Name: Twitter Blue launched in India
Uploaded: 2023-02-09T12:16:47.000+05:30
Duration: T00M33S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: The Twitter Blue paid subscription service is now available in India.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

iQOO 15R Review: Performance Meets Endurance

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

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

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

iQOO 15R First Impressions: Performance-Led and Purposeful

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

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

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.

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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The Twitter Blue paid subscription service is now available in India.

Twitter Blue launched in India

The Twitter Blue paid subscription service is now available in India.

The Twitter Blue paid subscription service has been launched in India.
It costs ₹900 per month for mobile users and ₹650 per month for web users, or ₹6,800 for an annual subscription. This means that Twitter Blue&rsquo;s India pricing is more or less on par with its US pricing.&nbsp;
To recall, Blue&rsquo;s exclusive features include undo tweet, edit tweet button, ability to post longer and high-quality videos, prioritised rankings in chats, half the amount of ads seen by normal users on their home timeline, custom app icons, access to Spaces tab, NFT profile pictures, themes, custom navigation options, unlimited bookmarks, and the ability to bookmark folders.
Also watch: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/tech-news/gadget-review/hands-on-with-the-samsung-galaxy-book3-ultra-the-macbook-pro-killer-1675416664623">Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra: The MacBook Pro killer?</a>

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

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

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

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

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

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: Everything You Need to Know

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

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

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

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

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

Xiaomi Pad 8 Review: Premium Performance at a Smart Price

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

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

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

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

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

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

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