Android 15 is set to arrive in the second half of 2024 with several new features in tow, and these features are expected to arrive on Google’s Pixel phones, before they make their way to other Android-powered handsets. While we recently got a look at a handful of new features with the release of Android 15 Developer Preview 2 last week, the company is also reportedly working on improving a feature that lets you use your Android phone as a webcam.

According to a recent Android Authority report, the webcam feature introduced on Pixel smartphones will receive an upgrade on Android 15. The publication previously tested the webcam feature on the Pixel 8 Pro alongside Apple’s Continuity Camera for iPhone models that offers the same feature and found that the latter offers far better video quality. Google could reportedly close this gap with the next version of Android.

When Android 15 arrives later this year, the webcam mode will reportedly feature a new HQ button that turns on a high-quality mode, as per the report. Unlike the default mode that has been available since Android 14, this mode is said to disable power optimisations that sacrifice video quality in order to conserve battery, resulting in improved video recorded while in webcam mode.

It is currently unclear what impact enabling the high-quality battery will have on battery life, compared to the standard mode. Google’s webcam feature only works in wired mode, so the connected USB cable could help reduce the battery drain to some extent, but users who are expecting to take longer calls might want to consider switching to the regular mode.

Support for the new high-quality mode is already enabled on the latest Android 12 DP 2 release, and users who have installed the preview on their Pixel smartphones can now test out the feature and compare it to the original mode. 

Google is working on several improvements to existing features, while adding a few new ones to Android 15. These include native support for satellite connectivity, improved NFC functionality, better support for apps on foldable phones’ cover screens, and support for configuring app archiving. All of these features are likely to make their way to the final release when it is released in the second half of 2024.

The post Android 15 to Offer High-Quality Mode for Webcam Feature on Google Pixel Smartphones: Report appeared first on Tech Independent.

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Price in India

I’ve been using the top-end variant for the Vivo V29 Pro with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in the Himalayan Blue colour option, priced at Rs. 42,999. The Vivo V29 Pro has another 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, priced at Rs. 39,999 in India. It can be bought in another Space Black colour option.

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Design

Most things have stayed the same on the outside since the Vivo V27 Pro here. The smartphone still comes in a glass sandwich design with a glossy finish with the Vivo branding at the bottom and sports the rectangular camera module raised a little from the glass back panel. You see some changes on the camera module itself; instead of the three camera lenses placed in a row, we now have two camera lenses and the aura-light flash in a row with the primary flash and a camera lens on the right.

Vivo V29 Pro can shoot videos at up to 4K 60fps

The camera module now uses the same finish as the rest of the back panel. I particularly liked the Himalayan Blue colour variant quite a lot; it shimmers when placed under light, which is pleasing to the eyes. But you will need a case to carry it as the glossy finished smartphone catches many fingerprints. The smartphone sports a metal chassis with a glossy finish with the power key and the volume buttons on the right, and at the bottom, it gets the USB 2.0 Type-C port, dual-sim slot and a speaker grille.

Vivo V29 Pro sports a glass back panel

The brand does not mention whether the smartphone gets Corning’s Gorilla Glass protection. Vivo V29 Pro is a large phone with a 6.78-inch curved display, which is difficult to hold sometimes. One-hand use is not very comfortable with the device. The buttons of this smartphone are pretty responsive and sometimes make them prone to accidental presses as well.

At 7.5mm, this is a very slim smartphone that feels very delicate to use without a case. It weighs just 188g, which puts it on the lighter side. The smartphone does not come with an official rating for water and dust resistance, which is a bummer. Overall, the look and feel of this smartphone is quite premium, and I felt like I was using a smartphone that justified its price.

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Display

Vivo V29 Pro uses a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of 1,260 x 2,800 pixels. It is pretty impressive with the colours that it produces. I watched a couple of Marvel movies, and the experience was quite good. Sharpness was on point, and the viewing angles were also good despite this being a curved display.

