Name: Meta introduces AI Sandbox, its generative AI-powered ad tools
Uploaded: 2023-05-12T15:17:38.000+05:30
Duration: T00M29S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Following Microsoft and Google, Meta is now placing significant bets on generative AI.

OnePlus Pad Go 2 review: A polished budget tablet with a 12.1-inch 120Hz display, excellent battery life, clean OxygenOS 16, and smooth stylus support for students and everyday use.

OnePlus Pad Go 2 Review: Big Display, Long Battery Life, and Smart Stylus Support

OnePlus Pad Go 2 brings a smooth 120Hz display, excellent battery life, clean OxygenOS 16, and thoughtful stylus support in a polished, budget-friendly tablet.

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The OnePlus Pad Go 2 focuses on the essentials: a large 120Hz display, excellent battery life, clean OxygenOS, and useful stylus support. It&rsquo;s a well-balanced tablet for students, readers, and everyday media use.
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The thing about mid-range tablets is&hellip; most of them don&rsquo;t really need to reinvent anything. They just need to get the basics right.
And that&rsquo;s kind of what the <a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/oneplus-15r-first-look-oneplus-changes-the-r-series-playbook-1765543399594">OnePlus</a> Pad Go 2 does. It doesn&rsquo;t try to be flashy or experimental. Instead, it quietly fixes a lot of the small annoyances from the previous model.
&nbsp;In India, the pricing starts at ₹26,999 for the 8GB, 128GB Wi-Fi version, goes up to ₹29,999 if you want 256GB of storage, and tops out at ₹32,999 for the 5G variant with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. And at those prices, the Pad Go 2 feels like one of the more sensible Android tablets you can buy right now. &nbsp;
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 design</h2>
I like the design here... the camera&rsquo;s now pushed into the corner, the logo&rsquo;s properly centred, and thankfully, that old dual-tone back is gone. It&rsquo;s a single-colour finish now, and it just looks cleaner. Less trying, more confident.
This is the Lavender Drift colour, and yeah, it sounds loud, but it really isn&rsquo;t. In person, it&rsquo;s pretty subtle. It catches light nicely without screaming for attention. If you&rsquo;re not into colours, the black version is there, and honestly, it gives very strong iPad energy.
What I didn&rsquo;t expect was how easy this tablet is to hold. It&rsquo;s big, no doubt, but at just under 600 grams and around 6.8mm thick, it never felt awkward. I could sit and read or watch videos for a long time without feeling like I needed to keep shifting my grip. The matte finish helps too. It doesn&rsquo;t feel slippery and it doesn&rsquo;t turn into a fingerprint disaster.
Button and port placement is simple and makes sense. The power button sits up top, volume buttons are on the right, and the selfie camera is on the side bezel, which is way better if you&rsquo;re using the tablet horizontally for video calls.&nbsp;
You&rsquo;ve got four speaker grilles around the body, and they get loud enough for movies and YouTube. Charging happens over USB-C at the bottom. No headphone jack here, and there&rsquo;s no pogo pins or magnetic connector either, since OnePlus isn&rsquo;t offering a keyboard accessory. The stylus, if you&rsquo;re using one, charges separately over USB-C.
<h2><a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/oneplus-15r-first-look-oneplus-changes-the-r-series-playbook-1765543399594">OnePlus</a> Pad Go 2 display</h2>
Okay, let&rsquo;s talk about the screen, because that&rsquo;s really the main reason this tablet works. It&rsquo;s a big one - 12.1 inch LCD and 2.8K resolution.
And yeah, on paper that sounds very spec-heavy, but in real use, it&rsquo;s just&hellip; nice to look at. Colours look good, text is sharp, and when you&rsquo;re watching Netflix or YouTube, Dolby Vision actually does something. It&rsquo;s not just a badge.
Indoors, brightness is completely fine. Never had an issue. Step outside, though, and you do notice the glossy screen. In direct sunlight, it&rsquo;s not great. But honestly, most tablets struggle there, so I wasn&rsquo;t shocked.
The aspect ratio is something I didn&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;d care about, but I kind of do. It&rsquo;s 7:5, which sounds boring, but reading feels better, documents fit more on screen, and multitasking doesn&rsquo;t feel as squished as it usually does on Android tablets.
The 120Hz refresh rate helps too. Scrolling feels smoother, switching apps feels lighter, and after a while, you just get used to that fluid feel.
There&rsquo;s no fingerprint scanner here, which feels odd at first. But face unlock is quick enough that after a day or two, I genuinely stopped thinking about it.
This isn&rsquo;t some massive redesign or anything. It feels more like OnePlus looked at the older version and quietly fixed what needed fixing - better screen, better flow, fewer rough edges.
And those are the kinds of upgrades you only really notice once you start using the tablet properly.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 audio</h2>
You&rsquo;ve got quad speakers on this thing, placed on both sides. This means no matter how you&rsquo;re holding it, the sound isn&rsquo;t getting blocked. OnePlus also does this thing where the tablet figures out its orientation and shifts the audio accordingly. You don&rsquo;t really notice it happening, which is kind of the point.
For watching videos, it&rsquo;s honestly pretty good. It gets loud, dialogue is clear, and vocals come through nicely. Up to around 70 or 80 percent volume, everything sounds clean. That&rsquo;s sort of the sweet spot. Movies, YouTube, even random reels, all sound fine.
Bass is where you feel the compromise. It&rsquo;s there, but it doesn&rsquo;t really punch.
Another letdown is there&rsquo;s no Dolby Atmos this time, which is a bit odd. That said, if you&rsquo;re using wireless headphones, you do get SBC, AAC, and LDAC support, so audio quality over Bluetooth isn&rsquo;t really an issue.
End of the day, this isn&rsquo;t trying to be an audio powerhouse. But for casual stuff, watching videos, online classes, or just throwing something on in the background, it does the job without getting in the way.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 connectivity</h2>
I was actually really excited to see OnePlus finally bring 5G to the Pad Go lineup, so yeah, I was a bit disappointed that I didn&rsquo;t get the 5G model to test.
There is a 5G version of the Pad Go 2 though, and with a SIM inside, you can use it completely independently. Calls, messages, browsing, all without depending on Wi-Fi, which is a big deal for a tablet like this.
Just to be clear, the unit I have is the Wi-Fi one, and the 5G variant is only available in the Shadow Black colour right now.
What I did end up using a lot instead was OnePlus&rsquo; phone integration. If you&rsquo;ve got a OnePlus phone nearby, the tablet can automatically share your phone&rsquo;s 5G connection.&nbsp;
Apart from that, connectivity is solid overall - Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4. It just stays connected, which is honestly what matters.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 accesories</h2>
I ended up using the stylus more than I thought I would.
It&rsquo;s called the Pad Go 2 Stylo, and it sticks to the side of the optional folio case when you&rsquo;re not using it.
It connects over Bluetooth 5.4, charges via USB-C, and in real use, the battery life is solid. I was easily getting over a week out of it, which lines up with around 20 hours of actual usage.
There&rsquo;s a button near the top, and at first I ignored it. Then I didn&rsquo;t.
You can switch tools in supported apps with it, and there&rsquo;s this lock-screen note thing where you can just start writing without properly unlocking the tablet. That&rsquo;s actually useful when you&rsquo;re trying to jot something down quickly.
Pressure sensitivity is fine. Nothing crazy, but responsive enough. For notes, light sketches, or marking up PDFs, it felt reliable. If you&rsquo;re a professional artist, this probably isn&rsquo;t your main tool, but that&rsquo;s not really who this tablet is for anyway.
I also used the folio case quite a bit. It wraps around the tablet nicely and makes it easier to hold, especially when you&rsquo;re reading or just scrolling. It does add some weight, which you&rsquo;ll notice at first, but I stopped thinking about it after a while. The cover folds into a stand too, but only in landscape, which is fine because that&rsquo;s how I used the tablet most of the time anyway.
One thing to clear up though. Neither the stylus nor the folio case comes in the box. You have to buy them separately.
The Stylo is priced at ₹3,999 and the folio case goes for ₹1,499. That said, OnePlus is running a limited-time offer where the Stylo comes free with the Pad Go 2, so if you&rsquo;re planning to use it, that&rsquo;s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 software &amp; performance</h2>
The Pad Go 2 is running OxygenOS 16 on Android 16, and honestly, it feels like OxygenOS should. Clean, smooth, and not doing anything annoying in the background.
On a screen this big, multitasking actually makes sense. Split screen works well, floating windows are useful, and Open Canvas is one of those things you don&rsquo;t use all the time, but when you do, it just works. It&rsquo;s especially nice when you&rsquo;re switching between notes and a browser.
There&rsquo;s also a bunch of AI stuff sprinkled in. Not everywhere, and not all the time, but it&rsquo;s there when you need it. Things like summaries, translations, voice transcription, eye care features. In the Notes app, there&rsquo;s an AI voice transcriber that can turn whatever you&rsquo;re saying into text, and even read things back to you. I also tried AI Recorder and AI Speak, and for classes or meetings, they&rsquo;re actually pretty handy.
As for performance, this is running the Dimensity 7300 Ultra with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, and for daily use, it&rsquo;s completely fine. Apps open quickly, scrolling stays smooth, and nothing feels laggy in normal use.
It&rsquo;s also a noticeable step up from the older Pad Go, which was using the Helio G99. You can feel that extra headroom, especially when multitasking or jumping between apps. It just feels less strained overall.
I played a few casual games like Bubble Pop and Candy Crush, and they ran without any issues. No heating, no random performance drops, nothing like that.
This isn&rsquo;t a performance monster by any means. But for studying, streaming, note-taking, and everyday stuff, it feels comfortable and reliable. And for this kind of tablet, that&rsquo;s really what matters.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 cameras &amp; battery</h2>
So cameras first, because on a tablet, expectations are already&hellip; realistic.
You&rsquo;ve got 8-megapixel cameras on both the front and the back, and honestly, they&rsquo;re fine. They do what they&rsquo;re supposed to do. Video calls look clear enough, you don&rsquo;t look like a potato, and that&rsquo;s really the bar for tablet cameras.
Where things get a bit more interesting is the camera app itself. OnePlus has packed in a whole AI suite here, and there&rsquo;s a lot going on. The most impressive bit is the AI editor. You can genuinely change how a photo looks after you&rsquo;ve taken it.&nbsp;
Stuff like AI relight, AI recompose, AI eraser, AI perfect shot, detail boost&hellip; it&rsquo;s a long list. You won&rsquo;t use all of it every day, but it&rsquo;s nice to have, especially if you&rsquo;re editing notes, screenshots, or quick photos.
Video tops out at 1080p, 30fps from both cameras, with HDR support. Nothing fancy, but again, for classes, calls, or quick recordings, it gets the job done. There&rsquo;s also a document scanner feature, which I think students will really appreciate. It&rsquo;s reliable and surprisingly useful once you start using it.
Now, battery life.This is where the Pad Go 2 really shines.
There&rsquo;s a massive 10,050mAh battery inside, and it shows. I wasn&rsquo;t thinking about charging this every day. Even with fairly heavy use, it easily stretched across multiple days. There weren&rsquo;t any weird drops either, no single app suddenly draining the battery faster than expected.
Charging is solid too. You get a 33W charger in the box, but the tablet supports up to 45W SUPERVOOC. With the faster charger, it takes roughly about an hour and a half to fully top up. It also supports reverse charging, which is a nice bonus. No wireless charging here, but honestly, on a tablet, that&rsquo;s not something I missed.
Overall, battery life is one of the biggest strengths of this tablet. It&rsquo;s the kind of thing you stop worrying about, and that&rsquo;s always a good sign.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 verdict</h2>
After spending time with the OnePlus Pad Go 2, it&rsquo;s pretty clear what OnePlus was going for.
This isn&rsquo;t a tablet that&rsquo;s trying to impress you with specs or flashy features. It&rsquo;s built around the things that actually matter on a tablet: a large, good-quality display, excellent battery life, clean software, and performance that stays smooth for everyday use.
Cameras are here, they work for video calls and documents, and that&rsquo;s about as much attention as they deserve on a device like this. They&rsquo;re not the reason you buy this tablet, and OnePlus clearly knows that.
If you&rsquo;re looking for a no-nonsense Android tablet that focuses on the right things and doesn&rsquo;t try too hard to be something it&rsquo;s not, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 fits that brief really well.
One thing I do wish OnePlus had handled a bit differently is the 5G option.
It&rsquo;s a welcome addition, no doubt. Having proper 5G on a tablet actually makes sense, especially for students and people who move around a lot. But it&rsquo;s only available on the top-end variant, and that feels like a bit of a miss. It would&rsquo;ve made a lot more sense to offer 5G on the second price tier as well, because that&rsquo;s where most people are likely to land.
And if OnePlus really wanted to make this even more attractive, bundling the stylus with one of the higher variants would&rsquo;ve been a strong move. The stylus works well, it fits the way this tablet is meant to be used, and having it included would&rsquo;ve pushed the value up significantly.
As it stands, the Pad Go 2 is still a very sensible tablet. But a slightly smarter 5G and accessory strategy could&rsquo;ve made it an even easier recommendation.

The OnePlus 15R is no longer the safe R-series pick. OnePlus shifts focus to performance, gaming, durability and battery life with a clear new direction.

OnePlus 15R Review: Performance-first R-series reboot

The OnePlus 15R drops the safe-pick image and leans into performance, gaming, durability and battery life with a clear identity shift.

The OnePlus 15R drops the safe-pick image and leans into performance, gaming, durability and battery life with a clear identity shift.

