flagship device in this price segment.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Battery and charging</h2>
Quickly touching on the battery, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs a 6000mAh unit. That is slightly disappointing on paper because the Chinese version of the phone actually gets a larger 6800mAh battery. Even so, in my time using the phone, battery life was never really an issue.
During a long day out in Phu Quoc, I was taking a huge number of photos and videos, using Google Maps for navigation, and running the display at high brightness under the sun. Even with that kind of heavy use, the phone comfortably lasted the entire day and I still ended it with around 40 percent battery remaining.
With more typical usage, I was easily getting about a day and a half, and sometimes close to two days.
For charging, the phone supports 90W wired charging, which means the device can go from a 0 to a hundred in under an hour, perhaps even faster. You also get 50W wireless charging. It is not magnetic like Apple&rsquo;s MagSafe, but it still works reliably. You also get reverse wired charging at 22.5W and reverse wireless charging at 10W.
<h2>Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: Verdict</h2>
After spending time with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, what stands out most is how clearly the phone understands its purpose. Many flagships try to balance everything equally, but Xiaomi has very obviously centred the experience around the camera system.
The one-inch main sensor, versatile telephoto setup, and Leica tuning combine to produce one of the most capable smartphone camera systems I have used this year. For anyone who treats their phone as a serious photography tool, the 17 Ultra offers an experience that very few other phones can currently match.
The rest of the hardware holds up well too. The large AMOLED display is sharp and vibrant, performance from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 remains consistently smooth, and the battery easily keeps up with long days of shooting and heavy use.
Of course, none of this comes cheap. The ₹1,39,999 price tag, and that additional Rs 19,999 for the Photography Kit Pro, certainly does add up. But if camera performance sits at the top of your priority list, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is one of the most compelling flagship phones available right now.&nbsp;

Google Pixel 10a review after a week of testing. Explore its Tensor G4 performance, 3,000-nit display, AI camera features, battery life and whether it’s worth ₹49,999.

Google Pixel 10a Review: Tensor G4 Power, 3,000-Nit Display and 7 Years of Updates

Google’s Pixel 10a brings flagship AI features, the Tensor G4 chip, a bright 3,000-nit display, and seven years of updates to the mid-range segment. Here’s our full review after a week of use.

The Google Pixel 10a combines the Tensor G4 chip, a bright 3,000-nit display, strong AI camera features, and seven years of updates, making it one of the smartest mid-range smartphones you can buy.

Google is back with its A-series device in the Google Pixel 10a and once again they are challenging the notion of what a "mid-range" phone should be. While the &ldquo;A-series&rdquo; is traditionally seen as a scaled-back version of the flagships, this year Google has packed it with premium hardware, including the high-end Tensor G4 chip and a stunning 3,000-nit Actua display.&nbsp;
Priced at ₹49,999 in India for the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, it enters a highly competitive segment with a clear focus on longevity and intelligence. After spending a week with the stealthy Obsidian model, here is a detailed review to understand if this refined AI powerhouse truly justifies its place in your pocket.
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Unboxing &amp; design</h2>
Unboxing the Pixel 10a is a pretty straightforward affair. The packaging is pretty clean and straightforward, just like any Google device. It keeps things minimal with only the phone, a USB-C to USB-C data cable, and the SIM ejector tool inside. The whole unboxing feels standard for Google, nothing extra or flashy.
The phone itself reminded me a lot of the <a title="Google Pixel 9 &amp; Pixel 9 Pro XL review: Best flagship Android phones? Check pros &amp; cons" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/google-pixel-9-pixel-9-pro-xl-review-best-flagship-android-phones-check-pros-cons-1725436128070" target="_blank">Pixel 9a</a> the moment I picked it up. If you have used that model, this one matches it in so many ways. It has the same composite matte back with a plastic build and satin aluminum on the side frame.
Google made just a few small changes to the layout this time. The SIM tray moved from the bottom on the 9a to the left side of the frame now. The right side still has the volume and power buttons. At the bottom, you get dual stereo speakers and the USB-C port. The top holds only a noise cancellation microphone.
What really stood out to me,is the camera bump. They got rid of it completely, making it almost flush. You don&rsquo;t even get the minimal protrusion like before. The back lies perfectly flat now, so the phone sits stable and even when you put it down face up on a table.
The size feels well-balanced and compact in your hand. At 183 grams, it comes across as genuinely lightweight yet premium to hold.
One downside I noticed right away is how the back picks up fingerprints fast. It gets smudged and marked up quickly, so most people will probably want a case. I tested the Obsidian colour, a solid black and grey that looks premium enough. Google also sells it in Berry, Fog, and Lavender if you prefer something else.
All in all, the design sticks close to the previous model but comes off just a bit more refined.
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Display</h2>
It shouldn&rsquo;t come as a surprise that the Pixel 10a gets a pretty solid display. We have a6.3-inch Actua Display. It feels like a solid upgrade overall. Google opted for a fully flat panel, which lends a sharp, contemporary edge to the design.
But, extremely honest opinion; the noticeable bezels puzzle me on a phone like this. Google points out they are slimmer and more consistent than on the previous model, yet they remain quite conspicuous.&nbsp;
We live in a time where displays have gone edge-to-edge, so Google definitely lags here. It shows up when you stream videos or browse, detracting from the high-end impression.
Still, the display delivers where it counts. It rocks a 20:9 aspect ratio on pOLED tech with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. That makes flipping through social media or jumping between apps feel effortless and quick. Colour accuracy held up great in my hands-on time, with no complaints there. Vibrancy stayed strong through movies, shows, and photos too.&nbsp;
The under-display optical fingerprint sensor gets the work done. It surprised me with how reliable and fast it performed during testing. Deep down, though, I was wishing for an ultrasonic unit. Many brands have already brought those to this price tier, and it would have felt like the right move.
Next comes the brightness and it steals the show on this panel. It hits a peak of 3,000 nits HDR and 2000 nits of HBM brightness, making text, maps, or notifications crystal clear even in brutal midday sun. I stepped out on bright days and never once strained to see the screen. No squinting needed, which made outdoor use a breeze.
Google also bumped up protection on the Pixel 10a with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. This represents a big improvement over the Gorilla Glass 3 on prior models. It offers stronger defence against everyday scratches, scuffs, and those accidental drops we all deal with. The added durability gives peace of mind without adding bulk.
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Camera</h2>
Pixel cameras have never been just about specs, but the hardware here sets a familiar baseline. You get a dual rear setup with a 48MP main sensor, 13MP ultrawide, and 13MP selfie cam. The numbers look like a repeat, yet real-world shots proved far more capable during my time with the phone.
Looking over my test photos, skin tones jumped out first. They render so naturally. Take one portrait I snapped of a girl on a rooftop. Her complexion came through lifelike, free from the heavy smoothing you see on other mid-rangers. Highlights stayed balanced, and the white balance often warmed up to a golden-hour glow that gave images real personality. The main lens nails natural bokeh too, pulling subjects forward cleanly without looking fake.
However, the missing telephoto hurts, though. Google's Super Res Zoom, which is what they call it, works well up to about 8x, but beyond that, the AI processing shows. Text holds some sharpness, sure, but faces start to look reconstructed and painterly. It suits close details fine. For far-off subjects, you sense the hardware gap right away.
Night Sight remains a standout for me. I pushed it on a tough rooftop shoot with light spilling everywhere, a usual headache. The 10a tamed it perfectly, pulling sharp details from shadows via heavy AI without overdoing it. Results impressed every time.
Along with that you also get a tonne of AI &nbsp;features dedicated for the camera this time which takes things further. The new Camera Coach taps Gemini for live framing advice, handy for beginners. Honestly, it did not click for me personally. I skipped it most days.
Two features won me over, though. Add Me lets you insert yourself into group shots post-capture, seamless for solo travelers. Auto Best Take swaps in better expressions from extra frames if someone blinks, saving so many retakes.
Selfies hold strong with crisp details and punchy colors, even outdoors in harsh light. Video shines too. Rear cams record steady 4K at 60fps. I loved the speech enhancement on a windy street test. It pulled my voice clear while killing crowd noise. Night clips stayed usable and detailed, making this a steal for budget creators who shoot on the go.
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Performance</h2>
The Pixel 10a runs Google's Tensor G4, borrowed straight from the Pixel 10 flagships, paired with 8GB of RAM. Right off the bat, daily use felt quick and responsive. Apps popped open fast. I jumped between Chrome tabs, Spotify, and messages during my commute&mdash;no stutters at all. Exactly the kind of smooth flow you need in a main phone. Plus, that G4 chip lets Gemini Nano AI features process locally, skipping the cloud lag most of the time.
Curious about the raw specs, I fired off the usual benchmarks. AnTuTu landed at 1.3 million&mdash;not bad, though no one's rewriting records. Geekbench 6 gave me 1,683 on single-core and 4,321 on multi-core. Then the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test: peak score of 2,677, stability around 77.7 per cent. Solid numbers overall. They prove that the G4 handles real work fine without trying to win synthetic races.
Gaming told a different story. I played BGMI first, and it&rsquo;s locked at 60 FPS, which is totally playable, but even budget phones do that. Maybe with the future updates, you can expect a higher frame rate playing experience on it though. Call of Duty Mobile however, pushed higher to 120 FPS early on, so clearly, the chip is capable. But man, the heat kicked in quick. The phone was noticeably warm right along the frame after just 15 minutes or so. So the device is fine for casual gaming sessions, but definitely not ideal if you're grinding matches for hours.
Day-to-day stuff never let me down, though. I kept a bunch of apps running in the background while out and about and the phone switched seamlessly every time. For normal users, it's plenty reliable.&nbsp;
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Software, UI/UX &amp; AI features</h2>
This is the area where the Pixel 10a pulls ahead of rivals. It comes out of the box with Android 16 and zero bloatware, giving that clean premium feel from the first boot.&nbsp;
The stock interface shines with Google's touch: swipes and animations snap along nicely, no delays anywhere. As a first-party <a title="Google Pixel 10 review: AI gets smarter than ever&mdash;is this peak Pixel?" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/google-pixel-10-review-ai-gets-smarter-than-ever-is-this-peak-pixel-1757681671962" target="_blank">Google phone</a>, it always gets new Android updates ahead of everyone else.
The big draw is seven years of OS and security patches, taking support through 2033. For buyers wanting a phone that lasts, this seals the deal. Google doubles down on AI too, prepping the device for years of smart features.&nbsp;
Gemini 3 integration stands tall, handling multimodal chats where you talk about your screen or point the camera for instant advice.
In fact, I tried Gemini Live on a walk to jot review notes for the article. The back-and-forth felt genuinely conversational. You could cut in mid-sentence to switch topics, and it kept up without missing a beat.&nbsp;
Outside camera tricks like Add Me and Best Take, everyday tools are genuinely useful and impressive. Now, I can&rsquo;t explain all of them here, because there are too many of them .&nbsp;
But, tools like &lsquo;The AI Weather Report&rsquo; spits out a quick written forecast summary, Circle to Search pulls facts on anything you circle, Call Assist keeps delivering: Hold for Me waits through elevator music, Call Screen kills spam dead. These alone make Pixels worth it.
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Battery and charging</h2>
Smaller Pixel phones have not always been known for great battery life, but the Pixel 10a feels like Google finally taking that criticism seriously. The phone packs a 5100mAh battery. On paper that might look modest, especially when some rivals are now pushing 6500mAh cells, but real-world usage tells a more reassuring story.
Google claims up to 30 hours of mixed use, and in my testing the number was surprisingly realistic. I did not quite hit the full 30-hour mark, but the claim certainly does not feel exaggerated. For most users, the Pixel 10a comfortably lasts a full day without any battery anxiety.
Of course, how you use the phone matters. When the Tensor G4 is pushed hard with extended gaming sessions at high frame rates or long stretches of 4K60 video recording, the battery drains noticeably faster. That is fairly typical behaviour for a compact phone.
Charging has also seen a small but welcome upgrade. Wired charging now goes up to 30W, compared to 27W on the previous generation. The Pixel 10a also supports 10W wireless charging.
In my own usage, the phone held up well through a typical day. A mix of emails in the morning, social media through the afternoon, and some streaming in the evening left about 25 per cent battery by bedtime. On another day with GPS navigation, calls, and regular use, the battery dropped to around 15 per cent after roughly 11 hours. Gaming does take a bigger toll, obviously.&nbsp;
Overall, the Pixel 10a delivers dependable battery life. It may not chase the biggest battery numbers in the segment, but in day-to-day use it proves reliable enough to get through a full day without stress.
<h2>Google Pixel 10a review: Should you buy it?</h2>
The Pixel 10a is a rare device that doesn't feel like a compromise. By packing the Tensor G4, a 3,000-nit display, and a 7-year support window into a more affordable chassis, Google has created one of the best "value" phones on the market, if not the best.
If you are coming from a Pixel 8a, the leap in display quality and AI capability is massive. Even for Pixel 9a users, although I felt only slight differences between the two.&nbsp;
But, things like the addition of Macro Focus, faster charging, and a much more durable design makes this a worthy upgrade. If you want the smartest phone in the room without the "Pro" tax, the Pixel 10a is an easy recommendation. It&rsquo;s smart, it&rsquo;s durable, and in Obsidian, it looks fantastic.

Nothing launched the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro announced in London, focusing on design upgrades, new Glyph lighting and improved cameras. The brand also introduced Headphone (a) with active noise cancellation and Hi-Res audio.

Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro Launched: Design Changes, Periscope Camera and India Pricing

Nothing launched the Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro announced in London, focusing on design upgrades, new Glyph lighting and improved cameras. The brand also introduced Headphone (a) with active noise cancellation and Hi-Res audio.

