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

iQOO 15R First Impressions: Performance-Led and Purposeful

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

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

Infinix Note Edge 5G review covering price in India, specs, slim 7.2mm design, curved AMOLED display, Dimensity 7100 performance, AI features, camera quality, and 6,500mAh battery with 45W fast charging.

Infinix Note Edge 5G Review: Slim Design, Curved AMOLED, and Balanced Performance

Infinix Note Edge 5G blends a slim 7.2mm design, curved AMOLED display, Dimensity 7100 performance, AI features, and a 6,500mAh battery with 45W charging, offering a balanced mid-range smartphone experience.

Infinix Note Edge 5G blends a slim 7.2mm design, curved AMOLED display, Dimensity 7100 performance, AI features, and a 6,500mAh battery with 45W charging, offering a balanced mid-range smartphone experience.

Some smartphones try to overwhelm you. More megapixels, bigger numbers, louder claims. Others take a quieter route. The Infinix Note Edge 5G belongs firmly in the second camp.
It is a phone that looks confident on a spec sheet, feels surprisingly refined in the hand, and then calmly reminds you that it was never trying to be a flagship killer in the first place.
On paper, the Note Edge checks a lot of boxes. Curved AMOLED display, a large 6,500mAh battery, MediaTek&rsquo;s Dimensity 7100 chipset, modern AI features, and a design that flirts with premium territory.
At a price hovering slightly above the $200 mark, the question is not whether it does many things, but whether it does the right things well enough.
After spending time with it, the Infinix Note Edge comes across as a phone with clear priorities. Some of those priorities land beautifully. Others reveal the compromises Infinix had to make to hit this price.
<h2>Price, Variants, and What You Get in the Box</h2>
The Infinix Note Edge 5G enters the Indian market with pricing that clearly targets the upper mid-range segment. The base variant starts at Rs. 21,999 for 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, making it relatively accessible for a phone with a curved AMOLED display and a large battery.
There are two higher configurations as well. The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs. 23,999, while the top-end 8GB RAM + 256GB storage option comes in at Rs. 25,999.&nbsp;
Internally, the phone uses LPDDR4X RAM paired with UFS 2.2 storage. This is not flagship-grade memory, but it is fast and reliable enough for the kind of everyday performance the Note Edge is designed to deliver.
Where Infinix really leans in is the unboxing experience. Even at this price, you get a TPU case, a 45W fast charging brick, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a pre-applied screen protector in the box.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/tecno-pova-curve-2-5g-review-the-case-for-bigger-batteries-in-slim-phones-1771573690938">Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Review</a>
<h2>Design: Comfortable, Confident, and a Bit Playful</h2>
The first thing you notice about the Infinix Note Edge is how thin it feels. At just 7.2mm, it is impressively slim for a phone carrying a 6,500mAh battery. That thin profile, combined with the curved edges, makes it feel lighter and more manageable than its size suggests. It is the kind of phone that disappears into your hand instead of constantly reminding you of its dimensions.
Infinix offers the Note Edge in three color variants: Silk Green, Stellar Blue, and Lunar Titanium. While all three aim for a premium look, Silk Green is easily the standout. Instead of a glossy or metallic surface, it features a silk-like, fabric-inspired texture that feels genuinely different to the touch.
It is soft, slightly grippy, and avoids fingerprints entirely. More importantly, it feels intentional, not gimmicky. This is one of those finishes that you notice every time you pick up the phone.
The Stellar Blue and Lunar Titanium variants take a more traditional route with metallic-style finishes. They look clean and polished, offering a safer, more conventional premium aesthetic. If you want something familiar, these are solid options. But if you want personality, Silk Green is where the phone truly finds its identity.
The back panel still houses Infinix&rsquo;s Active Halo Light, a small LED that responds to calls, notifications, and charging. It is subtle, customizable, and adds a touch of playfulness without screaming for attention. The camera module keeps things simple, despite the visual illusion of multiple sensors, with a single main camera doing all the work.
There is also a dedicated One Tap Key with a green accent on the side. By default, it launches the camera and works as a physical shutter button, but it can be reassigned or turned off completely. It is a small detail, but one that adds to the phone&rsquo;s usability.
Despite its slim profile, the Note Edge does not feel fragile. The build feels solid, the curves are well-balanced, and the phone carries an IP65 rating for water resistance. Add in stereo speakers tuned by JBL and an IR blaster at the top, and the overall design feels thoughtfully engineered rather than simply styled.
<h2>Display: Big, Curved, and Mostly Impressive</h2>
The Infinix Note Edge features a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1.5K resolution. On first glance, it is one of the phone&rsquo;s strongest features.
Scrolling is smooth, animations feel fluid, and colors are punchy without going overboard. The bezels are even, the curves are aggressive, and the overall presentation feels modern. Gorilla Glass 7i protection is a welcome addition and suggests Infinix is thinking about durability.
There is an in-display fingerprint scanner positioned low on the screen. It works quickly and reliably, though you do have to stretch your thumb a bit to reach it.
There are compromises. There is no HDR support, which is noticeable if you stream a lot of high-quality content. Brightness outdoors is acceptable, but at very low brightness levels, visibility drops more than expected. You can force the display to stay at 120Hz, drop it to 60Hz, or leave it on auto. Auto works well and is the sensible choice.
Overall, this is a display that looks great in everyday use, even if it skips a few premium extras.
<h2>Software: XOS Has Grown Up</h2>
The Note Edge runs Android 16 with Infinix&rsquo;s XOS 16.1 on top. Infinix promises three years of Android updates and five years of security patches, which is genuinely impressive for this segment.
XOS has matured significantly over the years. The interface feels cleaner, animations are smoother, and the icon design feels more intentional. There are visual flourishes inspired by other ecosystems, especially in the quick settings panel, but they are mostly contained and do not overwhelm the experience.
Pre-installed apps are present, but most can be uninstalled. Multitasking features like split screen and floating windows work well, and there is support for multiple user profiles.
For long-time Infinix users, this software evolution will be obvious. For new users, it simply feels stable and modern, which is exactly what it should do.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/vivo-v70-review-the-refined-portrait-master-1771504089465">Vivo V70 Review</a>
<h2>AI Features: Ambitious and Surprisingly Useful</h2>
There is a dedicated Infinix AI section in the settings, and it is clear the company wants to be part of the AI conversation. These features rely on an internet connection rather than on-device processing, but that is expected at this price.
Circle to Search is one of the highlights, especially for identifying music playing nearby. There are also AI call summaries, recording summaries, writing assistance, document tools, and a voice assistant called Folax that can replace Gemini.
None of these features are revolutionary on their own, but together they give the Note Edge a sense of modernity. Infinix deserves credit for not treating AI as a buzzword and actually integrating usable tools.
<h2>Performance: Reliable, Not Reckless</h2>
The Infinix Note Edge is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7100, a chipset that focuses more on efficiency and stability than raw horsepower. Paired with up to 8GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage, everyday performance feels fluid. Apps open quickly, background processes stay in memory longer than expected, and general navigation feels smooth and predictable.
This is not a phone built for benchmark bragging rights, and that is obvious the moment you push it hard. Casual gaming and popular titles run without issue, but extended gaming sessions or higher graphics settings can introduce frame drops over time.
That said, thermal management is solid. The phone does not aggressively heat up, which makes longer usage sessions more comfortable. For day-to-day use like social media, streaming, browsing, and multitasking, the Note Edge performs reliably.
It responds when you need it to and stays out of your way, which is arguably the most important thing for its target audience. Performance here is sensible, measured, and well-aligned with what the phone is trying to
<h2>Cameras: Good Enough, With Clear Limits</h2>
On the back, the Note Edge uses a single 50MP camera, despite the design suggesting more. On the front, there is a 13MP selfie camera.
In good lighting, the main camera performs well. Photos are sharp, detailed, and colors are pleasing. Skin tones are handled nicely, which is not always a given at this price. Digital zoom goes up to 15x, but the usable range tops out at around 2x.
Low-light performance is respectable. Noise is controlled reasonably well, and images remain usable, though not exceptional.
The selfie camera delivers good detail and dynamic range. Video recording maxes out at 2K at 30fps on both front and rear cameras. For 60fps, you need to drop to 1080p, and electronic stabilization is limited to 1080p at 30fps.
For casual photos and family videos, the camera system is fine. For serious video work or creative photography, this is not the phone to rely on.
<h2>Battery Life and Charging: Good, Not Great</h2>
The 6,500mAh battery is one of the headline features, and expectations are naturally high. In practice, battery life is solid but slightly underwhelming given the size.
You can comfortably get through a full day of use, but stretching into a day and a half is less consistent than expected. With some software optimization, this could improve.
Charging is reliable. The included 45W charger takes the phone from zero to full in just over an hour, which helps offset the battery performance.
<h2>Final Verdict: A Sensible Phone With a Clear Audience</h2>
The Infinix Note Edge is not trying to be everything. It is not chasing flagship performance, extreme camera versatility, or record-breaking benchmarks. Instead, it focuses on comfort, design, software maturity, and everyday usability.
It looks good, feels good, and covers the basics with confidence. The display is strong, the software is surprisingly polished, and the included accessories add real value. At the same time, battery life does not fully capitalize on its capacity, and the camera setup feels limited for the price.
This is a phone for someone who wants a well-rounded, modern device without unnecessary flash. A phone that feels thoughtful rather than ambitious. If that sounds like your kind of device, the Infinix Note Edge makes a compelling case for itself in a very crowded mid-range market.

The Oppo Pad 5 packs a 2.8K 120Hz display, Dimensity 7300 Ultra, 10,050mAh battery and quad speakers. A reliable all-round tablet under ₹30K.

Oppo Pad 5 Review: A well-balanced tablet under ₹30K

Oppo Pad 5 packs a 2.8K 120Hz display, Dimensity 7300 Ultra, 10,050mAh battery and quad speakers. A reliable all-round tablet under ₹30K.

<h3>The Oppo Pad 5 is a dependable all-round tablet with a sharp 2.8K display, stable performance, strong battery life and solid multimedia experience under ₹30K.</h3>