After the hugely popular launch of the OnePlus 15, OnePlus has now shifted focus to the R series with the OnePlus 15R. Traditionally, the R model has always been the safe pick in the lineup. It is usually the phone most people gravitate towards because it offers almost everything a flagship does, just without the flagship price tag.
This year, though, that familiar story feels different to me. The OnePlus 15R does not feel like a sensible compromise anymore. Instead, it feels like a phone that is actively trying to carve out its own space. That shift also mirrors what I see as a broader change in OnePlus&rsquo; strategy. The brand seems far less interested in chasing camera bragging rights and much more focused on performance and gaming.
I mean, how often do you see a phone priced around ₹45,000 confidently talking about 165Hz gaming?
I have been using the OnePlus 15R for close to two weeks now, and one thing is clear to me. OnePlus wants this phone to be taken seriously. The younger sibling is finally stepping out of the shadows and building an identity of its own.
<h2>OnePlus 15R Review: Design and build quality</h2>
The OnePlus 15R felt solid the moment I picked it up. There is a clear sense of weight and sturdiness that you do not always get at this price. The flat glass sandwich design looks clean and simple, and more importantly, it feels premium in the hand. Nothing about the phone feels flimsy or cheaply put together.
My Mint Breeze unit weighs around 219 grams and is about 8.3mm thick, but that weight is handled really well. It feels dense, but not uncomfortable. There is a nice balance to the phone that makes it feel expensive, almost brick-like in a good way. It is not light, but it never feels awkward or top-heavy either. I could use it for long stretches without the weight becoming annoying.
The Silk Glass finish adds a lot to the overall feel. It is smooth to the touch and has a subtle shine that looks especially good on the Mint Breeze colour. The lighter shade also does a great job of hiding fingerprints, which meant the phone stayed looking clean even after hours of use. The aluminium alloy frame around the edges feels cool and sturdy, and every time I picked the phone up, it reminded me that this is a well-built device.
Where the OnePlus 15R genuinely surprised me was durability. OnePlus has packed in IP66, IP68, IP69, and even IP69K ratings here. That kind of protection is usually seen on rugged phones, not sleek ones like this. On top of that, you get Corning Gorilla Glass 7i on the front, which only adds to the confidence.
All of this together made me feel like I do not have to baby the 15R. It feels like a phone that can handle daily drops, splashes, and rough use without stressing me out, while still looking and feeling premium.
<h2>OnePlus 15R Review: Display and speakers</h2>
Living with the OnePlus 15R, it did not take long for the display to show me what this phone is really about. The 6.8-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel looks excellent in day-to-day use. Even with a screen this large, I never once felt like sharpness was an issue. Text looks crisp, UI elements stay clean, and videos have that dense, high-quality look you expect from a good AMOLED display.
Colours are punchy without going overboard, which I appreciated. Nothing looks unnaturally saturated. HDR10+ support also makes a clear difference when I am streaming content on Netflix or watching YouTube videos. Highlights pop more, darker scenes hold detail better, and overall, it just feels like a screen meant for long viewing sessions.
The headline feature here, at least for me, is the 165Hz refresh rate. Now, to be clear, you do not get 165Hz everywhere. Regular usage like scrolling and app switching is capped at 120Hz. But once you jump into supported games, the difference is obvious straight away.&nbsp;
Animations feel noticeably smoother, touch response feels faster, and the display really leans into the 15R&rsquo;s gaming-first identity. Brightness is another strong point. With peak brightness going up to around 1800 nits (HBM), I had no issues using the phone outdoors, and HDR content looks bright and impactful.
That said, this is an LTPS panel and not LTPO. Personally, I would have liked to see LTPO here, especially since the 15R is being pitched as a serious flagship alternative. Adaptive refresh rates would have made the experience feel more complete and efficient.
One area where the 15R genuinely impressed me is the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor. It is placed exactly where my thumb naturally rests and works incredibly fast. Even with slightly wet or dirty fingers, it unlocked reliably, and it feels more secure than the usual optical sensors.
The stereo speakers get very loud and are clear enough for videos and casual gaming. However, they lack depth and can sound a bit tinny at higher volumes. They are good, but not standout.
<h2>OnePlus 15R Review: Performance &amp; Gaming</h2>
Performance is where OnePlus has decided to go all in this year. This feels like the R series doing what it has always done best, but with a much sharper focus. The phone is powered by Qualcomm&rsquo;s Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which sits just below the absolute top-tier chip. In real-world use though, it already feels properly flagship-grade to me.
Day-to-day performance is effortless. Apps open instantly, multitasking feels smooth, and I never ran into random stutters or slowdowns. Everything feels fast and consistent, whether I am jumping between apps, scrolling through social media, or using the camera. It is the kind of smoothness that fades into the background because nothing ever feels like it is holding you back.
Things get even more impressive once I started pushing the phone harder. The combination of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and UFS 4.1 storage really shows its strength during heavier tasks. You might not notice a big difference during casual use, but under load, the 15R stays just as responsive and calm. Exporting large video files, downloading big games with huge assets, and transferring long 4K clips all felt quick and hassle-free.
In benchmarks, the numbers line up with that experience. My unit scored around 2.92 million on AnTuTu, which is exactly where a phone in this class should be. On Geekbench, I saw a single-core score of 2862 and a multi-core score of 9531, showing strong CPU performance for both short bursts and sustained workloads. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test, the phone held around 72 percent stability, which translated into reliable performance during longer gaming sessions.
OnePlus has also added some smart supporting hardware this time. There is a dedicated Touch Response Chip, and it genuinely makes a difference. Touch inputs feel quicker and more precise, especially while gaming. The new G2 Wi-Fi chip also helps with network stability, and during my testing, online games and high-quality streams felt consistently stable.
Gaming is clearly a priority on the 15R. With support for up to 165Hz in select titles and a large vapour chamber paired with aerogel insulation and graphite layers, the phone manages heat well even during long sessions. It feels fast, stable, and built to keep up.
<h2>OnePlus 15R Review: Software, UI and AI</h2>
The OnePlus 15R runs OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16, and from the moment I started using it, the software felt like a strong point. OxygenOS continues to be one of my favourite Android skins, mainly because it keeps things clean without feeling boring. Animations are smooth, transitions feel fluid, and the overall UI never feels cluttered or overwhelming.
What I really appreciate is how OnePlus handles customisation. There is a lot you can tweak here, from icons and animations to layouts and system behaviour, but it never feels like too much.&nbsp;
You can personalise the phone to your liking while the core experience stays simple and easy to understand. Day to day, everything feels fast, consistent, and predictable, which honestly matters more than flashy features.
AI is clearly a bigger focus this year, but thankfully it does not feel shoved in your face. The standout for me is Plus Mind. It is one of those rare AI features that actually fits into regular use instead of feeling like a demo feature added for marketing slides. I found myself using it naturally, which is usually a good sign that something has been done right. It feels helpful without being intrusive, and that balance is not easy to get right.
Long-term support is another big win for the OnePlus 15R. OnePlus is promising four Android version updates along with six years of security patches. That is reassuring, especially if you plan to hold on to your phone for a few years. Starting out on OxygenOS 16 also gives it a longer update runway, which adds to the overall value.
Taken as a whole, the software experience on the OnePlus 15R feels mature, polished, and well thought out. It is fast, clean, and backed by solid update support, which makes it easy to live with every single day.
<h2>OnePlus 15R Review: Cameras</h2>
The camera setup on the OnePlus 15R is where I could most clearly see OnePlus changing its priorities. This phone is using the new DetailMax Engine, which is the brand&rsquo;s updated image pipeline. I have already seen this system perform really well on the OnePlus 15, so on paper, it is not a weak foundation at all. But once I started using the 15R cameras regularly, it became clear to me that something important from the older R-series formula is missing.
Starting with the main camera, daylight performance is mostly dependable. Photos generally look clean, with decent detail and colours that stay fairly natural. That said, I did notice a tendency to underexpose shots, especially in scenes with tricky lighting where highlights and shadows are fighting for attention. It is not a dealbreaker by any means, but it does mean I often had to tap and adjust exposure to get the shot I wanted.
Low-light performance, surprisingly, is one of the stronger parts of this setup. The main sensor holds up well once the lights go down. Images look controlled, noise is kept in check, and the processing does not go overboard. It is not class-leading, but it is reliable enough that I felt comfortable pulling the phone out at night.
The limitations become obvious as soon as you move beyond the main camera. The ultrawide is easily the weakest link here. The 8MP sensor delivers acceptable colours in good lighting, but detail is soft and low-light performance drops off quickly. It is fine for the occasional wide shot, but it is not something I found myself trusting or using often.
Zoom performance is another area where compromises show. At 2X, the phone simply crops into the main sensor, and detail falls apart faster than I would like. Tighter framing feels unreliable, especially when compared to older R-series phones.
This is where the biggest downgrade becomes clear. The OnePlus 15R switches to a dual-camera setup and drops the dedicated 50MP telephoto lens that the OnePlus 13R had. That missing lens is felt immediately. Portraits and zoomed shots lack the flexibility and consistency that I was used to from previous R-series devices. Portrait mode itself is hit or miss. When it works, the background blur looks nice, but edge detection can be inconsistent.
Selfies are a bright spot. The 32MP front camera handles skin tones and textures well, and portrait selfies, in particular, look pleasing. Video performance is more mixed. Shooting 4K at 120fps sounds great on paper, but colours and stabilisation feel like they need more tuning.
Overall, the cameras on the OnePlus 15R are competent and functional, but they are not exciting. They get the job done, but they are clearly not the reason to buy this phone.
<h2>OnePlus 15R Review: Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Battery life is easily one of the OnePlus 15R&rsquo;s biggest strengths, and honestly, one of its cleanest wins. With a massive 7400mAh battery, it just keeps going. In fact, this is the biggest battery OnePlus has ever put into one of its phones.
During my testing, I comfortably got two full days of use without any stress, and this was with genuinely heavy usage. That included running benchmarks, shooting plenty of camera samples, watching videos, gaming, and handling everyday tasks. Even with all of that, the battery drain stayed steady and predictable, with no sudden drops or surprises.
Efficiency plays a big role here. The newer chipset clearly helps, because despite the large display and high refresh rate, the phone never felt power-hungry. Based on my experience, I am confident that with lighter usage, getting close to three days on a single charge is very realistic.
Charging speeds are solid too. The 15R supports 80W fast charging and, despite the huge battery, it goes from empty to full in under an hour and fifteen minutes. That feels like a fair trade-off for this level of endurance.
<h2>Verdict: Is the OnePlus 15R worth your money?&nbsp;</h2>
After using the OnePlus 15R for nearly two weeks, one thing stood out very quickly. This phone is no longer playing the role of the safe, default R-series option. It feels confident about what it wants to be, and that confidence shows in everyday use.
OnePlus has clearly prioritised performance, gaming, durability, and battery life this time, and those choices pay off. The display works brilliantly for both streaming and high-refresh-rate gaming, performance remains smooth and dependable under load, and the battery life is genuinely exceptional. It is the kind of phone you stop worrying about once you start using it.
Where the 15R stumbles is the camera setup. The absence of a dedicated telephoto lens is noticeable, and while the cameras are consistent and usable, they lack flexibility and excitement. If photography is your main focus, this would not be my personal recommendation.
However, if you want a tough phone with excellent endurance and reliable performance that encourages heavy use, the OnePlus 15R delivers exactly that.

The Poco C85 delivers a 120Hz display, massive 6,000mAh battery, IP64 rating, and refreshed design. Performance and software lag, but it’s a solid budget option under ₹15,000.

Poco C85 Review: Big Display, Long Battery, Mixed Performance

Poco C85 packs a big 120Hz display, long battery life, and a refreshed design at a budget price — but performance and software compromises remain.

The Poco C85 offers a smooth 120Hz display, long-lasting 6,000mAh battery, and refreshed design at a budget price. Performance and software need polish, but for under ₹15,000, it delivers solid everyday value.

Poco&rsquo;s C series is known for offering some pretty powerful and specs in the budget category, and the Poco C85 largely sticks to that formula. It has a refreshed design over the previous generations a slightly larger display, a better IP rating, and a noticeably bigger battery. I&rsquo;ve been using the purple variant for the past three days, and while the formula feels familiar, a few surprises along the way genuinely caught me off guard, especially when you consider that the C85 starts at ₹11,999. Here&rsquo;s what I made of the C85.
<h2>Design: A tidier look&nbsp;</h2>
Poco C85 gets a proper grooming this year with a new, refreshed design. The camera bump has been changed from a circular camera module to a square camera module, tucked into the top left corner. The protruding camera is so subtle that the phone won&rsquo;t wobble. Another impressive thing is the dual-toned design on the rear, with the bold Poco branding, which gives it some personality for sure.&nbsp;
It comes in 3 color variants: green, black, and purple, the variant that we tested. Despite its 205g weight, carrying the phone is easy and doesn&rsquo;t feel heavy at all. And, the 7.99mm frame sits comfortably in the hand. Since the frames are flat, they give a good grip and a good in-hand feel as well. The only downside I feel is the back made of plastic, but because it&rsquo;s a budget phone, that&rsquo;s totally acceptable.&nbsp;
You get basics right: a USB Type-C 2.0 charging port, a 3.5mm jack, and a nano speaker grille. And speaking of speakers, you get mono speakers on the C85. This would have been fine, but competitors like Moto G57 Power comes with stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, so Poco could step up in this arena. There is a power button towards the right side, along with volume rockers, and a hybrid nano SIM tray along with microSD card support.&nbsp;
<h2>Display: Bigger and better&nbsp;</h2>
The Poco C85 gets a 6.9-inch HD+ IPS LCD, slightly bigger than the 6.8-inch display of the Poco C75. The 120Hz refresh rate is the real star of the show, which makes navigating the UI pretty smooth, mostly switching between 60Hz and 120Hz.&nbsp;
Colour reproduction is decent, sharp enough for everyday viewing, though not calibrated for accuracy. Netflix lacks HDR support, although YouTube streams at 1080p without issue. But, overall, you will enjoy watching content on the phone despite the IPS LCD panel. It is a fairly lit display that features a 660-nit typical and 810 HBM, upgraded from the 450-nit typical and 600-nit HBM on C75.&nbsp;
Moving on to the protection, you get an IP64 rating, which means it&rsquo;s pretty sorted against water droplets and dust. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor is snappy, and the haptics are surprisingly refined for this segment.
<h2>Performance &amp; Software Experience: Scope for improvement&nbsp;</h2>
Under the hood, Poco C85 packs a Mediatek Helio G81 Ultra processor with three RAM options: 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB RAM. For storage, there are 128GB and 256GB.&nbsp; The chipset isn&rsquo;t meant for gaming, and benchmarks echo that. It scored 574,456 on AnTuTu, with Geekbench posting 731 (single-core) and 1,972 (multi-core). These numbers may not be that impressive, but for the price range, they are pretty consistent.&nbsp;
In real-world usage, I played Genshin Impact for 30 minutes, thrice on the phone; it was not as smooth as I would expect, but it wasn&rsquo;t bad either, and there were no heating issues as such, and no lags either, which is what people usually complain about. The only issue I faced was that the app loading was slightly slower than I expected. However, it is not a gaming phone, so I would give this a pass.&nbsp;
Moving on to the software, the Poco C85 ships with HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15. Personally, I am not a HyperOS fan; it looks outdated and slightly cluttered because of the UI. However, you can choose between the app drawer and the classic option and change fonts, icons, etc, to mitigate that to an extent. There is bloatware, but it can be uninstalled. But you also get some useful preinstalled apps like Gemini and Netflix, so I don&rsquo;t mind that. Overall though, the software experience can be definitely be improved.&nbsp; You get 2 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates which is great for the price segment.&nbsp;
<h2>Battery: Easily a one-day powerhouse&nbsp;</h2>
The Poco C85 packs a massive 6000mAh battery with 33W charging support; there is also 10W PD charging support. Talking about the usage, I have used the phone rigorously for 2 days, and the battery lasts more than a day on a single charge easily.&nbsp; Coming to the charging speed, Poco claims that it can charge 51 per cent in 30 minutes, and it&rsquo;s true. I put the phone on charge, and it was pulled up to 53 per cent charged in 30-35 minutes. To get fully charged, it took around 2 hours. All in all, the battery works pretty decently and lasts you for a good enough time on a single charge.&nbsp;
<h2>Cameras: Definitely Instagram-worthy&nbsp;</h2>
There is a 50MP camera on the rear and another camera on the rear. You also get an 8MP selfie camera at the front. The daylight pictures from the main camera are pretty good for the price range. The pictures are bright, detailed, and Instagram-worthy.&nbsp; The skin tones are slightly saturated, and it's the same issue I faced with both portraits and selfies. Talking of portraits: you get natural-looking, detailed portraits; detection is okayish. The separation between foreground and background is decent too. The same goes for selfies as well; the skin tone is saturated, and it looks washed off. Low-light pictures are fine, too, except for the visible noise around the light in the pictures.&nbsp;
For video, you can shoot on 1080p at 30FPS from both front and back camera.&nbsp; But this, being an entry-level budget phone, obviously doesn&rsquo;t match up to flagships or mid-rangers for that matter. Having said that, for the price, you&rsquo;re getting a pretty decent set of optics that gets the job done.&nbsp;
<h2>Verdict: A decent budget buy with a few caveats</h2>
The Poco C85 delivers good value under a 15k price tag. You get a bright 120Hz display, solid battery life, IP64 resistance, reliable connectivity, and a design refresh that genuinely makes a difference. It even handles casual photography decently. OS updates and security updates offered are decent too. Where it needs work is performance and software refinement. The chipset is pretty serviceable for its segment, but HyperOS still feels behind the curve. There&rsquo;s also no NFC&mdash;a feature increasingly common in this segment. If you&rsquo;re on a strict budget, the Poco C85 is absolutely worth considering, especially as a meaningful upgrade over the C75. But if you can stretch your spending a bit, the Motorola G57 Power remains a stronger all-rounder for roughly the same price bracket.&nbsp;

Lenovo Legion 27Q10 packs a 240Hz QHD IPS panel, fast response times and strong colours. Is this the best gaming monitor under ₹20,000?

Lenovo Legion 27Q10 Review: Hardcore Gaming Under ₹20K

The Lenovo Legion 27Q10 delivers a rare mix of 240Hz QHD gaming, strong colours and clean design under ₹20,000, making it one of the most complete gaming monitors you can buy.