Most smartphone launches follow a familiar rhythm. A dark auditorium, a giant screen, and a procession of slides filled with specs.
Nothing&rsquo;s latest event in London felt like something else entirely.
Instead of a conventional tech venue, the company hosted the launch at Central Saint Martins in King&rsquo;s Cross, one of the world&rsquo;s most influential art and design schools. Walking into the space, it didn&rsquo;t feel like a press briefing. It felt closer to an exhibition.
Phones sat under carefully placed lighting, displayed more like design objects than gadgets. Guests drifted between demo tables, inspecting them the way you might study sculptures in a gallery.
It was a fitting environment for Nothing. The company has always leaned heavily into design as its defining trait, and this launch made it clear that approach isn&rsquo;t changing anytime soon.
The reason for the gathering was the debut of two new phones: the Nothing Phone (4a) and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro.
But the bigger story is what these phones represent.
Earlier this year, Nothing confirmed it would not launch a flagship phone in 2026. Instead, the company is focusing on its mid-range lineup, building successors to the Phone 3a and 3a Pro.
So in a year without a flagship, these devices are doing more than just filling a gap in the lineup. They&rsquo;re carrying the spotlight.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro and Phone (4a): A New Direction for Nothing&rsquo;s Design</h2>
If you&rsquo;ve followed Nothing&rsquo;s previous phones, you&rsquo;ll know the brand built its identity around a very specific visual language: transparent backs that offered a stylised peek at the phone&rsquo;s internals, combined with LED &ldquo;Glyph&rdquo; lights scattered across the rear.
The Phone (4a) Pro marks the biggest shift yet from that formula.
Gone is the translucent back panel that defined earlier models. Instead, the phone moves to a metal unibody design, available in black, silver, and pink.
The change makes the device feel noticeably more solid in hand, but it also signals that Nothing is experimenting with a more refined aesthetic.
That doesn&rsquo;t mean the brand has abandoned its love for LEDs.
On the back of the Phone (4a) Pro sits the Glyph Matrix, a dense grid of 137 mini-LEDs placed beside the camera system. It&rsquo;s larger and brighter than the lighting system used on the Nothing Phone 3, and when notifications arrive or timers run down, the pattern of lights immediately grabs attention.
In person, it feels less like a gimmick and more like a visual signature.
Nothing also describes the Phone (4a) Pro as its slimmest phone yet, measuring 7.5mm thick. And while the design does carry a slight resemblance to some flagship phones on the market, the shift in materials also improves durability.
The phone now carries an IP65 rating for water resistance, and the metal body helps with heat dissipation as well.
The standard Phone (4a) takes a slightly different path.
Here, Nothing sticks closer to the aesthetic it&rsquo;s known for. The translucent design returns, but with updated colours including white, black, blue, and pink.
Instead of the complex Glyph lighting system, the 4a introduces something simpler called the Glyph Bar. It runs as a straight strip beside the camera module and lights up in segments to show things like charging progress, timers, or incoming notifications.
It&rsquo;s a cleaner, more restrained interpretation of Nothing&rsquo;s lighting idea and probably the most practical version yet.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro and Phone (4a): Display and Performance</h2>
Both phones come with large AMOLED displays designed to keep up with modern flagship-level expectations.
The Phone (4a) Pro features a 6.83-inch AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, which should make scrolling and animations feel extremely smooth. Nothing says the display can reach a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, making it easier to read outdoors.
The standard Phone (4a) has a slightly smaller 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 4,500 nits.
The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, which Nothing says offers significantly better scratch resistance than the previous generation.
Under the hood, both phones are powered by Qualcomm&rsquo;s Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor.
It&rsquo;s not the same class of chip used in flagship devices, but it&rsquo;s designed to handle everyday workloads comfortably, including gaming, multitasking, and the AI features Nothing has been gradually adding to its software.
Both phones also come with a 5,080mAh battery, which Nothing claims can deliver up to 17 hours of use on a single charge.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro Cameras Get More Ambitious</h2>
One of the biggest upgrades this year is the camera system.
Both the Phone (4a) and the Phone (4a) Pro include four cameras, including a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 32-megapixel front camera, an ultra-wide lens, and a telephoto camera.
The Pro model&rsquo;s standout feature is its 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, which allows for significantly improved zoom capabilities.
It supports 3.5x optical zoom, along with digital zoom that can reach up to 140x.
The regular Phone (4a) also gets a telephoto lens, though it focuses on delivering 3.5x optical zoom and up to 70x ultra zoom.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro: Software and AI Features</h2>
Both phones run Nothing OS 4.1, based on Android 16.
The latest version introduces several software additions, including Essential Search, which allows users to look up information across apps, and Essential Space, which stores and organises saved content referred to as &ldquo;Memories.&rdquo;
There&rsquo;s also Nothing Playground, an AI-powered feature that allows users to create custom widgets and personalize their home screen.
Nothing says the phones will receive three years of Android updates and six years of security patches, which is increasingly important as people hold onto their devices longer.
<h2>Nothing Headphone (a): New Over-Ear Headphones Join the Launch</h2>
Phones weren&rsquo;t the only hardware announced at the event.
Nothing also unveiled the Headphone (a), a more affordable pair of over-ear headphones that sit below the company&rsquo;s original Headphone (1).
They keep the distinctive square earcup design that Nothing introduced previously, but arrive with a more accessible price tag. Despite that, the company is still promising a fairly premium experience.
The Headphone (a) supports active noise cancellation, with three adjustable levels depending on how much background sound you want to block out. There&rsquo;s also a transparency mode, which lets ambient sound through when you need to stay aware of your surroundings.
Nothing says the headphones can deliver up to five days of battery life, along with support for Hi-Res audio.
Controls are built directly into the earcups, allowing users to adjust volume, switch noise cancellation modes, or navigate music without reaching for their phone. There&rsquo;s also a customizable button that can trigger shortcuts like switching between apps or even taking photos.
Using the Nothing X app, users can also tweak an eight-band EQ and save custom sound profiles that can be shared with other Nothing users.
Like the phones, the headphones come in several colours including black, white, pink, and a limited-edition yellow version.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro: India Pricing and Availability</h2>
Nothing has announced India pricing for both phones, with multiple configurations available.
The Phone (4a) will be available in black, white, blue and pink in three variants:
<ul>
<li>8GB RAM + 128GB storage &ndash; ₹31,999</li>
<li>8GB RAM + 256GB storage &ndash; ₹34,999</li>
<li>12GB RAM + 256GB storage &ndash; ₹37,999</li>
</ul>
The Phone (4a) Pro will be available in black, silver and pink in three configurations:
<ul>
<li>8GB RAM + 128GB storage &ndash; ₹39,999</li>
<li>8GB RAM + 256GB storage &ndash; ₹42,999</li>
<li>12GB RAM + 256GB storage &ndash; ₹45,999</li>
</ul>
Both phones will go on sale in India starting 13 March 2026 via Flipkart, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, Croma, and other leading retail stores across the country.
Nothing will also host an exclusive first drop at the Nothing Store in Bengaluru on March 7 at 6PM IST, giving early buyers a chance to get their hands on the devices before the official sale.
Nothing has yet to announce India pricing or availability for its latest over-ear headphones, the Headphone (a).
&nbsp;

Nothing Phone 4a brings a transparent design, Glyph Bar lighting, 1.5K AMOLED display, Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 performance, and smooth Nothing OS experience.

Nothing Phone 4a Review: A Stylish Mid-Ranger That Stands Out

<h3>Nothing Phone 4a stands out with its transparent design, new Glyph Bar lighting, sharp 1.5K AMOLED screen, capable cameras, and a playful Nothing OS experience.</h3>

The Nothing Phone 4a is another reminder that Nothing is willing to walk a path most smartphone brands avoid. In a market where many companies chase the same formula of bigger numbers and louder spec sheets, Nothing continues to focus on design, software personality, and the overall experience of using the phone.
With the Phone 4a, that philosophy becomes even clearer. The phone keeps Nothing&rsquo;s signature transparent aesthetic, introduces the new Glyph Bar in place of the traditional light strips, and upgrades the display to a sharper 1.5K AMOLED panel. Under the hood, it runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 and ships with Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16, which remains one of the more distinctive Android experiences available today.
Pricing also plays a key role here. The Nothing Phone 4a starts at ₹31,999, but with launch offers it effectively drops to ₹24,999.
After spending time using it as my daily phone, the 4a feels less like a spec race contender and more like a phone built around experience.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Design and build</h2>
The Nothing Phone 4a sticks to the brand&rsquo;s signature design language, but after spending some time with it, I feel like this is more mature. The Cyberpunk-inspired look is still very much there, but the overall execution feels cleaner and more mature than some of Nothing&rsquo;s earlier experiments.
The first thing that caught my attention was the asymmetrical camera module. Nothing has clearly tried to keep things a bit more restrained here. It still looks quirky enough to stand out, but it feels more balanced and less chaotic than some of the designs the company has experimented with in the past.
Then there is the new Glyph Bar, which is easily the most interesting design change on the Phone 4a. Instead of the sweeping LED strips that Nothing phones usually use, this one has a row of seven square segments made up of tiny microLEDs. In day-to-day use, I actually like this approach quite a bit. It gives the lighting system a more granular feel, and visually it sits somewhere between the traditional Glyph interface and the Glyph Matrix that we saw on the Phone 3.
The rest of the construction will feel familiar if you have used a Nothing phone before. You still get the transparent glass back that picks up smudges like crazy, the plastic frame, and the exposed design elements underneath that give the phone its distinctive personality. The Phone 4a measures 8.55mm thick and weighs 204 grams, which, in my hand, feels solid without being overly bulky. Durability is also handled fairly well, with Gorilla Glass 7i protecting the front. Water and dust protection is rated at IP 64.
Button placement has changed slightly this time. The power button and volume rocker now sit on the same side, while the opposite edge houses the Essential Key. Unfortunately, that key still cannot be remapped. If you are not particularly interested in using Essential Space, it ends up feeling like a missed opportunity.
There are also a couple of practical omissions that stood out to me. The Indian variant still does not support eSIM, even though the global version does. You do get NFC, but there is no IR blaster here either.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Display &amp; Speakers</h2>
The Nothing Phone 4a gets a 6.78-inch display, which is almost the same size as the Nothing Phone 3a, but the real upgrade here is in resolution. This time, Nothing has moved to a 1.5K panel, which is a noticeable step up from the older Full HD+ screens the company has used before.
In daily use, this change is quite easy to spot. The Phone 4a pushes pixel density up to around 440PPI, and that extra sharpness becomes very clear when you start looking closely at text or fine details in images. Whether I was scrolling through articles, reading long threads, or just browsing social media, everything looked noticeably crisper.
The bezels are still a little chunky by today&rsquo;s standards, but thankfully they are uniform all the way around. That helps the phone look balanced, and in practice, I stopped noticing them pretty quickly.
Beyond the resolution bump, the rest of the panel specifications remain very solid. The Phone 4a uses a flexible AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which keeps animations and scrolling feeling smooth. It is also a 10-bit panel capable of displaying over a billion colours, so gradients and colour transitions look natural rather than banded.
Brightness is another area where the Phone 4a has improved. Peak HDR brightness goes up to 4500 nits, and high brightness mode reaches 1600 nits. In real-world use, this translates to better outdoor visibility. Even under harsh sunlight, I found the screen remained readable without having to strain.
Watching videos on the Phone 4a is a pleasant experience overall. YouTube supports HDR playback and it works well, especially with high-quality content. Netflix, however, still does not show HDR support on this device, which is a bit disappointing.
Audio is handled by dual stereo speakers, and for casual viewing, reels, and short-form content, they get the job done just fine.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Performance and day-to-day usage</h2>
Nothing has never really chased raw benchmark numbers, and the Phone 4a follows that same philosophy. The company has always been more focused on delivering a smooth, polished experience rather than topping performance charts, and the hardware choices here reflect that approach.
Under the hood, the Phone 4a runs on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, which is essentially the next step up from the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 used previously. It is not a flagship chip, but it is a sensible generational upgrade and fits well with the kind of experience Nothing is aiming for.
A more important improvement, in my opinion, is the storage. Nothing has often been criticised for sticking with UFS 2.2 even in relatively expensive phones. With the Phone 4a, that finally changes. It now comes with UFS 3.1 storage, which makes a noticeable difference in certain situations. RAM remains LPDDR4X, which is perfectly adequate for a device in this segment.
If you are someone who judges a phone purely by benchmark numbers, the Phone 4a will not blow you away. The scores are respectable, but they are not chart-topping. That said, in actual day-to-day usage, the phone feels consistently smooth. Scrolling through social media, jumping between apps, and streaming content all feel fluid. Compared to older Nothing phones, I noticed that animations and general navigation feel quicker and more responsive.
One area where the faster storage really helps is during system updates. When the phone has to optimise apps after an update, the process feels noticeably quicker than devices that still rely on slower storage.
Gaming is also fairly solid for a phone in this category. The Phone 4a supports 120FPS gameplay in BGMI right out of the box, and during my testing it handled extended sessions without excessive heating. It is not meant to be a hardcore gaming phone, but for casual to moderate gaming, it performs comfortably.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Software and user experience</h2>
The Nothing Phone 4a ships with Nothing OS 4.1 based on Android 16. Yes, we are in the fourth iteration of Nothing OS, an the best way I can describe Nothing OS after using it for a while is simply this: it still is genuinely fun to use.
The interface feels clean, fast, and visually distinct without becoming overwhelming. It still carries that signature Nothing aesthetic with the dot matrix elements, monochrome icons, and minimalist design language.
Yes, there are a couple of preinstalled apps, namely Facebook and Instagram. Some people have criticised Nothing for this, but personally, I do not see it as a big issue. There are only two of them, and both can be uninstalled in seconds. Considering the costs involved in building and shipping smartphones today, this feels like a reasonable compromise.
Where Nothing OS really shines is in customisation and small, thoughtful features. If you enjoy tweaking the look and feel of your phone, this software gives you plenty to play with. From icon packs to lock screen layouts and widgets, there are many ways to personalise the experience.
Essential Space, which is Nothing&rsquo;s productivity hub, also gets a few useful updates here. Screenshots can now be sorted into what Nothing calls Essential Memories, and they can be synced across other Nothing devices through the cloud. It is a small addition, but it makes organising information far easier.
AI features are also part of the package in Nothing OS 4.1. However, the focus here is less on flashy editing tricks and more on assistant-style tools integrated into apps like Essential Space and Essential Recorder. On top of that, you still get Google&rsquo;s AI ecosystem, including Gemini.
The Glyph Bar continues to be one of the most distinctive parts of the experience. I found it surprisingly useful for quick updates. It can show countdown timers, live updates from apps like Zomato, Uber, and Google Maps, and notifications for calls or messages. It becomes a clever way to stay informed without constantly picking up the phone.
Nothing also continues to lean heavily into widgets. You can download additional widgets from Nothing Playground, which is essentially a community-driven repository of creative widgets. I ended up using a fidget spinner widget just for fun, and an H2O tracker that helped me keep an eye on my daily water intake.
In terms of support, the Phone 4a is promised three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. That is solid for this segment and gives the device a fairly long usable life.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Cameras</h2>
The Nothing Phone 4a comes with a fairly versatile camera setup. You get a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.5X optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide camera. On the front, the phone uses a 32MP selfie camera.
In day-to-day use, the main camera performs quite well. Photos come out sharp and detailed, and the colour tuning feels pleasing without going overboard. I found the images to have a balanced look overall. Colours are vibrant enough to pop on social media, but they do not feel overly processed.
The ultrawide camera is serviceable and fits well with the rest of the setup. It keeps colours fairly consistent with the main camera, which helps when switching lenses. Sharpness does drop a bit compared to the primary sensor, but that is fairly typical given the hardware.
The periscope telephoto lens is where things get interesting. At 3X zoom, the phone pretty solid shots that are genuinely fantastic, especially in good lighting. I found it particularly useful for portraits and tighter framing without having to move physically closer to the subject.
Low-light performance is also fairly good. The main camera manages to retain a good amount of detail while keeping noise under control. Night shots look clean without the phone aggressively smoothing everything out.
Video recording goes up to 4K at 30fps on the rear camera. Plus, you also get HDR recording, which is rare at this price point. In my testing, colours remained consistent and stabilisation was reliable enough for handheld clips.
Portraits continue to be one of the stronger aspects of Nothing&rsquo;s camera systems. The bokeh looks soft and natural, and edge detection is quite accurate. Even in regular shots, the phone often produces a pleasant depth effect, which makes portrait photography on the Phone 4a particularly enjoyable.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Battery and charging</h2>
Battery life on the Nothing Phone 4a has been fairly solid in my experience. The Indian variant packs a 5400mAh battery, which gives it plenty of endurance for daily use. In my testing so far, I have been averaging around six to seven hours of screen-on time. With my typical usage that includes social media, streaming, camera use, and some gaming, the phone comfortably lasts a full day.
Charging is also reasonably quick. The Phone 4a supports 50W fast charging, and going from zero to 100 percent takes a little over an hour. It is not the fastest charging in this segment, but it is still quick enough that topping up the phone does not feel like a long wait.
<h2>Nothing Phone 4a Review: Verdict</h2>
After spending some time with the Nothing Phone 4a, what stands out most is how confidently the phone sticks to Nothing&rsquo;s philosophy. While many brands are busy chasing bigger numbers and louder spec sheets, Nothing continues to focus on creating a device that simply feels different to use.
The design remains one of the phone&rsquo;s biggest strengths. The transparent styling still looks unique in a sea of similar-looking slabs, and the new Glyph Bar adds personality without feeling like a gimmick. It ends up being both visually interesting and surprisingly useful for quick notifications.
The upgraded 1.5K display is another welcome improvement. Text looks sharper, videos look crisp, and brightness levels make the phone comfortable to use even outdoors. Performance from the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is not meant to break records, but in daily use the phone feels smooth and responsive. Social media, streaming, multitasking, and casual gaming all run without issue.
Nothing OS continues to be one of the most enjoyable Android skins around. The clean interface, playful widgets, and thoughtful features like Essential Space and the Glyph notifications give the phone a personality that most Android devices lack.
At an effective price of ₹24,999 with offers, the Phone 4a feels like a thoughtfully balanced smartphone. It may not chase every spec headline, but the overall experience makes it easy to recommend.