The Oppo Pad 5 is clearly designed to be an all-rounder. It is not trying to reinvent the tablet category or chase one dramatic headline feature. Instead, it positions itself as a balanced device that covers all the essentials without cutting obvious corners.
On paper, the spec sheet looks reassuring. You get a 12.1-inch 2.8K display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra processor, up to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a large 10,050mAh battery, stylus support, quad speakers, and Dolby Vision. It reads like a checklist Oppo did not want to leave incomplete.
In India, the tablet starts at ₹26,999 for the Wi-Fi variant and ₹32,999 for the 5G model, which puts it in a competitive but important price bracket.
After spending a good two weeks with it as my choice of device aside from my phone, which meant using it as my streaming device, productivity companion, note-taking slab, and occasional gaming machine, I wanted to see whether this balanced approach actually works in real life. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.&nbsp;
<h2>Oppo Pad 5 Review: Design and build quality</h2>
Let us start with the design, because with tablets, design is not just about looks. It is about how the thing feels after 40 minutes of Netflix, or two hours of note-taking.
The Oppo Pad 5 keeps things simple and controlled. The proportions are neat. The bezels are evenly balanced. The flat edges give it that modern, 2026 tablet vibe without trying too hard to look futuristic. It feels confident, but not loud.
My unit came in Aurora Pink, and honestly, it looks better in person than in pictures. It has this soft mauve, marble-like finish that catches light in a subtle way. Indoors, when you tilt it slightly, you see this shimmery texture that adds depth. It does not scream for attention, but it definitely does not feel basic either. If pink is not your thing, there is a black version that keeps things clean and low-key.
The back is polycarbonate, but it does not feel cheap. There is no flex when you twist it. No hollow sound when you tap it. It feels dense and reassuring, which is what you want from something you will carry around daily. The frame looks metallic and feels sturdy. The flat edges make it comfortable to hold in landscape mode, especially while watching content. On a desk, it sits flat without wobbling, which sounds small, but it matters.
At around 6.8mm thick, it is slim enough to feel sleek without feeling fragile. The Wi-Fi variant weighs 597 grams, and the 5G version is 599 grams. That two-gram difference means nothing in real life. What matters is that it feels balanced. It is light enough for long reading sessions, but not so light that it feels toy-like.
The rear camera module is clean and minimal. There is a small decorative ring around the lens, which adds a bit of character without being flashy. For some strange reason, though, you don&rsquo;t get a flash with the rear camera.
Now, I tested the Wi-Fi unit, so there&rsquo;s no SIM tray here. If you want 5G, you will have to go for the 8GB + 256GB model.&nbsp;
As for accessories, the Pad 5 does support stylus input, and Oppo also sells a new stylus, the Oppo Pencil 2R, separately for the Pad 5. For this review, I used the OnePlus Stylo 2 instead, and it worked perfectly. Pressure sensitivity felt accurate, latency was low, and handwriting recognition worked smoothly. Even scribbled calculations were picked up correctly. So, if you want, you can use a third-party Bluetooth stylus without any issues.&nbsp;
Surprisingly, though, there is no dedicated folio cover for the Oppo Pad 5, not even from Oppo. However, you can use the folio cover from the OnePlus Pad Go 2, as they are almost identical in dimension.&nbsp;
Overall, the Pad 5 is comfortable, practical, and for a tablet you will use every day, truly dependable.
<h2>Oppo Pad 5 Review: 12.1-inch 2.8K display and quad speakers</h2>
Now let me talk about the display, because this is honestly where I felt the Oppo Pad 5 steps up.
It has a 12.1-inch 2.8K LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the moment I unlocked it, it felt premium. This is technically a 12-bit, or 8+4-bit panel, and I could actually see the difference. Colours have depth instead of looking flat. In Vivid mode, it covers 98 per cent of DCI-P3, and in Natural mode, it hits 100 per cent sRGB. Gradients look smooth. Dark scenes do not show harsh banding. It feels refined.
Streaming was a good experience, too. I watched HDR content on YouTube and Netflix, and the panel held up well. Dolby Vision support is present, HEVC decoding works, and Netflix streams in Full HD without restrictions. At this price, I appreciate that nothing feels artificially capped.
The 120Hz refresh rate makes daily use feel fluid. Scrolling through long articles feels effortless. Swiping between apps is responsive. After using it for a few days, going back to 60Hz genuinely feels slower to me.
Brightness peaks at 900 nits in high brightness mode. Indoors, it looks excellent. Under shade outdoors, I had no issues. In direct harsh sunlight, it can struggle slightly, but that is expected in this segment.
I also like the 7:5 aspect ratio. It feels balanced for productivity, very similar to most iPads. Split-screen apps actually get enough space to be usable. Reading long documents feels natural and not strained.
The quad speakers surprised me. They get loud without distorting quickly. There is a hint of bass, dialogue is clear, and music does not sound thin.
For Netflix, YouTube, or even background music while working, I felt the multimedia experience was complete and well-sorted.
<h2>Oppo Pad 5 Review: 8MP Cameras that do the job</h2>
Let us be honest, nobody buys a tablet for its cameras, and the Oppo Pad 5 is no different.
On the back, you get an 8MP sensor. It is not trying to be artistic. It is there for practical stuff. Scanning documents works smoothly. Clicking whiteboard notes is quick and clear. Reference shots look sharp enough for everyday use.
The front is also 8MP, and in good lighting, it does the job well. Video calls look natural. Skin tones are balanced. Exposure is handled properly.
You are not buying this for selfies or to record videos of any previous moments. It is meant for your online classes and Zoom meetings, and in those specific use cases, it works just fine.
Oppo Pad 5 Review: Dimensity 7300 Ultra performance The Oppo Pad 5 runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. I tested the 8GB plus 256GB variant.
This is not a performance-first tablet on paper, but in daily use, I never felt like it was struggling to keep up.
In my testing, it scored just under 985,000 on AnTuTu. Geekbench returned 998 in single core and 3136 in multi core. On 3DMark, stability was an impressive 99.4 per cent, with loop scores sitting between 860 and 865. The numbers are respectable, but what mattered more to me was how consistent they felt.
From what I experienced, Oppo has tuned this device conservatively. It does not spike aggressively for short benchmark bursts. Instead, it focuses on sustained stability, and that shows in real-world usage.
I ran split-screen apps, floating windows, multiple Chrome tabs, background downloads, and YouTube playback at the same time. Everything remained smooth. App switching felt fluid, and I did not notice random frame drops.
Gaming performance is also pretty decent if you just want to enjoy a larger display. I tried games like BGMI, and it ran comfortably well. COD Mobile can hit up to 90FPS on low graphics, and gameplay was pretty stable. That 3DMark stability score actually reflects the experience I had.
While the Pad 5 may not be a tablet that is trying to top benchmark charts and gaming scores, &nbsp;it is a balanced, dependable performer built for everyday reliability.
<h2>Oppo Pad 5 Review: ColorOS 16 software experience</h2>
The Oppo Pad 5 runs on ColorOS 16 based on Android 16, and I have to say, it feels familiar in a good way.
The interface is clean and easy to understand. Nothing feels cluttered. There is a slight glassy look to parts of the UI, but it is subtle. It does not feel like it is trying too hard. I get the same customisation options that I have seen on recent Oppo and OnePlus phones, so if you have used one before, you will feel at home. The Flux theme is here as well, and I like how it matches app icons to the overall theme. It keeps everything looking neat.
This being 2026, there are a ton of AI features, but they do not feel forced. I tried AI summaries for text, and they worked fine for quick overviews. There are several AI photo editing tools built in, and Google Gemini support is integrated too. I did not feel like these were gimmicks, but I also did not feel like they were revolutionary. They are just useful additions.
Where I genuinely enjoyed the experience was multitasking. I used split screen a lot, and it ran smoothly. Floating windows were responsive. You also get a ton of cross-device features, which were easy to use in my testing. Phone mirroring worked consistently, and moving files between Android phones, iPhones, and even my PC felt intuitive and hassle-free.
Oppo says it will keep performance smooth for four years. For a tablet, long-term stability is important, and I appreciate that commitment.
<h2>Oppo Pad 5 Review: 10,050mAh battery and 33W charging</h2>
Battery life ended up being one of the most reassuring parts of my time with the Oppo Pad 5.
It packs a 10,050mAh battery, and in my usage, it comfortably lasted around a day and a half. That included streaming shows, browsing, taking notes, some light gaming, and a few video calls in between. I never felt anxious about the battery dipping too quickly, which is exactly what I want from a tablet.
The standby drain was low as well. When I left it idle overnight, the percentage barely moved, which tells me the optimisation is doing its job.
Charging is rated at 33W, and Oppo includes a 45W charger in the box. From low to full, it took me roughly an hour and a half. It is not class-leading fast, but it is practical and predictable.
For a tablet this size, the endurance feels stable and dependable, which honestly matters more than flashy charging speeds.
<h2>Oppo Pad 5 Review: Verdict</h2>
After spending two weeks with the Oppo Pad 5 as my go-to secondary device, I think Oppo has played this one smartly.
This is not a tablet that wins you over with one dramatic headline feature. It is not the fastest, not the flashiest, and not trying to redefine the category. What it does instead is quietly get almost everything right. The display is sharp, colour accurate, and genuinely enjoyable for streaming. The quad speakers add to that immersive feel. Performance is stable and consistent, whether I was multitasking, browsing, or playing games casually. Battery life is dependable enough that I never felt nervous stepping out without a charger.
Even the design, while not radical, feels practical and comfortable for long sessions, which matters more than bold aesthetics on a tablet.
At ₹26,999 for the Wi-Fi model and ₹32,999 for the 5G variant, I feel the Oppo Pad 5 offers a well-balanced package. If you want a tablet that can handle content consumption, productivity, note-taking, and some gaming without obvious compromises, this makes a strong case for itself. It is not trying to dominate one category. It is trying to be reliably good at all of them, and in my experience, it succeeds.

The Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G packs an 8000mAh battery in a slim 7.42mm body. Bold design, curved AMOLED and solid endurance at ₹27,999.

Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Review: 8000mAh battery beast

<h3>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G packs an 8000mAh battery into a slim 7.42mm body, offering standout endurance, a curved 144Hz AMOLED display and stable mid-range performance at ₹27,999.</h3>