Budget gaming monitors are a dime a dozen right now, but in my book, most of them are not real gaming monitors. They usually top out at 165Hz or 180Hz, and even when they do hit those numbers, the compromises show up instantly. Poor response times, washed-out colours, inconsistent overdrive tuning. On paper they look fast, but in actual gameplay, they fall apart.
The Lenovo Legion 27Q10 does not follow that script.
Ignore the convoluted naming for a second, because what Lenovo has done here is genuinely impressive. The Legion 27Q10 is one of the most hardcore gaming monitors you can buy for under ₹20,000, and yet it looks stealthy enough to blend into an office setup without drawing attention. No RGB. No flashy curves. Just raw performance packed into a surprisingly understated design.
I have been using the 27Q10 as my primary monitor for gaming, work, and media consumption, and this is one of those rare budget products that feels far more expensive than it actually is.
<h2>Design and setup: understated, functional, and refreshingly mature</h2>
Setting up the Legion 27Q10 is a straightforward, no-nonsense process. Inside the box, you get a large hexagonal base, a VESA-mounted arm, a full-size DisplayPort cable, and the power cable. Everything you need to get started is included, and Lenovo deserves credit for not cutting corners here.
The arm attaches to the monitor using four thumb screws that are included in the box. It is quick, tool-free, and sturdy. More importantly, because the monitor uses a standard VESA mount, you are not forced to use Lenovo&rsquo;s stand at all. If you already have a monitor arm or want to free up desk space, you can mount it however you like without any fuss.
Design-wise, there is something brutally simple about the Legion 27Q10 that I genuinely love. This is a flat panel with a flat design through and through. No curves on the front. No curves on the back. Despite being a gaming monitor, it would not look out of place on an office desk or a creator workstation.
This is not a thin monitor by any stretch, and Lenovo is not trying to pretend that it is. Around the back, there is a protruding strip that houses the ports, ventilation cut-outs, and mounting points. It gives the monitor a slightly industrial feel, but nothing excessive.
Even though the monitor clearly belongs to Lenovo&rsquo;s Legion gaming lineup, there is zero RGB lighting here. Personally, I prefer it this way. It keeps the setup clean and avoids that overdone gamer aesthetic that a lot of monitors in this category lean into.
The stand itself has a neat cable-routing cut-out that makes managing cables much easier. It is a small detail, but one that makes a real difference once everything is connected.
In terms of ergonomics, the Legion 27Q10 is excellent. You get tilt, swivel, height adjustment, and even pivot support. You can rotate the monitor vertically if you want to use it for coding, reading, or productivity workflows, which is a nice bonus at this price.
From the front, the monitor looks mostly edge-less, although there is a thicker bottom chin that houses the Legion logo. Branding elsewhere is minimal, which again fits the understated theme. The side and top bezels are thin, though not invisible. That is pretty standard for gaming monitors in this segment.
I do wish Lenovo had gone with a joystick-style control for the OSD instead of physical buttons at the bottom right. The buttons are clearly labelled, but navigating menus with them is still slower than it needs to be.
Thankfully, Lenovo&rsquo;s Artery software exists. Once installed, you can bypass the on-screen display entirely and control settings directly from your PC. It is intuitive, functional, and genuinely useful.
Overall, the Legion 27Q10 scores very well in design. It is minimal, practical, and well-thought-out, especially if you want something that does not scream &ldquo;gaming monitor&rdquo; the moment you walk into the room.
<h2>Ports and connectivity: functional, but conservative</h2>
Port selection on the Legion 27Q10 is functional but conservative. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, a three-pronged power connector, a 3.5mm audio out, and a Kensington lock slot.
If you want to unlock the monitor&rsquo;s full potential, meaning the full 240Hz refresh rate and the fastest response times, you should absolutely connect it using DisplayPort. That is the only way to get everything this panel has to offer.
If you are planning to use the monitor with a Mac, PlayStation 5, or Xbox, the HDMI ports work just fine, but you will be limited to 144Hz. That is still perfectly usable, but it is worth keeping in mind.
For the price, the port selection is acceptable, but I do wish Lenovo had pushed things a little further. A USB-C port with DisplayPort support or even a couple of USB-A ports for accessories would have elevated this monitor significantly.
There are also no built-in speakers here, which is not surprising but still worth noting. You will need external speakers or headphones.
<h2>Display and panel performance: where the 27Q10 truly shines</h2>
This is where the Legion 27Q10 really starts to shine.
You are looking at a 27-inch IPS LCD panel with a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440. For this screen size, that resolution is spot on. Everything looks sharp, crisp, and well-defined.
Text clarity is excellent, whether you are reading articles, writing documents, or coding. Media consumption looks great, and games benefit massively from the extra sharpness over Full HD.
Lenovo rates the panel at a typical brightness of 300 nits, which is slightly higher than what many monitors in this price range offer. I did not test peak brightness formally, but in a well-lit room, the screen had no trouble staying bright and legible.
The headline feature here is the 240Hz refresh rate, which makes a massive difference in fast-paced competitive games like CS:GO and Valorant. Motion looks fluid, tracking feels more precise, and once you get used to it, it is very hard to go back to lower refresh rates.
The monitor supports AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA Adaptive Sync, which helps eliminate screen tearing and stutter when paired with a compatible GPU.
Lenovo also includes multiple MPRT modes that can push the pixel response time down to as low as 0.5ms. For a monitor under ₹20,000, that is seriously impressive. Ghosting is minimal, motion clarity is strong, and fast transitions hold up extremely well.
Colour performance is another area where the Legion 27Q10 overdelivers. Even though this is an 8-bit panel, it covers 99 percent of the sRGB colour space and around 90 percent of DCI-P3. For a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor, that is borderline ridiculous.
Out of the box, the monitor comes factory calibrated, and Lenovo claims a colour accuracy of Delta E less than 2. In practical terms, this means you can start using it for colour-sensitive tasks like photo or video editing without immediately needing calibration.
Viewing angles are excellent, thanks to the IPS panel. Lenovo rates them at 178 degrees, and in real-world use, colours and contrast remain consistent even when viewing the screen from the side. This makes the monitor great for shared gaming sessions or couch gaming with a console.
<h2>Verdict: a benchmark for budget gaming monitors</h2>
At ₹19,999, the Lenovo Legion 27Q10 is an incredibly compelling purchase.
It quietly proves that budget gaming monitors do not have to feel compromised. You get a sharp QHD IPS panel, a genuinely useful 240Hz refresh rate, fast response times, and colour performance that comfortably punches above its price bracket.
Yes, there are alternatives from Samsung and LG at similar prices, but they all make compromises somewhere. Some settle for lower refresh rates. Others sacrifice colour performance. None of them hit the same balance that the Legion 27Q10 manages to achieve.
What really stands out is how well-rounded the package feels. This is not a monitor built purely to look good on a spec sheet. It works just as well for competitive gaming as it does for everyday productivity and light content creation.
The minimal design, excellent ergonomics, and VESA flexibility make it easy to fit into almost any setup. The port selection could have been more ambitious, and the lack of USB connectivity or speakers does sting a little, but these are not deal-breakers.
If you want a serious gaming monitor under ₹20,000 that does not scream gamer and still delivers top-tier fundamentals where it actually matters, the Lenovo Legion 27Q10 is easily one of the strongest value-for-money options in its class.

Redmi 15C 5G review after real-world use. A 6.9-inch 120Hz display, 6,000mAh battery, Dimensity 6300 performance, camera results, software experience, and whether it’s worth buying at ₹12,499.

Redmi 15C 5G Review: Big Display, Massive Battery, Sensible Budget Choice

Our in-depth Redmi 15C 5G review covers design, display quality, real-life performance, camera results, battery life, and how it compares with rivals like Poco, Samsung, and iQOO in the ₹15K segment.

The Redmi 15C 5G focuses on the basics with a huge 6.9-inch 120Hz display, strong 6,000mAh battery life, and reliable everyday performance. It&rsquo;s best suited for casual users, students, and long content consumption.

As 2025 winds down, the budget smartphone space feels familiar. Nothing major is changing anymore, and most brands seem content with polishing what they already have.&nbsp;
Xiaomi&rsquo;s new Redmi 15C 5G enters this exact kind of market, not trying to reinvent anything, just trying to get the basics right for people who don&rsquo;t want to spend too much.
The phone&rsquo;s priorities are clear the moment you look at its spec sheet. There&rsquo;s a big 6.9-inch 120Hz display and a 6,000mAh battery. That makes it pretty much clear as to who it&rsquo;s meant for.
If your day is filled with YouTube, online classes, casual gaming or just long scrolling sessions, this is the crowd Xiaomi is speaking to. But, of course we all know specs on paper don&rsquo;t always match real life. A phone can look great on the company's website and still feel a bit off when you actually start using it.
&nbsp;And with a starting price of ₹12,499, the Redmi 15C is stepping straight into a segment crowded with options that include the Poco C85, Samsung Galaxy M17, Oppo K13x and iQOO Z10x.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s why I used the Redmi 15C 5G in normal, everyday situations to see what it&rsquo;s actually like and whether it makes more sense than what the competition is offering. In this review, let&rsquo;s go &nbsp;over everything I noticed from display, design, speed, processor to the cameras, the battery and much more.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
The Redmi 15C 5G comes in straightforward packaging that <a title="Xiaomi 15 Review &amp; Comparison with iPhone 16e!" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/xiaomi-15-review-comparison-with-iphone-16e-1743076579187" target="_blank">Xiaomi</a> has stuck to for years. It&rsquo;s nothing flashy, just a clean white box with everything you actually need. Inside, you&rsquo;ll find the phone itself, a 33W charger worth ₹1,999, USB-A to Type-C cable, the SIM ejector tool, the usual paperwork and, thankfully, a clear silicone case that does the job till you pick out something better.
My review unit is the 6GB/128GB model in the Dusk Purple finish, and this colour deserves a mention. Budget phones often lean into loud gradients to stand out, but this was different. It has a soft, almost evening-sky tone with a matte surface that doesn&rsquo;t turn into a smudge magnet the moment you touch it. It looks subtle and is a decent looking colour for a phone in this price bracket.
Even with the big 6,000mAh battery, the phone doesn&rsquo;t feel as heavy as the specs suggest. At around 211 grams, it&rsquo;s not light, but the weight is well balanced and the 8.2mm thickness stops it from feeling bulky. The flat plastic frame and the square-rounded camera module keep things clean and modern. It doesn&rsquo;t shout for attention, but it looks neat and feels more expensive than it actually is
You get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It&rsquo;s not as seamless as an in-display one, but it&rsquo;s quick and reliable. I&rsquo;m also really glad to see a proper 3.5mm headphone jack, plus an IP64 rating for basic dust protection and the occasional splash. The SIM tray gives you three slots too, two for SIM cards and one dedicated slot for a microSD card..
The phone also comes in two other colour variations, Moonlight Blue and Midnight Black, both of which are quite understated. Regardless of the colour you pick, the 15C feels reassuringly solid in hand, none of that hollow, plasticky flex you sometimes get with budget devices. It&rsquo;s a simple design, sure, but it&rsquo;s done with care.
<h2>Display</h2>
The moment you pick Redmi 15C 5G up, that 6.9-inch display is the only thing your eyes notice. It&rsquo;s almost funny how big it feels at first, especially if you&rsquo;re coming from something remotely compact. For watching videos or just scrolling through an endless social feed late at night, it&rsquo;s actually great. The sheer size pulls you in before you even think about the specs.
What helps the experience a lot is the 120Hz refresh rate. On a phone in this price range, that&rsquo;s not something expected. The smoothness really shows the moment you start swiping around and it hides the fact that the processor isn&rsquo;t exactly a powerhouse.&nbsp;
But, of course, the big display also exposes the compromises. Xiaomi is still using a 720p IPS LCD panel, and stretching that across so much real estate means you lose out on crispness. Not unusable by any means, but if you&rsquo;re picky about screen sharpness, you&rsquo;ll notice it right away. For casual YouTube binges or reels, though, the lower resolution is much less obvious. Plus, that waterdrop notch feels old-school, the bezels are chunky, and the chin is hard to ignore.
Colour-wise, it looks decent indoors. Bright enough, reasonably punchy, nothing that makes you stop and stare but nothing offensive either. Outside is where the screen starts to struggle. Even though the specs claim around 810 nits, direct sunlight still wins. I found myself tipping the phone around or squinting just to read a message, something you&rsquo;ll want to keep in mind if you&rsquo;re outdoors a lot.
When you put everything together, this is very much a &ldquo;big screen first, everything else later&rdquo; kind of setup. But, if your priority is to watch content or playing light games or just want as much screen as possible for your money, the 15C makes sense. If you care more about text sharpness or outdoor visibility, it&rsquo;s probably not going to impress you.
<h2>Cameras</h2>
The Redmi 15C 5G&rsquo;s camera setup is pretty much the story of most budget phones today: there&rsquo;s one camera that actually matters, and then there&rsquo;s another one sitting beside it mostly for looks.&nbsp;
Xiaomi lists it as a dual-camera system, but once you start shooting with it, you realise you&rsquo;re essentially using a single 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor. The smaller secondary lens is just a depth sensor.&nbsp;
When the lighting is good, though, the main camera does a pretty decent job. The daylight samples turned out better than I expected from a phone at this price. The wide f/1.8 aperture helps create a light natural blur as well. In one of the plant shots, the leaves stay sharp while the background softens in a surprisingly pleasing way.
&nbsp;Xiaomi&rsquo;s colour tuning leans towards slightly boosted and warmer, so greens and yellows look more lively than real life, but honestly, it works. It gives the pictures a bit of pop without needing edits.
The Wolverine figurine photo, for example, showed tiny bits of dust on the armour, and the close-up of the coffee beans had that gritty detail you don&rsquo;t usually get from cheaper sensors.
Portrait mode is where that &ldquo;extra&rdquo; depth sensor actually contributes. The separation around the subject&rsquo;s shoulders and hair, especially in the outdoor shots with the brown sweatshirt didn&rsquo;t look sloppy or cut-out-ish. It&rsquo;s not flawless, but unless you&rsquo;re zooming in and hunting for errors, it looks clean enough for Instagram posts or profile photos.
Zooming, however, is where reality catches up. There&rsquo;s no optical zoom at all. Everything after 1x is purely digital cropping. The 2x shot of the pigeon was still okay, but beyond that, the quality nosedives. The 10x metro station photo is a perfect example. It just turns into mush, almost like the phone applied a watercolour filter without asking.
The 8MP selfie camera is serviceable. Indoors, it handled skin tones decently and didn&rsquo;t go overboard with smoothing, which is nice. In uneven lighting, though, especially with a bright window, it struggles. The exposure jumps around, trying to balance everything, and sometimes leaves your face looking washed out.
Video recording is capped at 1080p 30fps, and here&rsquo;s where the budget constraints are most obvious. With no OIS, every small movement gets recorded. Even walking slowly produces jittery footage. Electronic stabilisation does try to help, but it can only do so much when the underlying hardware isn&rsquo;t built for steady capture.
So yes, the Redmi 15C&rsquo;s camera experience is exactly what it claims to be: a very straightforward, no-effects, no-fuss point-and-shoot setup. It&rsquo;s great for daytime snaps, portraits look nicer than expected, and colours are tuned for quick sharing. Just don&rsquo;t expect it to magically handle zoom, night scenes, and stable video,
<h2>Performance</h2>
The Redmi 15C 5G runs on MediaTek&rsquo;s Dimensity 6300, which has quietly become the &ldquo;default&rdquo; chip for most entry-level 5G phones these days. It&rsquo;s not a processor you buy for bragging rights, but for everyday stuff and it does the job without fuss.
I went through the usual routine, messaging, Instagram, some multitasking with YouTube in the background, and honestly, nothing felt slow enough to draw attention to the hardware.
The benchmark numbers were better than expected. AnTuTu came back with around 578042, which is noticeably better than what I&rsquo;ve seen on other 6300-powered phones. Of course, numbers only tell you how the phone behaves when everything is ideal. The moment you try pushing it with heavier games, the budget roots start showing.
The UI feels smooth because of the 120Hz refresh rate, but games themselves don&rsquo;t really use that. Most titles I tried ran at 60FPS or less, and that&rsquo;s fine for casual games.&nbsp;
But fire up BGMI or Call of Duty Mobile and the cracks start to show. The opening match is fine, but stick around longer and performance starts wobbling. Frames dip, inputs feel a step behind, and those micro-stutters always seem to arrive at the worst possible moment.
Heat also becomes part of the conversation. After about 20 minutes of back-to-back gameplay, the area around the camera module developed noticeable warmth.
Could Xiaomi have gone with a more powerful chip? Sure. But that would have meant giving something else up. And when you look at who this phone is really built for, the choice adds up. If you&rsquo;re a student, a casual gamer, or someone who just wants a big screen for streaming without spending much, the Dimensity 6300 gets the job done. Push it harder, though, and power users will find its ceiling pretty fast
<h2>UI/UX &amp; Software</h2>
The Redmi 15C 5G runs <a title="OxygenOS 16 Review: OnePlus sets the benchmark on how smartphones should do AI" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/oxygenos-16-review-oneplus-sets-the-benchmark-on-how-smartphones-should-do-ai-1760628833515" target="_blank">Android</a> 15 with Xiaomi&rsquo;s HyperOS 2, and on paper, the update promise is pretty much decent for the price. You also get two years of Android updates and four years of security patches.
In daily use, HyperOS 2 feels smooth and responsive. Animations are fluid, navigation is quick, and the 120Hz display helps the interface feel faster than the hardware suggests. Basic tasks like switching apps, pulling down notifications, or launching the camera happen without friction.
That said, this is still Xiaomi software and a budget phone. So, yes bloatwares come complimentary. You'll find tons of unnecessary preinstalled apps that you&rsquo;re never gonna use, &nbsp;and occasional ads in system areas, depending on your region. Well, most of it can be disabled, but it does take a few minutes of cleanup. But, once that&rsquo;s done, the user experience is stable, feature-rich, and works fine for everyday users, even if it&rsquo;s not the cleanest Android skin around.
<h2>Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Battery life is where the phone really starts to make sense as a daily phone.The 6,000mAh unit sounds impressive on paper, but more importantly, it delivers in actual use. While using the phone over several days, the battery drain never felt aggressive. Even on heavier days with constant scrolling and YouTube playing in the background, I&rsquo;d still end the day with enough charge left to not worry about plugging it in immediately.&nbsp;
Xiaomi claims about two days of backup on a single charge and honestly on lighter days, getting close to that felt very realistic. Even with heavier use like gaming you can expect at least a full day of backup.
Charging speeds are sensible rather than flashy. Xiaomi includes a 33W charger, and in my testing, a full charge from 0 to 100% took nearly about 67 minutes. That&rsquo;s perfectly acceptable for a battery this large. The initial charging phase is noticeably quicker too, which lines up with Xiaomi&rsquo;s claim of 50% in under 30 minutes.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should you buy it?</h2>
After using the Redmi 15C 5G for a couple of weeks, it becomes fairly obvious what Xiaomi was aiming for here. This phone isn&rsquo;t chasing spec-sheet bragging rights or benchmark trophies. It&rsquo;s built to be steady and predictable.
For the money, the pairing of a massive 6.9-inch display and a 6,000mAh battery feels spot on. It suits days filled with videos, online classes, reading, or endless scrolling without constantly worrying about the charger.
&nbsp;Everyday performance is perfectly serviceable, the software feels calmer once you clear out some of the bloat, and the camera holds its own in good lighting. That makes it an easy recommendation for students, casual users, or as a gift for parents or grandparents who want something simple and long-lasting.
If gaming, heavy multitasking, or camera-first content is high on your list, this isn&rsquo;t the phone to buy. But if what you care about is battery life, a big screen, and hassle-free daily use, the Redmi 15C sticks to its brief and delivers.