Real-world OPPO K14x 5G review after 7 days of use. We test battery life, gaming, camera, charging speed and software. Is this the most reliable 5G phone under ₹15,000? Find out before buying.

OPPO K14x 5G Review: Best Battery Phone Under ₹15,000? 

Huge 6500mAh battery, smooth ColorOS 15 and stable daily performance — but average camera. We used the OPPO K14x 5G for a week to see if it's the best budget 5G phone under ₹15K.

The OPPO K14x 5G focuses on reliability over power. You get exceptional battery life, stable daily performance and modern software, but only average cameras and limited gaming capability.

Looking for a good phone on a budget usually means deciding which features you are willing to give up. The OPPO K14x 5G tries to flip that script by focusing on the things that actually impact your daily life. Launched at a starting price of ₹14,999, this isn't a device trying to do everything that you can think of, all at once. Instead, it finds its own lane by doubling down on a massive battery life, reliable software, and a design that looks far more premium than what the price tag would suggest.
Whether you are a student looking for a steady device for college or you want to give an elderly parent their very first 5G experience, the K14x 5G is built to be a simple and effective workhorse. It skips the over-the-top gimmicks to focus on being a tool that stays out of your way and just works. I spent a week living with this phone to see if it truly delivers on its promises or if it is just another budget option lost in a crowded market.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
Setting up the <a title="Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Review: ANC That Actually Works Under ₹2,500" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/oppo-enco-buds3-pro-review-anc-that-actually-works-under-2-500-1766497263765" target="_blank">Oppo</a> K14x 5G is a refreshingly simple process that sticks to what actually matters. While most brands strip out chargers and cables from the box to save a few bucks, Oppo keeps the basics right there for you. You get the phone, a 45W SUPERVOOC flash charger brick, the USB-A to USB-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool. They even include a decent opaque case, which comes in handy the instant you rip off the plastic wrap and want some protection.
That Prism Violet finish that we tested is a real standout. The "Metallic Deco" camera housing lends it a premium, almost flagship feel that totally outshines its price point. The back has this velvety matte glass texture that feels great to hold.&nbsp;
Unfortunately, it turns into a fingerprint magnet pretty quick. You already know how this goes: the phone looks sleek for maybe five minutes before the smudges start to pile up. Most people will probably just reach for the bundled case to keep that finish looking halfway decent.&nbsp;
There is really no getting around the fact that this device feels substantial in your hand. That is the trade-off you make when squeezing in a massive 6,500mAh battery. Since it weighs roughly 210g and measures 8.61mm thick, there is some serious heft here. The build feels rock solid overall, but if you are switching from a featherweight phone, you will definitely notice that extra weight in your pocket right away.
One key thing to note is the Prism Violet colour variant that I got weighs around 212g; however it is also available in an Icy Blue colour, and depending on that, the weight may differ.
The layout is about as practical as it gets. Volume rockers and a snappy power button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor sit on the right side. The left side holds the SIM tray, and it actually features a dedicated SD card slot. That is a genuine rarity these days.&nbsp;
The bottom edge gets a bit crowded since it houses the USB-C port, a mic, the primary speaker, and the 3.5mm headphone jack (I know, that&rsquo;s like spotting a unicorn!) Mind you though, it only gets a single speaker, no stereo set up here. &nbsp;
The phone is built rough, and it feels like the design can take a serious beating. It is even backed by an IP64 rating to shrug off the occasional splash or dust intrusion.
<h2>Display</h2>
To really get what the Oppo K14x 5G is about, you have to remember it is a budget phone. While some of its specs might seem a bit modest next to a flagship, you really have to judge it within its own lane.&nbsp;
It sports a large 6.75-inch LCD panel that has this tiny curve at the edges that makes it feel much better in your palm. You will definitely see the bezels, and that bottom chin is pretty thick. It is a constant reminder of exactly what price bracket we are dealing with here.
Surprisingly, Oppo didn't skimp on the refresh rate, giving us a full 120Hz. Honestly, it is pretty impressive to find this level of smoothness on such an affordable device, especially when you consider how long some big-name brands took to bring high refresh rates to even their priciest models.&nbsp;
Scrolling through social media was fluid. For catching up on OTT shows, the experience is reliable. Whether I was on YouTube or Netflix, the colours looked pretty good for a daily driver. It is a solid setup for anyone&rsquo;s first smartphone, though you should know there is no HDR support for Netflix.
The brightness is another area where this phone actually holds its own, peaking at 1,125 nits HBM, and it worked perfectly during my outdoor tests. Even navigating with a map under the blazing afternoon sun, I never had to squint once to see the screen. It is easy to read both indoors and out.&nbsp;
While an LCD is technically a step down from AMOLED, that&rsquo;s a bit unrealistic at this price point. The punch-hole camera design keeps things looking modern and it is a good enough experience for late-night binge-watching without feeling like a major compromise.
<h2>Camera</h2>
When you look at the cameras, the Oppo K14x 5G takes a pretty standard budget-friendly route. That rear island features a 50MP main sensor along with a basic 2MP depth lens for those bokeh effects. Honestly, don&rsquo;t let that 50MP number fool you into expecting flagship-tier shots. It is just another reminder that high megapixels don't always mean high-end quality. Since there is only one real focal length to work with for regular photos, you don't have a lot of room to get creative.
In my day-to-day use, the main sensor took pictures that are fine for a quick social media post, though the colours don't always feel natural. The processing is a bit heavy, often giving images a noticeably warm tint. While it handles highlights okay, you&rsquo;ll find that fine details are often missing. If you try to zoom in even a little, the quality falls apart and starts looking pixelated quite fast.
Portrait mode is about what you would expect in this bracket. The edge detection is decent enough to give beginners that blurry, "professional" background look. Up front, the 5MP selfie cam does its job for video calls, but it definitely struggles to keep white balance and exposure consistent.
Video performance also shows the phone's budget roots. Both the front and back cameras are stuck at 1080p at 30fps. It works for a quick memory to share with friends, but it isn't a tool for any serious content creation. The stabilisation leaves a lot to be desired, as you will see plenty of jitters if you try to film while walking. Ultimately, this isn't a specialised camera phone, but it delivers exactly what it was built for at this price point.
<h2>Performance</h2>
To really understand the Oppo K14x 5G, you have to look at how it behaves during a regular day of use. It runs on the <a title="Oppo Find X9 Pro First Impressions: The New 200MP Camera King!" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/oppo-find-x9-pro-first-impressions-the-new-200mp-camera-king-1761672855335" target="_blank">MediaTek Dimensity</a> 6300, and honestly, the benchmark results were exactly what you would expect from a budget phone. AnTuTu hovered around 5.6 lakhs. Not impressive, but not disappointing either. It sits right where its price suggests.
I tried a few hours of gaming, mostly BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile. Gameplay was playable but not flawless. During intense gunfights, frame drops did show up, especially in crowded matches. Since both games are limited to 60FPS here, you never really get that ultra-smooth competitive feel. For casual matches while passing time, it works. If you play seriously or grind ranks, you will notice the limitation.
Where the phone actually surprised me was day-to-day usage. Switching between Chrome, Instagram, and WhatsApp felt stable. Apps did not randomly reload and basic multitasking stayed reliable. It is not fast, but it also never felt frustrating.
Thermal management wasn&rsquo;t exactly an issue. After almost an hour of gaming, the phone was only slightly warm. Many phones in this range heat up quickly, but the K14X stayed comfortable to hold. Oppo clearly focused on consistency and control rather than chasing raw performance numbers.
<h2>Software, UI/UX &amp; AI Features</h2>
One of the best things about the Oppo K14x 5G is that it comes with ColorOS 15 based on Android 15 right when you take it out of the box. Now, many may complain that it&rsquo;s still not Android 16, but it is actually quite rare to see the latest software in this price category so early. The overall interface is classic Oppo, meaning it feels snappy, smooth, and very predictable. I found the app opening animations to be quite polished, and moving through the different menus generally felt effortless without any frustrating stutters.
Oppo is promising that the device will be buttery smooth and fluent for 48 months, by ensuring that the software and hardware are optimised to maintain a smooth, lag-free experience for up to four years of regular use.
Since this is a budget device, you should expect to see a fair amount of bloatware. The home screen comes cluttered with several pre-installed apps, which is a standard trade-off for phones at this level. Fortunately, you can easily uninstall most of them to get back to a much cleaner and more organised setup.
Oppo has also brought over several AI features that used to be exclusive to their more expensive lines. You get tools like AI Eraser, AI LinkBoost, and AI Portrait Retouching, all of which add a nice layer of functionality to your daily photos and connectivity. And of course, you get Google Gemini. You also get features like split screen view on this phone which is also a nice add-on for productivity.
In terms of software longevity, the company is promising two years of major Android updates and three years of security patches. While it might not reinvent the wheel, having the newest Android version paired with a stable UI makes it a very dependable daily driver.
<h2>Battery and Charging</h2>
If one thing really carries the OPPO K14x 5G, it is that massive 6,500mAh battery. No contest. While I was using it, the phone felt like a total marathon runner that just didn't know when to quit. I was basically glued to the screen for a couple of heavy days and still rolled into day two without even hunting for a cable.&nbsp;
Marketing claims 22 hours of video, but my real-world mileage was closer to 20. Honestly? That is a huge win for a budget phone. Zero complaints from me.
You would think a cell this big would take a decade to charge. But the 45W SUPERVOOC brick in the box is surprisingly snappy. It took me about an hour and 15 minutes to go from a dead battery to a full 100%.&nbsp;
If you are in a rush, a 40-minute top-up gets you halfway, which is plenty for a normal day. I actually grew to love the 5W reverse charging, too. It isn&rsquo;t fast, obviously, but it is a total life-saver when your earbuds die. It is these little practical extras that actually matter in the real world.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
The OPPO K14x 5G knows its lane and sticks to it. After living with it for a while, the real question is whether you should actually drop your cash on one. Honestly, if you are a heavy gamer or someone trying to build a career in content creation, just skip this. You are going to want something with more raw speed and actual stabilisation.
But for a student watching their wallet? Or maybe as a first-time smartphone for a parent? It is a solid, dependable pick. That massive battery, combined with smooth everyday software, makes it a reliable workhorse for just getting through the day. It doesn't pretend to be some flashy flagship. Instead, it just handles the basics with the kind of consistency you rarely see at this price. For your average user, it&rsquo;s just a smart, sensible purchase. No bells and whistles, just a phone that actually works when you need it to.