The display has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 1000Hz

Colours did not bleed on the edges like you would notice on most curved display phones. The bezels on this smartphone are very thin; you barely see them while watching anything on the display. This smartphone performs pretty well in outdoor conditions as well. There is no word on its official peak brightness levels, but I did not feel like the smartphone fell short on brightness in direct sunlight either.

The display is HDR10 certified, and the HDR videos look crisp and have plenty of dynamic range when viewed on this display.

It sports a 3D curved display that produces up to 1.07 billion colours

The smartphone supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and you can choose between the standard 60Hz refresh rate or the ‘Smart Switch’ refresh rate that selects the appropriate refresh rate by learning your usage to preserve the battery. It works fine for most day-to-day tasks like scrolling through the internet, UI, apps, etc., and the user experience with 120Hz is pretty good across the board.

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Camera

This is one of the strong suits of this smartphone. Vivo V29 Pro sports a triple-rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary camera with f/1.88 and OIS, a 12-megapixel portrait camera with 2x optical zoom and f/1.98 and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera with f/2.2.

The primary camera performs very well in daylight, clicking images with plenty of details. The photos are not over-processed and have just the right amount of dynamic range in them; I did find them to be a little oversharpened for my taste. To click full-resolution 50-megapixel images, you will have to dig deep into the camera UI and select the high-res option, which restricts you from clicking those quite a bit. Bokeh straight out of the camera is quite pleasing and focuses on the close-up subjects pretty well.

Vivo V29 Pro daylight primary camera samples (tap to see full size)

The portrait camera performs well in daylight; it does not over-sharpen like the primary camera and maintains the colour scheme. 2x optical zoom helps you take shots that are a little difficult for the primary camera, and it still manages to take pretty detailed images. Portrait mode images out of this one are quite good; they are processed quite a bit, and you will notice the colour shift instantly. But the result sometimes looks better than the primary camera. I shot multiple human portraits with this one, and I was impressed by the background effect and subject isolation. It keeps the original skin tone intact and recognises the edges pretty well.

Vivo V29 Pro telephoto camera samples (tap to see full size)

The ultrawide camera on the Vivo V29 Pro is a mixed bag; the 8-megapixel resolution sometimes produces very soft images, and the processor tries to sharpen those, which produces a worse-looking image. It works well in daylight, maintains good sharpness levels across the frame, and has good colours. But the distortion on the edges is noticeable.

Vivo V29 Pro ultra-wide angle camera samples (tap to see full size)

The smartphone performs well in low light. I recently took some really good shots at an event with the primary camera. It tends to ramp up the saturation levels, but the pictures have good details. You will sometimes find yourself with flat-looking images, but mostly, the nighttime shots clicked with the primary camera will look great. The portrait camera works just fine in low light; in portrait mode, the bokeh looks excellent, and the colours are pleasing to the eyes, too. They’re not true-to-life but do not look cartoony as you might expect. It does not hunt for focus at night, either. The ultrawide camera lacks quite a bit in low light; you will see a lot of grains in your shots if they’re clicked in less-than-ideal situations. If you need great-looking ultrawide shots, you should be able to hold the camera still for quite some time and shoot at longer shutter speeds.

Vivo V29 Pro nighttime camera samples. Top to bottom: primary camera, ultra-wide-angle camera (tap to see full size)

Vivo has emphasised its Aura-light flash quite a bit and does a decent job at separating the subject from the background, but it isn’t perfect. I found myself with shots that were not lit enough most of the time. But it is a good addition for whenever you do not want to use the main flash and need a different-looking portrait.

Vivo V29 Pro Smart Aura Light camera sample. Without Smart Aura Light (Left), With Smart Aura Light (Right)

The smartphone can record videos at up to 4K 60fps without any stabilisation. Video capturing resolution drops as you select one of the stabilisation levels. The videos look good in general but are a little over-sharpened. Videos at night come out softer than usual.