Tecno isn&rsquo;t hiding what the Pova Curve 2 5G is about. This is a phone built around one clear headline: an 8,000mAh battery inside a slim 7.42mm body. In a mid-range market where big batteries usually translate into bulky designs, Tecno is betting that this combination alone is enough to grab attention.&nbsp;
Pair that with a curved AMOLED display and an unapologetically bold design, and the Pova Curve 2 positions itself as a device that wants to stand out visually and practically.
That positioning carries into the pricing. The Pova Curve 2 5G is available in two variants: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage at ₹27,999, and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage at ₹29,999. Tecno is also offering cashback benefits of up to ₹3,000 through select banks and NBFC partners, which brings the effective price closer to more aggressively priced rivals.&nbsp;
At these numbers, Tecno isn&rsquo;t chasing value-for-money headlines alone. Instead, it&rsquo;s asking buyers to pay for endurance, design, and day-to-day usability.
The bigger question, then, is whether the Pova Curve 2 delivers beyond its standout battery and design. To answer that, it&rsquo;s worth looking closely at how it holds up in real-world use across display quality, performance, cameras, software experience, and charging.
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Design &amp; Build</h2>
Tecno clearly wasn&rsquo;t interested in playing it safe with the Pova Curve 2, and that&rsquo;s evident the moment you flip the phone over.&nbsp;
The back is dominated by a triangular camera module with dual cutouts, a layout that feels deliberately unconventional in a market obsessed with circular islands and iPhone-adjacent rectangles. It&rsquo;s a look you don&rsquo;t encounter often, and that alone gives the phone a distinct visual identity.&nbsp;
Adding to this is a secondary triangular accent near the bottom-right corner, which leans hard into a sci-fi, almost spaceship-like aesthetic. A continuous strip running across the back ties these elements together, making the design feel intentional rather than ornamental.
Design, of course, is deeply personal. But after two decades of watching smartphone aesthetics oscillate between bold experimentation and conservative minimalism, this feels like a refreshing deviation from the norm.
At a time when most brands are content with muted finishes and familiar silhouettes, the Pova Curve 2 dares to be loud. That also means it won&rsquo;t appeal to everyone. If your taste runs toward clean lines and understated elegance, this phone may feel a bit too expressive. For everyone else, it&rsquo;s a guaranteed head-turner.
Despite the visual drama, the phone itself is impressively slim at just over 7.4mm. In the hand, it feels lighter and thinner than you&rsquo;d expect, and that slimness is immediately noticeable during everyday use. There are compromises, though.&nbsp;
Both the frame and the rear panel are plastic, which slightly undercuts the premium aspirations of the design. Tecno does try to offset this with small touches, like the textured orange power button. It&rsquo;s easy to find by feel and adds a bit of character without being gimmicky.
Overall, the Pova Curve 2 feels like a device designed to stand out in a sea of sameness. It may not win over minimalists, but for users who want their phone to look different and aren&rsquo;t afraid of a bit of sci-fi flair, this is a design that confidently charts its own course.
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Display</h2>
Tecno&rsquo;s approach with the Pova Curve 2 display is clearly about creating impact first and refining the experience around it. Front and centre is a large 6.78-inch AMOLED panel that stretches edge to edge with a subtle curve along the sides.&nbsp;
The curvature is restrained rather than dramatic, which helps avoid accidental touches and keeps the phone practical for daily use. Resolution sits at Full HD+, sharp enough for everything from social feeds to long video sessions.
Where the panel tries to flex its muscles is in smoothness. The screen is rated for a 144Hz refresh rate, but in real-world usage, it behaves more intelligently than aggressively. Most interactions feel fluid without the phone constantly locking itself to the highest refresh setting. Only select games are able to tap into the full 144Hz capability, which is in line with how most high-refresh displays are handled today.
Brightness is another headline feature, with Tecno claiming a peak output of 4,500 nits. Indoors and in shaded environments, the display looks vibrant and punchy, with colours that don&rsquo;t appear oversaturated. Outdoors, the screen generally holds up well, though in very bright sunlight, you may still find yourself squinting or angling the phone slightly to read finer text.
One area Tecno seems keen to emphasise is eye comfort. The Pova Curve 2 uses high-frequency PWM dimming, which essentially means the display manages brightness changes at a speed fast enough to reduce perceived flicker.
During late-night use, the screen felt easy on the eyes, with no immediate discomfort during extended scrolling or video playback. However, this is the kind of feature that reveals its true value only after weeks, not days, of use.
Sound output is handled by speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos support. Volume levels are more than adequate for casual viewing, and dialogue in shows and videos comes through clearly. The stereo effect is present, but the bottom speaker does most of the heavy lifting, so how you hold the phone can affect the listening experience.
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Performance</h2>
At the core of the POVA Curve 2 is MediaTek&rsquo;s Dimensity 7100, a 6nm chipset that prioritises efficiency and consistency over raw firepower. It&rsquo;s paired with generous memory and storage configurations, including 8GB of physical RAM with additional virtual expansion, and UFS 2.2 storage in both 128GB and 256GB variants.&nbsp;
On paper, this places the phone squarely in familiar mid-range territory, especially when you consider that some battery-centric rivals, like Realme&rsquo;s Power series with the Dimensity 7300 and Dimensity 7400, do offer a noticeable step up in outright performance.
In everyday use, though, the Curve 2 holds its own. App launches are quick, multitasking feels fluid, and the phone doesn&rsquo;t show signs of hesitation during routine workloads. More importantly, the performance feels predictable rather than spiky, which matters far more than peak scores.
Gaming performance reflects the same philosophy. Titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile run comfortably at 60fps for extended sessions, with no obvious stutters or aggressive throttling.&nbsp;
The phone doesn&rsquo;t chase ultra-high frame rates or maxed-out graphics, but it delivers stable gameplay without turning warm or dropping frames unexpectedly. For casual and mid-level gamers, it&rsquo;s more than adequate.
Where Tecno genuinely tries to carve out a point of difference is in connectivity. The POVA Curve 2 adopts a triple-chipset setup, pairing the Dimensity 7100 with two dedicated signal-processing chips.
In theory, this approach shifts network-related tasks off the main processor and onto specialised hardware, which should help maintain more consistent call and data performance in challenging conditions like crowded areas or weak-signal zones.
In real-world use with a Jio 5G SIM, the impact felt more subtle than transformative. I didn&rsquo;t notice a dramatic improvement compared with other phones in this segment, but just as importantly, I also didn&rsquo;t run into connectivity problems.&nbsp;
Calls remained stable, data throughput stayed consistent, and 5G signals held up where expected. It&rsquo;s the kind of feature that quietly underpins a reliable experience rather than one that jumps out as a game changer.
There&rsquo;s also an added emphasis on off-grid communication. The phone supports direct device-to-device connectivity over distances of up to two kilometres, without needing mobile data, Wi-Fi, or even a SIM. It&rsquo;s a niche feature, but one that could prove genuinely useful in emergencies or outdoor scenarios where networks are unreliable.
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Software</h2>
Software on the Pova Curve 2 feels more deliberate than flashy. HiOS 16, based on Android 16, doesn&rsquo;t try to overwhelm you with features, but it does show that Tecno is paying closer attention to how the phone actually gets used. The interface leans into softer visuals and layered effects, which makes it feel lighter and less cluttered than older versions of HiOS.
One feature that quietly improves daily use is Tecno&rsquo;s Dynamic Port. Instead of being a visual gimmick, it surfaces useful information like OTPs at the top of the screen, letting you glance and move on without breaking your flow. It&rsquo;s the kind of addition that fades into the background once you get used to it, which is usually a good sign.
Ella, Tecno&rsquo;s in-house AI assistant, replaces Google&rsquo;s offering by default. It handles basic tasks well enough, and the company&rsquo;s focus on local data handling may appeal to some users. That said, the option to switch to another assistant remains, which is the right approach.
There&rsquo;s some preloaded software, and a bit of early notification noise, but nothing that can&rsquo;t be cleaned up quickly. More than anything, HiOS 16 here feels calmer and more considered. It doesn&rsquo;t redefine the Android experience, but it no longer feels like an afterthought either.
The phone ships with HiOS 16 based on Android 16 out of the box and is guaranteed two major Android version updates, along with three years of security patches. That puts it in line with what most mid-range phones in this price bracket offer, without overselling longevity.
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Cameras</h2>
Camera hardware on the Pova Curve 2 5G is fairly straightforward, and Tecno isn&rsquo;t pretending otherwise. The phone relies on a 50MP main rear sensor, paired with a secondary 2MP unit that plays more of a supporting role than a meaningful creative one.
Video recording goes up to 2K at 30fps from the rear camera, which is still not a given in this price segment and is a practical win for users who shoot a lot of clips for social media.
In good daylight, the main camera delivers serviceable results. Photos have enough detail and contrast for everyday use, but the processing can be inconsistent. Colours tend to lean on the punchy side, and fine textures occasionally break down into visible grain, even when lighting is favourable. It&rsquo;s not a deal-breaker, but it does remind you that this isn&rsquo;t a camera-first device.
Low-light performance is where the limitations become more apparent. Noise creeps in quickly, and the camera struggles to preserve detail without aggressive smoothing. Night shots are usable for casual sharing, but expectations need to be kept in check. This is a camera that prioritises speed and convenience over accuracy.
The 13MP front camera mirrors the rear setup in philosophy. It supports 2K video recording, which is great to have for video calls and vlogging, but still images can be hit or miss. Skin tones sometimes look a little over-processed, and dynamic range is limited, especially under harsh lighting.
Overall, the Pova Curve 2&rsquo;s cameras are adequate rather than impressive. They get the job done for social media, video calls, and quick captures, but they don&rsquo;t stand out in a crowded mid-range market. Tecno&rsquo;s strengths with this phone lie elsewhere, and the camera setup feels like a functional addition rather than a headline feature. &nbsp;
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Battery &amp; Charging</h2>
Big batteries in slim phones are no longer rare. We&rsquo;ve already seen several devices with 7,000mAh to 7,500mAh cells manage respectable thickness without feeling cumbersome in daily use. Tecno isn&rsquo;t breaking new ground by pairing a large battery with a slim profile.
Where the POVA Curve 2 stands apart is in how far it stretches that formula. Stepping up to an 8,000mAh battery usually introduces compromises, but here the phone remains just 7.42mm thick. In the hand, it doesn&rsquo;t feel like a typical &ldquo;power bank phone,&rdquo; and the weight distribution stays comfortable even during long sessions.
That extra capacity delivers tangible gains in endurance. For most users, the phone can comfortably last close to two full days on a single charge. With heavier usage, including gaming, streaming, and constant connectivity, it still gets through a long day with enough reserve to avoid charging anxiety. Lighter usage patterns can push it well beyond the 48-hour mark.
Charging such a large battery is handled sensibly rather than aggressively. The POVA Curve 2 supports 45W fast charging, and Tecno includes the charger in the box. A full charge takes roughly an hour and forty minutes, which is reasonable given the battery size. More importantly, short charging sessions are genuinely useful, adding several hours of use in a brief plug-in.
The result is a phone that doesn&rsquo;t chase extremes in one direction. The POVA Curve 2 doesn&rsquo;t just offer a big battery for the sake of numbers; it integrates it into a slim, usable design, delivering endurance that feels practical rather than excessive.
<h2>Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G Review: Verdict</h2>
The Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G is a phone that knows exactly what it wants to be. Its biggest win is battery life, delivering long, stress-free usage without turning the phone into a heavy or uncomfortable slab. The slim design and curved display help it feel more premium than most battery-focused phones, and everyday performance remains stable and predictable.
That focus does come with compromises. Camera performance is serviceable but unremarkable, the chipset prioritises efficiency over raw speed, and the software experience, while improved, still requires some cleanup out of the box. None of these are deal-breakers, but they do define the kind of user this phone is meant for.
If you want a phone that looks different, lasts significantly longer than most, and handles daily tasks without fuss, the Pova Curve 2 makes a compelling case at its effective pricing. It doesn&rsquo;t try to be the best at everything, but it executes its core strengths well, and in a crowded mid-range segment, that clarity works in its favour.

Vivo V70 Elite packs Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, 50MP 3X telephoto, 6500mAh battery & 90W charging. A polished premium mid-ranger worth ₹52,000?

Vivo V70 Elite Review: A premium mid-ranger with a flagship set of cameras

<h3>The Vivo V70 Elite delivers a balanced premium mid-range experience with strong cameras, refined software, and dependable performance. At ₹52,000, it focuses on consistency over spec-sheet theatrics.</h3>