iQOO 15R delivers Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 power, a 144Hz AMOLED display, and a 7600mAh battery, blending flagship speed with two-day endurance.

iQOO 15R Review: Performance Meets Endurance

<h3>Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 muscle, 144Hz AMOLED smoothness and a 7600mAh battery make the iQOO 15R a near-flagship phone with some serious stamina.</h3>

The iQOO 15R might sit below the iQOO 15 in the lineup, but calling it the &ldquo;cheaper one&rdquo; feels a little unfair once you actually use it. This is not some stripped-back compromise machine. The foundation is still very much a flagship. You get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 running the show, a sharp 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED panel, a huge 7600mAh battery backed by 100W charging, and OriginOS 6 layered over Android 16. On paper alone, that already sounds serious.
What stood out to me, though, was how self-assured it feels. Yes, it clearly leans into performance, but it does not forget the essentials. The build feels reassuringly solid, the display pulls you in, and the software experience is noticeably more refined than what older iQOO phones delivered.
Starting at ₹44,999 for the 8GB+256GB variant, it enters a fiercely competitive space. So the real test is simple: is this a properly balanced near-flagship, or just a speed demon hiding a few compromises?
<h2>iQOO 15R&rsquo;s design: Total flagship vibes</h2>
The iQOO 15R might be positioned below the iQOO 15, but you would not guess that from the way it feels in hand. This is easily one of the most polished phones iQOO has released in a while. The moment I picked it up, it felt properly premium. Not impressive for the price. Just premium. At no point did it give off &ldquo;cut corners to save cost&rdquo; energy, which is rare in this segment.
I have been using the Titanium Silver variant, and despite the name, it shifts between silver and a subtle blue depending on how light hits it. It looks sharp. The glass back has a lightly etched racing flag-inspired pattern that adds texture and character without screaming for attention. If you prefer something more low-key, the Dark Knight colour in black feels cleaner and slightly more sophisticated. The Silver has more personality, but the black is the safer, more understated pick.
The camera module uses a squarish layout with two lenses arranged horizontally. It gives off faint Nothing Phone 2a vibes, and I can see how opinions might be split. Personally, I was neutral at first. But after a few days, it just blended into the overall design and stopped drawing attention, which honestly is not a bad thing.
Thanks to the 6.59-inch display, the phone feels relatively compact by today&rsquo;s standards. Even at 206 grams, it never felt bulky. The weight distribution is spot on, making one-handed use comfortable. It is also impressively slim. The Silver measures 8.1mm, while the black variant comes in slightly thinner at 7.9mm. What genuinely surprised me is how iQOO managed to fit a massive 7600mAh battery inside, along with a proper vapour cooling system, without making the phone feel chunky.
Durability has clearly been taken seriously. You get IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance, plus Schott Xensation Alpha protection on the front. It feels built to survive daily chaos. I would still recommend using the bundled TPU case though. Glass and metal may look sleek, but gravity does not negotiate.
Feature-wise, it ticks almost every box. There is an IR blaster, NFC, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and all the usual flagship essentials. You get USB-C, though limited to USB 2.0 speeds, and there is no SD card slot. Minor misses, yes, but in the context of everything else on offer, they are easy to overlook.
<h2>iQOO 15R&rsquo;s display and audio: Smooth visuals, sensible sound</h2>
Smartphone screens have improved across the board, so a good panel is no longer a luxury. Still, the iQOO 15R manages to stand out, not because it chases crazy numbers, but because the overall execution feels right.
Up front, you get a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Everything feels instantly fluid. Scrolling, app switching, gaming, even basic navigation all feel consistently smooth. The bezels are impressively slim too, with side bezels measuring just 1.25mm, which gives the phone a clean, immersive look from the front.
This is an LTPS panel, so it dynamically adjusts between 144Hz, 120Hz, 90Hz and 60Hz depending on what you are doing. It does not drop down to 1Hz like LTPO displays, but in real-world use, I genuinely did not feel like I was missing anything. The phone still feels responsive while managing power efficiently.
Brightness is where it gets interesting. Peak local brightness goes up to 5000 nits on paper, which is huge. It supports over a billion colours, and while streaming HDR content on Netflix and YouTube, visuals looked vibrant and sharp without going overboard. There is no Dolby Vision here, but you do get HDR10+ support along with Netflix and Amazon HDR certifications. Colours look lively, blacks are deep, and highlights are controlled. The tuning feels balanced rather than artificially boosted, which actually helps during longer binge sessions.
Outdoor visibility is solid as well. With a peak HBM brightness of 1800 nits, reading messages or checking maps under harsh sunlight was never an issue.
You also get a 3D ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner, which works reliably even if your fingers are slightly damp or dusty. Not long ago, that felt like a proper flagship feature.
As for audio, the stereo speakers get reasonably loud and offer decent clarity for short videos and casual gaming. They are perfectly fine for daily use, but they are not replacing a proper Bluetooth speaker anytime soon.
<h2>iQOO 15R&rsquo;s performance: Proper flagship muscle</h2>
If there is one area where the iQOO 15R feels completely unapologetic, it is performance. This thing does not tiptoe around its positioning. It goes all in. You get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. On paper, that already reads like a flagship checklist, and in actual use, it behaves like one.
In AnTuTu, I scored just under 3.1 million. That is slightly below iQOO&rsquo;s claimed 3.5 million, but 3.1 million is still huge for this segment. Geekbench returned 2793 in single-core and 9017 in multi-core, comfortably sitting in flagship territory. In 3DMark, stability came in at 56.2 per cent, which shows this phone is not just chasing peak numbers for screenshots. It is built to sustain performance.
Day-to-day use feels effortless. Scrolling through Instagram, jumping between apps, streaming Netflix or YouTube, and running heavy apps in the background all feel consistently smooth. There were multiple moments where I genuinely forgot this is supposed to be the &ldquo;more affordable&rdquo; option.
iQOO has also added its Q2 Supercomputing chip along with a dedicated Network Enhancing chip. The Q2 chip kicks in during graphically intense tasks, especially gaming, while the network chip optimises 5G and WiFi stability. It sounds like textbook marketing, but during longer gaming sessions, the difference felt noticeable. Frame rates stayed stable and connections felt steady.
Gaming is where the 15R really shines. With the 144Hz display and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 working together, the experience feels incredibly fluid. In BGMI, I averaged around 143fps. Even though the game caps at 120fps, frame interpolation helps smooth things out further. You can also tweak settings to upscale visuals closer to 1.5K clarity, even if the game renders lower internally.
What impressed me most is how well it handles heat. The IceCore vapour chamber cooling system, combined with a dual-layer graphite sheet, keeps thermals in check. Even during extended sessions, it never felt uncomfortably hot.
For raw performance, there is barely anything here to nitpick.
<h2>iQOO 15R&rsquo;s software: Clean evolution, smarter execution</h2>
The iQOO 15R runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 right out of the box, and it is honestly one of the biggest upgrades the brand has made in years. If you remember the older FunTouch OS era, this feels like a complete reset. The interface looks more modern, animations are tighter, and the entire experience feels smoother and more cohesive.
In daily use, the polish is noticeable. Unlocking the phone, switching between apps, pulling down notifications, everything feels fluid and properly optimised. There is also a healthy amount of customisation built in. Flip Cards, Live Photo wallpapers, layout tweaks and visual adjustments are all easy to access, and you do not need to dig through endless menus to personalise the phone.
There is clearly some inspiration from iOS 26&rsquo;s liquid glass design language, but it does not feel like a lazy copy. The implementation feels thoughtful. Origin Island, for example, takes cues from Apple&rsquo;s Dynamic Island, but in practice, it feels less distracting and more seamlessly integrated. Live notifications and background activities appear in a way that feels functional rather than flashy. But best of all are the additional AI features that they get.
Speaking of which, AI features are everywhere, as you would expect from a 2026 device. You get AI Creation tools, AI Captions, and multiple AI-powered photo editing options. Google&rsquo;s AI ecosystem is fully baked in too, including Gemini, Call Translation, and Circle to Search.
iQOO is promising 4 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches, along with claims of five years of consistently smooth performance. That kind of long-term commitment makes the software story even stronger.
<h2>iQOO 15R&rsquo;s cameras: Solid results, within reason</h2>
iQOO has never really chased the &ldquo;camera king&rdquo; title. The brand has always leaned more into raw performance. That said, over the last few launches, imaging has clearly improved, and the 15R continues that trend.
You get a 50MP main sensor with OIS, paired with an 8MP ultrawide. On paper, it is not the most ambitious setup in this segment, but the main camera genuinely surprised me. In good lighting, it captures plenty of detail with pleasing colours and decent dynamic range. The processing does a respectable job of balancing highlights and shadows, though the colour tone can lean slightly warm at times.
Is this the best camera system around this price? No. But it is far from disappointing. For most users, especially those not obsessing over pixel-peeping, it delivers more than acceptable results. The imaging pipeline feels refined enough to consistently pull out good shots without too much effort.
The ultrawide, however, is where compromises are more visible. Colours remain fairly consistent with the main sensor, but sharpness takes a noticeable dip. In low light, its limitations become clearer, with softer details and more visible noise.
Portrait shots are generally solid. Edge detection holds up well in most scenarios, and skin tones look natural without going overboard on smoothing. The 32MP front camera handles selfies well enough. It may not blow you away, but it is reliable for social media and video calls.
For video, both front and rear cameras support up to 4K at 60fps. Rear stabilisation is decent and usable, while the front camera&rsquo;s stabilisation feels slightly less refined and could use some fine-tuning.
<h2>iQOO 15R&rsquo;s battery: Easily a two-day companion</h2>
Battery anxiety is simply not a thing with the iQOO 15R. Packing a huge 7600mAh cell, this phone is clearly built for endurance. During my testing, which included long gaming sessions, camera usage, benchmark runs, and hours of YouTube and Netflix, it consistently lasted around a day and a half. With more regular, everyday use, hitting two full days on a single charge feels very achievable.
When it finally does run low, the 100W fast charging makes topping up painless. Going from zero to 100 per cent took just over an hour, which is genuinely impressive considering the size of the battery inside.
<h2>iQOO 15R review: A performance-first phone that mostly gets it right</h2>
After spending proper time with the iQOO 15R, it is clear that this phone knows where it wants to win. Performance is the headline, and not just in benchmark charts. In everyday use, it feels fast, stable and completely unfazed by heavy multitasking or long gaming sessions.&nbsp;
The 144Hz display keeps interactions looking crisp and fluid, and that massive 7600mAh battery is genuinely one of its biggest strengths. Being able to push close to two days on a single charge feels like a real advantage in this segment.
The camera setup is not class-leading, particularly the ultrawide, but the 50MP main sensor delivers consistently solid shots. Unless mobile photography is your absolute priority, most users are unlikely to feel disappointed with what is on offer here.

iQOO 15R delivers Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 power, a 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display and a massive 7600mAh battery for serious speed and stamina.

iQOO 15R First Impressions: Performance-Led and Purposeful

iQOO 15R combines flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 performance, ultra-smooth 144Hz visuals and a huge 7600mAh battery in a focused, performance-first package.