For selfies, the smartphone uses a 50-megapixel camera with autofocus. It clicks images with good details in daylight and nighttime shots. But the default setting where the smartphone thinks I need to click a portrait with the front camera each time I open the selfie camera is annoying. The front camera can shoot videos up to 4K 60fps that look good in daylight but lack details in low light.

Vivo V29 Pro Selfie camera samples

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Battery and Charging

The Vivo V29 Pro sports a 4600mAh battery, which is impressive considering how slim this smartphone is. The smartphone does a pretty good job of handling day-to-day tasks like playing music at 50 percent volume through TWS for a couple of hours, browsing the internet, playing videos online, some gaming and using productivity apps with 120Hz refresh rate enabled with around 50 percent screen brightness throughout the day. The Vivo V29 Pro lasted for 17 hours and 15 minutes in our battery loop test, which is quite impressive.

The smartphone comes with the 80W adaptor inside the retail packaging, which is a plus, considering most smartphones do not come with it nowadays. It charges very fast with the bundled charging adaptor; in our testing, the smartphone charged 66 percent in just 30 minutes and 100 percent in less than an hour, which is excellent. Surprisingly, the smartphone did not overheat while charging at such speeds either.

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Performance

It ships with MediaTek’s Dimensity 8200 5G SoC at heart, which is a good processor when it comes to handling graphic-intensive tasks. We ran all the required benchmarks on the Vivo V29 Pro, and the results were quite good for this price. It scored 9,19,960 on AnTuTu v.10.1.0, 1,213 single core and 3,931 for multi-core for Geekbench 6.

I played a couple of graphic-intensive games, including Call of Duty: Mobile, in which I did not see a lot of frames dropping during the gameplay. The gaming session was smooth, and I could play with high graphic settings enabled. Real Racing 3 was smooth, and the animations did not lag during my entire session. The smartphone did get a little warm after each session, but it was negligible. The Vivo V29 Pro comes loaded with Funtouch 13, based on Android 13. It has many pre-loaded apps, but they can be deleted at will, which is a plus. The overall user experience of the smartphone is lag-free, and it does feel like a premium smartphone.

Vivo V29 Pro Review: Verdict

The Vivo V29 Pro is a good smartphone with a starting price of Rs. 39,999 that checks all the necessary boxes, including a good display, a great set of cameras, a premium build quality and a good battery life with insanely fast charging speeds. It offers most of the premium features that a consumer looks for in this price range. The smartphone offers a premium in-hand feel, and the Himalayan Blue colour stands out. It justifies the starting price, and the 12GB RAM variant is priced decently well, too. The smartphone does fall short with average ultrawide camera performance, and no IP rating. If the latter matters to you more, I suggest you go with the Google Pixel 7a (Review), which has a better ultrawide camera performance, is IP67-rated water and dust resistant and is protected with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, at a slightly higher price of Rs. 43,999.

The post Vivo V29 Pro Review: A Good-Looking Mid-Ranger appeared first on Tech Independent.

Chinese smartphone brand iQoo is all geared up for the launch of its latest flagship smartphone called the iQoo 12. The iQoo 12 is the successor to the iQoo 11, which was launched in India at a starting price of Rs. 59,999. Ahead of the launch of its latest flagship, iQoo has now announced a new Priority Pass for its users. The pass will get interested buyers of the upcoming iQoo 12 smartphone early access to the sale, among other things. The flagship smartphone is set to launch in India on 12 December.

iQoo’s Priority Pass can be availed between 5 December and 7 December 2023 by pre-booking the premium smartphone on Amazon or iQoo.com. iQoo claims that all interested buyers who pre-book the device will get the benefits of the Priority Pass. At the same time, the brand also mentions that Priority Passes are limited in number and will only be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Interested buyers will have to pay a refundable amount of Rs. 999 to pre-book the phone and avail of the Priority Pass. This amount will be adjusted in the final payment.