The Vivo V70 Elite steps into one of the most competitive price brackets right now. With a starting price of ₹52,000, it sits in that tricky space where a phone is expected to deliver a near-flagship experience without actually being one. On paper, it ticks plenty of premium boxes. There&rsquo;s the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 running the show, a sharp 1.5K AMOLED panel with slim bezels, a 50MP 3X telephoto camera with OIS, a massive 6,500mAh battery, and Vivo&rsquo;s refined OriginOS 6 tying it all together.
That sounds impressive, but this is also a segment where rivals are not holding back. Oppo, iQOO, OnePlus and Realme are all chasing bigger numbers, faster charging, stronger chipsets and flashier camera setups.
So the question isn&rsquo;t about whether the V70 Elite performs well, because it does. The real discussion is whether it offers enough of an edge to feel worth ₹52,000 in a market where simply being good just does not cut it anymore.
<h2>Vivo V70 Elite&rsquo;s design: Comfort meets confidence</h2>
The first thing that struck me was how naturally the V70 Elite settles into the hand. A 6.59-inch display usually means some finger gymnastics, but here it just feels balanced. It is large, yes, but not awkward. The glass and metal build sits comfortably in the palm, and I found myself using it one-handed more often than I expected, without constantly readjusting my grip. That everyday ease genuinely matters.
A lot of that comfort comes from the finish. The back has this velvety texture that feels soft yet grippy, almost cushioned without being rubbery. It adds a sense of security when you are holding it casually. The frame helps too. At 7.59mm, it is slim enough to look sleek without chasing extreme thinness. Weighing 197 grams, the phone feels evenly balanced, so it never tips forward or strains the wrist. The Passion Red unit we tested looks bold and premium, though the Authentic Black and Sand Beige variants may differ slightly in weight and dimensions.
The build quality backs up the feel. You get a glass rear panel paired with an aerospace-grade aluminium frame, and together they give the device a solid, refined character. The camera island switches things up with a squarish layout instead of the circular module seen on some other Vivo devices. The 50MP main and 50MP telephoto lenses each sit within their own subtle accent ring, while the 8MP ultrawide, Aura Light, and a small Zeiss logo complete the setup.
Durability is not just cosmetic here. The V70 Elite carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance, along with an SGS five-star drop resistance certification. It feels sturdy enough for daily life, though it remains a glass build, so basic care still makes sense.
Ports and buttons are laid out sensibly. The dual Nano SIM slot, speaker grille and USB 2.0 Type C port sit at the bottom. Volume controls and the power key are on the right, and there is even an IR blaster placed on top.
<h2>Vivo V70 Elite&rsquo;s display and audio: Premium vibes all around</h2>
Displays in this segment have improved massively, so the V70 Elite had to come prepared. It features a 6.59 inch 1.5K AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the first thing you notice is how seamless the front looks. The bezels are extremely slim, which makes the screen feel expansive and gives the phone a polished, near-flagship appearance.
The specifications back that up. You get HDR10 and HDR10+ support, peak local brightness rated at 5000 nits, and full DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. On paper, that already sounds serious, and in daily use, it absolutely holds up. HDR content on YouTube and Netflix looks punchy, with strong contrast and controlled highlights. Bright scenes retain detail instead of blowing out, and darker scenes maintain depth without crushing shadows. Colours are vibrant but not exaggerated, striking a good balance between lively and accurate.
The panel is capable of displaying over a billion colours, which strongly suggests a 10-bit display, even though that has not been officially confirmed. Regardless, gradients appear smooth and natural. Games like Honkai Star Rail look rich and immersive, with depth in textures and colour transitions that you do not always see at this price point. The 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling fluid and animations clean, adding to the overall premium feel.
Outdoor visibility is reassuringly strong. While we do not have an exact high-brightness mode figure, the display remains readable under harsh sunlight. Text stays sharp, and colours do not wash out easily, making everyday use outdoors comfortable.
The ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor is another highlight. It is fast, accurate, and works reliably even when your fingers are slightly sweaty or oily, which is a practical advantage over optical sensors.
Audio performance is solid as well. The stereo speakers get loud enough for casual streaming and gaming, with a decent sense of separation and a noticeable hint of bass. At maximum volume, there can be slight distortion, but for the most part, they stay clear, punchy, and enjoyable for everyday use.
<h2>Vivo V70 Elite&rsquo;s performance: Real-world speed over raw hype</h2>
At the heart of the V70 Elite sits the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. It might technically belong to last year&rsquo;s silicon cycle, but this is still a 4nm, flagship-grade processor that has plenty of muscle left. Paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, the hardware setup is undeniably serious and built for heavy use.
In everyday performance, the phone feels quick and confident. Apps pop open without delay, multitasking stays smooth even with multiple background processes, and the UI maintains a consistent fluidity. There is a sense of responsiveness that makes the device feel premium rather than mid-range. Whether it is rapid app switching, scrolling through social feeds, or juggling work apps, it handles it without stutter.
That said, Vivo&rsquo;s V series has never chased record-breaking benchmark numbers purely for headlines. The focus has always been stable, sustained output, and that philosophy is clear here. Instead of short bursts of peak performance followed by throttling, the V70 Elite prioritises consistency.
The benchmark numbers reflect that balance. It scores around 1.85 million on AnTuTu, which is comfortably high. On Geekbench, it posts 1933 in single-core and 4908 in multi-core tests. In 3DMark&rsquo;s Wildlife stress test, it maintains 79 per cent stability, suggesting it can sustain performance reasonably well under prolonged load.
In real gaming scenarios, it delivers dependable results. BGMI runs at an average of 88 to 89 FPS over a 20-minute session with no major frame drops. Given the chipset, 120FPS support would have been ideal, but even so, gameplay feels stable. Thermals stay controlled, and heavier tasks like exporting videos in VN are handled smoothly without excessive heating.
<h2>Vivo V70 Elite&rsquo;s software: Polished, playful and future-ready</h2>
If you have followed Vivo&rsquo;s recent phones, the software experience here will feel familiar in a good way. The V70 Elite ships with OriginOS 6 based on Android 16, and it is easily among the cleanest Android skins available right now. This does not feel anything like the older Vivo software many people still remember. The interface has been completely refined and feels far more cohesive.
Vivo has embraced a transparent, liquid-inspired design language that looks glossy and modern without going overboard. There is a hint of Apple-like finesse in the smoothness and layering, but it still feels distinctly Vivo. Lock screen customisation is more flexible than before, with additional layout options and styling tools that are easier to set up. Animations across the system are fluid, and even the dynamic island-style pop-up feels thoughtfully integrated rather than gimmicky. Updated icons and cleaner transitions give the UI a mature, premium character.
What stood out most during my usage was the consistency. Apps open quickly, the ultrasonic fingerprint unlock is instant, and scrolling through notifications or social feeds feels seamless. The redesigned control centre is sharper and better organised, making quick toggles more accessible. Origin Island adds a bit of interactive flair, while phone-to-PC mirroring and cross-device connectivity proved genuinely useful during daily work.
AI features are deeply integrated, many powered by Google Gemini. Tools like AI Creation, AI Search and Circle to Search are built in. The AI Photography Suite adds creative flexibility, letting you adjust moods or themes after capturing a shot. You can give images a winter aesthetic or experiment with beach-style edits, and even try India-specific options like AI Holi Portrait.
Not every feature is essential, but they are enjoyable to explore. Vivo is also promising four major Android updates and six years of security patches, which adds meaningful long-term assurance.
<h2>Vivo V70 Elite&rsquo;s cameras: Practical setup, powerful results</h2>
On paper, the V70 Elite does not try to overwhelm you with wild numbers, but it quietly checks all the right boxes. You get a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 50MP 3X optical telephoto with OIS, and an 8MP ultrawide at the back. Up front, there is a 50MP selfie shooter, and yes, it comes with autofocus. It feels less like a spec flex and more like a setup designed for real-world use.
In daylight, the main 50MP sensor produces crisp, lively images without going overboard on saturation. Colours are slightly restrained, which actually helps scenes look more natural. Highlights stay under control, skies do not blow out easily, and dynamic range is handled well. There is plenty of detail for social posts, and even light cropping holds up nicely.
Low light performance is solid, too. The main camera manages exposure well, keeping images sharp and avoiding strange colour shifts. It may not dominate extreme comparisons, but the output is bright, clean and dependable for this price range.
The 50MP 3X telephoto is where things get interesting. In daylight, zoom shots look sharp and detailed, with colours staying consistent. Even stretching to 5X or 10X delivers surprisingly usable results. At night, it still performs confidently, retaining good detail with only minor warmth creeping into certain scenes. If you enjoy shooting from a distance, this lens genuinely expands your creative options.
The 8MP ultrawide is the only area where you notice a slight step down. In good light, it handles landscapes and group shots well, keeping colours fairly aligned with the main camera. In low light, finer details soften a bit, but the images remain shareable.
The 50MP front camera performs reliably, delivering sharp, well-exposed selfies. Autofocus makes a real difference when you are moving. Portrait mode produces clean edge detection with pleasing background blur. Video recording goes up to 4K at 60FPS, offering stable, sharp footage that works well for vlogging and everyday content creation.
<h2>Vivo V70 Elite&rsquo;s battery and charging: Big cell, quick top-ups</h2>
The V70 Elite comes with a 6500mAh battery and 90W fast charging. For this price, that is solid, although I cannot help but feel Vivo could have gone even bigger. With rivals like Oppo, iQOO, OnePlus and even Realme pushing 7000mAh and even 7500mAh batteries, Vivo definitely had room to be more ambitious.
Still, real-world endurance is dependable. On heavy days filled with gaming, navigation over mobile data, and long video sessions, the phone easily lasted a full day. On lighter usage, it stretched close to a day and a half before I needed the charger.
The 90W charging is properly fast, taking about 55 minutes to go from nearly empty to full. Wireless charging would have sweetened the deal, but bypass charging does add practical value.
<h2>Verdict: A polished premium all-rounder</h2>
After spending proper time with the V70 Elite, it is clear that Vivo has crafted a well-balanced device. The design feels refined and comfortable in hand, the display is genuinely impressive for this segment, and the camera setup delivers meaningful versatility.&nbsp;
The 50MP 3X telephoto stands out as a practical addition rather than a numbers game. Performance is smooth and dependable, focusing on stability over flashy benchmark figures.&nbsp;
Battery life easily handles demanding days, and the 90W charging keeps downtime to a minimum. OriginOS 6 further elevates the experience with its polished look and genuinely useful features.
Pricing, though, could have been better. At ₹52,000, expectations are high, and a slightly lower entry point would have made it even more appealing. Features like wireless charging could also have added extra value, especially with the top variant crossing ₹60,000.
That said, if you want a premium mid-ranger that delivers consistency across design, display, cameras and software, the V70 Elite proves itself as a confident and capable choice.

Is the Vivo V70 the ultimate daily driver? Our deep-dive review explores the Zeiss-powered cameras, massive 6500mAh battery, and stunning 1.5K display. Discover if it’s worth the ₹45,999 price tag.

Vivo V70 Review: The New Mid-Range Portrait King with 6500mAh Battery

We tested the Vivo V70 to see if it lives up to the hype. From the 5000-nit peak brightness to the clever bypass charging, here is everything you need to know.

The Vivo V70 is a sleek, 7.59mm powerhouse with a massive 6500mAh battery. It blends pro-level Zeiss portraits with a stunning 1.5K display and fast 90W charging, making it a reliable, high-end daily driver for under ₹46,000.