Samsung Galaxy M17 delivers an AMOLED display, 50MP OIS camera, all-day battery, and Android 15 with six years of updates. A reliable budget phone under ₹15,000 focused on durability, smooth performance and long-term value.

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G Review: Best Budget Samsung Phone Under ₹15,000?

Samsung Galaxy M17 delivers an AMOLED display, 50MP OIS camera, all-day battery, and Android 15 with six years of updates. A reliable budget phone under ₹15,000 focused on durability, smooth performance and long-term value.

Samsung&rsquo;s latest entry in the sub-₹15,000 category, the Galaxy M17 5G, lands at a starting price of ₹12,999, a bracket that&rsquo;s increasingly cutthroat in India.
What sets the phone apart on paper are a couple of surprisingly premium touches: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection, OIS on the primary camera, and Samsung&rsquo;s bold commitment of up to six years of software support.
In a market dominated by aggressive spec-pushers such as Vivo, Poco, Infinix, and Motorola, Samsung&rsquo;s approach feels noticeably different.
Instead of chasing benchmark glory, the M17 leans into durability, stability, and long-term updates, traits usually reserved for higher-tier Galaxy hardware.
Underneath that polished positioning sits the familiar Exynos 1330. It is not new by any definition and has already appeared in multiple budget Samsung launches.
Considering how tightly contested the ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 slab is, this raises immediate questions around performance sustainability, thermals, and gaming headroom.
So, where does the Galaxy M17 5G stand in actual day-to-day use? Does the long update promise balance out the older silicon, and can Samsung keep up with rivals pushing fresher hardware at similar prices?
We spent time testing the M17 to find out. Here&rsquo;s how Samsung&rsquo;s latest budget Galaxy holds up in the real world and whether it earns a recommendation.&nbsp;
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Design: Practical Build With Premium Protection</h2>
Samsung does not chase theatrics with the Galaxy M17&rsquo;s design. The phone arrives in a simple plastic build that focuses on practicality and comfort.
At 192g and 7.5mm thick, it sits on the lighter and slimmer end of the budget segment, which immediately helps with day-long usability.
The rounded frame makes the device easy to grip, and the softened corners prevent any pressure points during extended use.
The back panel stays understated, with the pill-shaped camera housing being the only element that stands out. It creates a slight wobble when the phone is placed face up on a desk, although the rest of the surface remains clean with minimal smudging.
Samsung keeps the layout familiar. The volume buttons feel reassuringly tactile, and the power key houses a responsive fingerprint reader that registers inputs without hesitation.
What truly elevates the hardware story is not the finish or the weight but the protection on the front. The Galaxy M17 uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, a material typically seen on far more expensive devices in Samsung&rsquo;s lineup.&nbsp;
After several weeks of daily use without a case, the display has managed to stay free of scratches. The frame and rear panel have also held up well, indicating Samsung did not compromise durability even while targeting an affordable price bracket.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Display: Calm, Balanced and Easy on the Eyes</h2>
Samsung positions the 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED panel as the visual centerpiece of the Galaxy M17, and it mostly lives up to that role.
Colours stay within a natural range instead of leaning into heavy saturation, and contrast feels steady through everyday use. The tuning avoids the exaggerated pop often found in budget OLED panels, which actually helps during longer viewing sessions.
Indoor brightness is handled well, while outdoor visibility only begins to struggle under direct sunlight. For typical use such as scrolling, watching short videos or browsing streaming apps, the display focuses on clarity and comfort rather than high-impact visuals.
The panel is capped at 90Hz. It keeps the interface smooth during basic navigation, and there are no distracting stutters or frame drops. Samsung seems to prioritise efficiency and battery stability instead of chasing higher refresh numbers.
The overall structure of the display is familiar for the segment. A waterdrop notch sits at the top and a noticeable chin anchors the bottom. Neither element is surprising for this price, although both remind you that this is an M-series device.
Audio plays a small but meaningful role in the viewing experience. The single bottom speaker offers clear vocal output and maintains composure at higher volume levels. It does not aim for stereo depth, but it avoids the thin, hollow sound that some budget phones fall into.
One omission stands out. Always On Display is missing, despite the presence of an AMOLED panel. It appears to be a deliberate cost decision rather than a limitation of the hardware.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Cameras: Strong Primary Shooter, Functional Secondary Lenses</h2>
The Galaxy M17 offers a respectable camera system for the price. The 50MP primary sensor with OIS does most of the heavy lifting, supported by a 5MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro unit.&nbsp;
OIS is the standout here. It stabilises handheld shots effectively, reduces shake when capturing street scenes or moving subjects, and keeps low-light shutter drag from becoming unusable.
In daytime conditions, the main camera produces images that feel well judged. Colours stay grounded rather than leaning into saturation, and detail retention is steady across landscapes and close subjects.&nbsp;
The ultra-wide camera is serviceable but clearly secondary. It holds up in daylight with acceptable dynamic range, yet finer edges show softness and texture fading as you move toward the corners. Once lighting drops, noise becomes more obvious, and shadow areas lose control.
The macro lens remains more of a checkbox feature. It can capture close-ups with decent clarity under bright light, but focus discipline is narrow and results vary when lighting isn&rsquo;t ideal.
On the front, the 13MP selfie camera keeps things mostly neutral. Exposure is balanced, though skin tones sometimes shift warmer in indoor environments. Social-ready shots don&rsquo;t need much editing, and background separation in portrait mode is handled with reasonable accuracy for the price tier.
Video tops out at 1080p at 30fps. Stabilisation benefits directly from OIS, giving the M17 an edge in movement-heavy clips like walking shots or quick pans. Colour consistency between lenses isn&rsquo;t perfect, but the main sensor remains the preferred pick for both clarity and motion control.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Software: Long-Term Support Becomes the Story</h2>
Samsung leans heavily on software as the defining pillar of the Galaxy M17. The device ships with Android 15 running One UI 7, and the interface feels surprisingly polished for a phone in this price bracket.
Animations stay consistent, menus don&rsquo;t lag, and familiar Samsung flourishes make the experience feel more premium than the hardware suggests.
One UI 7 bundles in several features that were previously limited to higher-end Galaxy models. Circle to Search is integrated natively and works just as smoothly here, and tools like Now Bar, Voicemail shortcuts and Samsung&rsquo;s latest accessibility additions give the interface a modern feel without overwhelming users with options.
There is some preloaded bloatware at setup &mdash; a mix of partner apps and region-specific utilities &mdash; but the majority can be uninstalled. Once cleared, the interface settles into a clean, lightweight layout.
Where Samsung truly breaks from the budget norm is with its update commitment. The Galaxy M17 is promised six generations of OS upgrades and six years of security updates, a level of support usually seen only in flagship categories.
In a segment where most phones age out in two years, this is a meaningful advantage for anyone looking to keep their device long-term.
Samsung also brings a solid security stack. Knox Vault is present for hardware-level protection, and Samsung Wallet pairs neatly with the phone&rsquo;s NFC support for tap-and-pay transactions.
Features such as Voice Focus help with clearer call quality, and select Gemini-powered AI tools round out the package for those who want on-device assistance.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Performance: Steady for Daily Use, Modest for Gaming</h2>
Samsung relies on the Exynos 1330 to power the Galaxy M17, a chipset that isn&rsquo;t new but remains competent for everyday workloads. In regular use &mdash; messaging, social apps, browsing, payments, camera switching &mdash; the phone moves with enough pace to feel dependable.
App launches are predictable, multitasking is handled without drama and general responsiveness stays intact. There are occasional stutters during heavier transitions or when multiple background processes stack up, but nothing that interrupts day-to-day usability.
The chip runs cool under normal pressure, and even extended screen-on time or longer social media sessions don&rsquo;t push temperatures into uncomfortable territory.
As expected, gaming is where limits surface. Casual titles run smoothly, while graphics-heavy games need reduced settings to maintain stability. The M17 isn&rsquo;t aimed at competitive mobile gaming, but it manages light entertainment without issue.
Samsung offers configurations up to 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, which should meet the needs of most users in this segment.
A 256GB variant would have been welcome, but the hybrid SIM slot offers some flexibility. Users who need more space can add a microSD card, though doing so means giving up the second SIM.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Battery: Reliable All-Day Endurance</h2>
Battery performance is one of the Galaxy M17&rsquo;s most dependable traits. The 5,000mAh pack consistently delivers a full day of mixed use that includes calls, messaging, social apps, streaming, light gaming and camera activity.
There is usually enough charge left at night to avoid any last-minute top-ups. Even on heavier days, the phone rarely drops into low-battery panic territory.
Charging speeds are modest. The phone supports 25W wired charging, and with a PD adapter, the M17 reached around 80 percent in roughly 75 minutes. This is not particularly fast by current standards, but it is steady and does not introduce noticeable heat.
Samsung does not include a charger in the box, so users will need to rely on an existing adapter or purchase one separately.
<h2>Samsung Galaxy M17 Verdict: A Long-Term Bet That Plays to Stability</h2>
The Galaxy M17 5G is not the flashiest phone in its segment, but it delivers where it counts. The durable build, Victus protection, clean AMOLED display, reliable battery life and OIS-backed main camera give it a stronger foundation than most budget competitors.&nbsp;
Samsung&rsquo;s six-year software promise is the real differentiator and makes this device far more future-ready than anything else at this price.
The Exynos 1330 keeps daily performance smooth, although heavier gaming and demanding apps show its limits. The ultra-wide and macro cameras feel basic, and the missing Always On Display is a reminder of cost trimming.
Even with these drawbacks, the M17 succeeds as a dependable everyday phone. It prioritises stability, longevity and a polished user experience over aggressive specs.
If you want a budget device that will age well and stay consistent over the years, the Galaxy M17 is one of the strongest options available.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
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OnePlus 15R brings Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 power, a 7,400mAh battery and IP69K durability. A first look at how the R-series is changing.

OnePlus 15R first look: OnePlus redefines the R-series

<h3>The OnePlus 15R feels less like a budget favourite and more like a full-blown performance phone, with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 power, a massive battery, and flagship-grade durability.</h3>

The OnePlus 15R is finally in the house, and I&rsquo;ll be honest, this is the phone I&rsquo;ve been looking forward to testing the most. If you&rsquo;ve followed OnePlus for a while, you already know why. The R-series has always been that sweet middle ground where OnePlus packs in near-flagship hardware without making you seriously rethink your spending choices.
Over the years, it&rsquo;s almost become a pattern. The R model ends up being the phone most regular buyers gravitate towards because it delivers around 90 per cent of the flagship experience without the flagship tax. But this year, something feels different. The OnePlus 15R doesn&rsquo;t feel like it&rsquo;s just trying to be the sensible alternative anymore. Even at first glance, it&rsquo;s clear that OnePlus wants this phone to be taken seriously, not as a trimmed-down version of the OnePlus 15, but as a product with its own identity.
Before getting into how it feels to use, here&rsquo;s a quick look at what you get inside the box. The retail package includes the OnePlus 15R in Mint Breeze, an 80W SuperVOOC charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, a protective case, a SIM ejector tool, and the usual quick guide. It&rsquo;s a familiar OnePlus unboxing, but still reassuring to see the fast charger included.
<h2>Design and durability</h2>
Design-wise, the OnePlus 15R sticks to a flat-edged look, and honestly, I&rsquo;m glad it does. The Mint Breeze colour really stands out in person without looking flashy. It has a calm, premium finish that works well under different lighting. If green isn&rsquo;t your thing, there&rsquo;s a Charcoal Black option that looks more understated, and a Violet variant for those who want something more expressive.
The phone has a smooth matte back, a solid metal frame, and a square camera module with two lenses sitting neatly inside. It&rsquo;s clean, symmetrical, and doesn&rsquo;t try too hard. What impressed me more than the aesthetics, though, is the durability. The OnePlus 15R comes with IP66, IP68, IP69, and even IP69K ratings. That&rsquo;s the same level of protection you get on the OnePlus 15. It covers everything from dust resistance and water immersion to high-pressure water jets, which is frankly overkill for most people, but reassuring nonetheless.
<h2>Performance and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5</h2>
This is where things get genuinely exciting. The OnePlus 15R is officially the world&rsquo;s first smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. OnePlus says it worked closely with Qualcomm to tune this chip, and based on early usage, I&rsquo;m expecting meaningful gains in efficiency and sustained performance.
Using it reminded me of the early days of OnePlus, when the brand would squeeze absurd performance out of mid-range hardware. The difference this time is that they&rsquo;re doing it with Qualcomm&rsquo;s second-best processor. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 still sits at the top, but the 8 Gen 5 already feels plenty flagship in everyday use.
On top of that, you get a dedicated Touch Response Chip and a new G2 Wi-Fi chip. Both are meant to improve touch latency and network stability. This should make a real difference for gamers, streamers, and anyone who spends unhealthy amounts of time scrolling through Instagram Reels. The phone supports 120FPS gameplay in supported titles and uses a 165Hz display panel, which is the same one found on the OnePlus 15.
<h2>Cameras and software</h2>
Flip the phone over and you&rsquo;ll notice a dual-camera setup, and no Hasselblad branding in sight. That&rsquo;s because OnePlus is shifting to its own in-house imaging pipeline called the DetailMax Engine. This is a clear change in direction for the R-series.
What that means in practice is that photos from the 15R have a slightly different character compared to previous models. Whether that turns out to be a genuine upgrade or just a different look will only become clear with proper testing, but early samples give a decent sense of where OnePlus is headed.
One feature that immediately stood out to me is 4K video recording at 120FPS. That&rsquo;s something you usually see reserved for premium flagships, not R-series phones. Content creators are going to love having that option.
On the software side, the phone runs OxygenOS 16, and all of OnePlus&rsquo;s new AI features are built in. The one I&rsquo;m personally happiest about is Plus Mind, which has quietly become one of my favourite additions on recent OnePlus phones. It&rsquo;s actually useful and doesn&rsquo;t feel like an AI checkbox feature.
<h2>Battery life and charging</h2>
Now here&rsquo;s where things get really interesting. The regular OnePlus 15 packs a 7,300mAh battery, but the 15R bumps that up to 7,400mAh. On paper, that difference looks small, but battery life isn&rsquo;t just about capacity. Efficiency plays a huge role.
With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 onboard, I&rsquo;m expecting better endurance than last year&rsquo;s R model and possibly even an edge over the OnePlus 15. OnePlus says this is the biggest battery they&rsquo;ve ever put in a phone, and that alone tells you what kind of users they&rsquo;re targeting this time. This phone is clearly built for people who push their devices hard.
The company even describes the 15R as &ldquo;built to play and never, ever stop&rdquo;, and that sets expectations pretty clearly.
<h2>Pricing and launch</h2>
Pricing for the OnePlus 15R will be revealed on December 17, when the phone officially launches in India. If OnePlus sticks to its usual aggressive pricing strategy, this could easily become the go-to option for a massive chunk of buyers.
The phone is expected to sit below the OnePlus 15, which starts at ₹72,999, with reports suggesting a price point around ₹45,000. After spending some time with it, the OnePlus 15R feels like OnePlus trying to re-establish the R-series as the smart buy. A full review is coming soon, with proper gaming tests, battery numbers, thermal results, and a lot more real-world data.

With a 12.1-inch 2.8K display, mature design, stylus support and smarter multitasking on OxygenOS 16, the OnePlus Pad Go 2 delivers a major upgrade. Here's our initial impression of OnePlus' latest budget tablet.