Earlier this year, iQOO introduced the iQOO 15 as its 2026 flagship, a phone that went all in on performance and headline specs. The iQOO 15R now steps in as the more accessible alternative, carrying over much of that same DNA but at a starting price of ₹44,999, without any bank offers or launch discounts.
The idea here seems simple: keep the core experience intact, trim where necessary, and deliver something that still feels serious. On paper, it looks anything but watered down. You still get a flagship-level SoC in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED display, a massive 7600mAh battery with 100W charging, and OriginOS 6 based on Android 16, along with a solid built quality.
I have been using the 15R as my main phone for the past few days, and before the deep-dive testing begins, here is how it feels in real-world use so far.
<h2>Design and in-hand feel</h2>
The iQOO 15R makes a strong first impression the moment you pick it up. It feels properly premium right away. Not the &ldquo;for the price&rdquo; kind. Just solid, well-built, and confident.
I&rsquo;ve been using the Titanium Silver variant, and while it looks great, it definitely shifts more towards a blue or slightly purple tone depending on the light. It is not a traditional silver, but it does stand out. The back feels like glass and has this subtle racing flag pattern etched into it. iQOO&rsquo;s performance DNA is still there, but this time it feels a bit more toned down and mature.
The camera module is slightly squarish with two lenses placed horizontally. It did remind me of the Nothing Phone 2a at first glance. It is a design choice that might divide opinion, but it is distinctive.
What surprised me most initially is how comfortable it feels. The phone is fairly compact, which makes one-handed use easy. Even though it feels solid, it does not feel heavy in the hand. The balance seems right so far.
At 8.1mm thick for the Silver variant, it is impressively slim, especially when you consider there is a 7600mAh battery inside.
You also get IP68 and IP69 ratings, along with Schott Xensation Alpha protection on the front. On paper, it looks tough, so I&rsquo;ll be pushing that further in the full review.
<h2>Display and multimedia</h2>
Up front, you&rsquo;re looking at a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED with a 144Hz refresh rate. And honestly, you feel that smoothness immediately. Scrolling through social media, hopping between apps, even just flicking through settings, feels ridiculously fluid.
Colours look punchy without being cartoonish. Blacks are deep, contrast looks strong, and the tuning feels sensible instead of overly dramatic. It does not feel like the display is trying too hard to impress you.
Gaming at 144Hz is where things get fun. In supported titles, animations feel sharper and more responsive. Fast-paced shooters and racing games especially benefit from that extra headroom. So far, it feels snappy and quick to react.
iQOO claims up to 5000 nits of peak local brightness. In real-world use, outdoor visibility has been more than comfortable. And on platforms like Netflix and YouTube, content looks rich and vibrant. HDR content, especially has been very impressive.
We also get a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which has been very fast and reliable so far.
<h2>Performance</h2>
Performance is clearly one of the big selling points of the iQOO 15R. It runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which immediately sets expectations pretty high.
In my initial testing, it looks very strong. In AnTuTu, I got a score of just under 3.1 million. Yes, that is lower than iQOO&rsquo;s claimed 3.5 million, but let&rsquo;s be honest, 3.1 million is still ridiculous performance for this segment.&nbsp;
These are early numbers, and I&rsquo;ll be putting it through a much more detailed benchmark run in the full review.
In everyday use, the phone feels effortless. Scrolling through Instagram, switching between apps, streaming on YouTube and Netflix, everything feels fluid and responsive.&nbsp;
Gaming is where it really starts to show off. Thanks to the combination of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and that 144Hz display, in BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile, I was seeing frame rates hovering above 140 FPS during my early sessions.&nbsp;
That said, I still need to test how well it sustains this performance over longer benchmarking and gaming sessions. That&rsquo;s something I&rsquo;ll cover in detail in the full review.
<h2>Software</h2>
Like most recent Vivo and iQOO phones, the 15R runs OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 out of the box.
In my early use, the software experience has been genuinely pleasant. Unlocking the phone, jumping into apps, pulling down notifications, everything feels smooth and well put together. There&rsquo;s a level of polish here that older versions simply did not have. You also get plenty of customisation options, and thankfully, they are easy to access. You can tweak the look and feel without digging through endless menus.
There is definitely a slight iOS 26-inspired liquid glass vibe in parts of the interface. But it does not feel like a lazy imitation. The animations and visual elements feel thoughtfully adapted to fit Vivo&rsquo;s own style.
And yes, AI is everywhere. You get AI-powered photo editing tools, along with Google&rsquo;s full AI suite, including Call Translation, Gemini, and Circle to Search, all baked in from day one.
<h2>Cameras</h2>
The iQOO 15R gets a 50MP main sensor with OIS, paired with an 8MP ultrawide. I have to admit, the cameras have left a strong early impression.&nbsp;
From what I have shot so far, the main camera looks very capable. Colours feel balanced, dynamic range seems well handled, and there is plenty of detail, even when shooting at 2X.
The 8MP ultrawide feels more average in comparison. Colours are fine, but detail levels are noticeably lower.
Selfies come from a 32MP front camera, which has been reliable in my initial use. Both front and rear cameras support 4K60 video.
<h2>Battery</h2>
Battery life looks very promising so far. The iQOO 15R packs a massive 7600mAh cell, and in my early use, it has been holding up extremely well. Even with gaming, camera testing, and plenty of streaming, I was comfortably getting through a day and a half. With lighter use, two days seems realistic.
Charging is handled by 100W fast charging, and in my initial test, it went from zero to 100 per cent in just over an hour.
<h2>Early Impressions</h2>
After a few days with it, the iQOO 15R feels like a phone that knows exactly what it wants to prioritise. The performance is fast, the display is properly smooth, and the battery life already looks like one of its biggest strengths.
The cameras, especially the main sensor, have shown promise, even if the ultrawide feels more average. Software feels polished, and the hardware feels solid in the hand.
There is still a lot to test, especially sustained performance and long-term camera consistency. But at this stage, the 15R has definitely made things interesting. The full review will dig deeper.

Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

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There is a dark side to the rapid and unregulated rise of AI tools.

AI-driven voice cloning scams on the rise, warns McAfee

There is a dark side to the rapid and unregulated rise of AI tools.

A recent cybersecurity AI report by <a href="https://www.mcafee.com/content/dam/consumer/en-us/resources/cybersecurity/artificial-intelligence/rp-beware-the-artificial-impostor-report.pdf" target="_blank">McAfee</a> reveals that scammers are cloning people's voices and calling their relatives/friends, asking for money to get out of a tricky situation.
Indians are among the most affected people by this AI impostor scam, as the survey indicates that twenty percent of Indians have received such voice notes, and twenty-seven percent know others who have received similar notes.
Moreover, the report says that seventy-seven percent of people who received such notes were scammed out of money, with many losing more than ₹80,000.&nbsp;

Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ bring refined cameras, strong Exynos 2600 performance, and premium displays. See if they justify their price in 2025.

Samsung Galaxy S26 & S26+ Review: Exynos Delivers, Big Time

<h3 data-start="711" data-end="849">Samsung Galaxy S26 and S26+ deliver smooth Exynos 2600 performance, refined cameras, and top-tier displays in a polished flagship package.</h3>

The Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+ are not phones that impress instantly on a spec sheet. At ₹87,999 for the S26 and ₹1,19,999 for the S26+, they sit firmly in premium territory, yet on paper, they feel very close to last year&rsquo;s models. That, however, only tells part of the story.
What Samsung has done this year is refine rather than reinvent. The cameras feel more polished, the new Exynos 2600 delivers performance that genuinely surprised me, and the displays remain among the best you will find on any Android phone.
The S26 continues to stand out as a compact flagship done right, while the S26+ builds on that experience without pushing you into Ultra-level pricing. The real question is whether these quieter improvements feel worth it at this price point in 2025.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Design</h2>
When I first picked up the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+, they felt instantly familiar. At a glance, both look almost identical to last year&rsquo;s models, and the changes are subtle rather than dramatic.
The most noticeable update is around the camera module. This time, the lenses sit on a slightly raised platform instead of directly on the back. The camera rings are slimmer and colour-matched to the body, which makes the whole rear panel look cleaner and more refined. It is not a big redesign, but it does feel more polished in hand.
Beyond that, I genuinely had to look twice to tell these apart from their predecessors. The S26 still feels like one of the best compact Android flagships you can buy, while the S26+ continues to sit in that middle space between the standard model and the Ultra.
The dimensions have not changed much either. The S26+ is 7.3mm thick, and the S26 comes in at 7.2mm. Both feel slimmer and easier to handle than the Ultra, especially if you prefer something lighter. Weight is also nearly identical. The S26+ stays at 190 grams, while the S26 goes up slightly from 162 grams to 167 grams.
That familiarity is not a bad thing. The moment I held them, both phones felt just as solid as before. The Armour Aluminium frame and matte glass back give them a premium, grippy feel. The matte finish also helps keep fingerprints in check, and the Cobalt Violet variant, in particular, looks great. The S26, thanks to its smaller size, is especially comfortable for long use.
There is a small trade-off with the new camera design. Both phones wobble slightly when placed on a flat surface. The S26+ does it a bit more, but it is not a major issue and feels similar to last year.
Durability is still a strong point. I get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides, an Armour Aluminium frame, and IP68 water resistance. Connectivity is well covered too, with WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and a USB 3.2 Type-C port with DisplayPort 1.2 support. I still do not understand why Samsung skips an IR blaster, though.
In India, the S26+ comes in Cobalt Violet and Black, with Pink Gold and Silver Shadow available online. The S26 adds Sky Blue and White, giving it a slightly wider range of colours.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Displays</h2>
Samsung has clearly saved the bigger display upgrades for the Ultra. The S26+ sticks with a 6.7-inch panel, while the S26 gets a small bump to 6.3 inches from 6.2 inches last year.
What stood out to me immediately was how slim the bezels feel. They look even thinner this time, though Samsung has not shared exact figures yet. Either way, both phones look sharp and modern from the front.
The core experience remains familiar. Both displays support a 120Hz refresh rate, peak brightness of 2600 nits, and HDR10+. They are LTPO panels as well, so the refresh rate can shift between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on what you are doing. In day-to-day use, that means I could leave the always-on display active or glance at notifications without worrying about battery drain.
Resolution is where things split. The S26+ keeps its 1440p panel, while the S26 stays at 1080p. Personally, I never found the lower resolution on the S26 to be an issue. At this size, it still looks sharp, landing at around 411ppi. The S26+, on the other hand, is noticeably crisper and actually ends up being the sharpest in the lineup, even edging past the Ultra in pixel density.
One thing worth noting is that the Privacy Display feature is still limited to the Ultra.
In daily use, though, I had very little to complain about. Both phones use Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels, and the colour reproduction is excellent. Even with 8-bit panels, banding is handled well. Blacks look deep, colours pop nicely, and HDR content on Netflix looked consistently great thanks to HDR10+, even without Dolby Vision support.
Outdoor visibility held up just as well. Even under harsh sunlight, I had no trouble using maps or reading messages.
Both phones also come with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner under the display, and it worked flawlessly during my testing. It is quick, accurate, and easy to reach.
For audio, you get stereo speakers on both. The S26+ sounds slightly fuller, likely due to its larger size, but both get loud enough. There is no headphone jack, but wireless audio support is solid, with codecs like aptX, aptX HD, Samsung SSC, AAC, SBC, and LDAC all supported.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Cameras</h2>
With the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+, Samsung has clearly leaned into refinement rather than big hardware changes. On paper, the setup looks familiar. Both phones get a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and a 10MP 3x telephoto.
Up front, there is a 12MP selfie camera, now with a slightly wider field of view. I found this genuinely useful, especially when trying to fit more into the frame without awkward positioning.
After spending time with both, it is clear that the focus here is consistency. In daylight, the main camera delivers excellent results. Images are detailed, textures look natural, colours stay balanced, and dynamic range is handled confidently. I also noticed a bit of grain in darker areas, but instead of looking messy, it actually helps photos feel more natural and less over-processed. Portraits come out clean with accurate skin tones, although the background blur can sometimes feel slightly aggressive.
The 2x crop from the main sensor ended up being more useful than I expected. I found myself using it often for portraits, as it holds detail really well without a noticeable drop in quality. The 3x telephoto is reliable too. It may not lead its class in detail, but colours and dynamic range stay consistent. Zoom goes up to 30x, though beyond a point, the results start to lose clarity.
The ultrawide works best in good lighting. It captures vibrant colours and decent detail for landscapes and group shots, though I would avoid using it for close-ups. Selfies, on the other hand, were a strong point. They come out sharp and well-exposed, and the wider framing makes a real difference.
Low-light performance is where things get interesting. Samsung&rsquo;s automatic Night mode runs quietly in the background and improves detail while reducing noise. I did find that manually enabling it gives more consistent results. If you want more control, the Camera Assistant app adds extra settings that are worth exploring.
Video remains a strong area. I could shoot up to 4K at 60fps across all cameras, and 8K on the main sensor. Footage looks sharp in daylight, holds up reasonably well in low light, and stabilisation is dependable. Features like Horizon Lock, Log recording, and LUT support add extra flexibility if you like tweaking your footage.
These cameras are not chasing dramatic upgrades. Instead, they deliver a steady, reliable experience that holds up in everyday use, and that ends up mattering far more.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Performance</h2>
Performance is where things start to get interesting with the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+, and I will be honest, one result here genuinely caught me off guard.
Samsung has moved back to its in-house silicon this year, with the Exynos 2600 powering both devices. After using Snapdragon on last year&rsquo;s non-Ultra models, this shift feels significant. On paper, the contrast is clear. The Ultra&rsquo;s Snapdragon chip sticks to an octa-core design, while the Exynos 2600 goes with a deca-core setup. It is a different approach, and one Samsung seems confident about.
In everyday use, that confidence shows. With 12GB of RAM across both storage variants, I found performance to be consistently smooth. Whether I was scrolling through apps, browsing, or just hopping between tasks, everything felt fluid and responsive.
The benchmarks tell a layered story. In AnTuTu, the S26 scored 3.07 million and the S26+ reached 3.14 million, while the Ultra pulled ahead at 3.73 million. That gap was expected. Geekbench results were closer, especially in multicore performance, where both phones held their ground without any surprises.
The real twist came in sustained performance. In the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test, the S26 and S26+ delivered better stability than the Ultra. The S26 recorded a stability of 58.6 per cent, and the S26+ came in at 54.2 per cent. Even in terms of the best loop score, the S26+ outscored the S26 Ultra. The Ultra also had the lowest loop score, and dropped to 42.7 per cent stability.
That means these Exynos-powered phones not only held performance better over time, but also avoided the sharper drops seen on the Ultra. It is not something I expected going in, especially given how things have played out in previous years.
Gaming performance reflects this too. Titles like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile ran smoothly at up to 120fps in my testing. The phones do warm up during longer sessions, but thermals feel better controlled this time. Samsung&rsquo;s larger vapour chamber and improved thermal design seem to be doing their job well.
For now, this is a strong showing. The bigger question is how the Exynos 2600 holds up over time compared to the Snapdragon chip in the Ultra. But based on what I have seen so far, it is putting up a far more convincing fight than I expected.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Software, AI and UI</h2>
On the software side, the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+ feel very close to the Ultra. Both run One UI 8.5 based on Android 16, and in day-to-day use, I am getting nearly the same experience. The only real omission is anything tied to the S Pen, which remains exclusive to the Ultra.
Everything else carries over. All the Galaxy AI features are here, so if you have seen what the Ultra can do, this feels largely identical.
Using it daily, One UI 8.5 comes across as clean, fluid, and well-optimised. Animations are smooth, transitions feel quick, and the overall experience feels polished in a way that only a handful of brands consistently manage.
That said, one long-standing annoyance is still here. Samsung continues to duplicate core apps. I still get two browsers, two app stores, two note apps, and even two voice assistants. It is not a dealbreaker, but over time, it does make the app drawer feel unnecessarily cluttered.
The AI features are where things get more interesting. Photo Assist now lets me edit images using simple prompts. I could describe what I wanted changed, and the phone would handle it. It works well for tasks like removing objects or tweaking colours, and Samsung adds an AI watermark to generated edits, which feels like the right move.
Bixby has also improved, with better natural language understanding and access to web results. Even then, I still found myself leaning towards alternatives like Gemini Live for most things.
The more intriguing addition is Perplexity AI, which I can trigger with a simple voice command. It integrates with system and third-party apps and can handle more complex, multi-step tasks, which makes it genuinely useful.
Features like Document Scan have also improved, doing a better job of cleaning up scans and correcting distortions. Meanwhile, Now Brief and Now Nudge feel smarter this time. Brief does a better job of organising my day, while Nudge offers timely suggestions based on what I am doing. They are subtle additions, but they grow on you.
Samsung is also promising seven years of OS updates and security patches for the S26 lineup, matching what Google offers with its Pixel devices. That kind of long-term support adds real value over time.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Battery</h2>
Battery and charging are where the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+ feel a bit unchanged. The S26+ sticks with a 4900mAh battery, 45W wired charging, and PD 3.0, while wireless charging sees a bump to 20W. The S26 gets a small upgrade to 4300mAh, but charging remains at 25W wired and 15W wireless.
In daily use, both phones take just over an hour to fully charge. The S26 is slightly slower despite the smaller battery, mainly due to its lower charging speeds. There is no built-in MagSafe-style support either, so you will need compatible cases for magnetic charging. Both phones do support 4.5W reverse wireless charging, which is handy for accessories.
Battery life itself has been reliable. I was consistently getting around six to seven hours of screen-on time, even with heavy usage outdoors.
That said, this is one area where Samsung feels behind. Rivals are pushing larger batteries and faster charging, and the 25W limit on the base S26, in particular, now feels overdue for an upgrade.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy S26+ and Galaxy S26 Review: Verdict</h2>
After spending time with the Samsung Galaxy S26 and Samsung Galaxy S26+, I walked away more impressed than I expected, especially with how the Exynos 2600 performs in real use.
The S26 is an easy pick for me. If you want a compact flagship that feels premium, performs well, and does not push you into Ultra pricing, this makes a lot of sense at ₹87,999. It is one of the most well-rounded small Android flagships you can buy right now.
The S26+, at ₹1,19,999, is a harder recommendation. This has always been a tricky spot in Samsung&rsquo;s lineup, and it feels even more so this time. It is a great phone on its own, but the gap between it and the Ultra feels smaller than before, which makes the decision less straightforward.
Taken together, both phones feel polished and reliable. Samsung has not changed the formula, but it has clearly refined it.

OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro review: better ANC, improved sound, LHDC 5.0, and longer battery vs Nord Buds 3 Pro. Are the upgrades worth ₹1,000 more? Here’s the full comparison.

OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro Review: Worth ₹1,000 More? (vs Nord Buds 3 Pro)

OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro refine an already solid formula with better ANC, sound tuning, LHDC 5.0, and battery life. At ₹1,000 more, the upgrades aren&rsquo;t massive but add up to a more complete, future-ready TWS than the Nord Buds 3 Pro.

There&rsquo;s a very specific kind of product I&rsquo;ve come to appreciate over time. The ones that don&rsquo;t try too hard. They don&rsquo;t scream for attention or rely on hype. They just work, quietly and consistently.
That&rsquo;s exactly how the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro felt to me.
No drama, no hype. Just a pair of earbuds that delivered where it mattered. Sound, ANC, battery, price. Everything clicked in a way that made them easy to recommend, especially at ₹2,999.
And then the Nord Buds 4 Pro showed up at ₹3,999.
Now this isn&rsquo;t just about a good pair of earbuds anymore. It&rsquo;s about whether OnePlus has actually refined something that was already working, and more importantly, whether that refinement is worth ₹1,000 extra. Because that&rsquo;s the real question here. Not &ldquo;are these better?&rdquo; but &ldquo;are they better enough?&rdquo;
<h2>Design: Familiar, But More Refined</h2>
Put both of these side by side, and the first thing you notice is how familiar they look. OnePlus hasn&rsquo;t gone for a dramatic redesign, and honestly, that works in its favour. The Nord Buds 3 Pro already had a practical design. That oval-shaped case was compact, pocket-friendly, and easy to carry around.
The 4 Pro keeps that idea but trims it down slightly. The case is now a bit smaller, lighter, and feels more refined in hand. It&rsquo;s not a huge difference on paper, but it does add up in daily use.
The earbuds themselves follow the same approach. Still the same stem-style design, but now slightly longer and slimmer. It&rsquo;s a small tweak, but it actually improves grip and comfort.
With the 3 Pro, I occasionally had to adjust the fit during longer sessions. The 4 Pro feels more stable and sits better in the ear. Comfort is largely similar otherwise, since both weigh around 4.4 grams per earbud.
Both models also come with an IP55 rating, so sweat, dust, and light splashes aren&rsquo;t a concern. That said, I do wish OnePlus pushed for a higher rating on the newer model. It feels like a safe upgrade they could have made, especially at the higher price.
In terms of colours, the 3 Pro sticks to Soft Jade and Starry Black, while the 4 Pro shifts to Radiant Gray and Raven Black. The colour options this time feel more muted but also more premium. I&rsquo;ve been using the black variant, and it looks clean and understated while still feeling premium.
<h2>Features: Small Upgrades, Big Difference</h2>
Moving to features, the Nord Buds 3 Pro already had a solid base. The HeyMelody app gave you EQ controls, dual device connectivity worked well, and there were even small extras like using the earbuds as a camera shutter.
All of that carries over, but the 4 Pro adds refinements that you notice quickly. The biggest one is volume control directly on the earbuds. Swipe gestures make a real difference in day-to-day use. Once you get used to it, going back feels inconvenient.
There&rsquo;s also onboard AI this time. It sounds like a headline feature, but it&rsquo;s actually quite practical. You can trigger your phone&rsquo;s assistant, use AI translation, or quickly access features without picking up your phone.
Touch controls are also more consistent. The 3 Pro had moments where gestures wouldn&rsquo;t register properly. The 4 Pro feels more reliable, and the slightly larger touch area helps with that.
<h2>Connectivity: Quietly Getting Better</h2>
Connectivity is another clear upgrade. The 3 Pro runs on Bluetooth 5.4, while the 4 Pro moves to Bluetooth 6.0. It might not sound dramatic, but in real-world use, connections feel more stable, switching between devices is smoother, and overall responsiveness is better.
You also get better codec support this time. The 3 Pro is limited to AAC and SBC, while the 4 Pro adds LHDC 5.0. That&rsquo;s a meaningful upgrade if you&rsquo;re using a compatible device, as it allows for higher bitrate audio and better detail.
<h2>Sound Quality: Less About Size, More About Tuning</h2>
Now, sound quality.
The Nord Buds 3 Pro already impressed me. It uses a larger 12.4mm dynamic driver, and that results in a warm, balanced sound signature. Tracks like &ldquo;Paint The Town Red&rdquo; by Doja Cat or &ldquo;Houdini&rdquo; by Dua Lipa sound clean and enjoyable. The bass has enough punch, vocals are clear, and nothing feels overly aggressive.
The 4 Pro goes slightly smaller with a 12mm driver, but the tuning is noticeably better. Listening to tracks like &ldquo;Espresso&rdquo; by Sabrina Carpenter or &ldquo;FE!N&rdquo; by Travis Scott, the difference becomes clear. Bass feels deeper but tighter, vocals are more forward, and there&rsquo;s better separation between instruments.
It&rsquo;s not just louder or bassier, it&rsquo;s cleaner and more controlled. And with LHDC 5.0 and spatial audio support, the experience opens up further. You get more detail and a wider soundstage, especially when watching content.
Also worth mentioning, both earbuds work seamlessly with Android and iOS, so you&rsquo;re not tied to any specific ecosystem.
<h2>ANC: From Good to Properly Effective</h2>
ANC is another area where the 4 Pro improves things. The 3 Pro already offered up to 49dB noise cancellation and handled everyday environments well. Offices, traffic, and general background noise were manageable.
The 4 Pro pushes this to 55dB and improves overall effectiveness. It&rsquo;s not just about the number. In real-world scenarios, especially in busier environments like caf&eacute;s or during commutes, the difference is noticeable. You hear less of the outside world without needing to increase volume.
<h2>Calls: Finally Cleaner Outdoors</h2>
Call quality also gets better. The 4 Pro uses a 6-microphone setup, compared to a simpler setup on the 3 Pro. Combined with AI noise reduction, voices come through clearer, especially outdoors where wind and background noise can be an issue.
<h2>Battery Life: Lab Numbers vs Real Life</h2>
Battery life is where things start to separate more clearly. The Nord Buds 3 Pro packs a 58mAh battery per earbud and a 440mAh case. On paper, that gives you up to 5.5 hours with ANC and 12 hours without. Even now, I&rsquo;m still getting around 4 to 4.5 hours with ANC on, which is respectable after extended use.
The 4 Pro increases this with a 62mAh battery in each earbud and a 530mAh case. On paper, that translates to up to 13 hours on the buds and 54 hours with the case. But those are lab-tested numbers under ideal conditions.
In real-world usage, with ANC on and volume around 60 to 70 percent, I was getting closer to 6 to 6.5 hours. That&rsquo;s a noticeable improvement and enough to get through a full day without worrying about charging.
Charging speeds remain similar, around an hour for the earbuds and roughly 90 minutes for the full setup, using a Type-C port.
<h2>Verdict: Is It Worth ₹1,000 More?</h2>
The Nord Buds 3 Pro is still a very good pair of earbuds. At ₹2,999, it remains one of the easiest recommendations if you&rsquo;re looking for solid sound and features without spending too much.
But the Nord Buds 4 Pro at ₹3,999 feels like a more refined product. It improves on multiple small areas that collectively make a difference. Better tuning, stronger ANC, more reliable controls, LHDC 5.0 support, newer Bluetooth, improved battery life, and a slightly more polished design.
At a ₹1,000 higher price, the upgrade isn&rsquo;t dramatic, but it is meaningful.
If your priority is saving money, the 3 Pro still makes perfect sense. But if you&rsquo;re willing to spend a bit more for a more complete and future-ready experience, the 4 Pro is the better pick.
It doesn&rsquo;t reinvent anything. It just gets more things right.

POCO X8 Pro Max review: Packed with a 9000mAh battery, Dimensity 9500s, and a smooth AMOLED display. Here’s how it performs in real-world use at ₹42,999.

POCO X8 Pro Max Review: Price, Full Specs, and Features

The POCO X8 Pro Max focuses on what matters most. You get massive battery life, stable performance, and a great display, making it ideal for users who want reliability without constantly worrying about charging.