Vivo has a reputation for ruling the mid-range portrait scene, and the V70 proves they aren't ready to give up that crown. I spent a week with the Lemon Yellow unit, and it&rsquo;s obvious they are trying to steal some of that premium X-series magic for a cheaper price.
Starting at ₹45,999, this phone is a loud play for your wallet. It sits in that sweet spot where you get high-end cameras and a killer design. Sure, the processor isn't a massive upgrade, but the rest of the package feels fresh. The screen borders are basically gone and the battery is huge for a phone this thin. Here is my take on how it actually handles the real world.
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
Unboxing the Vivo V70 felt a lot like catching up with an old friend who finally went to the gym. It is a familiar routine, particularly if you handled the <a title="Vivo V60 First Look: Is This 2025&rsquo;s Flagship Killer?" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/vivo-v60-first-look-is-this-2025-s-flagship-killer-1754912891557" target="_blank">V60</a>, but there is a refined edge here that is impossible to ignore. Inside the box, you get the essentials: a chunky 90W FlashCharge brick, the USB-C cable, and a SIM tool. Vivo did make one small change that might annoy some people. They swapped the old opaque case for a clear TPU one. It is decent quality, but we all know how yellow these get after a few months. Still, a phone this good-looking deserves to be seen rather than hidden under thick plastic.
The Lemon Yellow finish is easily the highlight for me. Vivo calls it a nod to optimism, but honestly, it just looks classy. It avoids that cheap, blinding neon look, opting for a matte pastel that stays remarkably clean. The back is premium glass with a texture that genuinely resists fingerprints and small scuffs. If you hate a greasy screen as much as I do, this is a total win. They also swapped the old plastic rails for a slate grey aerospace-grade aluminum frame. It feels expensive without feeling like a lead weight in your pocket.
The real magic is the way it feels in the hand. At 6.59 inches, it hits a sweet spot, which Vivo is calling the &ldquo;Golden Grip.&rdquo; I could reach the top of the display with my thumb without any awkward finger gymnastics. What blew me away was the thickness. It is only 7.59mm thin. You would never guess a massive 6500mAh battery is crammed in there, mostly because the weight balance is so spot-on.
The layout is clean and logical. You have the SIM tray and charging port at the bottom, while the right side houses very clicky power and volume buttons. I was thrilled to see the IR blaster still sitting up top next to the stereo speaker. I use that daily for my AC and TV. Even the camera bump looks more mature now, appearing integrated into the chassis rather than just stuck on. It takes the V60 DNA and gives it a much-needed premium polish.
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Display</h2>
When I first got my hands on the Vivo V70, I noticed the body felt a bit more "together" than the V60, but my eyes went straight to the glass. Vivo really went for it here. You are getting this massive 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED that, frankly, looks way better than any photo of it suggests. I have to say, dropping those curved edges for a flat screen was the right call. It finally stops those accidental palm touches that used to drive me crazy when reaching for my keys. It just looks more grown-up.
Those borders around the edges? They are practically gone. Vivo says they are 0.125 cm, and honestly, it makes the whole front feel like it is just one big piece of glass. Because it is a 1.5K panel, the detail is ridiculous. I spent half of yesterday just scrolling through my news apps and checking out photos. Everything was sharp, and the colours had this punch that made it hard to put down.
Now, about outdoor visibility. If you live somewhere like Delhi, you know that 2 PM sunlight is where most phone screens go to die. Vivo is pushing a 5000-nit local peak brightness, and while that is mainly for those sharp HDR highlights, the actual outdoor visibility is what matters. Even if the HBM figures aren't exactly known to us, I never had to squint in the harsh afternoon sun. And at night, watching Netflix was like having a high-end cinema right on my desk.
At 120Hz everything &ndash; scrolling through social media, my favourite news websites, and even gaming &ndash; is buttery smooth. What won me over though, was the fingerprint sensor. Most phones in this range use optical sensors that fail the second your hands get a bit of sweat or dust on them. This one uses an ultrasonic sensor to map your finger in 3D. It worked every single time, even when my hands were a bit damp. I&rsquo;ve been using this for a few days now, and going back to a display with a regular, optical sensor is going to be tough.
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Camera</h2>
If you only look at the spec sheet for the V70, it feels like a total "been there, done that" situation. 50MP main sensor, 50MP telephoto, Zeiss logo on the back&mdash;it is basically the V60 again, right? Well, not exactly.&nbsp;
After a week of shooting with it, I&rsquo;ve realised the real story isn't the glass; it&rsquo;s the brain behind it. Vivo finally stopped trying to turn everyone into a porcelain doll. Previous models were obsessed with smoothing out faces until they looked fake, but that&rsquo;s mostly gone now. Skin actually looks like skin. There is a bit of warmth to the colour, but it feels like a choice rather than a mistake.
I basically lived in the <a title="Vivo X200T Review: A new kind of flagship in Vivo&rsquo;s lineup" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/vivo-x200t-review-a-new-kind-of-flagship-in-vivo-s-lineup-1769504616979" target="_blank">Zeiss </a>Natural Colour mode. If you want photos that actually look like what you are seeing, stick with that. The Vivid mode is still there, but it can be a bit much, making skies and grass look a little too radioactive for my taste. The Natural setting stays grounded and doesn't try to make a gloomy afternoon look like a postcard. Plus, the portrait blur feels way more "real" this time. It doesn't look like a cheap digital cutout; the edges are soft and much more convincing.
The 3x zoom is actually useful, which surprised me. I was taking shots in the evening, and it held onto the detail without turning everything into a muddy mess. But a word of advice: don't go chasing 20x zoom. The software starts working way too hard there, and faces lose that natural texture. It&rsquo;s fine for a quick social media post, but it won't replace a real pro camera.
Low light is still where Vivo flexes. It handles street lamps and neon signs without those weird, glaring halos. The noise reduction is definitely a step up from last year too.&nbsp;
On the front, that 50MP selfie lens is wide enough that you won't have to squeeze your friends in.&nbsp;
And for video? Being able to hit 4K 60FPS on both sides is a massive win for anyone vlogging. The stabilisation is solid enough that you can leave the gimbal at home.
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Performance</h2>
I&rsquo;ll be the first to admit that seeing the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 on the V70&rsquo;s spec sheet felt like a bit of a letdown. It is the same processor from the V60, and naturally, I was hoping for something fresh. But after using it as my primary phone for a week, my gut feeling changed.
Whatever under-the-hood tuning Vivo did is clearly working. I hit about 1.4 million on AnTuTu, which is more than enough for my daily chaos. Instagram, firing off emails, and flipping between WhatsApp groups felt instant. No lag. No waiting.
The secret to why it feels so snappy is probably the LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. It&rsquo;s fast. Like, apps-opening-before-I-even-finish-my-tap fast. One day during my testing, I had Spotify, Twitter, and a multitude of other apps, all running at the same time, and was constatlntly switching between them. The phone didn't even flinch, not once. It&rsquo;s just nice to have a phone that doesn't make me wait for it to catch up.
As for gaming, let's be realistic. This isn't a "pro" gaming phone, and it doesn't pretend to be. I played some BGMI and CoD Mobile, and both held steady at 90 FPS after I messed with the settings. It works fine for a casual match. But if you play for over an hour? Yeah, you'll feel it getting warm. That&rsquo;s okay, though. Gaming isn't what the V-series is about. It&rsquo;s a polished daily driver that handles real life without the drama.
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Battery</h2>
It's crazy how a 6500mAh battery went from some rare brag to every mid-ranger's must-have these days. I grabbed the Vivo V70 last week and went all out trying to kill it in one day. Heavy YouTube binges, brightness maxed, notifications blowing up my screen left and right &ndash; and I still woke up with tons of juice the next morning. For my routine, it's easily a two-dayer with no sweat. Kills that panic scramble for a charger around lunch.
A big battery means nothing if charging drags. Thanks to the 90W FlashCharge brick in the box, charging time rips. I timed it in the real world: dead to 100% in about 54 minutes flat. Under an hour for almost two days of life? Sanity saver, especially when I'm out running between meetings.
But the killer feature for gamers is the &lsquo;Bypass Charging&rsquo;. During gaming sessions, it sucks power straight from the wall, skipping the battery completely. This keeps things cool and saves the battery&rsquo;s long-term health.&nbsp;
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Software &amp; AI features</h2>
The Vivo V70 ships with OriginOS 6 built on Android 16, and I have to say, the speed is pretty incredible. The animations have this high-end polish that makes every swipe feel almost liquid. It is fast, responsive, and feels every bit like a premium flagship. But, even in 2026, Vivo still can&rsquo;t seem to quit its worst habit: pre-installed bloatware.
It is honestly a bit insulting to spend this much on a phone only to find stuff like Bubble Blast and Candy Crush staring back at you the moment you turn it on. I actually sat down and played them for a minute just to see, but they really shouldn&rsquo;t be there.&nbsp;
You can delete them fairly quickly, but seeing junk games on a device this sharp immediately kills that "new phone" high. It is a small annoyance, but it is one that simply shouldn't happen at this level.
Once you&rsquo;ve scrubbed the home screen clean, the AI features are actually quite impressive. As someone who writes for a living, the AI Caption tool was my absolute favorite. I tried it out with videos in both Hindi and English, and it was shockingly accurate.&nbsp;
What really sold me was how you can save those live captions into a note, and then the system summarizes the whole thing for you. If you are a student or someone who sits through long work meetings, this is a total game-changer.
Vivo also added some fun, localised touches like AI Holi Portrait and Floral Blessing, which adds digital petals to your photos. They are a bit of a gimmick, sure, but they&rsquo;re fun for a quick Instagram post. The AI Magic Weather tool is much more practical. It lets you swap out a depressing, grey sky for a bright blue one or a sunset. If you don't go overboard, the results look surprisingly real.
The best part is that this phone is built to last. Vivo is promising four years of Android updates and six years of security patches. That is a massive relief for anyone who doesn't want to buy a new phone every other year. Once you get past those first ten minutes of deleting bloatware, you are left with a software experience that is smart, snappy, and ready for the long haul.
<h2>Vivo V70 Review: Should you buy it?</h2>
The Vivo V70 nails what fans actually want from this brand. It doesn't pretend to be some gaming monster, and that's fine by me. Instead, they poured effort into that slick aluminium frame, the stunning bezel-free 1.5K screen, and a battery that laughs at one-day drains. Hands down, one of the most reliable phones I've touched this year.
That Zeiss collab is paying dividends too. Finally ditching those plastic-y fake skin tones for real, natural-looking portraits. Yeah, the same-old chipset might irk spec chasers, but in real life? Day-to-day zip, plus that zippy ultrasonic sensor, makes it feel flagship-level. Better than any past V-series I've tried.
Spend five or ten minutes nuking the bloatware, and you're golden. Slim, tough build with killer cameras that punch way above under ₹45,000. If portraits and style beat out FPS bragging rights for you, grab the V70.

HyperX Cloud Jet review: We test its comfort, sound quality, battery life, mic performance, and dual wireless features to see if this affordable gaming headset is worth buying in India.

HyperX Cloud Jet Review: Comfort, Gaming Performance & Battery Life Tested

Thinking of buying the HyperX Cloud Jet? Read our in-depth review covering comfort, sound, battery, mic, and dual wireless performance to find out if it fits your gaming and daily needs.

The HyperX Cloud Jet offers strong comfort, reliable gaming audio, and dual wireless support for PC and mobile. While great for competitive play, its flat music tuning, rigid design, slow charging, and average battery limit its appeal as an all-round headset.

Trying to find a wireless headset that doesn&rsquo;t look like a glowing sci-fi toy is a real chore. Most cheap options out there honestly feel like plastic junk that will break in a week. That is why the HyperX Cloud Jet is interesting. It launched in India for about ₹5,400, promising HyperX&rsquo;s famous comfort and solid sound without the usual high price tag.
It has a clean matte finish and lets you jump between your PC and phone, so it clearly wants to be the only headset you use. I spent a full week testing it out with a bunch of games and different music genres. I wanted to see if it actually holds up or if HyperX just cut too many corners to make it this affordable.
<h2>Design &amp; Build: Is it actually comfortable?</h2>
Unboxing this HyperX headset is super basic. No extra junk or fancy filler in the box, which I actually like. You just get the headset, the 2.4GHz dongle, a charging cable, and the usual manual.
When I first pulled it out, the weight caught me off guard. At 298g, it has this weirdly dense feel in your hand. Most budget headsets feel like hollow plastic toys that might snap if you look at them wrong. These feel solid and well put together. The cool part? That weight just disappears once you put them on. HyperX nailed the frame balance.
Thanks to the suspension strap, the weight spreads out so well. I never got that annoying digging sensation on top of my head. I've worn these for hours during long gaming sessions. Honestly, I didn't feel that typical urge to rip them off for a break. It's one of those rare pieces of gear that feels way lighter on your head than when you're just holding it.
I'm using the Blue version. It's a breath of fresh air. I'm so tired of <a title="CMF Headphone Pro review: Big style, bigger battery, bold sound all for ₹7,999" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/cmf-headphone-pro-review-big-style-bigger-battery-bold-sound-all-for-7-999-1768394697254" target="_blank">gaming headsets</a> that look like neon spaceships. This one skips the flashy RGB for a clean, matte finish. It looks professional on a desk. The branding is small and subtle. It doesn't scream for attention while you're trying to focus.
The ear pads use thick, padded mesh. If you get sweaty ears after an hour of playing, you'll love how much air these let in. But let's be real about the fabric. It's a bit more scratchy and textured than the smooth leatherette on pricier headphones. It felt a little irritating to me at first. You get used to it after a bit. Still, it's a different vibe if you're accustomed to that soft, buttery feel of high-end pads.
Every control is clustered on the left earcup. It's the main hub for power, the charging port, the volume dial, and the button to switch between dongle and Bluetooth. The mic is right there too. Swivel-to-mute design, which is my favourite. It's fast and intuitive. The arm is flexible but stays where you put it. No fighting with it mid-match.
The biggest headache? How rigid the frame is. The earcups have very little tilt and swivel. You can't really hang them around your neck comfortably on a break. If you try, the edges poke your chin. I eventually gave up and started leaving them on my desk every time I stood up. The headband isn't adjustable the traditional way either. The suspension strap works for most people. But if you have a larger head, the fixed frame might feel cramped. It's sturdy and quiet, but that lack of flexibility is the trade-off.
<h2>Sound performance and gaming audio</h2>
Under the hood, the HyperX Cloud Jet is rocking 40mm dynamic drivers, but let's be honest for a second, the tuning here is built strictly for the gaming crowd. If you are a music lover coming into this expecting a rich, hi-fi experience for your high-res audio files, you will likely walk away feeling underwhelmed.
I am quite picky when it comes to my music library, so I put these through the wringer with a massive variety of tracks. I listened to everything from Jazz and classic Rock to some really complex Indian Classical pieces and the latest Bollywood hits. To my ears, the soundstage just lacks the personality I want to hear at this price point. The audio profile feels a bit flat when you are actually trying to sit back and listen, missing that crisp high-end sparkle or the deep, rattling bass that makes a movie or song feel cinematic. It is perfectly fine for falling down a YouTube rabbit hole or listening to your favorite podcasts, but it won't impress anyone who prioritizes audio fidelity.
The experience definitely improves the moment you load up a game. I spent the bulk of my testing time on mobile titles like BGMI and COD Mobile, and the performance there was solid and predictable. Footsteps came through sharp and clear, making it easy enough to figure out exactly where an enemy was hiding. That is basically the main goal for competitive play. Over on my PC, I tried a few rounds of Apex Legends and found the spatial awareness was actually pretty impressive. It is clear that the "Signature HyperX Sound" is tweaked to boost the mids and highs. This makes the sound of a reload or a distant gunshot pop out more than usual. It isn't going to change your life, but it is very reliable gear for a daily gamer.
I also made a point to check the latency, especially for those who might try to use these for creative work or music production. Trying to use Bluetooth with a DAW is almost always a disaster, and this was no different. The lag over Bluetooth was so significant that trying to monitor audio in real time was basically impossible.
Switching over to the 2.4GHz dongle on my PC fixed the lag issues almost entirely. It brought the delay down to a point where it was barely noticeable for casual use. Even so, I wouldn't suggest picking these up if you are looking for serious studio tools. As for the audio codecs, the brand doesn't explicitly list them in the marketing, so I won't speculate too much. However, at the very least, you have support for the standard SBC and AAC formats.
<h2>Mic performance and call quality</h2>
The microphone on the Cloud Jet is a bit of a hit-or-miss situation for me. While hanging out on Discord, my teammates said I came through loud and clear without any real issues. I&rsquo;m a huge fan of the swivel-to-mute feature because it is just way faster than hunting for a tiny button during a frantic match. However, do not expect the noise filtering to pull off any miracles. It handles steady background hums okay, but it won&rsquo;t hide the loud clacking of a mechanical keyboard or people talking nearby. It is fine for casual squad comms, but it won't give you a silent bubble in a loud room.
For standard voice or video calls, the experience is basically the same. Most people won't wear a bulky headset while walking down the street, but I tested them in a crowded area just to see. Surprisingly, nobody complained about the ambient noise. It wasn't crystal clear, but it also didn't let the environment drown me out entirely. For basic calls, it works well enough. If you are gaming on your phone and an important call hits, you can take it without sounding like you are standing in a wind tunnel.
<h2>Connectivity and on-board controls</h2>
The way this headset handles connections is honestly its strongest selling point. It features a dual wireless setup that lets you switch between the lag-free 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth 5.3 with zero hassle. When you are sitting at your desk playing on a PC or console, the dongle is the way to go because the latency is basically invisible. That is a must-have for anyone playing fast-paced shooters where every millisecond counts. I personally treated the Bluetooth more like a convenient backup. It is great for answering a quick phone call or doing some light gaming on your mobile without needing to grab a different pair of headphones.
Regarding the actual controls, the layout is extremely straightforward. As I pointed out in the design part, everything is gathered on the left earcup. To recap, you get a volume wheel, the power button, and a dedicated switch to jump between the two wireless modes. It is a very clean, simple setup that does not force you to go digging through a user manual. You will likely have the muscle memory figured out within the first hour of using them.
If I am being picky, the total absence of a companion app is a bit of a bummer. You aren't going to find any deep EQ settings or custom sound profiles here. If you want to tweak the audio, you will have to rely on your device settings or whatever software you happen to be running at the time. While that is pretty common for more affordable wireless gear, having even a basic software suite would have made the entire experience feel a lot more polished.
<h2>Battery and charging</h2>
HyperX claims you can get about <a title="Oppo Enco Buds3 Pro+ Review: ANC That Actually Works Under ₹2,500" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/oppo-enco-buds3-pro-review-anc-that-actually-works-under-2-500-1766497263765" target="_blank">25 hours on Bluetooth</a> or 20 hours using the dongle, provided you stay around 50% volume. In my actual testing, that low-battery warning usually starts chirping at me around the 19-hour mark. While 20 hours is enough to get through a few heavy gaming sessions, it feels a bit behind the curve when you consider that many competitors in this same price bracket are now pushing 40 or even 50 hours of life.
The biggest frustration is definitely the charging speed. It takes nearly four and a half hours to get back to a full charge, which is honestly a slog. If you forget to juice them up overnight, you will be tethered to a cable for basically the entire morning. It works if you are strict with your routine, but that slow charging feels very behind the times.
<h2>Price and where to buy</h2>
The box for the HyperX Cloud Jet shows a price of ₹6,976, but you really shouldn't pay that much. That is just the official MRP. You can almost always find it for much less at local stores or online. If you are trying to save some serious cash, I suggest keeping an eye on Amazon. It frequently goes on sale there, and I&rsquo;ve seen it drop as low as ₹4,999. It is definitely worth waiting for one of those price cuts before you pull the trigger.
<h2>Final verdict: Should you buy it?</h2>
Ultimately, the HyperX Cloud Jet is a specialized piece of gear rather than a crowd-pleaser. If your main goal is climbing the ranks in BGMI or Apex Legends, the solid spatial tracking and long-term comfort make it a dependable choice. Having that dual wireless connectivity is a massive plus too, since you can jump from PC gaming to a mobile call without any annoying setup changes.
Still, it falls short of being a true versatile daily driver. If you want a pair of headphones that actually brings some life and personality to your music collection, the flat tuning here will probably disappoint you. Combine that with the stiff, non-rotating design and the incredibly slow charging times, and it becomes much harder to recommend for people who need one headset to do everything. You should grab these if you only care about competitive gaming audio and a lightweight feel. For anything else, there are better options out there.