OnePlus Pad Go 2 first impressions: Updates that really add up

<h3>OnePlus Pad Go 2 brings a bigger display, cleaner design, smarter tablet software, stylus support and solid battery. A meaningful jump in OnePlus&rsquo; tablet lineup.</h3>

OnePlus has been experimenting with the tablet segment for a while, but the Pad Go 2 finally feels like a product built with purpose. The screen is bigger, the software finally treats the display properly, and stylus support has arrived. This is a clear upgrade instead of another safe refresh.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 Unboxing: Clean, Predictable, Very OnePlus</h2>
The unboxing feels exactly like what you expect from OnePlus. The red and white box is neat and minimal and everything inside is arranged with the same familiar discipline. You get the Pad Go 2 in the 8 GB and 256 GB Wi Fi trim, a 45 W SuperVOOC charger, a Type A to Type C cable and the usual stack of papers nobody touches. There is still no stylus inside. OnePlus finally supports one, but you will need to pay extra. That is just the current state of accessories.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 Design: Cleaner, Softer, Grown Up</h2>
The first Pad Go had personality but it was loud. The Pad Go 2 feels calmer and more mature. The frame has a smoother flow, the back looks cleaner and the overall shape feels easier on the eyes. Shadow Black is the safe option, while Lavender Drift has a soft pastel vibe that looks surprisingly premium. It is light, balanced and does not give off budget tablet energy.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 Display: This Is the Real Upgrade</h2>
The jump to a 12.1 inch 2.8K panel changes the experience right away. The extra size gives video, apps and even the UI more breathing room. If you thought the old Pad Go&rsquo;s display was fine, this one quickly shows you how much you were compromising.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 Software: Not an Afterthought</h2>
OxygenOS 16 on Android 16 finally feels like it knows it is running on a tablet. The highlight here is Open Canvas. It lets you move apps around, keep windows floating and use split screen without fighting with the layout. It feels like proper tablet software rather than a stretched phone interface.
<h2>Stylus Support: Finally Here, But&hellip;</h2>
The Pad Go 2 can work with the OnePlus Stylo, so writing notes, sketching and marking documents is all supported. The catch is simple. The stylus does not come in the box. If productivity is your plan, add that extra cost to your budget.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 Connectivity: Here&rsquo;s the Annoying Bit</h2>
OnePlus has added 5G, but there is a condition. Only the 256 GB Shadow Black variant gets it. If you want Lavender Drift with cellular support, there is no option, which feels unnecessarily restrictive.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2 Performance &amp; Battery: Everyday Comfort</h2>
The tablet runs on the Dimensity 7300 Ultra with 8 GB RAM. It delivers the kind of performance you expect from a mid range tablet and stays consistent in regular use. The 10,050 mAh battery is a strong addition and comfortably supports long streaming sessions or casual gaming without effort.
<h2>OnePlus Pad Go 2: A Tablet With Intent</h2>
The Pad Go 2 gives the impression of a product that has genuinely grown. The bigger screen, improved multitasking, cleaner design, stylus support and optional 5G come together nicely. It feels like an Android tablet that knows its place and is confident in it.
Pricing arrives on December 17 and if OnePlus keeps it under twenty thousand rupees, this could easily become one of the few Android tablets people buy for more than basic online classes. A full review with stylus testing, battery torture and some questionable drawings is on the way.

Realme Watch 5 review: design, AMOLED display, GPS, health tracking, Bluetooth calling, battery life and real-world performance tested under ₹5,000.

Realme Watch 5 Review: A Budget Smartwatch That Nails the Basics Under ₹5,000

We tested the Realme Watch 5 as a daily driver to see if this budget smartwatch actually lives up to its promises. From design and 1.97-inch AMOLED display to GPS accuracy, 108 sports modes, health tracking, Bluetooth calling, NFC and battery life, here’s how it performs in real-world use under ₹5,000 in India.

<h3>Realme Watch 5 delivers a big AMOLED display, built-in GPS, Bluetooth calling, strong health tracking and long battery life under ₹5,000, making it one of the most balanced budget smartwatches you can buy.</h3>

Shopping for a budget smartwatch honestly feels annoying half the time. One has good features but looks ugly, another looks decent but the battery barely lasts, and some just feel like plastic toys on your wrist. You keep thinking, &ldquo;Yeah okay, this one will do,&rdquo; instead of actually liking what you bought.
So when I picked up the Realme Watch 5, I was already doubtful. It&rsquo;s under ₹5,000, yet it talks big game: GPS, a large AMOLED screen, calling, etc.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve been wearing it every day, taking some calls on it, tracking random workouts, and mostly just trying to see if it actually holds up&hellip; or if it&rsquo;s just another watch that looks good in the ads and falls apart in real life.
<h2>Design &amp; Build Quality</h2>
When I first took the <a title="Realme Watch 5 First Look: Inside the factory where It&rsquo;s Made in India" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/realme-watch-5-first-look-inside-the-factory-where-it-s-made-in-india-1764849369577" target="_blank">realme Watch 5</a> out of the box, my immediate thought was, this doesn&rsquo;t look like one of budget smartwatches.&nbsp;
Yes, the body is plastic, but the metallic finish on it hides that really well. It actually gives off a slightly premium vibe in hand. The crown of aluminium alloy on the side is a nice touch too. It clicks well, doesn&rsquo;t feel loose, and honestly makes the watch feel more &ldquo;serious&rdquo; than most budget ones.
The straps are 22mm and easy to change, which is always a win. There&rsquo;s this wave-like pattern on them that looks cool up close. Comfort-wise, no complaints. They sit nicely on the wrist even after long hours. Do they feel luxurious, supple and soft? Nope. But at this price, I really wasn&rsquo;t expecting that anyway.
I&rsquo;ve been wearing it daily, normal use, light workouts, quick walks outside, and it hasn&rsquo;t felt fragile at all. I even managed to get the watch by a garden sprinkler once and it didn&rsquo;t care. Since it&rsquo;s IP68 rated, water and sweat aren&rsquo;t really things you need to overthink.
<h2>Display</h2>
The screen on the Watch 5 is pretty big. Like, you notice it immediately, that big. It&rsquo;s a 1.97-inch AMOLED panel and for a watch in this range, it actually feels kind of overkill in a good way.&nbsp;
Watch faces look bright, text is clear, and even small notifications are easy to read without bringing the watch right up to your face. I&rsquo;ve used it outdoors too, and the brightness is good enough that you&rsquo;re not fighting reflections all the time.
It&rsquo;s also pretty smooth in day-to-day use, thanks to the 60Hz refresh rate, and the Always-On Display is useful when you just want to glance at the time without tapping the screen.&nbsp;
One thing I genuinely wish it had though is auto brightness. You have to set the brightness yourself, and sometimes you forget until the lighting changes. It&rsquo;s a small miss, not a deal-breaker. Once you dial it in, the display just quietly does its job, whether you&rsquo;re working out, walking outside, or just checking the time.
<h2>Comfort &amp; Fit</h2>
Comfort is actually one of the nicer surprises with the Watch 5. It&rsquo;s light enough that after some time, you honestly forget you&rsquo;re even wearing it. The strap can be removed too, so if you ever feel like switching to a softer one or something that looks more premium, you can easily do that.
Out of the box, though, it&rsquo;s already pretty comfortable. I wore it for long hours without that tight or irritating feeling you sometimes get with budget watches. I even used it while sleeping for a couple of nights, and it didn&rsquo;t feel bulky or awkward on the wrist.
So yeah, if you&rsquo;re someone who plans to keep the watch on all day, for steps, workouts, sleep tracking, everything, the comfort part really won&rsquo;t be an issue.
<h2>UI &amp; Performance</h2>
The Watch 5 doesn&rsquo;t go overboard with apps or extra stuff, and honestly, that&rsquo;s probably a good thing. It keeps things simple. To connect it with your phone, you&rsquo;ll need the <a title="Realme GT 8 Pro Dream Edition: Premium or Just Racing Paint? Full Review " href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/realme-gt-8-pro-dream-edition-premium-or-just-racing-paint-full-review-1763976339687" target="_blank">Realme</a> Link app, &nbsp;and yeah, just make sure it&rsquo;s updated or the pairing can get annoying sometimes.
Once everything is set up, the watch feels smooth in day-to-day use. Swiping through menus, changing watch faces, starting your workouts, checking health stats, all of that feels quick and doesn&rsquo;t make you wait around.
I&rsquo;ve used budget smartwatches in the past where the UI felt slow and awkward all the time, but this one doesn&rsquo;t have that issue. It&rsquo;s not fancy, it&rsquo;s not trying to impress you with animations, it just does what it&rsquo;s supposed to do&hellip; and that&rsquo;s actually a good thing here.
<h2>Features Overview</h2>
For the price Realme is asking, the Watch 5 honestly feels loaded with features. You&rsquo;ve got built-in GPS, a crazy number of workout modes, Bluetooth calling, NFC, and a whole pile of watch faces to choose from. If you like switching up your watch look every few days, you&rsquo;re sorted for a long time.
On top of that, all the regular smartwatch stuff is here too, like &nbsp;music controls, alarms, a compass, breathing exercises, even camera controls. Nothing fancy or over-the-top, but all the basics people actually use on a daily basis are covered.
<h2>Health Tracking Features</h2>
On the health side, the Watch 5 pretty much ticks all the expected boxes. It tracks heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, stress levels, and even offers menstrual cycle tracking for women. You also get VO₂ Max estimates and auto workout detection, which is handy when you forget to start tracking manually. I personally like the move around prompt it gives, a small reminder if you spend more time sitting at one place.
So it&rsquo;s clearly not just meant for seeing notifications and counting steps. You can use it properly for daily fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, and keeping a general check on your health without needing anything extra.&nbsp;
<h2>Accuracy of Health &amp; Fitness Tracking</h2>
Let&rsquo;s be clear about one thing first, you should not be using any smartwatch, including this one, as a medical device. None of them are officially meant for that, and this isn&rsquo;t either.
That said, from my own use, the Watch 5 was actually pretty close to being accurate most of the time. Since it has proper GPS and all the usual sensors, the numbers it shows feel way more believable than those really cheap watches that just spit out random data.
Steps looked fine, heart rate readings didn&rsquo;t feel off, and workout stats stayed within a normal range. Outdoor tracking also felt better because of the GPS, you can tell the difference when you&rsquo;ve used non-GPS watches before.
Still, at the end of the day, it&rsquo;s just a watch sitting on your wrist. Don&rsquo;t expect hospital-level accuracy. But for normal stuff like walking, running, gym workouts, cycling, and keeping a rough idea of your activity and health, it does a decent enough job to be useful.
<h2>GPS Performance</h2>
The built-in GPS is honestly one of the biggest highlights of the Watch 5. You can head out for a run, walk, or cycling session without carrying your phone, and the watch will still record your route and distance properly, and by proper I mean the exact path and route you took.
For anyone who prefers outdoor workouts, this is a big plus. A lot of budget watches either skip GPS altogether or mess it up badly, this one actually does the job well enough to rely on.
<h2>Sports Modes &amp; Workouts (108 Sports Modes)</h2>
With 108 workout modes, the Watch 5 tries to cover just about everything, from basic stuff like walking, running, gym workouts, yoga, and cycling to more specific activities like water sports too.&nbsp;
Realistically, most people won&rsquo;t use even half of these, but it&rsquo;s still nice to know the options are there. But, If you switch between different workouts or just want simple tracking without too much setup, this much variety is more than enough for everyday use.
Pro tip here although the watch is IP68 and has many water sports modes included such as surfing and motorboating, I would advise not to take it for swimming as you don&rsquo;t get that option in the entire list.
<h2>Bluetooth Calling &amp; NFC</h2>
Bluetooth calling is one of those features that sounds small on paper but turns out to be really useful. You can take calls directly from the watch when your phone is in your pocket or across the room. The sound quality isn&rsquo;t mind-blowing, but for quick calls, it works fine.
NFC is also listed as a feature, which can be used for smart card scanning or related tools depending on how it&rsquo;s supported in your region. Honestly in my case it was of no use, so I can't comment on how better it works.
But, together, these features push the Watch 5 beyond just being a fitness tracker and place it in that &ldquo;lite-smartwatch&rdquo; category that can handle small daily tasks too.
<h2>Battery life &amp; charging</h2>
Realme says the Watch 5 can last up to 16 days on normal use and even stretch to 20 days in Light Smart Mode. On paper, that sounds crazy good, especially with a 460mAh battery in this price range. For most people, that basically means you can forget about charging it for a couple of weeks.
Now, coming to my real-world use, the charging speed is not fast. It took a little more than two hours to go from low to full, even when I plugged it into an 80W fast charger. The drain, though, is pretty controlled. I used the watch heavily for three straight days and it dropped around 30% battery. So yeah, I&rsquo;m a bit doubtful about the full 16-day claim with heavy usage.
That said, if your use is light, just steps, notifications, and basic tracking, the battery drop slows down a lot. So the long backup Realme talks about does make sense in that kind of usage.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should you buy it?</h2>
If you&rsquo;re in the market for an affordable smartwatch under ₹5,000 that looks good, lasts long, and does more than just show notifications the Realme Watch 5 is a very strong contender.
It combines the features (GPS, health tracking, calling, NFC, many sports modes) that usually cost much more, with a build and display that feel premium. For fitness enthusiasts, casual users, everyday wear, or those wanting an entry-level &ldquo;smartwatch&rdquo; without spending big, the Watch 5 brings balanced value.
In short: Realme Watch 5 punches above its price, a smart buy for value-conscious users seeking full-featured smartwatch capabilities.

Realme P4x combines a premium build, 144Hz LCD screen, Dimensity 7400-Ultra performance, and a huge 7000mAh battery for long runtime.

Realme P4x Review: Premium design, dependable performance, but is it worth?

<h3>Realme P4x delivers strong battery life, steady performance, a premium feel, and a 144Hz LCD display that confuses a little.</h3>

Realme has launched the P4x in a segment that is overtly saturated and brands, in order to stand out, experiment quite a bit. This one though, one feels a little different. It looks simplistic, but far more premium than its price suggests, leans heavily on battery endurance, and delivers surprisingly steady performance for everyday use and mid-tier gaming, especially for a device that starts at ₹15,499.
On top of that you get a 144Hz display which is pretty rare even in the mid-range segment. But then, Realme decided to use an LCD panel for that.
During the two weeks I was testing the P4x, the device kept swinging between impressive value and soome head-scratching decisions, that Realme has taken with this one.&nbsp;
I take a closer look at where the P4x &nbsp;shines, where it stumbles, and whether it actually deserves your money.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Design</h2>
The first thing that hit me when I picked up the Realme P4x was how closely it resembles the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, especially that raised pill-shaped camera island. Testing the Matte Silver variant only amplified the d&eacute;j&agrave; vu.
At this price, brands usually try something quirky with materials, but Realme has gone with a mostly polycarbonate body and very flat panels. Honestly, it works. The phone looks far more premium than its materials suggest, and the matte finish on this Silver unit handles fingerprints and grime exceptionally well. It adds a calm, clean vibe that feels intentional rather than cost-cutting.
The downside is that those flat polycarbonate sides and sharper edges make the phone slippery. If you have smaller hands, it becomes even trickier to grip securely. Using a case is pretty much non-negotiable, and Realme thankfully includes a TPU one in the box.
Despite the plastic build, the Realme P4x weighs 208 grams and feels surprisingly dense, almost brick-like in a reassuring way. Its 8.39 mm thickness contributes to that solid, sturdy feel. What doesn&rsquo;t feel as sturdy are the bezels. They&rsquo;re thick by 2025 standards, especially the bottom chin, but at this price, it&rsquo;s hard to complain too much.
In terms of protection, you get an IP64 rating, which is acceptable for the segment, though some rivals do offer better. What&rsquo;s odd is Realme staying quiet about the front glass. Online reports suggest a KK panel instead of Corning protection, which is an unusual place to cut costs.
Everything else sits where it should: power and volume buttons on the right, USB-C port, hybrid SIM tray and speaker grille at the bottom.
For a phone starting at ₹15,999, the Realme P4x looks and feels far more premium than most competitors in its bracket.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Display &amp; Speakers</h2>
The display is where the Realme P4x starts getting a little puzzling. On the surface, a Full HD panel at this price is perfectly acceptable, even for the top-end variant. Things get complicated when you see Realme has gone with an IPS LCD panel. For the base model, that&rsquo;s fine. For the price of the top-end variant, things feel a bit murky, because competitors do offer AMOLED displays at that price.
Then comes the strangest part of the entire setup: the refresh rate. Yes, technically, the phone supports 144Hz, but the phone doesn&rsquo;t really use it. During my tests, the only apps that consistently hit 144Hz were the calculator and the voice recorder, which absolutely must have ultra-fast refresh rates, obviously.&nbsp;
Jokes aside, the fact that even navigating the UI doesn&rsquo;t trigger 144Hz is genuinely disappointing. It feels like wasted potential rather than a meaningful feature.
In day-to-day use, the display is still pretty good actually. Text and images look sharp enough for casual viewing, and the colours hold up well for an LCD. You don&rsquo;t get the punch, contrast or depth you&rsquo;d expect from AMOLED, but that&rsquo;s the nature of the panel.&nbsp;
Brightness is also limited. The screen tops out at 1000 nits (HBM), which is fine indoors but starts struggling under strong sunlight. I often found myself hunting for shade just to see what was on the screen.
As for the speakers, Realme does give you a stereo setup, which is a win at this price. The performance, though, is average. They get loud, but there&rsquo;s no real richness or tonal character. They&rsquo;re perfectly serviceable for reels, shorts or the quick YouTube scroll, but for movies or long OTT sessions, they sound a bit flat.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Performance</h2>
The Realme P4x runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7400-Ultra, and the performance story is a mixed but mostly positive one. The base variant starts with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and goes up to 8GB of RAM with a generous 256GB of storage.&nbsp;
Realme&rsquo;s decision to use UFS 3.1 instead of the usual UFS 2.2 at this price deserves real credit. You also have the option to use a microSD card and expand your storage. What doesn&rsquo;t earn the same applause is starting the RAM at 6GB in 2025.&nbsp;
In everyday use, though, the P4x holds its own. Apps open quickly, animations stay smooth, and the UI feels surprisingly responsive for a phone in this segment. Across my testing period, I didn&rsquo;t run into stutters, dropped frames, or any noticeable slowdowns. It behaves exactly the way a budget device should behave, but not always does.
Budget phones rarely deliver impressive benchmark scores, and the P4x doesn&rsquo;t suddenly break that pattern. We still ran the usual set just to see what would happen, and the results were more than acceptable for the price. In fact, in Antutu, our unit managed to outscore what Realme claims about the P4x in their own marketing materials.
Gaming is where things get a little more interesting. The P4x has a 144Hz display, but none of the popular mobile titles like BGMI or Call of Duty Mobile touch that number. They don&rsquo;t even hit 120FPS. Both max out at 90FPS, and even then, the display refuses to switch to 120Hz during gameplay. It&rsquo;s an odd limitation that makes the 144Hz spec feel more decorative than practical.
Despite this, the actual gaming experience was solid. During my sessions with BGMI and CoD:M, frame rates stayed consistently between 87&ndash;90FPS for over half an hour. Thermal performance was also surprisingly controlled. The device warmed up during long sessions and during benchmarks, but never to an uncomfortable or alarming level. Realme credits this to using the largest vapour chamber in its segment.
Overall, the P4x delivers steady, reliable performance with a cooling system that genuinely works, even if the 144Hz story still feels unfinished.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Cameras</h2>
Phones in this price bracket almost always compromise on cameras, and the P4x follows the same pattern. At first glance, the rear module looks like a triple-camera setup, but you actually get just two cameras: a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP secondary unit that exists purely for symmetry. It adds nothing to image quality and is essentially wasted space.
The 50MP main camera did a good job for me in bright, outdoor conditions. Colours looked mostly accurate, details came through well, and the images felt reliable. I did notice the processing getting a bit overeager at times, especially with textures and fine patterns, but nothing deal-breaking.
At 2X, the weaknesses show immediately. I lost a lot of detail, and while the colours were still okay, the images were just about good enough for casual use. Nothing more.
Low-light shots were acceptable as long as I kept expectations realistic. Noise definitely creeps in, especially in dim indoor scenes, and shadows tend to get mushy. But honestly, this is the standard story for phones in this price band.
The 8MP selfie camera felt like a downgrade when I compared it to what competitors offer. Even so, the selfies I took looked fairly natural. Skin tones were handled well, though textures were noticeably smoothed out and overall sharpness wasn&rsquo;t great.
For video, I could shoot up to 4K 30fps, which is impressive at this price. Colours and dynamic range were solid, but without OIS, stability definitely suffers.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Software and UI</h2>
The Realme P4x runs Android 15 with Realme UI 6 on top, and Realme has sprinkled AI features all over the place. I spotted them inside the Gallery, Notes, Sound Recorder, Camera, and even in system-wide tools like AI Smart Loop. There are also plenty of lock-screen customisation options, plus a Live Alerts feature that behaves a lot like Apple&rsquo;s Dynamic Island.
That said, I&rsquo;m still not a big fan of Realme UI 6 on budget phones. The interface looks dated and a bit clunky, and the amount of bloatware continues to be a major pain point. What bothered me even more were the constant, unnecessary notifications that kept popping up throughout the day. It all adds to an experience that feels unnecessarily noisy.
For software support, Realme promises two years of OS updates and three years of security patches. It doesn&rsquo;t sound like much, but it&rsquo;s standard for this price segment.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Battery life is &nbsp;is easily one of the P4x&rsquo;s strongest areas. The 7000mAh battery is massive, and because the phone uses a fairly light SoC along with an FHD+ LCD panel, the system never really demands too much power. In my testing, I was consistently getting two full days of use without even thinking about a charger. If you&rsquo;re smart with it, you can even push it to three.
My screen-on time usually sat between 8 hours 30 minutes and 9 hours on a single charge, which is seriously impressive for a phone at this price.
Charging is handled through 45W wired fast charging, and Realme thankfully includes a 45W charger in the box. Now, 45W isn&rsquo;t blazing fast by today&rsquo;s standards, but given the huge 7000mAh capacity, I wasn&rsquo;t expecting miracles anyway. From zero to full, it took me around an hour and a half, which felt reasonable considering the size of the battery.
<h2>Realme P4x Review: Verdict</h2>
The Realme P4x isn&rsquo;t your typical budget phone &mdash; it feels like it&rsquo;s aiming just a bit higher. Performance is where it really shows off, consistently hitting 90FPS in BGMI and CoD:M, and handling daily tasks without any stutters. The cameras won&rsquo;t blow you away, but they&rsquo;re more than dependable for what you&rsquo;re paying.
But then the phone makes a few odd choices. The biggest one is the 144Hz display. What&rsquo;s the point of having it when barely any pre-installed apps &mdash; or even the most popular games &mdash; can't take advantage of it? It feels like a spec added for the sheet rather than real-world use.
What complicates things further is the competition. The P4x starts at ₹15,499 for the base 6GB variant. For just a little more money, the Nothing Phone 3a Lite gives you a better display and a better gaming experience. Even Realme&rsquo;s own P4 is a very capable alternative.
That said, if you want a phone that looks premium, feels great in the hand, lasts multiple days on a charge, and you don&rsquo;t mind an LCD panel, the P4x still stands as a solid option for the price.