&nbsp;Go big where it matters. That seems to be the mantra for the newly launched POCO X8 Pro Max.
This is a phone that leans heavily into the essentials. Bigger battery, stronger performance, and a feature set that feels more practical than flashy.
Starting at ₹42,999 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, it sits in that increasingly competitive upper mid-range space, where specs alone aren&rsquo;t enough anymore. You need consistency, balance, and just enough standout features to justify your spot.
And that&rsquo;s exactly what this phone tries to do.
It doesn&rsquo;t chase perfection across every single category. Instead, it focuses on the things people actually use every day like battery life, display quality, and sustained performance, while keeping everything else solid enough to not get in the way.
The result is a phone that doesn&rsquo;t try to impress in the first five minutes but grows on you the longer you use it. So, how well does it all come together in real-world use? Let&rsquo;s get into the full review.
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Design &amp; Utility</h2>
POCO X8 Pro Max keeps it clean, but not boring. Flat edges, a metal frame, and a solid in-hand feel. Instead of a traditional glass back, you get a fiberglass finish here. It doesn&rsquo;t feel as premium as full glass, but it&rsquo;s more practical. Less prone to smudges, a bit more durable, and honestly, easier to live with day to day.
In hand, this thing has presence. At 8.2mm and around 220g, you feel it instantly. But it&rsquo;s not clunky. On paper, 220 grams sounds like it could be a lot, but in use, it really doesn&rsquo;t come across that way.&nbsp;
The weight is spread out nicely, and those slightly curved edges do much of the heavy lifting for comfort. It just&hellip; settles in. Feels solid, not exhausting.
The back stays minimal with an oval camera module that blends in nicely. No chaos, no overdesign. Just clean. You get Black, Blue, and White, and I have the white version, which I really like for its simplicity.
On the connectivity side, it&rsquo;s pretty loaded. You get dual SIM support (nano + nano or nano + eSIM), along with a wide range of 5G bands (14 in total), so coverage shouldn&rsquo;t really be an issue across regions. There&rsquo;s also support for 4x4 MIMO, which helps with better signal stability.
For wireless, you&rsquo;ve got Wi-Fi 7, along with older standards for compatibility, plus features like Multi-Link Operation and MU-MIMO. Bluetooth is upgraded to Bluetooth 6.0 with dual-device support, and you get high-quality codecs like LDAC and LHDC. There&rsquo;s also NFC, so payments and quick pairing are covered.
Build is strong too. Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, plus IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. Basically, dust, water, pressure&hellip; this thing isn&rsquo;t stressing.
You&rsquo;ve also got a red-accented power button, IR blaster, solid stereo speakers, and a fast ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Display &amp; Audio</h2>
The POCO X8 Pro Max gets a 6.83-inch AMOLED &nbsp;with a 2772 &times; 1280 resolution, and yeah&hellip; this is one of those displays you notice immediately.
It supports an adaptive 60Hz to 120Hz refresh rate, so whether you&rsquo;re just reading or flying through apps, it adjusts on the fly. Scrolling feels smooth, animations feel fluid, and gaming definitely benefits from that higher refresh rate.
Brightness is a big win here. You&rsquo;re getting 2000 nits HBM and up to 3500 nits peak brightness, which basically means outdoor visibility is not a problem. Even under harsh sunlight, the screen holds up really well. No squinting, no guessing what&rsquo;s on your screen.
Colors also look great. You&rsquo;ve got HDR10+ support, along with a wide color gamut and up to 68 billion colors, so content looks vibrant without going overboard.
Watching videos, scrolling through photos, even just the UI&hellip; everything has that rich, punchy look. And yes, you do get HDR playback on Netflix, which is always nice to have.
For longer use, there&rsquo;s 3840Hz PWM dimming and multiple T&Uuml;V Rheinland certifications for low blue light and flicker reduction. So it&rsquo;s not just good-looking, it&rsquo;s also easier on the eyes during late-night sessions.
And honestly, in day-to-day use, this display just hits. It&rsquo;s bright, smooth, and vibrant without trying too hard. Easily one of the strongest parts of this phone.
On the audio side, you get dual symmetrical stereo speakers with a 400% volume boost mode. At regular volumes, they sound clean with good separation. Push it all the way, though, and you&rsquo;ll start to notice some distortion.&nbsp;
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Cameras</h2>
The POCO X8 Pro Max keeps things simple with a dual camera setup. You get a 50MP main camera using the Light Fusion 600 sensor with an f/1.5 aperture, and an 8MP ultrawide. On the front, there&rsquo;s a 20MP selfie camera.
Starting with the main sensor, this is clearly doing most of the heavy lifting. In good lighting, shots come out sharp, well-exposed, and fairly detailed.
Colours look balanced, not overly processed, and overall it&rsquo;s a pretty reliable shooter for everyday photos. It also uses dual native ISO, which helps a bit when lighting isn&rsquo;t perfect.
The ultrawide, though feels like a clear step down. It gets the job done for wider shots, and the colours stay somewhat consistent with the main camera, which is nice. But in terms of detail and dynamic range, there&rsquo;s a noticeable drop. It&rsquo;s usable, just not something you&rsquo;ll want to rely on too much.
Zoom is handled through cropping on the main sensor. Up to 2x, it&rsquo;s fine. Beyond that, things start to fall apart pretty quickly.
Low light is decent, not spectacular. The main camera does a good job of brightening scenes, but you will notice some grain creeping in, especially in darker areas like the sky.
The 20MP front camera is&hellip; fine. It gets the job done for selfies, with decent edge detection in portrait mode. Background separation is actually pretty solid. But it&rsquo;s a smaller sensor with no autofocus, so results can be a bit inconsistent.
For video, you can shoot up to 4K at 60fps, and the results are pretty solid - footage looks clean and stabilisation is usable.
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Performance</h2>
The POCO X8 Pro Max runs on MediaTek&rsquo;s Dimensity 9500s, built on a 3nm process. The naming might make it sound like a cut-down flagship chip, but in reality, it sits much closer to the Dimensity 9400+ in terms of actual performance.
You also get the Immortalis-G925 MC12 GPU with ray tracing support, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM &nbsp;and &nbsp;up to 512GB UFS 4.1 storage.&nbsp;
POCO claims an AnTuTu score of around 31 lakh, which would put it right alongside Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 devices like the iQOO 15R and OnePlus 15R. In real-world testing though, it lands closer to 27.2 lakh. Slightly lower, sure, but not something you actually feel in day-to-day use.
Apps open instantly, multitasking is smooth, and there&rsquo;s no real friction anywhere. It feels consistent more than anything, which matters more than peak numbers.
Gaming is where things get interesting. I was getting stable 120fps gameplay on COD Mobile and BGMI, and that stability holds even during longer sessions. That&rsquo;s where the 5800 mm&sup2; 3D IceLoop cooling system comes in. It&rsquo;s clearly tuned for sustained performance rather than short bursts.
Thermals are well managed too. The phone doesn&rsquo;t heat up aggressively, even under load. You will feel the metal frame getting a bit warm during extended gaming, but it never gets uncomfortable or concerning.
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
The POCO X8 Pro Max is built around one very clear idea: outlasting everything else in its category.
In India, you&rsquo;re getting a 9000mAh silicon-carbon battery, while global variants stick to 8500mAh. Either way, this is easily one of the biggest batteries you&rsquo;ll find in a mainstream phone right now, and it shows in how the phone behaves day to day.
This isn&rsquo;t just about lasting a full day. It&rsquo;s about stretching well beyond that without needing to think about it. You can push it hard with constant browsing, video, and even gaming, and it still has headroom left.
In structured testing, it performs exactly how you&rsquo;d expect for its size, landing just below the Realme P4 Power, which carries an even larger 10,000mAh unit.
<ul>
<li>28+ hours of continuous browsing</li>
<li>16+ hours of video playback</li>
<li>10+ hours of gaming</li>
</ul>
What stands out is consistency. A big reason for this is the 3nm chipset, which keeps power draw under control, so the large battery isn&rsquo;t just compensating; it&rsquo;s being used effectively.
Charging a battery this large could&rsquo;ve been a bottleneck, but POCO manages it well. With 100W wired charging, a full charge takes roughly 70 to 75 minutes. Considering the capacity, that&rsquo;s not too bad.&nbsp;
You also get up to 27W reverse charging, which basically turns the phone into a power bank for your accessories or even another phone when needed. &nbsp;
There&rsquo;s no wireless charging here, which is the one omission. But given the focus on capacity and fast wired speeds, that feels like a deliberate trade-off rather than an oversight.
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Software &amp; AI</h2>
The POCO X8 Pro Max runs HyperOS 3 (Android 16), and the first thing you notice is how little it tries to shock you. If you&rsquo;ve been around Xiaomi or POCO phones before, this feels instantly familiar.
The interface still leans modern, but where it wins is flexibility. You can go all in on customisation. Lock screen layouts, fonts, and themes. There's enough here to make the phone actually feel like yours instead of just another default setup.
Xiaomi has also been tweaking animations, and while it&rsquo;s not something you&rsquo;ll consciously notice every second, the system does feel a bit more fluid. It&rsquo;s subtle, but it adds up over time.
Feature-wise, everything is kind of layered in rather than thrown at you. You&rsquo;ve got Google Gemini and Circle to Search built right into the system, and then Xiaomi adds its own layer with HyperConnect for ecosystem stuff. There&rsquo;s even offline communication, which lets devices connect without a network, which is niche, but cool when you actually need it.
The AI side is less about one big feature and more about small tools everywhere. In the gallery, you get things like AI Eraser, Expander, Cutout, Beautify, plus stuff like sky replacement. There are also AI wallpapers and writing tools, but none of it feels forced, it&rsquo;s just there when you need it.
You also get Hyper Island, Xiaomi&rsquo;s version of Dynamic Island. It works fine, but right now it feels more like a concept that&rsquo;s still waiting for better app support.
Daily use is straightforward. The control center and notifications are easy to navigate, and everything feels where you expect it to be. There is some pre-installed bloat, but most of it can be removed, so it&rsquo;s more of a quick cleanup than a real problem.
On the longevity side, you&rsquo;re getting 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of security patches, which is a solid commitment.
<h2>Poco X8 Pro Max Review: Verdict</h2>
The POCO X8 Pro Max is a phone that knows exactly what it&rsquo;s trying to do, and more importantly, it stays consistent with that vision.
The biggest highlight here is the battery life. The 9000mAh unit in the India variant isn&rsquo;t just about numbers, it genuinely changes how you use the phone.
You&rsquo;re not constantly checking percentages or looking for a charger. It just keeps going. Pair that with fast charging and efficient hardware, and this easily becomes one of the strongest battery setups in this segment.
Performance is another big win. The Dimensity 9500s focuses on sustained output rather than just peak numbers. It stays fast, stable, and reliable over longer sessions, whether you&rsquo;re gaming or juggling multiple apps. That consistency really stands out in daily use.
The display also delivers. It&rsquo;s bright, smooth, and vibrant, and easily one of the better panels you&rsquo;ll find at this price. Add to that a clean design, solid build, and strong connectivity, and the overall experience feels well-rounded.
The camera setup is clearly led by the main sensor, which does a good job in most situations. That said, a dedicated zoom camera would have helped make this a more balanced camera system.
At ₹42,999, this isn&rsquo;t a phone trying to tick every possible box. It&rsquo;s clearly built for people who care about sustained performance and not having to worry about topping up their battery all the time.
And in that role, it absolutely delivers.

iQOO Z11x 5G review: Massive 7200mAh battery, solid gaming performance, and smooth UI under ₹20,000. Here’s whether it’s the best budget phone to buy.

iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Best Budget Phone Under ₹20K With 7200mAh Battery?

Looking for the best phone under ₹20K? The iQOO Z11x 5G packs a 7200mAh battery, strong performance, and smooth UI. Here’s a full review after real-world testing.

The iQOO Z11x 5G delivers strong performance and a massive 7200mAh battery under ₹20K. While the display and cameras are average, it excels as a reliable, no-nonsense budget phone for gaming and daily use.

These days, it's rare to find a phone that gets the core stuff right without some bizarre omissions in a bid to cut costs. But, the iQOO Z11x 5G pulls it off. The base 6GB + 128GB model starts at ₹18,999, which makes it for power users who are watching their spending habits. I spent over a week using the 8GB + 256GB unit in Prismatic Green as my daily driver, which is priced at ₹22,999.
While rivals pile on trendy extras, iQOO focuses on real needs: epic battery and solid performance. The 7,200mAh cell paired with Dimensity 7400 Turbo makes it great for gaming or streaming sessions. It&rsquo;s not pretending to be something it's not, which makes it great for people who want to be smart with their budget. Here's how this monster of a budget device, held up during my week living with it.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Unboxing and Design</h2>
Unboxing the iQOO Z11x is a standard affair, pretty much what you expect from a budget phone these days. You get the full kit in the box: a TPU case, SIM tool, USB-A to C cable, a 44W charging brick and obviously the phone, with a protective film, already applied.
The design is where things really pick up. From the moment I held the phone, the in-hand feel genuinely caught me off guard. While this is an upgrade in almost every way over the last model, <a title="iQOO 15R Review: The Performance Phone to Beat Under ₹45,000" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/iqoo-15r-review-the-performance-phone-to-beat-under-45-000-1772019743193" target="_blank">iQOO</a> skipped the loud, flashy look for something more restrained. I reviewed the Prismatic Green version here, though you can also find it in Titan Black.
The back is plastic, which makes sense given the price. There is a faint, strip-like pattern on the rear that only shows up when you tilt the phone under the light. The matte finish feels high-quality and is a total win for anyone who hates fingerprints. You can honestly go caseless without worrying about oily smudges or marks ruining the look. But given that massive glass display, I would strongly urge against it.
The camera island has changed too. iQOO swapped the old rectangle for a symmetrical square-ish design that looks much cleaner. It houses five elements: a 50MP main sensor, a 2MP depth lens, a flash, a dynamic light, and an IR blaster tucked with the depth sensor.
The layout around the edges is familiar. The right side has the volume rocker and a power button that doubles as the fingerprint sensor. We still do not have an in-display sensor here, but the one in the power button is quite snappy.&nbsp;
At the bottom you get a mic, a C-Type charging port and a speaker. The left side houses the SIM tray. Unfortunately there&rsquo;s no SD card support. Finally at the top you get a noise-cancelling mic too.&nbsp;
One thing you will notice is the weight. The battery jumped from 6,500mAh to 7,200mAh, pushing the phone to 219g, which isn&rsquo;t exactly lightweight, but is pretty common in this segment, if you&rsquo;re looking for a phone with a big battery. If you are coming from a lighter device, you will definitely feel that extra heft.
Durability is a massive win though. With IP68 and IP69+ ratings, it is built to handle way more than just minor splashes. Unless you are planning to explore the Titanic wreckage, this is plenty of protection. Overall, the Z11x feels like a much more refined and reliable package than its predecessor.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Display</h2>
Up front, the iQOO Z11x comes with a flat IPS LCD panel. Same as last year, no upgrade here. Now, I know, tech folks out there are going crazy for AMOLED these days, but honestly, at this price point, it's a bit unrealistic.
But, at 6.72 inches, it's huge, and that 120Hz refresh rate truly shines. Flipping through Twitter or switching apps were super smooth, no lag. No ghosting or blur like you see on bargain panels. Colors come out balanced, nothing punched up too hard, so Netflix binges felt easy on the eyes.
Now, HDR works fine on YouTube but skips Netflix. But don&rsquo;t expect flagship-level blacks here, because it is an IPS LCD panel afterall.&nbsp;
Design-wise, it's okay. Top and side bezels are not obviously the thinnest, but, slim for the price, and look pretty decent. However, that thick chin at the bottom is a constant reminder that this is a budget device. It truly kills that full-screen vibe.
Moving to the brightness and yes we do see an upgrade here. It hits 1200 nits peak HBM. Whether I was using it indoors or out in brutal noon sun, it came out sharp and vibrant. I read texts no problem, no squinting or hand-shielding.&nbsp;
As for speakers we get a dual stereo set up; interesting to note in this segment. Although iQOO claims that they have 400% audio boosters, but, in my experience though the loudness is decent. Watching content or listening to music sounds fine enough. Nothing extraordinary.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Performance</h2>
Let&rsquo;s be real for a second. We only really look at iQOO for the raw power, and the Z11x doesn't disappoint there. It is packing the <a title="MediaTek unveils new advanced Filogic 8000 family Wi-Fi 8 chipset at CES" href="https://www.editorji.com/business-news/mediatek-unveils-wifi-8-at-ces-2026-1767770813440" target="_blank">MediaTek Dimensity 7400 </a>Turbo under the hood. I put this chip through the absolute ringer with Antutu, Geekbench, and 3D Mark. Honestly, the results were a bit of a shocker for this price bracket.
My Antutu run hit around 9.6 lakh. That is practically knocking on the door of a million points. For some context here, I have reviewed plenty of other budget phones that can barely crawl past 5.5 lakh. I am not calling it a flagship killer just yet, but for a "budget" device, it is genuinely impressive stuff.
The hardware uses LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. Sure, those aren't the top-tier specs you see on 80k phones, but the actual day-to-day feel was buttery. I tried multitasking with three apps at once using split-screen and a floating window. Surprisingly, the phone handled the load without any lag, jitters or frame drops in the UI.
Gaming is where the Z11x really earns its keep. I spent a good chunk of time on Call of Duty Mobile and BGMI. COD stayed capped at 90 FPS while BGMI held a rock-solid 60 FPS. The best part? No random frame drops during heavy gunfights. As for the heat, yeah, it gets warm. Every phone does when you push it. But even after an hour of gaming, it never felt like a hot brick in my hand.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Camera</h2>
Let&rsquo;s get one thing straight: nobody buys a Z-series phone for elite photography. The Z11x comes with a 50MP main lens and a 2MP depth sensor. While 50MP sounds great on paper, we all know megapixels don't tell the whole story. In my time with it, the photos were decent enough for Instagram, but the colours aren't natural at all. There is a clear warm tint and a lot of processing happening behind the scenes. If you try to zoom in beyond 2X, details fall apart, and things get pixelated pretty fast.
The portrait mode is a bit of a hit-or-miss situation. The edge detection is okay, but it is mostly just for that casual bokeh effect rather than something professional.
Surprisingly, the 32MP selfie camera is actually quite good with colors, even if it tries to smooth out my skin a bit too much for my liking.
The biggest shocker for me was the video. Getting 4K at 30fps on both the front and back is something I honestly didn't expect at this price point. The stabilisation on the rear is decent enough to capture family moments or random clips, even if it isn't exactly a cinematic experience.&nbsp;
Furthermore, the phone also supports a dual view cam recording, meaning you can record from both the rear and the front cameras simultaneously. At this price point, it is a pretty rare feature.
You shouldn't buy this for serious content creation or YouTube vlogging, but for a budget phone, iQOO is finally showing they care about more than just gaming performance. It delivers exactly what it needs to for the price without making any wild claims it can't back up. It is a solid and practical setup for capturing everyday life.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Software, UI/UX &amp; AI Features</h2>
iQOO finally moved away from the Funtouch OS that was on the Z10x. Instead, the Z11x comes with OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 right out of the box. And let me just say, it is a massive upgrade.&nbsp;
The UI feels incredibly fluid and polished, with animations that honestly look like they were pulled straight from the flagship iQOO 15.
One thing I found myself using a lot was the Origin Island. It makes sharing files a breeze because you just drag and drop them. And the inspirations taken from that famous fruit brand for things like liquid glass like effect also look great here, nonetheless.&nbsp;
But, mind you, bloatware comes complimentary. Yes, it is cluttered with apps you probably won't ever need. You will have to spend about ten minutes just deleting things to get a clean experience.&nbsp;
I still don't understand why brands think this is a good idea for a phone that otherwise feels quite premium. Honestly, that&rsquo;s also something you can expect here.
The AI features are surprisingly useful, too. You get things like Circle to Search, Gemini support, and a bunch of productivity tools that are perfect for taking notes or summarising info. I also really liked the voice isolation feature for making calls in loud areas.
As for longevity, iQOO is promising two years of Android updates and four years of security patches. That is pretty much the industry standard now, but it is nice to see them sticking to it for a budget-friendly device.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Battery and Charging</h2>
The battery on the Z11x is a total beast. Jamming a 7200mAh unit into an 8.39mm slim frame is an engineering flex I didn't expect at this price. In my daily use, even with heavy gaming and 4K video marathons, I was easily getting close to two full days of life.
iQOO claims 40 hours of video playback, but I think that is a bit optimistic. I started a test at 68 percent battery, and it took 12 hours to hit 20 percent. That last bit of juice lasted another 3 hours. So, realistically, you are looking at 30 or 32 hours total.&nbsp;
For charging you get a 44W brick in the box. It takes roughly around an hour and a half to charge the phone from zero to full. That might feel a bit slow, but it is acceptable given the massive capacity. The good news is that just 30 minutes on the charger gives you enough power to last a whole day of normal use. Plus, it even supports reverse charging, which is great for topping up your earbuds when you are traveling light.
With a promised six years of battery health, this thing is definitely built to last. It is basically a high-capacity power bank that just happens to be a phone.
<h2>iQOO Z11x 5G Review: Should you buy it?</h2>
The iQOO Z11x 5G is easily one of the best value-for-money picks if you&rsquo;re on a very strict budget of ₹20,000. It doesn't try to do everything, but it nails the essentials like stable performance and that massive 7,200mAh battery. For students, pinching pennies, or even as a first smartphone for your grandparents, it is a fantastic, reliable choice that won't leave you hunting for a charger by evening.
Sure, you&rsquo;re not getting the best display or the best set of cameras on a smartphone with this one. But if you want a "no-nonsense" workhorse that just works, comes with an easy two-day battery, and performs like a beast, all without breaking the bank, this is a solid bet.&nbsp;