This Priority Pass comes with several benefits, some of which will be announced on launch day. For now, iQoo promises early access to order its iQoo 12 smartphone, which is a whole 24 hours before the sale. Just like its current offer with the iQoo 11 5G, the iQoo is also giving out free Vivo TWS worth Rs. 2,999 for its Priority Pass customers. Lastly, iQoo has also mentioned that its Priority Pass customers can also avail of other launch offers, which will be announced on 12 December.

The iQoo 12 is shaping up to be a rather interesting smartphone at its expected price point. This year’s model comes with plenty of upgrades over the previous model. This includes a brand-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, a revamped camera system with a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom. The device will have a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and offer up to 3,000 nits of claimed peak brightness. The device will provide 120W charging using iQoo’s FlashCharge technology.

The iQoo 12, along with the iQoo 12 Pro, was launched in China on 7 November. The iQoo 12 is priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 45,000) for the base 12GB + 256GB variant. The iQoo 12 Pro is available at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 57,000) for the base 16GB + 256GB variant.

The post iQoo 12 Priority Pass Announced: Benefits Include Early Access to the Sale and a Free Vivo TWS appeared first on Tech Independent.

There is also a new design language and hardware, some of which seem to mimic the Redmi 12 5G, which is comfortably placed at the lower end of the budget smartphone segment. I’ve spent a few hours with the new and improved Redmi 13C 5G, and here are my first impressions.

Right off the bat, it’s easy to tell that Redmi 13C 5G follows a newer design philosophy that we have seen on more recent models like the Redmi 12 5G, which was released in August this year. Gone is the basic plastic appearance and feel of the Redmi 12C. The 13C 5G is still made of polycarbonate for its frame and rear screen but gets a modern appearance with flat sides and a flat rear panel.

This rear panel, although made of plastic, is quite the looker. It has this unique finish which Xiaomi calls its Star Trail Design. It shows two separate patterns, one with running lines, which seems to move when you tilt the phone off-axis. The second is a more familiar sparkle or shimmer. These give the phone a dual finish of sorts. While its colour remains the same, it’s nice to see Xiaomi get creative with an entry-level device.

The Redmi 13C 5G has this unique Star Trails Design, which appears to move or animate when titled from side to side

Unlike the 12C, which had an IP52 rating, Xiaomi states that its Redmi 13C 5G is splash-resistant and offers dust protection without giving it an official IP rating.

Despite its flat and chiselled appearance, I did find the phone quite large, but that’s probably down to its 6.71-inch, 1,600 x 720 pixels LCD panel. It’s protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which is the same as on the Redmi 12 5G. There is a U-shaped display notch at the top and a thick bezel at the bottom, which differentiates it well from the budget Redmi 12 5G, which has a hole-punch cavity for its selfie camera and appears more premium. The display, too, has gotten an upgrade, now managing a 90Hz maximum screen refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate, which could be useful to gamers.

Despite its appearance, there’s only one user-accessible camera on this device

Inside, there’s an upgraded MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, which is a noticeable upgrade over the Redmi 12C’s dated MediaTek Helio G85 SoC. There are also plenty more RAM options to choose from.

There’s a 4GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, a 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant and even an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, all of which offer 1TB of expandable storage. All of these variants also offer up to 8GB of expandable virtual RAM.

As for the cameras, things appear to remain the same as before. Xiaomi offers a 50-megapixel primary camera paired with a depth camera (which is not accessible by the user). So, this is still a single-camera experience. Selfies are handled by an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

The micro-USB port from the Redmi 12C has been updated to a USB-C port on the Redmi 13C 5G

What seemed less impressive is Xiaomi’s approach to software for its entry-level smartphones. There’s MIUI 14, which is a good thing, but it’s based on Android 13. There are plenty of preinstalled third-party apps, and it just took a few hours of use to understand how much of a mess the software is as I was constantly bombarded by spammy notifications from various preinstalled apps. There are also several preinstalled games along with numerous third-party apps.