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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Following Microsoft and Google, Meta is now placing significant bets on generative AI.

Meta introduces AI Sandbox, its generative AI-powered ad tools

Following Microsoft and Google, Meta is now placing significant bets on generative AI.

Meta Platforms has announced plans to test AI-powered ad tools that can create content, such as image backgrounds and written text variations.
A select group of advertisers will be invited to experiment with the tools in Meta's "AI Sandbox", with grant access to more advertisers in July.
Meta's announcement comes after Google said it will start offering integrations of generative AI in its services.
&nbsp;

The Realme 16 Pro+ focuses on real-world refinement with a slim design, massive 7,000mAh battery, curved AMOLED display, dependable Snapdragon performance, and a versatile 200MP camera system.

Realme 16 Pro+ Review: 7,000mAh Battery, 200MP Camera, Display & Performance Tested

A detailed Realme 16 Pro+ review covering design, display, performance, software, camera quality, and battery life after a week of real-world use.

The Realme 16 Pro+ focuses on real-world refinement with a slim design, a massive 7,000mAh battery, a gorgeous curved display, dependable performance, and a surprisingly mature 200MP camera system.

It is easy to get cynical about phone launches these days. Usually, it&rsquo;s just bigger numbers on a spec sheet and very little substance. As someone who has tracked Realme&rsquo;s evolution closely and used plenty of their phones personally. I expected the 16 Pro+ to be just another predictable update when it landed on my desk.
That assumption didn't last long. Over the past week, the 16 Pro+ proved that it isn't interested in chasing trends. It focuses entirely on the user experience. From the build quality to the dependable performance and a camera setup that punches above its weight, this device feels like a grown-up piece of tech. It prioritizes reliability over hype, and honestly, that is refreshing.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
If you&rsquo;ve tracked the <a title="Realme P4x Review: Budget performer with a beast of a battery" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/realme-p4x-review-budget-performer-with-a-beast-of-a-battery-1765358964468" target="_blank">Realme</a> number series as long as I have, you know it&rsquo;s been a wild ride. It hasn&rsquo;t always been a straight line, but they usually get there in the end. I&rsquo;ve personally lived through that evolution; starting way back with the Realme 3 Pro and currently settling on the 14 Pro+ as my daily driver. So, with its successor sitting on my desk, I thought I had the script memorized before I even cut the plastic.
That&rsquo;s where they got me. The first shock wasn't the phone; it was the box. That loud, aggressive yellow we all know? Gone. It&rsquo;s been swapped for a muted, monochromatic grey. It&rsquo;s definitely more mature, though let&rsquo;s be real a box is just a box. Inside, the routine is familiar: the 80W charger, the cable, and a decent transparent case. Basic, but it gets the job done.
The real shift happens when you actually hold the device. You can feel the Naoto Fukasawa influence immediately.&nbsp;
They&rsquo;ve ditched the matte glass for a vegan leather finish, and for once, it doesn&rsquo;t feel like a cheap marketing trick.&nbsp;
I tested the &lsquo;Master Gold&rsquo; version, which claims to be inspired by 'ripened wheat.' Fancy descriptions aside, it just feels good. It&rsquo;s warm, grippy, and miles better than the slippery glass on my 14 Pro+.
What&rsquo;s genuinely baffling is the engineering. They managed to cram a massive 7,000mAh Titan battery inside, yet the phone is only 8.49mm thick.&nbsp;
It is heavier than the old 15 Pro clocking in at roughly 203g but the weight distribution is spot on, so it doesn&rsquo;t feel top-heavy.&nbsp;
The real comfort comes from knowing this phone is built like a tank, not a delicate ornament. It carries a ridiculous list of certifications; IP66, IP68, IP69, and even IP69K, which technically means it survives dust, dunks, and pressurized sprays easily. I honestly did not blast it with a power washer to verify that, but for daily grime, take my advice: you are still going to want a case.
If Gold isn't your vibe, there&rsquo;s a &lsquo;Master Gray&rsquo; and an India-exclusive &lsquo;Camellia Pink&rsquo; that shaves a few grams off. Overall, with that curved back and the 'Volcanic' camera slope, it&rsquo;s one of the most comfortable phones I&rsquo;ve held all year.
<h2>Display</h2>
Design gets you in the door, but the display keeps you seated. That line pretty much defines my week with the Realme 16 Pro+. Once the 'new phone' excitement settled, I stopped staring at the back and realized just how good the front actually is.
The marketing team went wild with the name '144Hz HyperGlow 4D Curve+' but don't let the word salad distract you. The actual experience is solid. On paper, 6.8 inches sounds unwieldy, so I was ready for a bulky experience. Surprisingly, it never felt that way.
The aggressive curvature plays a huge role in that. The sides taper down aggressively, while the top and bottom remain slim, which effectively tricks your hand into feeling a much thinner device. It works visually, too.&nbsp;
The bezels almost melt away, so whether you are watching a video or scrolling endlessly, the content feels like it is floating without thick borders boxing it in.
I realized I wasn't worrying about clarity, which usually means the screen is doing its job perfectly. The specs confirm a dense 1280 x 2800 resolution on this AMOLED panel, so the sharpness makes sense. Everything from web pages to system menus looks distinct, and spotting individual pixels is basically impossible here. &nbsp;
Where it genuinely surprised me was the dynamic range. I&rsquo;ve seen plenty of screens in this segment turn deep blacks into muddy grey, but that doesn't happen here. Contrast looked rich without crushing detail or looking artificially pumped up. The display also gets HDR and it works well in Netflix.
Brightness is the final highlight. The 6,500 nits stat sounds like excess, but it translates to real utility. Under the harsh afternoon sun, I could check maps and read messages without shading the display. Outdoor visibility claims rarely hold up, but this one does. By the time I wrapped up, I stopped qualifying this as 'good for the segment.' It is simply a great display, period.
<h2>Performance</h2>
I won&rsquo;t lie, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 on the spec sheet made me stop for a second. It&rsquo;s the same chip Realme used in <a title="Realme 15 Pro Review ft. OnePlus Nord CE 5 &amp; Nothing Phone 3a: One mid-ranger to rule them all!" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/realme-15-pro-review-ft-oneplus-nord-ce-5-nothing-phone-3a-one-mid-ranger-to-rule-them-all-1753372808953" target="_blank">last year&rsquo;s 15 Pro</a>, and for a phone positioned as a clear upgrade, that didn&rsquo;t sound great. On paper, it felt like Realme was playing it safe, maybe a little too safe.
But specs only go so far. I put my main SIM in, ditched my regular phone, and used this as my daily driver for a full week. Between long commutes, endless social media scrolling, camera testing, and general day-to-day chaos, that initial doubt slowly faded. In real use, this phone feels far more capable than its spec sheet lets on.
A lot of that comes down to the 4nm TSMC build. If you&rsquo;re not someone who lives and dies by benchmark charts, you&rsquo;re unlikely to miss a flagship 8-series chip here. I did run benchmarks anyway, just to see where it stood. Realme claims an AnTuTu score of around 1.44 million, but my unit crossed that comfortably at 1,524,608. Geekbench results were solid too; 1301 for single-core and 4253 for multi-core.
Still, numbers don&rsquo;t matter much once you start using the phone. With LPDDR5X RAM (marketed as &ldquo;Rocket RAM&rdquo;), multitasking feels effortless. I&rsquo;m terrible at closing apps, maps, games, browsers, everything stays open and the phone never really complained. App switching was quick, and nothing felt like it was lagging behind.
Gaming is good, with a few limits. The 144Hz display helps, but titles like COD: Mobile and BGMI currently cap out at 90FPS.&nbsp;
Even so, gameplay stays smooth. Heat is the one thing you notice if you push it hard. After about an hour of gaming, I saw temperatures hit around 41&deg;C, climbing to roughly 44&deg;C near the camera area after two hours. It gets warm, no question, but performance stays steady. Given how slim the phone is, that feels like a fair trade-off for what it delivers.
<h2>Software &amp; UI/UX</h2>
If the hardware is the body, the software is the soul, and honestly, this is where I felt the biggest leap forward. Coming from my older device to the Realme 16 Pro+, the shift to Realme UI 7.0 was jarring in a good way. For once, the software doesn't feel like an afterthought; it finally matches the premium build.
It&rsquo;s not just about how it runs today, though. Realme promises three years of major Android updates alongside four years of security fixes, meaning this phone should stay relevant and safe to use well after the new-phone smell wears off.
They talk a lot about their new 'Flux Engine,' and usually, I tune that stuff out. But here, you actually feel it. The responsiveness is immediate. Going back to my old phone now feels like wading through mud. I&rsquo;ve grown accustomed to micro-stutters when multitasking, but this phone just flows. The 'Flux Animation Framework' isn't just a fancy name; it lets you interrupt animations mid-swipe without the UI freaking out. It feels fluid and controlled.
They claim scrolling is 29% smoother. I can't check the math, but scrolling through a chaotic Twitter or Instagram feed definitely feels less jittery.
Visually, it&rsquo;s had a facelift too. The new 'Ice Cube' icons have this nice depth to them, playing with light and shadow to look crisp on that screen. The control center uses a 'Misty Glass' blur that looks classy, and the dock has a subtle 'breathing' animation that adds life without being annoying.
The real game-changer for me, though, is the NEXTAI suite. Having Google Gemini Live integrated deeply is wild. I could point my camera at something and ask the AI about it in real-time. And as a writer, the AI Recording and Translate tool is a lifesaver. It transcribes and translates meetings on the fly, and the accuracy is good enough that I&rsquo;ve stopped taking manual notes entirely.
<h2>Camera: A 200MP Statement Piece</h2>
If you are eyeing the Realme 16 Pro+, let&rsquo;s be real: you are probably here for the cameras. After a full week of pointing this thing at everything from city skylines to skittish pigeons, I&rsquo;m sold. This isn't just a bump up from my old 14 Pro+ or even the 15 Pro. It feels like Realme has finally graduated to the big leagues.
On paper, the specs are loud: a massive 200MP Samsung HP5 main sensor with OIS, backed by a 50MP periscope telephoto and an 8MP ultra-wide. But specs are just numbers until you actually snap the shutter. The real story is how it handles the chaos of real life.
In good lighting, the main 200MP shooter is fantastic. Realme talks a lot about their 'LumaColor' science, and for once, the results back up the marketing. They&rsquo;ve ditched that candy-colored, oversaturated look that plagues mid-range phones. Instead, photos come out looking natural, warm, rich, and surprisingly cinematic straight out of the gallery.
Dynamic range surprised me too. I took shots where the sky was blindingly bright and the trees were in deep shadow, and the phone balanced it perfectly. No blown-out clouds, no crushed blacks. The detail is exactly what you&rsquo;d hope for from a sensor this big, sharp, but not 'digital' sharp.
The zoom lens is where I had the most fun. I&rsquo;ve always loved periscope cameras, but this 50MP 3.5x module is just better. At native 3.5x, portraits look professional with that lovely background compression. Even the hybrid zoom holds up well. I took shots at 10x that were totally Instagram-ready, retaining good texture on distant brickwork. You can push it to 20x in decent light and still get a usable shot.
Just don&rsquo;t believe the '120x' hype. It&rsquo;s a neat party trick, sure, but once you go past 20x, reality breaks down. The AI tries to fill in the gaps, but the pictures start looking like watercolor paintings. It&rsquo;s fun to play with, but I wouldn't rely on it for anything serious.
Portrait mode deserves a shoutout, too. It handled tricky stuff like messy hair and shoulders with shocking accuracy, creating a creamy blur that didn't look fake. Skin tones were spot on; human, not plastic.
Speed was the sleeper hit for me. Shutter lag kills photos, but this phone is snappy. I actually caught two birds mid-flight, a shot I expected to be a blur and the camera froze them perfectly. The AI evidently knows what motion looks like.
Video and selfies are solid as well. The 50MP front cam avoids that muddy, soft look, and 4K 60fps video on both ends is a win for creators. Walking through a busy metro station, the stabilization smoothed out my footsteps without making the footage look robotic. Overall, this system feels mature, reliable, and honestly, it makes taking photos fun again.
<h2>Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Frankly, the battery performance on the Realme 16 Pro+ is wild. We have conditioned ourselves to accept that slim phones mean average battery life. But at 8.49mm thick, this device breaks that rule by packing a massive 7,000mAh Titan Battery without adding uncomfortable bulk.
Compared to my daily driver, the 14 Pro+, this isn't just a step up; it is a generational leap. Realme promised 'half battery left' after a full day, and for once, the marketing isn't lying. I pushed it hard to see if it would crack, spending a Sunday afternoon gaming for two solid hours on demanding titles. Usually, I'd be reaching for a charger, but I had only lost around 20 percent.
It gives you a serious peace of mind. You just stop checking the percentage. And in emergencies, the Super Power Saving Mode claims 7.5 hours of standby on just 1 percent charge. Recharging with the 80W brick takes a little over an hour, but since that gets you nearly two days of dependable power, it is well worth the wait.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should you buy it?</h2>
The Realme 16 Pro+ doesn&rsquo;t try to win arguments on a spec sheet, and that&rsquo;s probably its biggest strength. It&rsquo;s the kind of phone that surprises you once you start living with it. A 7,000mAh battery in a body this slim sounds unreal, but after a few days, you stop checking battery percentage altogether. That alone changes how you use the phone.&nbsp;
The processor won&rsquo;t impress anyone chasing benchmark numbers, but in normal use, it never feels like a weak link. The extra apps are irritating and the 120x zoom is easy to ignore, but those don&rsquo;t define the experience. What stays with you is how well everything comes together. If Realme gets the pricing right, this feels like a name it can finally stand behind.