Lava Blaze Duo 3 review: Dual screens, 6.67” AMOLED display, smooth performance, clean Android 15, and long-lasting battery at ₹16,999.

Lava Blaze Duo 3 Review: Dual Screens, AMOLED Display & Smooth Performance at ₹16,999

Experience the Lava Blaze Duo 3 with dual displays, vibrant 6.67” AMOLED screen, clean Android 15, and reliable performance at ₹16,999.

Lava Blaze Duo 3 packs a 6.67&rdquo; FHD+ AMOLED, 1.6&rdquo; secondary screen, MediaTek Dimensity 7060, LPDDR5 RAM, and clean Android 15. Dual displays, vibrant visuals, smooth daily performance, and a sleek, standout design at ₹16,999.&nbsp;

The Lava Blaze Duo was a pretty solid phone, especially for its price. It stood out mainly because of its dual-display design, 6.67-inch curved screen, and an incredibly reliable battery life. So it&rsquo;s successor, the Lava Blaze Duo 3 had a lot to live up to. And it does. The design has changed, but still, we don&rsquo;t see a lot of radical changes here. Even the pricing is more or less the same. The Lava Blaze Duo 3 is easily available at a price of Rs 16,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant. Now, I have been daily-driving the Blaze Duo 3 for a couple of weeks, and I have to say, what Lava&rsquo;s offering here for the price, is genuinely impressive. Here are my thoughts.&nbsp;
<h2>Design&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
From the moment I picked up the phone, it didn&rsquo;t quite feel like the Lava Blaze Duo I used last year. That&rsquo;s when it hit me: the design has changed noticeably this time. The finish, especially on the white colour variant that I&rsquo;m using, has this shiny, star-dust look to it. Lava calls this colour, the Imperial Gold. It&rsquo;s easy on the eyes and looks pleasant, though it may not appeal to everyone. Lava is also offering the phone in a Moonlight Black option.&nbsp; At the back, there&rsquo;s a massive rectangular camera module placed at the top, housing a a main 50MP camera sensor and a QVGA camera, which is pretty pointless. We also have a vertically stacked LED flash. In the other half of the camera module, we get a smaller, 1.6-inch AMOLED display, a feature that really sets the Duo Blaze 3 apart from all other phones in this price bracket. More on this, later.
 The entire camera module sticks out slightly, and on top of that, the two cameras have their own deco rings. All of this is quite subtle, but, you do get a very slight wobble when you place the device screen-side up on a table.&nbsp;
 The back panel is plastic but comes with a glass-like finish that gives it a slightly premium look. The shiny frame follows a flat design, which improves grip and makes the phone comfortable to hold. At 7.55 mm, it&rsquo;s a pretty slim phone, although not the slimmest in its segment. That said, it is pretty light, weighing just 163 grams, which makes it pretty easy to carry. The weight, along with the slim built, ensures that this slips in and out of pockets without any trouble.&nbsp; You get the he power button and volume rocker sit on the right side, positioned very ergnomically, if you have smaller hands. At the bottom, you&rsquo;ll find one of the stereo speakers, a dual nano SIM slot, and at the top, you&rsquo;ll see even a built-in IR blaster, which is a nice extra feature to have. &nbsp;Durability-wise, we do get an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. However, there is there is no word on what sort of glass has been used for the main display.
<h2>Display&nbsp;</h2>
Speaking of displays, we are getting a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. In real usage, the refresh rate mostly switches between 60Hz and 90Hz, but navigation remains smooth overall. The display curves very slightly at the edges, which helps in gripping the phone. What I was surprised by is that it is a 10-bit panel, which produces over 1 billion colours. We rarely get to see this at this price point. And yes, it is has Widevice L1 support. So on OTT platforms, colours pop out and everything looks sharp and vibrant.&nbsp; Brightness wise, we are limited to about 800-nit HBM, but I didn&rsquo;t come across a lot of issues, even when I was outdoors.&nbsp;
 Now, the smaller display. The AMOLED secondary display, first introduced on the Lava Blaze Duo 2, makes a return here, but its slightly bigger this time as it goes from 1.58-inch to 1.6-inch. It&rsquo;s actually pretty cool. It supports basic functions like checking the time, viewing notifications, and clicking pictures, mainly selfies.&nbsp;
I found myself using this screen mostly for notifications, especially during meetings, or when I didn&rsquo;t feel like unlocking the phone just to check a message. You can also control music playback from here, and surprisingly, even step tracking shows up on the outer display, which feels like a nice little bonus. Coming to the audio, the stereo speakers are just about average, not too loud, not too flat but paired with the main display, they do the job well enough for casual media consumption.&nbsp;
<h2>Battery&nbsp;</h2>
The Lava Blaze Duo 3 packs a 5,000mAh battery and supports 33W wired charging. While that&rsquo;s decent, it does feel slightly underwhelming when other phones in this price range are offering much higher battery capacity. &nbsp;
That said, battery life turned out to be better than I expected. With moderate usage which included clicking a lot of pictures, watching a couple of videos, and taking calls the phone easily lasted close to a day and a half before needing a recharge.&nbsp; Charging is fairly quick as well. The phone goes from zero to full in about an hour, which is convenient and removes the anxiety of having to top up right before stepping out.&nbsp;
<h2>Camera&nbsp;</h2>
The phone comes with a 50MP primary camera featuring a Sony IMX752 sensor, along with an 8MP front camera. You also get a QVGA camera on the back, which is pretty pointless. Compared to the 64MP camera on the Blaze Duo 2, the 50MP sensor looks like a downgrade, on paper at least. However, you are getting a much better sensor and better tuning which makes up for it. In daylight, photos turn out bright, sharp, and fairly detailed. That said, colours are slightly boosted and don&rsquo;t always look true to life. There&rsquo;s also a noticeable green tint in some shots, which can be distracting at times. The 2x digital zoom works reasonably well, with decent detail and colour consistency. Once you push it to 3x, sharpness drops, but the images are still usable for casual shots.&nbsp;
Selfies are detailed, though again, skin tones appear a bit saturated. You also get modes like Dual View Video which lets you capture videos from both front and rear cameras at the same time.&nbsp;
<h2>Performance&nbsp;</h2>
The Lava Blaze Duo 3 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7060, a mid-range chipset designed for basic usage. Benchmark results reflect that clearly;483,000 on AnTuTu and 1,062 (single-core) and 2,510 (multi-core) on Geekbench. Performance is pretty decent and average. Apps open quickly, multitasking isn&rsquo;t very smooth, but is not exactly an issue, and routine tasks like browsing, clicking photos, or using ChatGPT run smoothly. The phone is available with 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, paired with 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. You also get expandable storage up to 1TB via a microSD card slot, which is good to see.&nbsp;
<h2>Software&nbsp;</h2>
The Lava Blaze Duo 3 runs Android 15 out of the box and offers a clean, straightforward UI. There&rsquo;s barely no bloatware, and that&rsquo;s easily one of the phone&rsquo;s strongest points.&nbsp; Now, Lava has promised that the device will see an Android 16 update, and at least two years of software support. Beyond Android 16, there is no word. This is a bit odd, especially when you consider that brands like Samsung are offering up to six years of updates, and even Poco promises at least four years for devices at this price point,.&nbsp;
<h2>Verdict&nbsp;</h2>
At ₹16,999, the Lava Blaze Duo 3 carves out a clear identity in a crowded segment. You get LPDDR5 RAM paired with UFS 3.1 storage, which is still not a given at this price, along with a sleek design and a genuinely vibrant AMOLED display. The secondary screen remains its standout feature and adds real everyday convenience, whether it is for quick notifications, music controls, or selfies.
What also works in the phone&rsquo;s favour is the clean, near-stock software experience. It feels refreshingly clutter-free, runs smoothly in daily use, and is backed by performance that holds up well for everyday tasks. The camera system, while not class-leading, is reliable enough for casual photography and social media use. Where the Blaze Duo 3 really earns its appeal is in the overall experience it delivers. It may not chase headline numbers everywhere, but it focuses on usability, thoughtful design, and a fuss-free UI. Add to that the made-in-India branding, and the phone makes a strong case for buyers who value a clean Android experience, a good display, and something that stands out visually.