The Redmi 13C 5G gets the same battery as its predecessor in terms of capacity, which was 5,000mAh. However, Xiaomi has managed to increase the charging speeds from 10W to 18W, which should be a lot faster. However, Xiaomi continues to offer a 10W charger in the box. And yes, this also means that there’s a Type-C port at the bottom instead of a micro-USB port on the previous model.

The U-shaped display notch does make the phone appear a bit dated despite its otherwise chiselled appearance

Sure, the Redmi 13C 5G seems like a well-rounded update. But it’s all expected to show up with a higher price tag, which is something Xiaomi will reveal in the coming days. Thankfully, it will appear justified given that the actual successor to the Redmi 12C is the Redmi 13C, which is the non-5G variant of the same device.

At the time of writing, Xiaomi has not provided us with details about its standard Redmi 13C (4G) model but did comment that it would have a lower resolution selfie camera, among other minor changes, versus the 5G model. So, do stay tuned for our review of the entry-level Redmi 13C 5G to find out if it’s worth the premium over the Redmi 12C or the 13C or whether it gets cannibalised by the budget Redmi 12 5G (Review) instead.

The post Redmi 13C 5G First Impressions: Plenty of Upgrades! appeared first on Tech Independent.

Google today introduced its new Gemini AI model which has been made available in three different sizes – Ultra, Pro and Nano. According to Google, Gemini Nano is the most efficient model and is the one being used in the Pixel 8 Pro in particular to handle some AI generated tasks locally on the smartphone, without the need to be connected to the internet or the cloud. This includes a new Summarise feature in the Recorder app, which will deliver summaries of recorded conversations, interviews and more without connecting to the internet. Another Gemini Nano AI-driven feature is Smart Reply which has been made available in the GBoard keyboard app. The feature is currently available as a developer preview and works with certain apps only (will be coming to more apps next year). Pixel 8 Pro owners can demo the feature in WhatsApp currently letting them automatically generate replies based on the current chat conversation.

Moving away from the Gemini Nano model, the Pixel 8 Pro gains another feature that according to Google utilises its Tensor G3 processor. Video Boost will now be available for Pixel 8 Pro owners. After enabling the feature in the camera app, all users have to do is shoot a video like they normally would, while Google saves a separate copy of the same video in a different format. Once both videos are uploaded to the cloud, Google’s computational photography models will adjust parameters like colour, lighting, stabilisation, and graininess, helping make videos appear better. Video Boost also works with Night Sight video (once again on Pixel 8 Pro) resulting in videos that have richer colour and more detail once processed in the cloud. The end product is then downloaded back to the phone and replaces the original recorded video on it.

The new Smart Reply feature works with WhatsApp
Photo Credit: Google

Both Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 8 owners will also get access to a new Night Sight timelapse feature (found in the same camera mode) letting them shoot timelapse videos with better dynamic range and overall clarity.

The Pixel Fold, apart from the new tools mentioned above, also gets access to a Dual Screen Preview. It lets your subjects view themselves when shooting a photo by looking at themselves in the second preview on the Fold’s cover display.

Moving to older devices (Pixel 7 Pro up to the Pixel 6a), a new Portrait Light tool is available in the Photos app that lets users get rid of harsh shadows and improve the overall lighting of any photos that are stored on the same app, regardless of whether it was shot on a Pixel or not. The Photo Unblur tool also gets some added functionality and now works with dogs and cats as well. Once again, this works regardless of where the source image comes from. Users can also use their Pixel phones as webcam by simply plugging in the USB cable into a computer and selecting ‘Webcam’ in USB preferences. There’s also a Clean feature which can help remove smudges, stains and more from scanned documents.