It is easy to get cynical about phone launches these days. Usually, it&rsquo;s just bigger numbers on a spec sheet and very little substance. As someone who has tracked Realme&rsquo;s evolution closely and used plenty of their phones personally. I expected the 16 Pro+ to be just another predictable update when it landed on my desk.
That assumption didn't last long. Over the past week, the 16 Pro+ proved that it isn't interested in chasing trends. It focuses entirely on the user experience. From the build quality to the dependable performance and a camera setup that punches above its weight, this device feels like a grown-up piece of tech. It prioritizes reliability over hype, and honestly, that is refreshing.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
If you&rsquo;ve tracked the <a title="Realme Watch 5 Review: A budget smartwatch that gets the basics right" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/realme-watch-5-review-a-budget-smartwatch-that-gets-the-basics-right-1765360859988" target="_blank">Realme </a>number series as long as I have, you know it&rsquo;s been a wild ride. It hasn&rsquo;t always been a straight line, but they usually get there in the end. I&rsquo;ve personally lived through that evolution; starting way back with the Realme 3 Pro and currently settling on the 14 Pro+ as my daily driver. So, with its successor sitting on my desk, I thought I had the script memorized before I even cut the plastic.
That&rsquo;s where they got me. The first shock wasn't the phone; it was the box. That loud, aggressive yellow we all know? Gone. It&rsquo;s been swapped for a muted, monochromatic grey. It&rsquo;s definitely more mature, though let&rsquo;s be real a box is just a box. Inside, the routine is familiar: the 80W charger, the cable, and a decent transparent case. Basic, but it gets the job done.
The real shift happens when you actually hold the device. You can feel the Naoto Fukasawa influence immediately.&nbsp;
They&rsquo;ve ditched the matte glass for a vegan leather finish, and for once, it doesn&rsquo;t feel like a cheap marketing trick.&nbsp;
I tested the &lsquo;Master Gold&rsquo; version, which claims to be inspired by 'ripened wheat.' Fancy descriptions aside, it just feels good. It&rsquo;s warm, grippy, and miles better than the slippery glass on my 14 Pro+.
What&rsquo;s genuinely baffling is the engineering. They managed to cram a massive 7,000mAh Titan battery inside, yet the phone is only 8.49mm thick.&nbsp;
It is heavier than the old 15 Pro clocking in at roughly 203g but the weight distribution is spot on, so it doesn&rsquo;t feel top-heavy.&nbsp;
The real comfort comes from knowing this phone is built like a tank, not a delicate ornament. It carries a ridiculous list of certifications; IP66, IP68, IP69, and even IP69K, which technically means it survives dust, dunks, and pressurized sprays easily. I honestly did not blast it with a power washer to verify that, but for daily grime, take my advice: you are still going to want a case.
If Gold isn't your vibe, there&rsquo;s a &lsquo;Master Gray&rsquo; and an India-exclusive &lsquo;Camellia Pink&rsquo; that shaves a few grams off. Overall, with that curved back and the 'Volcanic' camera slope, it&rsquo;s one of the most comfortable phones I&rsquo;ve held all year.
<h2>Display</h2>
Design gets you in the door, but the display keeps you seated. That line pretty much defines my week with the Realme 16 Pro+. Once the 'new phone' excitement settled, I stopped staring at the back and realized just how good the front actually is.
The marketing team went wild with the name '144Hz HyperGlow 4D Curve+' but don't let the word salad distract you. The actual experience is solid. On paper, 6.8 inches sounds unwieldy, so I was ready for a bulky experience. Surprisingly, it never felt that way.
The aggressive curvature plays a huge role in that. The sides taper down aggressively, while the top and bottom remain slim, which effectively tricks your hand into feeling a much thinner device. It works visually, too.&nbsp;
The bezels almost melt away, so whether you are watching a video or scrolling endlessly, the content feels like it is floating without thick borders boxing it in.
I realized I wasn't worrying about clarity, which usually means the screen is doing its job perfectly. The specs confirm a dense 1280 x 2800 resolution on this AMOLED panel, so the sharpness makes sense. Everything from web pages to system menus looks distinct, and spotting individual pixels is basically impossible here. &nbsp;
Where it genuinely surprised me was the dynamic range. I&rsquo;ve seen plenty of screens in this segment turn deep blacks into muddy grey, but that doesn't happen here. Contrast looked rich without crushing detail or looking artificially pumped up. The display also gets HDR and it works well in Netflix.
Brightness is the final highlight. The 6,500 nits stat sounds like excess, but it translates to real utility. Under the harsh afternoon sun, I could check maps and read messages without shading the display. Outdoor visibility claims rarely hold up, but this one does. By the time I wrapped up, I stopped qualifying this as 'good for the segment.' It is simply a great display, period.
<h2>Performance</h2>
I won&rsquo;t lie, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 on the spec sheet made me stop for a second. It&rsquo;s the same chip Realme used in <a title="Realme 15 Pro Review ft. OnePlus Nord CE 5 &amp; Nothing Phone 3a: One mid-ranger to rule them all!" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/realme-15-pro-review-ft-oneplus-nord-ce-5-nothing-phone-3a-one-mid-ranger-to-rule-them-all-1753372808953" target="_blank">last year&rsquo;s 15 Pro</a>, and for a phone positioned as a clear upgrade, that didn&rsquo;t sound great. On paper, it felt like Realme was playing it safe, maybe a little too safe.
But specs only go so far. I put my main SIM in, ditched my regular phone, and used this as my daily driver for a full week. Between long commutes, endless social media scrolling, camera testing, and general day-to-day chaos, that initial doubt slowly faded. In real use, this phone feels far more capable than its spec sheet lets on.
A lot of that comes down to the 4nm TSMC build. If you&rsquo;re not someone who lives and dies by benchmark charts, you&rsquo;re unlikely to miss a flagship 8-series chip here. I did run benchmarks anyway, just to see where it stood. Realme claims an AnTuTu score of around 1.44 million, but my unit crossed that comfortably at 1,524,608. Geekbench results were solid too; 1301 for single-core and 4253 for multi-core.
Still, numbers don&rsquo;t matter much once you start using the phone. With LPDDR5X RAM (marketed as &ldquo;Rocket RAM&rdquo;), multitasking feels effortless. I&rsquo;m terrible at closing apps, maps, games, browsers, everything stays open and the phone never really complained. App switching was quick, and nothing felt like it was lagging behind.
Gaming is good, with a few limits. The 144Hz display helps, but titles like COD: Mobile and BGMI currently cap out at 90FPS.&nbsp;
Even so, gameplay stays smooth. Heat is the one thing you notice if you push it hard. After about an hour of gaming, I saw temperatures hit around 41&deg;C, climbing to roughly 44&deg;C near the camera area after two hours. It gets warm, no question, but performance stays steady. Given how slim the phone is, that feels like a fair trade-off for what it delivers.
<h2>Software &amp; UI/UX</h2>
If the hardware is the body, the software is the soul, and honestly, this is where I felt the biggest leap forward. Coming from my older device to the Realme 16 Pro+, the shift to Realme UI 7.0 was jarring in a good way. For once, the software doesn't feel like an afterthought; it finally matches the premium build.
It&rsquo;s not just about how it runs today, though. Realme promises three years of major Android updates alongside four years of security fixes, meaning this phone should stay relevant and safe to use well after the new-phone smell wears off.
They talk a lot about their new 'Flux Engine,' and usually, I tune that stuff out. But here, you actually feel it. The responsiveness is immediate. Going back to my old phone now feels like wading through mud. I&rsquo;ve grown accustomed to micro-stutters when multitasking, but this phone just flows. The 'Flux Animation Framework' isn't just a fancy name; it lets you interrupt animations mid-swipe without the UI freaking out. It feels fluid and controlled.
They claim scrolling is 29% smoother. I can't check the math, but scrolling through a chaotic Twitter or Instagram feed definitely feels less jittery.
Visually, it&rsquo;s had a facelift too. The new 'Ice Cube' icons have this nice depth to them, playing with light and shadow to look crisp on that screen. The control center uses a 'Misty Glass' blur that looks classy, and the dock has a subtle 'breathing' animation that adds life without being annoying.
The real game-changer for me, though, is the NEXTAI suite. Having Google Gemini Live integrated deeply is wild. I could point my camera at something and ask the AI about it in real-time. And as a writer, the AI Recording and Translate tool is a lifesaver. It transcribes and translates meetings on the fly, and the accuracy is good enough that I&rsquo;ve stopped taking manual notes entirely.
<h2>Camera: A 200MP Statement Piece</h2>
If you are eyeing the Realme 16 Pro+, let&rsquo;s be real: you are probably here for the cameras. After a full week of pointing this thing at everything from city skylines to skittish pigeons, I&rsquo;m sold. This isn't just a bump up from my old 14 Pro+ or even the 15 Pro. It feels like Realme has finally graduated to the big leagues.
On paper, the specs are loud: a massive 200MP Samsung HP5 main sensor with OIS, backed by a 50MP periscope telephoto and an 8MP ultra-wide. But specs are just numbers until you actually snap the shutter. The real story is how it handles the chaos of real life.
In good lighting, the main 200MP shooter is fantastic. Realme talks a lot about their 'LumaColor' science, and for once, the results back up the marketing. They&rsquo;ve ditched that candy-colored, oversaturated look that plagues mid-range phones. Instead, photos come out looking natural, warm, rich, and surprisingly cinematic straight out of the gallery.
Dynamic range surprised me too. I took shots where the sky was blindingly bright and the trees were in deep shadow, and the phone balanced it perfectly. No blown-out clouds, no crushed blacks. The detail is exactly what you&rsquo;d hope for from a sensor this big, sharp, but not 'digital' sharp.
The zoom lens is where I had the most fun. I&rsquo;ve always loved periscope cameras, but this 50MP 3.5x module is just better. At native 3.5x, portraits look professional with that lovely background compression. Even the hybrid zoom holds up well. I took shots at 10x that were totally Instagram-ready, retaining good texture on distant brickwork. You can push it to 20x in decent light and still get a usable shot.
Just don&rsquo;t believe the '120x' hype. It&rsquo;s a neat party trick, sure, but once you go past 20x, reality breaks down. The AI tries to fill in the gaps, but the pictures start looking like watercolor paintings. It&rsquo;s fun to play with, but I wouldn't rely on it for anything serious.
Portrait mode deserves a shoutout, too. It handled tricky stuff like messy hair and shoulders with shocking accuracy, creating a creamy blur that didn't look fake. Skin tones were spot on; human, not plastic.
Speed was the sleeper hit for me. Shutter lag kills photos, but this phone is snappy. I actually caught two birds mid-flight, a shot I expected to be a blur and the camera froze them perfectly. The AI evidently knows what motion looks like.
Video and selfies are solid as well. The 50MP front cam avoids that muddy, soft look, and 4K 60fps video on both ends is a win for creators. Walking through a busy metro station, the stabilization smoothed out my footsteps without making the footage look robotic. Overall, this system feels mature, reliable, and honestly, it makes taking photos fun again.
<h2>Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Frankly, the battery performance on the Realme 16 Pro+ is wild. We have conditioned ourselves to accept that slim phones mean average battery life. But at 8.49mm thick, this device breaks that rule by packing a massive 7,000mAh Titan Battery without adding uncomfortable bulk.
Compared to my daily driver, the 14 Pro+, this isn't just a step up; it is a generational leap. Realme promised 'half battery left' after a full day, and for once, the marketing isn't lying. I pushed it hard to see if it would crack, spending a Sunday afternoon gaming for two solid hours on demanding titles. Usually, I'd be reaching for a charger, but I had only lost around 20 percent.
It gives you a serious peace of mind. You just stop checking the percentage. And in emergencies, the Super Power Saving Mode claims 7.5 hours of standby on just 1 percent charge. Recharging with the 80W brick takes a little over an hour, but since that gets you nearly two days of dependable power, it is well worth the wait.
<h2>Final Verdict: Should you buy it?</h2>
The Realme 16 Pro+ doesn&rsquo;t try to win arguments on a spec sheet, and that&rsquo;s probably its biggest strength. It&rsquo;s the kind of phone that surprises you once you start living with it. A 7,000mAh battery in a body this slim sounds unreal, but after a few days, you stop checking battery percentage altogether. That alone changes how you use the phone.&nbsp;
The processor won&rsquo;t impress anyone chasing benchmark numbers, but in normal use, it never feels like a weak link. The extra apps are irritating and the 120x zoom is easy to ignore, but those don&rsquo;t define the experience. What stays with you is how well everything comes together. If Realme gets the pricing right, this feels like a name it can finally stand behind.

Redmi Note 15 5G leans into a slimmer build, a very bright curved AMOLED display, dependable mid-range performance, and a camera-focused setup without stretching the price.

Redmi Note 15 5G first impressions: Slim design, bright AMOLED, solid upgrades

The Redmi Note 15 5G focuses on slim design, a bright curved AMOLED display, reliable performance, and a camera-first approach without pushing flagship pricing.

The Redmi Note line has long aimed to balance price and polish, and that philosophy becomes clear the moment the Redmi Note 15 5G comes out of the box. The idea is familiar: offer features that feel aspirational without crossing into flagship pricing. That does not mean this phone is trying to compete with high-end devices, though. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 at its core is firmly a mid-range chip, built for efficiency and stability rather than raw flagship power.
Still, several aspects immediately stand out as upgrades over earlier Note models. The curved AMOLED panel, the noticeably slimmer body, and the overall visual refinement give the phone a more premium presence than expected. Pricing begins at ₹20,000 for the 8GB + 128GB configuration, which places it squarely in the upper mid-range bracket.
What comes inside the retail box Redmi keeps things simple with the packaging. Inside, you get the handset, a clear protective case, standard documentation, a 45W fast charging adapter, and a USB-A to USB-C cable. There is nothing unexpected here, but the inclusion of a fast charger remains a welcome sight, especially as more brands continue to drop it from the box.
<h2>Design and how it feels in the hand</h2>
Picking up the phone for the first time, the slim profile is immediately noticeable. Measuring just 7.35mm thick and weighing 178 grams, this is one of the lightest Redmi Note devices to date. For someone who prefers a slightly heavier phone, it can almost feel unusually light at first. That said, it is extremely comfortable to hold, well balanced, and easy to use over long periods.
Visually, the phone looks far more refined than older Notes. The curved rear panel blends smoothly into the curved display, giving it a cohesive and modern appearance that does not scream &ldquo;budget.&rdquo; The black variant I have here uses a matte finish that looks elegant but attracts fingerprints very easily. Both the back and frame are plastic, as expected, while the camera layout appears inspired by the Note 14 Pro series, a design choice that fits well here.
Durability is also a focus this year. The phone comes with IP66-rated protection and reinforced internals. While I have not tested its toughness yet, the specifications suggest it should handle everyday wear better than before.
<h2>Screen quality and sound performance</h2>
Once the display lights up, it quickly becomes one of the phone&rsquo;s highlights. The 6.67-inch curved AMOLED panel supports a 120Hz refresh rate and peaks at 3200 nits of brightness. In brief outdoor use, it looks vibrant, bright, and high-contrast. Despite common concerns with curved screens, I have not experienced accidental touches so far. The in-display optical fingerprint scanner has also been fast and reliable in early use.
Audio is handled by stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Volume levels are strong and clear, although the vibration feedback feels weaker than ideal.
<h2>Bankable performance at this price point</h2>
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. There is also support for microSD cards up to 1TB. During setup and general app usage, the experience has been smooth, with no visible slowdowns.
Redmi claims an AnTuTu score exceeding 850,000, although my benchmark run completed without generating a final score. In early gaming tests with BGMI, there is no 90FPS mode available, but the game maintained a stable 60FPS during my sessions.
<h2>Software experience with HyperOS 2 in 2026</h2>
Out of the box, the phone runs Android 15 with HyperOS 2. While Android 16 would have been ideal at launch, Redmi has committed to four years of Android updates and six years of security patches.
You also get a range of AI-driven features, including Circle to Search, Google Gemini integration, and AI-powered call noise reduction.
<h2>Camera setup and the Master Pixel branding</h2>
Photography is clearly a key focus here. The main camera uses a 108MP sensor with optical image stabilisation, which Redmi is calling the Master Pixel edition. It is joined by an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 20MP selfie camera.
I have only taken a handful of shots so far, but the early results are encouraging. That said, the camera system needs more time before any firm judgments can be made. The rear camera also supports 4K video recording at 30FPS with OIS.
<h2>Battery size and charging speeds</h2>
Powering the phone is a 5,520mAh silicon-carbon battery, paired with 45W fast charging. Given how thin and light the device is, this capacity feels well judged. Redmi has clearly chosen not to chase oversized battery figures, instead prioritising a slimmer design.
<h2>First impressions so far</h2>
Based on this early hands-on experience, the Redmi Note 15 5G seems to be built around three priorities: a slim and lightweight body, an extremely bright curved display, and a strong focus on the main camera and durability. I will be spending more time testing performance, cameras, battery life, and everyday usability. A full review will follow once that deeper testing is complete.

Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ review: strong 32dB ANC, punchy sound, long battery life, and dual-device connectivity make these standout budget earbuds under ₹2,500.

Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Review: Best ANC Earbuds Under ₹2,500?

The Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ quietly deliver excellent ANC, lively sound, long battery life, and dual-device pairing—making them one of the best budget TWS earbuds under ₹2,500.

Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ deliver surprisingly strong ANC, punchy sound, long battery life, and seamless dual-device connectivity under ₹2,500, making them one of the most well-rounded budget earbuds for daily use.

The Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ arrived with the Find X9 series, and like most accessory launches, they were instantly overshadowed by the phones. If you skipped past them, that&rsquo;s honestly a miss. Oppo has added ANC to an already solid budget formula, and the Buds3 Pro+ turn out to be much better than you&rsquo;d think.
&nbsp;I picked these up primarily because I wanted a reliable daily driver under ₹2,500 that didn't skip on the essentials. At an introductory price of around ₹2,099 they promised a lot: 43 hours of battery, 32dB ANC, and dual-device connection. But, do they really live up to the spec sheet? Here is my detailed breakdown.
<h2>Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Design &amp; Comfort</h2>
Pulling these out of the box felt like a non-event. No gasp, no double-take. If you&rsquo;ve held the <a title="OnePlus Nord Buds 3 review &amp; comparison with Nord Buds 3 Pro" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/oneplus-nord-buds-3-review-comparison-with-nord-buds-3-pro-1726568967896" target="_blank">OnePlus Nord Buds 3</a> or basically anything from Oppo&rsquo;s recent lineup, you&rsquo;ll get major deja-vu. It feels like they just reused an old blueprint to play it safe.
I&rsquo;ve been using the Sonic Blue pair. The colour adds some life to an otherwise generic look, though there is a Midnight Black version if you want to disappear into the crowd. The case itself has a matte finish, good for dodging fingerprints. It also comes with a thin glossy strip that saves it from looking totally cheap. The shape is practical, at least. It&rsquo;s a smooth pebble that slides into a jeans pocket and vanishes. After two days, I stopped noticing I was carrying it.
The buds keep the stem design. I actually prefer this; it&rsquo;s just easier to grab and usually means the mic is closer to your mouth for calls. But when you touch them, you know it&rsquo;s plastic.&nbsp;
&nbsp;I took them out for a run and got caught in a light drizzle; the IP55 rating did its job.. Each bud weighs just around 4.2 grams. I&rsquo;ve worn them for 3-4 hours straight while working, and I honestly forget they are there half the time. The fit is also secure; I took them for a jog, and they didn't wiggle out, though if you are doing intense HIIT(High intensity interval training), you might need to adjust them occasionally. They sit deep enough to provide a decent passive seal, which helps the ANC(Active noise cancellation) do its job.
<h2>Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Audio Quality</h2>
Sound is where I spent most of my time with these earbuds, mostly because that&rsquo;s where they can either win you over or lose you completely. To start with this section, it&rsquo;s important you know that I'm not just a casual listener, I have been doing serious music for a long time now.
I play and work with music, so I tend to notice tuning choices pretty quickly. These use 12.4mm titanized dynamic drivers, and it doesn&rsquo;t take long to figure out what they&rsquo;re aiming for. This is not a neutral or reference-style sound. It&rsquo;s warm, lively, and clearly tuned to be enjoyable first and accurate second.
I started off slow, with tracks like Perfect by Ed Sheeran and Phir Le Aaya Dil by Arijit Singh. Vocals sound clean and full, especially at mid volumes. There&rsquo;s a softness to the presentation that works well for melodic songs. Acoustic guitars and piano don&rsquo;t sound thin or sharp, but you can tell the earbuds aren&rsquo;t trying to pull out every tiny detail. If you like analysing recordings, you might feel that restraint. If you just want to relax and listen, it actually works in their favour.
Bass is where these earbuds make their intentions very clear. On Love On The Weekend by John Mayer, the low end adds warmth and movement to the track. It feels rounded and present rather than tight and controlled. At times, the bass does push a little ahead of the mids, especially when the mix gets busy. It never turns messy, but it definitely wants your attention.
Things start making more sense once you switch to hip-hop and rap. Tracks like Hola Amigo by KR$NA, That&rsquo;s A Fact by Hanumankind, and Love The Way You Lie by Eminem sound energetic and fun. The kicks hit hard, the bass has weight, and the overall sound feels aggressive in a good way. At higher volumes, the energy really comes through, though some finer background layers do get buried when the bass is doing most of the work.
I also spent time playing with the Enco Master Equalizer in the HeyMelody app. There are three presets; Balanced(Original), Bass Boost, and Clear Vocals. I kept coming back to Balanced because that&rsquo;s where everything feels the most natural. Bass Boost is enjoyable during workouts or when you just want extra punch, while Clear Vocals helps calm things down for softer music or spoken content.
Outside of music, I used these earbuds when watching YouTube videos and a couple of movies. They perform well enough there. Dialogue stays clear, and the sound doesn&rsquo;t feel small or hollow. It&rsquo;s not immersive or cinematic, but it gets the job done without any obvious issues.
In simple terms, these earbuds aren&rsquo;t built for people chasing perfect accuracy. They&rsquo;re made for people who want music to sound full, lively, and forgiving, no matter what genre they throw at them. And honestly, for most everyday listeners, that approach works.
<h2>Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Effective ANC and Call Quality</h2>
The main reason most people will even look at these earbuds is the promise of 32dB ANC. And to be honest, I went in with fairly low expectations. At this price point, ANC usually feels like something brands add just so they can mention it on the box. You turn it on, notice a small difference, and then forget about it.
But, that&rsquo;s not what happened here. In day-to-day use, the noise cancellation actually does a solid job. At home, it cuts out steady background sounds without any effort; the ceiling fan, the constant AC hum in the office, even distant traffic from outside the window. Those kinds of noises fade into the background almost immediately once ANC is switched on.
Where it surprised me more was during travel. I wore these on the metro and while walking through some fairly crowded areas, and the difference was obvious. It doesn&rsquo;t block everything, but I&rsquo;d say around 70 to 80 percent of the surrounding noise gets knocked down. You&rsquo;re still aware of your surroundings, but your music no longer has to compete with the chaos around you, which makes a big difference during commutes.
It&rsquo;s not flawless, though. Sharp and sudden sounds are still a weak spot. Mechanical keyboard clicks nearby, vehicle horns, or other high-pitched noises tend to sneak through. That&rsquo;s pretty common at this level, and it happens here too. Even so, the overall reduction is enough that busy spaces feel noticeably calmer than they would without ANC.
Given the price, performance is genuinely better than expected. I wasn&rsquo;t anticipating this level of noise control, especially in public transport, and that&rsquo;s where these earbuds ended up surprising me the most.
Transparency Mode is serviceable. It does sound a bit processed, but voices come through clearly enough for quick interactions. I could respond to a cashier or have a short conversation without taking the earbuds out, which is really all I expect from this feature. Switching between ANC and Transparency in the app is also quick and smooth.
Call quality has been solid. The dual-mic AI noise reduction does a good job.
&nbsp;I&rsquo;ve taken calls while walking on busy streets and my voice still came through clearly, though really loud horns do sneak in. Indoors or on Zoom calls, they&rsquo;ve been flawless.
<h2>Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Connectivity and Controls</h2>
Connectivity hasn&rsquo;t given me any grief. They&rsquo;re running Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and SBC codecs, so pairing is snappy. If you&rsquo;re on Android, Google Fast Pair makes the initial setup a five-second job. Just pop the lid, tap the notification and done. The signal holds up, too. I walked to the other side of the apartment without the music chopping up or dropping the connection.
I leaned heavily on the dual connection feature. Having them tethered to both my laptop and phone simultaneously is a lifesaver. It handles the hand-off correctly, which isn't always a given in this price bracket. I&rsquo;d be watching a video on my laptop, a call would come through on the phone, and the audio switched over instantly. No menu digging required. It&rsquo;s one of those features that spoils you fast.
Gaming was actually decent. With Game Mode active, the lag tightens up noticeably. I ran a few matches of BGMI and CODM, and I didn&rsquo;t feel like the audio was dragging behind the action. Gunshots and footsteps were synced enough that I stopped looking for delays, which is the only test that really matters. During my run the latency averaged at around 47ms, which is acceptable in my opinion.
The touch controls are a mixed bag, though. Responsiveness isn't the issue but aim is. The touch zone feels tiny, so you have to be deliberate with where you tap. I suggest diving into the app immediately to remap the gestures. I hated the default volume controls, so I swapped them out. Once you customize the layout, it becomes much less frustrating.
<h2>Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Battery</h2>
I stopped thinking about the battery after day two. That&rsquo;s usually the best indicator. <a title="Oppo Find X9 Pro Review: Massive Battery, Pro Cameras, Big Price &mdash; Worth It?" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/oppo-find-x9-pro-review-massive-battery-pro-cameras-big-price-worth-it-1763717438502" target="_blank">Oppo </a>quotes 43 hours total if you keep ANC off, but I rarely use buds that way. I kept noise cancellation on, volume parked at 60%, and juggled music and calls all day.
Even with that load, the case lasted me days. I wasn&rsquo;t clocking hours with a stopwatch, but I wasn't hunting for a charger, either. I&rsquo;d just toss them in the case and move on. The typical 'battery anxiety' never showed up.
The buds themselves pull about 7 to 8 hours in one go with noise cancellation active. Unless you&rsquo;re pulling a marathon session without a single break, you aren&rsquo;t going to drain them mid-song.
The fast charging actually saved me once or twice; it isn't just spec-sheet filler. A ten-minute charge while I was getting ready gave me enough juice to survive the rest of the night. It&rsquo;s reliable. I didn&rsquo;t have to plan my life around the charging cable, and for this price point, that&rsquo;s a win.
<h2>Final Verdict: Are the Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ worth it?</h2>
If your budget is strictly under ₹2,500, these are arguably the most well-rounded package available right now. You get meaningful ANC, excellent battery life, and the convenience of dual-device pairing, features that used to be reserved for more expensive models.
Sure, the audio isn't audiophile-grade, and the plastic build is average, but as a daily companion for music, calls, and commuting, they are a fantastic value.

Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini first look: Oppo’s first compact phone with a 6.32-inch AMOLED, ultra-slim bezels, glossy ribbon-finish back, and IP66/67/69 durability. Launching soon in India as part of the Reno 15 series.

Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini First Look & Hands-On: Small Phone, Big Intentions

Oppo&rsquo;s first compact phone, the Reno 15 Pro Mini brings a 6.32-inch AMOLED, ultra-slim bezels, a glossy ribbon-finish back, and serious IP66/67/69 durability, all in a slim, balanced design launching in India soon.

Oppo is all set to launch the Reno 15 series in India soon, and this time the lineup includes three phones: the Reno 15, the Reno 15 Pro, and the most interesting one of the lot, the Reno 15 Pro Mini.
And yes, before the phones officially go live, we&rsquo;ve managed to spend some time with the Mini. If photography is your thing, this is probably the Reno you&rsquo;ve been most curious about.
The Reno series has always leaned heavily into cameras and design, especially in the mid-range, and with the Reno 15 lineup, it feels like Oppo is trying to evolve that identity rather than reinvent it.
What makes the Reno 15 Pro Mini stand out immediately is the fact that this is Oppo&rsquo;s first proper compact smartphone. Not a slightly smaller Pro, not a watered-down version, but a phone that&rsquo;s clearly designed for people who want a premium experience in a genuinely manageable size.
Before diving into what makes it special, let&rsquo;s start at the beginning.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Unboxing: Familiar, But Still Thoughtful</h2>
The unboxing experience is classic Oppo. You get the phone front and centre, along with a fast charger, USB-C cable, SIM ejector tool, TPU case, and the usual paperwork. Nothing dramatic, but also no corner-cutting. In a market where brands are slowly removing things from the box, Oppo sticking to the basics still feels reassuring.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/oneplus-15r-review-a-clear-shift-in-what-the-r-series-stands-for-1765984219567">OnePlus 15R review: A clear shift in what the R-series stands for</a>
Once the phone is out of the box though, that&rsquo;s when the real impressions begin.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini In the Hand: Compact Without Feeling Fragile</h2>
The first thing you notice is the size and balance. The Reno 15 Pro Mini weighs 187 grams and measures just 7.99mm thick in this white variant. Those numbers might not sound radical, but the moment you pick it up, it feels refreshingly compact.
It sits naturally in the hand. One-hand use feels easy again. You&rsquo;re not constantly shifting your grip or worrying about the phone tipping forward. It&rsquo;s the kind of size that just makes sense if you&rsquo;ve ever missed smaller phones.
What really surprised me, though, is how solid it feels. Despite being slim and compact, there&rsquo;s a density to it that inspires confidence. It doesn&rsquo;t feel hollow or delicate. Instead, it feels like a phone that can take daily wear and tear without complaint.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Durability: Overkill, In a Good Way</h2>
That confidence isn&rsquo;t accidental. Oppo has gone all-in on durability here. The Reno 15 Pro Mini comes with IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, which is honestly wild for a phone of this size. (Please note that in the video, we say IP67, which is incorrect. It's IP68. Apologies)
That means it&rsquo;s protected against dust, rain, splashes, and even high-pressure water jets. Whether it&rsquo;s sudden rain, an accidental spill, or just general rough use, this phone feels built to handle real life.
Slim, compact phones don&rsquo;t usually get this kind of toughness, so it&rsquo;s nice to see Oppo not treating &ldquo;mini&rdquo; as an excuse to compromise.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/oxygenos-16-review-oneplus-sets-the-benchmark-on-how-smartphones-should-do-ai-1760628833515">OxygenOS 16 Review</a>
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Design Details: The Ribbon That Catches the Light</h2>
Now let&rsquo;s talk about the design, because this white variant deserves a proper moment.
The back panel has a glossy finish, and at first glance, it looks clean and minimal. But once you start moving the phone around, you notice a beautiful white ribbon-like pattern running across the back. It&rsquo;s understated, but it sparkles gently as light hits it from different angles.
This isn&rsquo;t the kind of design that screams for attention. It&rsquo;s more refined than that. The shimmer shows up when you want it to, then fades back into the background.&nbsp;
The overall look is premium without being flashy, and it fits perfectly with what the Reno series has always aimed for: style that feels intentional rather than decorative.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Display: Almost All Screen</h2>
Flip the phone over and you&rsquo;re greeted by a 6.32-inch AMOLED display, and yes, it looks excellent. Colours are punchy, blacks are deep, and everything feels crisp.
But the real flex here is the bezels. On the sides, they measure just 1.6mm, which is seriously impressive. Even many flagship phones don&rsquo;t manage bezels this slim. Because of that, the front of the phone looks almost entirely screen.
Oppo claims a 93.35 percent screen-to-body ratio, and honestly, it&rsquo;s believable the moment you turn the display on. It feels immersive without being overwhelming, which is exactly what you want from a compact phone.
In everyday use, scrolling, watching videos, or just navigating the interface feels smooth and premium. It&rsquo;s the kind of display that quietly does its job so well that you stop thinking about it.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Availability: What We Know So Far</h2>
On the availability front, Oppo has started dropping some early hints. A dedicated microsite for the upcoming Reno 15 series is already live on Flipkart, which confirms that the phones will be sold via the platform in India.
However, Oppo is still keeping the exact launch date under wraps, so for now, we know where it&rsquo;s coming, just not when.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini: What&rsquo;s Left to Test</h2>
There&rsquo;s still a lot left to explore before locking in a final verdict. Real-world performance is a big one. How does it handle long days? Does it stay cool under pressure? How&rsquo;s battery life when you stop being gentle and actually push it?
And then there are the cameras. Because let&rsquo;s be real, this is a Reno phone. Cameras are the headline feature. Low-light performance, portraits, video stability, and overall consistency are all things that need proper testing.
<h2>Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini Early Take: Small Phone, Serious Intent</h2>
For now, this is very much a first look rather than a final judgment.
The Oppo Reno 15 Pro Mini already feels like a statement. A compact phone that doesn&rsquo;t feel compromised. A glossy, thoughtfully designed back with that subtle shimmering ribbon. And durability that goes far beyond what you&rsquo;d expect from something this slim.

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