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro offers a bold design, periscope zoom, and smooth AMOLED display. A well-balanced mid-range phone worth considering.

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Style Meets Substance

<h3>The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro blends bold design, a periscope camera, and clean software into a well-rounded mid-ranger, with minor compromises in video and eSIM support.</h3>

Nothing has built a reputation for making phones that stand out because of their unique designs and features, but it seems that with the Phone (4a) Pro, it feels like the focus has shifted towards delivering a more rounded experience.&nbsp;
Starting at Rs 39,999, this is no longer just about design or novelty. It aims to offer a dependable mid-range package with a distinct identity. You get a full aluminium build, a periscope telephoto camera, and the Glyph Matrix, which still feels refreshingly different in this segment.
What works in its favour is how cohesive it feels. It does not come across as a watered-down flagship or a spec-driven experiment. Instead, it feels intentional. A phone that balances individuality with everyday usability, which is not easy to achieve.
Having used the phone as my daily driver for a week or so, I found it comes together well as an overall package. It delivers on most fronts, even if there are a few areas where it could have pushed things further.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Design</h2>
Nothing takes a bold new approach with the Phone (4a) Pro, and it lands rather well. The transparent glass back that once defined the brand is gone, replaced by a full aluminium body. The shift is immediately noticeable. The phone feels sturdier, more refined, and clearly more premium than any previous Nothing or CMF phone, from the moment I pick it up.
Measuring just 7.9mm thick and weighing in at 210 grams, it is incredibly comfortable to hold and feels well-balanced in the hand. There is enough weight to make it feel substantial, but it never tips into feeling bulky. The flat frame paired with the flat display gives it a clean, straightforward look that I really enjoy. It is available in Black, Pink, and Silver, and the Silver unit I tested easily stands out as the most striking of the lot.
Around the back, Nothing&rsquo;s personality is still very much intact. The cyberpunk-inspired design language continues to shine through. The camera module is large and does remind me slightly of an iPhone, but it never feels like a direct imitation.
You also get the Glyph Matrix from the Phone 3 Pro, and it is more than just a visual flourish. I found it genuinely useful in daily use, adding both character and function in a way most phones in this segment simply do not.
On durability, there is IP65 resistance, so it can handle splashes and light rain, but I would still avoid taking it near water. Gorilla Glass 7i protects the front, and essentials like NFC and Wi-Fi 6 are present. The only real drawbacks are the missing IR blaster and the lack of eSIM support in India, which feels like a sharper omission.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Display</h2>
The 6.83-inch flexible AMOLED display on the Phone (4a) Pro is easily one of my favourite parts of the phone. On paper, it sounds impressive with a 1.5K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, support for over a billion colours, and a peak HDR brightness rated at 5000 nits. For this price, that is a very solid setup.
In my day-to-day use, the display consistently impressed me. Colours looked rich without feeling over-processed, blacks were deep, and everything from YouTube to Instagram to Netflix looked sharp and vibrant. It genuinely feels like a panel that sits above what I usually expect in this segment, and I found myself enjoying content on it more than I expected.
Outdoor visibility has also been reliable. The panel can hit around 1600 nits in high brightness mode, and I had no trouble using it under harsh sunlight. It is not the absolute brightest out there, but in practical use, it holds up very well.
There is one thing to keep in mind. While HDR playback is supported, Netflix HDR10 and HDR10+ certification are missing. In real-world use, I did not find this to be a major issue, as content still looks very good, but it is worth noting.
You also get an optical in-display fingerprint scanner, which has been dependable in my experience. It is quick, accurate, and rarely misses, although, an ultrasonic scanner would have been better.
The dual stereo speakers also stood out to me. They get surprisingly loud and sound fuller than expected, which, combined with the display, makes watching videos or even casual gaming feel more immersive.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Cameras</h2>
The cameras on the Phone (4a) Pro are easily one of its biggest strengths, and in my time using it, that became obvious pretty quickly. The setup includes a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto, and an 8MP ultra-wide. That periscope lens is the standout here, especially at this price, and it gives the phone a clear edge over most rivals.
In everyday shooting, I found the main camera to be very dependable. It captures a good amount of detail, and more importantly, the colours stay natural. Nothing&rsquo;s processing avoids the usual over-sharpened, over-saturated look, so photos come out closer to what I actually saw. The ultra-wide is fine for casual shots, but I did notice it can underexpose slightly, especially in tricky or uneven lighting.
Low-light performance reflects the same philosophy. The phone does not try to artificially brighten everything, which keeps images realistic, but it also means some shots can look a bit flatter compared to phones that rely heavily on processing to boost exposure and contrast.
Zoom is where the Phone (4a) Pro really stands out. The 3.5x periscope telephoto makes a clear difference in real use. I could push zoom all the way up to 140x, and while that extreme range is more of a novelty, even at more practical zoom levels, images retain better detail. Portrait shots also benefit from this, as the optical zoom creates more natural depth compared to digital cropping.
The 32MP front camera has been reliable in my use, delivering sharp selfies with balanced colours across different lighting conditions.
Video performance is where things feel a bit limited. The footage itself looks good, with stable output, decent dynamic range, and colours that stay consistent with the rest of the camera system. But being capped at 4K at 30fps in 2025 does feel restrictive, especially when others in this segment are pushing further.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Performance</h2>
The Phone (4a) Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, and in my time using it, it became abundantly clear that Nothing is focusing on consistency rather than raw power.&nbsp;
For everyday use, it does the job without any friction. Browsing, streaming, switching between apps, or even mindless scrolling all felt fluid, which is exactly what I expect at this level.
The phone pairs LPDDR5X RAM with UFS 3.1 storage. While the RAM keeps things snappy, the storage is a step behind newer standards, and that does show up occasionally.&nbsp;
I noticed slightly longer app load times, particularly with heavier apps or when quickly taking a tonne of photos with the camera. It is not something that disrupts daily use, but it is noticeable if you are paying attention.
Gaming performance turned out better than I expected. During extended BGMI sessions, the phone held close to 118 to 119fps quite consistently. What stood out more was how well it managed heat.&nbsp;
Even after longer gaming sessions, it never got uncomfortably warm, which points to solid optimisation and thermal management.
Synthetic benchmarks reflect a similar story. The numbers are not pushing the limits of the segment, but they align well with what the hardware is meant to deliver.&nbsp;
More importantly, performance feels stable in real-world use. Unless you are specifically chasing top-tier flagship power, this setup strikes a practical and well-balanced middle ground.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Software</h2>
Running Nothing OS 4.1 on top of Android 16, the Phone (4a) Pro delivers one of the cleanest software experiences I have used in this segment. From the first boot, it felt fast, uncluttered, and visually distinct. The dot matrix elements, monochrome icons, and minimalist UI give it a clear identity that does not blend into the usual Android crowd.
What I ended up appreciating more was how deeply customisable it feels in a practical sense. Widgets are a big part of the experience here, but they are not just for show. Through Nothing Playground, I could add community-created widgets that actually changed how I interacted with the home screen. It felt functional rather than decorative. The Glyph Matrix adds to this in a meaningful way, surfacing live information and notifications in a way I gradually started relying on.
Essential Space has seen useful improvements too. Screenshots can now be grouped into Essential Memories and synced across Nothing devices, which makes organising saved content much easier.
The software stays largely free of clutter. Apart from Facebook and Instagram, which can be removed quickly, there is very little pre-installed junk.
Nothing is committing to three years of Android updates and six years of security patches, which feels balanced for this category.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Battery</h2>
The Phone (4a) Pro comes with a 5,400mAh battery, and in my usage, it proved to be consistently reliable. You&rsquo;re looking at a one-day easily handled phone here. Through a typical day that included browsing, streaming, social media, and calls, I was able to get through without worrying about topping up midway. It is not aiming to set new benchmarks, but it delivers the kind of endurance most people would be happy with.&nbsp;
Charging is capped at 50W, and a full charge takes around 60 to 65 minutes. It is not the fastest you can get in this segment, but it is quick enough to comfortably fit into a daily routine.
There is also 7.5W reverse wired charging, which I found handy for quickly topping up smaller devices like earbuds. Wireless charging is missing, which feels like a slight omission at this price, though not entirely surprising.
Overall, the battery setup feels steady and dependable without trying to overcompensate.
<h2>Nothing Phone (4a) Pro Review: Verdict</h2>
Spending time with the Phone (4a) Pro, I came away feeling like Nothing has finally nailed the balance it has been chasing. At Rs 39,999, this feels like a genuinely well-rounded mid-range option rather than just a design-first device. The new aluminium build gives it a more premium feel, the display is smooth and vibrant, and the camera system, especially the periscope telephoto, adds a level of versatility that is still rare in this segment.
Nothing OS 4.1 continues to be a highlight for me. It feels clean, responsive, and different in a way that actually improves day-to-day use instead of just looking unique. Battery life has also been steady in my experience, easily lasting through a full day without any anxiety.
There are a few compromises. The 4K 30fps video cap feels limiting for 2025, the lack of eSIM support in India remains frustrating, and while performance is smooth, it does not match the raw power some competitors offer.
Even so, if you want a phone with a strong identity that also delivers where it matters, this is an easy pick at this price.

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