Repair Mode finally comes to Pixel devices
Photo Credit: Google

Photo and camera-centric features aside, Google’s push for passkeys gets stronger with Password Manager now being able to identify apps, services or accounts that support the same, letting you add them when available.

Call Screen, a feature that’s not available in India yet, now makes its way to the Pixel Watch. Owners of the Pixel Watch can now also automatically unlock other Pixel devices when nearby, reducing the need to manually enter a password to unlock them, in case your hands are busy. Users of the first gen Pixel Watch can now also sync their Do Not Disturb and Bedtime Modes from one device to the other. Pixel Tablet also gets AI-enhanced Clear Calling and now supports spatial audio with head tracking when connected to Pixel Buds Pro.

Last but not the least comes the much-awaited Repair Mode. The feature basically keeps your personal data protected when handing over your Pixel device to a service centre for repairs. It mainly reduces the need for users to format or erase their devices when getting them serviced.

You can head here to check whether your Pixel device supports a particular feature from the December Feature Drop. The update is rolling out gradually and will reach supported Pixel devices over the next weeks.

The post Google’s December Pixel Feature Drop Arrives, With AI Features Reserved for Pixel 8 Pro appeared first on Tech Independent.

And now we have Oppo’s second attempt at a vertical foldable. Surprisingly, Oppo has not given in to the trend set by Motorola by going with a square cover display. Oppo retains its tall rectangular cover display but has come up with new tricks to make it more useful. It’s also got a brand-new camera system and an alert slider, which seems to be borrowed from OnePlus. The rest remains pretty much the same, but is it enough to take on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra? Let’s find out.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Price in India

The Oppo Find N3 Flip is priced at Rs. 94,999 and offers 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are just two finishes to choose from – Cream Gold and Sleek Black. Oppo’s pricing seems quite competitive compared to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5, which is still priced at Rs. 99,999 for its base 8GB RAM and 256GB storage option and goes up to Rs. 1,09,999 for the 512GB storage variant. In contrast, Motorola’s Razr 40 Ultra is priced even lower at Rs. 79,999, for which you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip’s front and rear panels are made from Corning Gorilla Victus glass

Samsung’s clamshell may seem a bit too expensive, but you have to keep in mind that between the three flagship foldables, it’s the only one to offer the updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. It also offers an IPX8 rating for water resistance and Qi wireless charging.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Design

Oppo’s design for the Find N3 Flip remains very similar to the Find N2 Flip it replaces. It has a very likeable, rounded design, which feels comfortable to hold compared to the sharper edges and flat sides of the Galaxy Z Flip 5. However, I miss the matte finish available on the Astral Black version of the Find N2 Flip, as this glossy finish is very slippery.

While the overall finish of this foldable definitely looks and feels luxurious, I did notice some sharp edges at the bottom edge of both halves (when folded), where the curved outer panels meet the flat frame. For a phone that’s priced near Rs. 1 lakh, I expected better attention to detail. Thankfully, Oppo includes a basic yet matte-finished case in the box, which snaps perfectly onto both halves and adds some grip.

Like the Oppo Find N2 Flip, the Find N3 Flip also folds shut without any visible gap

The rectangular cover display on the top half remains the same as before. And I believe Oppo has left it in this orientation to accommodate the triple rear camera setup, which is a first for clamshell foldable globally. I like the design of the triple rear camera layout, which appears very unique and is about the same size and thickness as a Rs. 10 coin.

Even though it is as thick as a coin, the circular camera module with the Hasselblad branding does not add much to the overall thickness of the device, both when opened or folded. It is broad enough not to make the phone wobble when placed open on a flat surface.

On the left side of the device (whether opened or closed) is the iconic OnePlus alert slider. This is indeed the first Oppo device to get this feature, I found the three-stage slider convenient for changing device profiles. While it may feel unusual for Oppo users, who typically have a clean and buttonless left side, OnePlus users looking to switch to a vertical foldable will find it handy and familiar.