Oakley Meta HSTN shows how smart glasses can fit daily life with solid audio, a practical camera, and hands-free AI, even if battery life still needs planning.

Oakley Meta HSTN review: Smart glasses that finally fit daily life

<h3>The Oakley Meta HSTN brings AI, audio, and a hands-free camera in a sporty frame. Here&rsquo;s how Meta&rsquo;s smartest glasses yet perform in real life.</h3>

Smart glasses have promised the future for a long time, but they have rarely earned a permanent spot in daily life. Meta&rsquo;s latest push into eyewear, supported by its long-term partnership with EssilorLuxottica, makes it clear this is no longer a side project.
With the Oakley Meta HSTN arriving in India at ₹41,800, the discussion changes. This is less about whether smart glasses actually work and more about whether they fit into everyday tech habits, especially in a market that cares deeply about both price and how things look.
By blending Meta&rsquo;s AI features with Oakley&rsquo;s performance-driven design, the HSTN suggests a future where smart glasses are worn all day, not just pulled out to show off.
<h2>Oakley Meta HSTN Smart Glasses: Are they comfy? </h2>
The Oakley Meta HSTN comes in multiple frame and lens options, which makes sense because these aren&rsquo;t glasses you wear once in a while. They&rsquo;re designed to stay on your face for most of the day.
You get PRIZM Polar lenses for outdoor use, transition lenses for mixed lighting, and clear lenses if you want the most low-key look possible. I used the version with transition lenses, and they&rsquo;re easily the most practical. Indoors, they behave like regular glasses. Step outside and they darken just enough to stay comfortable. Not full sunglasses-dark, but enough that you&rsquo;re not squinting your way through the day.
For the most part, people assumed these were normal glasses. That illusion only broke when they noticed the camera lens or saw the LED blink while recording.
Fit is where Oakley&rsquo;s sports DNA really shows. The glasses sit snug and don&rsquo;t wobble. I used them on the treadmill and during workouts with plenty of movement, including burpees, which I regret doing but respect for testing purposes. The glasses stayed firmly in place the entire time, which is exactly what you want from something aimed at active users.
Long-term comfort is a bit more mixed. The straight, narrow temple arms help with stability, but after a few hours they&rsquo;re not as forgiving as the curved arms on the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Some rubber padding at the tips would have made a noticeable difference.
The glasses themselves are IPX4 rated, so sweat, light rain, and the occasional splash aren&rsquo;t an issue. You can work out, run outdoors, or get caught in a drizzle without stressing. The charging case, however, doesn&rsquo;t offer any water protection. For a product clearly aimed at sports and fitness users, that feels like a missed opportunity.
<h2>Oakley Meta HSTN: Sound, Calls, and the Camera You Actually Use</h2>
Audio turned out to be one of the quiet highlights of the Oakley Meta HSTN. It&rsquo;s not flashy, but it&rsquo;s genuinely useful. The open-ear speakers let you listen to music or podcasts without cutting you off from the world around you.
This makes a big difference during everyday use. Walking on busy roads, commuting, or working out, you can still hear traffic, conversations, or someone trying to get your attention. Your music stays in the background instead of taking over. Once you get used to it, regular earbuds start to feel a bit antisocial.
Calls are handled well too. The five-mic setup, spread across the arms and near the nose pad, does a solid job of isolating your voice. Even while moving or dealing with wind, calls stayed clear. No awkward &ldquo;can you hear me now?&rdquo; moments, which is more than I can say for some wearables.
The camera is where these glasses start to feel genuinely different from most gadgets. It shines in situations where using your phone feels like extra effort. Crowded streets, quick errands, or moments where your hands are already full. You see something, tap the glasses, and you&rsquo;re done.
The jump to 3K video sounds bigger than it looks. The footage itself doesn&rsquo;t suddenly become dramatic or cinematic. What you do notice is better stabilisation. Videos stay steady even when you&rsquo;re walking or moving around, which makes them far more watchable later.
This is not an action camera replacement, and it doesn&rsquo;t try to be. The quality works well for quick clips, short videos, and casual sharing. Taking photos or recording video is simple. Press the button or use voice commands. A white LED lights up to show recording is active. It won&rsquo;t silence every privacy concern, but it&rsquo;s a visible reminder that the camera is on.
Over time, I found myself using the camera for very ordinary things. A quick clip in the kitchen. Snapping a photo while shopping with both hands full. Capturing something mid-walk that I&rsquo;d usually forget about five minutes later. The glasses remove just enough friction to make those moments feel worth recording.
That&rsquo;s where the Oakley Meta HSTN makes the most sense. It&rsquo;s not chasing cinematic shots or trying to replace your phone. It&rsquo;s about making it easier to capture everyday moments without breaking your flow. And once that habit sets in, it&rsquo;s surprisingly hard to unlearn.
<h2>Oakley Meta HSTN: Talking to Your Glasses (And When It Actually Helps)</h2>
Meta AI works best when you don&rsquo;t treat it like a serious tool. The moment you stop trying to &ldquo;test&rdquo; it and start using it casually, it clicks. You say &ldquo;Hey Meta&rdquo; and ask simple things. Weather before stepping out. A nearby caf&eacute;. Something random because you&rsquo;re killing time on a walk. Most of the time, it does what you expect.
Things get more interesting once you involve the camera. Standing outside a metro station, I asked what I was looking at. The first answer was broad and slightly lazy. I followed up with another question, and it got sharper. That&rsquo;s how Meta AI tends to behave. It often needs a second push, but once it understands what you want, it becomes genuinely useful.
I tried this again while walking through a park, asking about trees and plants around me. As far as I could tell, it got most of them right. It even went on to explain basic plant care, which I didn&rsquo;t ask for but didn&rsquo;t hate either. It&rsquo;s not something I would ever bother typing into Google, but saying it out loud felt oddly natural.
That said, the AI still has its limits. Ask too many questions back-to-back and it can lose track of the conversation. One minute it&rsquo;s doing a decent job as a tour guide, the next it forgets what you were talking about entirely. Rephrasing usually helps. The best way to think about it is not as an expert, but as a smart friend who occasionally zones out.
At home, I asked Meta what I was looking at while the TV was on. It correctly identified that I was watching a video game trailer on YouTube, but guessed the wrong game. Close enough to be impressive, wrong enough to remind me not to trust it blindly. That balance comes up often.
All of this is handled through the Meta AI app, which works on both Android and iPhone. If you&rsquo;ve used Ray-Ban Meta glasses before, the layout will feel familiar. You can manage photos and videos, adjust settings, and connect services like Spotify, Apple Music, Strava, Garmin, and Audible. You can also add multiple glasses to the same app, which is handy if you&rsquo;re already in deep.
There&rsquo;s support for Be My Eyes as well, which allows people with low vision to connect with volunteers for help with everyday tasks. It&rsquo;s not something you&rsquo;ll use daily, but it&rsquo;s one of the more thoughtful features here.
The app itself is mostly easy to use, though not without flaws. Some settings are buried deeper than they should be, and the gallery could have been easier to reach. I also ran into a crash or two while poking around the AI settings. Nothing serious, just reminders that this whole experience is still being refined.
<h2>Oakley Meta HSTN: How Long They Actually Last</h2>
Battery life on the Oakley Meta HSTN is decent, but you do need to plan around it. If you use the glasses the way they&rsquo;re meant to be used&mdash;taking photos, recording videos, listening to music, and chatting with Meta AI&mdash;you&rsquo;re not getting through a full day on a single charge. By the time evening rolls around, the charging case becomes part of the routine.
The good news is that this is still an improvement over the first-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Meta claims up to 8 hours of use on the glasses themselves and up to 48 hours with the charging case. In real-world use, I saw closer to 6 hours on a single charge and roughly 40 hours when using the case. It&rsquo;s not the big leap Meta advertises, but it&rsquo;s a clear step forward compared to the Ray-Bans, which topped out at around 36 hours with their case.
Fast charging helps smooth things out. Pop the glasses into the case for about 20 minutes and you get roughly half the battery back. It&rsquo;s the kind of feature you don&rsquo;t think about until the day you forget to charge them, and suddenly it feels essential.
The one setting worth being careful with is 3K video. While it sounds like a major upgrade, it doesn&rsquo;t noticeably improve how your videos look. What it does do is drain the battery faster. Unless you really need it, sticking to 1080p makes more sense. You&rsquo;ll get similar-looking footage and noticeably better battery life.
<h2>Oakley Meta HSTN: The India Verdict</h2>
The Oakley Meta HSTN doesn&rsquo;t suddenly turn smart glasses into an essential purchase, but it gets closer than Meta ever has before. With a starting price of ₹41,800, this is clearly not aimed at everyone, especially in a market like India where price matters just as much as features. You do need to be aware of battery limits, and Meta AI still has its off days. This is very much a product that&rsquo;s growing into itself.
That said, when everything clicks, the experience is genuinely satisfying. The audio feels natural and useful, the camera turns out to be far more practical than expected, and the hands-free nature of it all slowly changes how often you bother pulling out your phone. Add Oakley&rsquo;s snug fit and performance-first design, and these glasses start feeling like something you can actually live with, not just test and put away.
The Oakley Meta HSTN isn&rsquo;t trying to replace your phone, smartwatch, or action camera. It&rsquo;s meant to sit quietly alongside them and take care of small, everyday moments with less effort. If you&rsquo;re curious about where smart glasses are headed and don&rsquo;t mind paying early-adopter prices, this is the strongest case Meta has made so far. If not, it still offers a clear and convincing preview of what this category could become in the next few years.

Read our in-depth Redmi Note 15 Pro+ review. We test the 6500mAh silicon-carbon battery, 100W HyperCharge, and 200MP camera in real-world Indian conditions.

Redmi Note 15 Pro+ Review: A 6500mAh Titan Built Like a Tank

Xiaomi just changed the mid-range game. Our week-long test of the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ reveals if that massive 6500mAh battery and IP69K rating are actually worth your money.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is a 6500mAh beast that ends battery anxiety for good. With its rugged vegan leather build, stunning 3200-nit screen, and 100W charging, it&rsquo;s a premium powerhouse built for the real world. A true mid-range titan.