The inner folding display has thin bezels, and its width is broad enough for a comfortable typing experience

As for the inner folding display, the crease is very shallow and barely visible, and so are the bezels, which are very thin on all four sides. These bezels are also quite flat, making swipe-in or swipe-out gestures at the edges of the display a very good experience. The inner folding display, just like the previous model, does not gather fingerprints easily. Even if you manage to get the display smudged up, wiping them off requires little effort.

Going back to that tall cover display, there is something very off about the way Oppo advertises it. Given the left-sided layout of the cover display (when held folded with the hinge up), I often had to reach for it over the circular camera module to operate it, which, given my fairly large hands, seemed fine but still not right.

To my surprise, I soon discovered that Oppo wants its users to use the phone with the hinge down (and not at the top), making that left-handed display perfectly reachable for right-handed folks. However, it brings up the odd layout problem for its fingerprint reader, which moves to the other side and will then need to be unlocked by your ring finger instead of your thumb, which I found nonsensical.

So, I tried unlocking the phone in this “advertised orientation” with my right hand and the display on the right, and the phone worked as expected. However, flipping it open upside down means you will have to use both hands or risk swinging the phone around (bringing the hinge up) with one hand and then flip open the phone like one normally would.

Right-handed users will need to stretch a bit (over the camera bump) to use the left-aligned cover display

In short, the best way to use the cover display is with the hinge on top and the display on the left, the way one would normally flip open the main display. Those with small hands will have trouble using it this way, given the width of this phone.

The barely visible display crease and thin and flat bezels are all possible because of this clamshell foldable’s hinge, which Oppo has branded as the Flexion hinge. Made of aircraft-grade steel, it has a water drop design, which lets both halves of the foldable close with no visible gap in between. Oppo claims that its hinge can last up to 10,00,000 folds, which I could not test nor verify.

However, I can explain how the hinge feels. And it’s quite good. Just like the Oppo Find N2 Flip’s hinge, I found this hinge to be very responsive and light to operate. It’s not as loose as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra’s hinge and not as tight as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s hinge. I could open and shut it without much effort with the same hand, meaning that Oppo has hit the sweet spot when it comes to the tension and force needed to operate this foldable.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip’s hinge feels smooth and is light enough to operate with one hand

Unlike Samsung’s hinge, Oppo’s has a sweet spot (within 45-120 degrees) between which one-half of it can remain upright. Pushing it beyond this sweet spot will see the phone slam shut or unfold fully.

Another design feature that the hinge also allows for is an IP rating. Oppo’s Find N3 Flip finally gets an official IPX4 rating for water resistance, but this is quite basic, and it mainly works against splashes of water or light rain. This means you may need to head to the service centre if your foldable falls into a tub or a pool.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Specifications and Software

The Oppo Find N3 Flip, just like its predecessor, uses a MediaTek processor. This time, it’s been upgraded from the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC to a Dimensity 9200 SoC (4nm). Oppo offers 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. There’s support for the several 5G bands along with dual-5G standby and space for two nano SIM cards (or 1 SIM card and one eSIM). Communication standards include Wi-Fi AC, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, a USB Type-C port and support for the usual global positioning systems. The phone’s fingerprint reader is built into the power button and worked reliably during the review period. There’s a 4,300mAh battery with 44W wired charging but no wireless charging.

The phone runs Oppo’s ColourOS 13.2, based on Android 13. It offers everything we have come to expect from the skinned operating system, which also powers OnePlus smartphones. All the settings for the cover display are tucked into a separate section in the Settings app called ‘Foldable features’. Here, one can change the cover screen wallpaper and add or remove mini-apps and third-party apps.