For the longest time, the whole point of the Redmi Note series was just to hit that sweet spot where price meets performance. But honestly, with this new Redmi Note 15 Pro+, it feels like Xiaomi is tired of just playing it safe in the middle ground. They are clearly trying to push this phone into a much more premium category. On the spec sheet, you&rsquo;ve got some pretty wild numbers like a 6500mAh battery and a 200MP camera, plus some really gutsy calls, especially with how they&rsquo;ve totally rethought the camera setup this time around.
I&rsquo;ve been carrying the Coffee Mocha version of this phone as my main device for the last week to see if these changes actually matter when you&rsquo;re out in the real world. I wanted to know if these upgrades are genuine or if it is just more marketing fluff designed to look good on a box. After living with it for seven days, here is my honest breakdown of how it actually stacks up.
<h2>Unboxing &amp; Design</h2>
When most smartphone brands decided to ditch everything but the phone and a cable to save on costs, <a title="Redmi Note 15 5G Review: Slim, comfortable, and playing a different game" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/redmi-note-15-5g-review-slim-comfortable-and-playing-a-different-game-1767941831177" target="_blank">Xiaomi</a> went the other way by keeping the box packed with everything you actually need. It feels like a genuine "full kit" right out of the gates. You get a protective case that actually feels sturdy, which is a nice change from those flimsy clear ones that usually turn yellow within a month. It is refreshing to see a brand not nickel and diming their customers for the basics.
The real highlight here is that massive 100W HyperCharge brick sitting in the box. Honestly, this is a genius move on their part. It puts them miles ahead of competitors who brag about fast charging speeds but then expect you to pay extra for the actual charger. Moving from the 90W brick on the older <a title="Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G Review (Champagne Gold Edition): A good mid-ranger with a touch of class" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/redmi-note-14-pro-5g-review-champagne-gold-edition-a-good-mid-ranger-with-a-touch-of-class-1751890714900" target="_blank">Redmi Note 14 Pro+</a> might seem like a small tweak on paper, but in daily use, it is a very solid step forward for convenience.
Holding the phone for the first time is a bit of a surprise, especially in this Coffee Mocha finish. It has this "Rugged Sophistication" vibe that you just do not expect for this kind of money. The back uses a rich vegan leather that feels expensive and soft to the touch. The best part is that it gives you a really secure grip and stays completely clean from those annoying oily fingerprints. I spent a week testing this out, and the back held up perfectly against scratches from my keys or coins in my pocket.
What really impressed me was how slim the phone feels, even though there is a huge 6500mAh battery tucked inside. This Coffee Mocha leather version is about 8.47mm thick, while the plastic back versions are even thinner at 8.19mm. The weight is balanced so well that it never feels like one of those bulky, top-heavy battery phones. Even at 208g, it sits comfortably in your hand. The other colours might be a tiny bit lighter, but honestly, you will not even notice a difference when you are actually using it.
<h2>Display</h2>
Honestly, I wasn't expecting the screen on the <a title="Redmi Note 15 Pro+ First Look: Bigger battery, brighter screen, sharper focus" href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/mobiles/redmi-note-15-pro-first-look-bigger-battery-brighter-screen-sharper-focus-1769756688081" target="_blank">Redmi Note 15 Pro+</a> to stick with me like it did. Usually, you see these massive spec sheets and think, "Yeah, looks good on paper," but then the actual experience feels totally flat. After a week of having this as my daily driver, though, I&rsquo;ve completely flipped my stance. The display ended up being one of my favourite parts of the whole package, mostly because it doesn't feel like it&rsquo;s trying to show off with fake colours or weird visual tricks. It just works.
It is a 6.83-inch 1.5K AMOLED panel, and it's just&hellip; clean. Everything looks sharp and vibrant without feeling artificial. After a day or two, I actually forgot I was using a "mid-range" phone. You only really feel the quality difference when you pick up a different device and realise how washed out other screens look compared to this one.
Xiaomi calls this an "All-Around Liquid Display," which is just marketing speak for the glass curving a bit on all four sides. I&rsquo;ll be the first to say I was worried about this. I&rsquo;ve had some pretty annoying experiences with curved glass before, think accidental palm touches and those weird reflections that make it impossible to see the edges. But after living with it, those fears kind of vanished. Whether I was firing off WhatsApp replies or just doom-scrolling late at night, I didn't hit a single ghost touch. It actually felt stable and reliable.
Using it day-to-day feels incredibly smooth, thanks to that 120Hz refresh rate. Everything from the animations to the scrolling feels natural, not forced. The 1.5K resolution is the sweet spot too; it&rsquo;s crisp enough to look high-end but doesn't absolutely murder the battery. I spent a lot of time on YouTube and Netflix, and with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, the contrast and colours are honestly, excellent for a phone at this price.
One small win was the fingerprint sensor. Usually, in this bracket, they&rsquo;re a total toss-up. But this one? It worked on the first tap almost every single time. It&rsquo;s one of those things you stop thinking about after a few days, which is exactly how good tech should be.
Brightness is another area where it genuinely shines. It peaks at 3200 nits, which sounds like a lot because it is. I was riding out to Greater Noida in the middle of a super bright afternoon with Google Maps open, and even with the sun beating down, I could see every turn perfectly. No squinting or trying to shade the screen with my hand. And for the night owls, that 3840Hz PWM dimming is a lifesaver. My eyes didn't feel like they were burning even after a long session of reading in the dark before bed.
The screen is wrapped in Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which gives you a bit of a safety net. I&rsquo;m not exactly gentle with my phones; it goes in and out of my pocket with keys and stuff, but so far, not a single scratch. As for the sound, the speakers get surprisingly loud. Xiaomi lets you boost the volume up to 400 per cent using their software. To be fair, you lose the bass, and it gets a bit tinny at that level, but if you&rsquo;re just trying to hear a voice note or a reel in a noisy room, it gets the job done.
<h2>Camera</h2>
Xiaomi really rolled the dice on the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ cameras by cutting the rear setup down to just two sensors. It is a pretty bold departure from the triple camera array we saw last year, and I will be honest, I am not entirely sold on the change. While that 200MP main shooter is an absolute monster in terms of raw power, it is really tough to overlook the fact that the telephoto lens has been axed. The Note 14 Pro+ had a versatile system that just worked, so losing that dedicated zoom feels like taking a step backwards. Once you try to zoom in now, the image quality basically drops off a cliff, leaving you with blocky pixels and none of that sharp optical detail you would expect from a pro plus model.
On the bright side, the 200MP primary camera is a total champ when you have decent lighting. What I appreciate most is that the shots actually look like real life. You aren't being hit with that aggressive, fake-looking AI processing or neon colours that look like they were cooked in a lab. The photos stay grounded and realistic, which makes them much nicer to look back at in your gallery. Portrait shots are also quite solid. The way it separates the person from the background is usually spot on. Even if the software gets a little carried away with smoothing out skin textures every now and then, the final image still feels balanced and authentic enough to post on social media without a second thought.
The 8MP ultra-wide lens is really just a role player in this setup. It handles the job for wide landscapes or squeezing friends into a group photo, but we have to be realistic here; it is not trying to match the main sensor for clarity. It feels more like a backup tool than a flagship feature. For the selfie lovers, the 32MP front camera actually does a surprisingly good job. It keeps things sharp and handles video calls really well without any weird flickering or blurring around the edges.
When it comes to video, the rear camera can hit 4K at 30fps, while the front is stuck at 1080p at 60fps. I was actually caught off guard by how steady the footage was from the main back camera during my week of testing. It might not be as smooth as a high-end flagship, but for a mid-range device, it is more than respectable. At the end of the day, the camera situation feels a bit uneven. That main 200MP sensor is truly impressive, but if you are the type of person who is constantly zooming into subjects, you are definitely going to feel the loss of that telephoto lens.
<h2>Performance</h2>
To be completely fair, I already had a pretty good idea of what the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 was going to offer before I even unboxed the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. It is built on a 4nm process, which sounds great, but let&rsquo;s be real for a second. This isn't the kind of chipset that exists just to brag about massive numbers on a spec sheet. If you are the type of person who stays up late obsessing over benchmark charts to see who is on top, this phone probably wasn't made with you in mind.
However, when it came to my actual day-to-day usage, it really did hold its own. Honestly, it performed a lot better than I originally expected. My daily routine is usually a bit of a disaster, bouncing between dozens of open apps, firing off emails, messing with documents, and watching a ton of video. I even tried a bit of light video work just to see if it would choke. Through all that mess, the phone stayed impressively smooth. I didn't run into those annoying random freezes or the tiny stutters that usually start to get under your skin after a few days of heavy use.
I did end up running those standard benchmark tests anyway, mostly because I wanted to see where it landed. On AnTuTu, my unit hit a score of nearly 8.1 lakh. Geekbench showed 1238 for single-core and 3218 for multi-core. I also threw it at 3DMark Wild Life, where it stayed in that 4100 to 4200 range with frame rates around 25 FPS. I actually thought about skipping that one, but I figured I might as well see the whole picture. These are solid, middle-of-the-road results. They aren't going to set the world on fire, but they are exactly what you should expect from this kind of hardware.
Gaming was the part that actually caught me off guard. I spent a good amount of time playing BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile, and I have to say, both games felt really stable. Yeah, the frame rate is capped below 90 FPS, but the experience stayed consistent. I didn't see those sudden frame drops or weird slowdowns that usually ruin a match, even during the longer gaming sessions.
Some people might complain about the UFS 2.2 storage being used here. On paper, it is definitely slower than the newer standards we see in flagship phones. But in real-world usage? I honestly barely noticed it. Unless you are constantly moving massive files around every single hour, it really isn't going to change your life much.
What actually impressed me the most was the heat management. Most phones in this price bracket start getting uncomfortably hot once you start gaming for a bit. That just didn't happen here. After a full hour of heavy gaming, the temperature was sitting around 37 degrees. Even when I pushed it toward two hours, it stayed near 39 and never even touched 40. Finding that kind of thermal control at this price point is actually pretty rare.
<h2>Software, UI/UX &amp; AI Features</h2>
On the software front, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ ships with HyperOS 2 built on top of Android 15. In my daily testing, the whole experience felt very zippy and responsive. The interface is fluid, apps open up without any delay, and the animations have a nice snappiness to them. If you have used a Redmi device in the last few years, you will feel right at home with the layout and navigation.
However, I really need to call out Xiaomi for the amount of bloatware pre-installed on this device. It is honestly everywhere. I really don't understand why anyone would need half a dozen random puzzle games pre-loaded on a brand new handset. It just clutters up the home screen and takes away that "new phone" feeling. While you can go in and manually delete most of this junk, I ended up spending my first ten minutes with the phone just cleaning up the app drawer, which is never a great way to start.
On the plus side, the way they have integrated AI tools for productivity is actually quite impressive. The HyperAI suite includes features like AI Writing, Speech Recognition, and a built-in Interpreter. I found these surprisingly helpful for knocking out emails and drafting articles when I was in a rush. Having Google Gemini and Circle to Search right there also makes finding information feel completely effortless.
As for longevity, the update promise is pretty respectable. You get four years of major OS updates and six years of security patches. Even though it didn't launch with Android 16, it is still a solid choice if you plan on keeping your phone for a long time rather than upgrading every single year.
<h2>Battery and Charging</h2>
To be totally honest, the battery life on the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is just flat out nuts. It is running on a 6500mAh silicon-carbon battery and supports 100W fast charging. While those specs look fancy on a website, it is the actual day-to-day endurance that really caught me off guard.
I basically got to a point where I just stopped thinking about where my charger was. Xiaomi says you can get a full top up in under 40 minutes, and in my testing, that was pretty much spot on. Even if you only have about ten minutes to spare for a quick plug-in, you get enough power to stop worrying for the next several hours.
The real highlight, though, is how it handles a massive workload. On my most chaotic days, when I was gaming for hours and binge-watching high-res videos, I would still finish the day with about 37 per cent left in the tank. If you are not a hardcore power user and just stick to the basics like making phone calls or scrolling through Instagram, you could easily go over two and a half days without even looking for a wall socket. They even added 22.5W reverse charging, which is a genuine lifesaver if your earbuds die or a friend&rsquo;s phone is about to give up on them.&nbsp;
<h2>Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?</h2>
The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ really hits the mark in just about every way that actually matters. There is no doubt that this device represents a significant step up across almost every single category. That massive 6500mAh battery combined with the 100W charging speed means the phone just keeps going and going, while the display remains incredibly smooth and exceptionally bright. Having that 3200 nits of peak brightness is a huge plus. The vegan leather finish on the back adds a high end feel and does a great job of staying free from messy fingerprints, while the 200MP primary sensor captures photos that actually look realistic. For those of us who create content, the AI features baked into HyperOS are genuinely helpful, and the overall performance handles the daily grind without any noticeable issues.
Of course, the pre-installed junk apps are a bit of a headache, and I know that photography fans will definitely feel the sting of not having a dedicated telephoto lens. Also, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is not exactly going to be breaking any speed records. However, when you look at the price and consider the IP69K durability, the long-term update promise of four years of OS and six years of security patches, and that impressively slim 8.47mm body, it really is a fantastic deal. It is a perfect choice for heavy users who care more about battery life and a top-tier screen than flashy gimmicks.

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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Microsoft 365 down for thousands of users

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Microsoft 365 is down for thousands of users globally, as detected by downdetector.com. The exact reason for the same is not yet known.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

iQOO 15R Review: Performance Meets Endurance

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

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

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