The cover display in terms of functionality is a big leap over the previous model, which only ran mini versions of native apps (that functioned more like widgets). Oppo still retains parts of the old interface with the so-called “Mini apps” (mini versions of native apps like weather, timer, etc.), which are limited in number and also introduce a selection of full apps (which includes several third-party apps), just like on the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Both supported and non-supported apps will see the above prompt when responding to and opening notifications

Apps can transition from the cover display to the main display but not back, which I did find a bit strange. But given that the cover display will be used mainly for quickly responding to messages via voice, it’s not as capable as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5’s display in terms of functionality. One can also respond via a full keyboard in supported third-party apps, but it’s a bit too squished to be used, given the width of this cover display.

And just like the latter, third-party app support for the cover screen is still in beta. If you want to open a notification from them, you will still have to tap to expand the notification from the lock screen (or the notifications tray). Once expanded, there are two choices: “Open app” (in the cover display itself) or “Unfold to continue”(via the main screen). Upon selecting the first option, you are taken directly to that section of the app or thread in the cover display, provided Oppo has added it to its beta bouquet of supported apps.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip can run select third-party apps on its cover display

These third-party apps can also be launched via the cover screen launcher (swipe left from the main clock face). This list of apps has grown during the period of the review itself, but not all apps are supported. Thankfully, you can reply to most messaging apps (even unsupported ones) via the cover display’s built-in reply system, which offers emojis, customisable preset text replies, and custom replies using voice-to-text. In short, it’s still not as seamless as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra’s cover display, which is by far the best implementation I have used on a clamshell foldable. And this also means you will end up opening and accessing the main display often.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Performance

The Oppo Find N3 Flip’s software performance is pretty good. I faced no lag or stuttering when using the phone in the default battery mode, which seemed more than enough for all the apps I use daily. The phone performed as expected in our benchmark tests as well. The phone managed lower scores than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 5, which is powered by a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, managing an AnTuTu score of 10,27,655 and Geekbench scores of 1,116 and 3,325 points in its single and multi-core tests, respectively. It offers a dual speaker setup with a speaker at the top doubling up as the receiver but sounds as loud as the primary one at the bottom. They provided balanced sound and good clarity even at high volumes.

The gaming performance was quite impressive. Call of Duty: Mobile worked well at all settings, including the recently available Medium graphics and Ultra frame rate combination, which lets the phone reach a good 120fps when playing games. The phone heated up while playing games, but it did not seem to get too hot, and performance did not suffer either.

The inner folding display is bright enough to tackle direct sunlight and supports HDR10 content

The touch sampling rate when playing the game was also quite good, registering swipes accurately when using the Pro Gamer mode in the slide-out gaming console. This is an area where Samsung has struggled for a while, so it is good to see such a smartphone offering a good gaming experience in such a compact package.

While I enjoyed gaming on this phone, its display still feels as delicate as the previous model. So, I did notice a few dents on the main Schott UTG display (as a result of gaming) over the course of the review. Indeed, Oppo’s display still does not seem as tough as Samsung’s solution for its foldables.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip managed good battery life, easily lasting me a whole day and a bit more. On the busiest of days, even with half an hour of gaming and camera usage, it still managed to have at least 20 per cent left in the tank. Oppo seems to have done a great job of optimising the software and hardware, and this is more so because I rarely ended up using the cover display during my review because of its rather limited functionality.

The cover screen offers a battery-friendly way to consume video content, provided the app is supported

This is a solid upgrade over the Oppo Find N2 Flip, which was also enough to last a whole day but was not on par with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4 when it came to battery life. The phone managed a solid score of 23 hours and 54 minutes in our HD video loop test, which is a lot better than what the Galaxy Z Flip 5 (16 hours and 45 minutes) and Motorola’s Razr 40 Ultra (18 hours and 27 minutes) managed in their respective tests.

And when the battery does die out, the phone charges up to 58 percent in 30 minutes and completes the charge in 1 hour and 5 minutes, which is also quite fast compared to the competition.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Cameras

The Oppo Find N3 Flip is the first smartphone to offer a properly premium camera setup on a clamshell foldable. With that, we have a 50-megapixel primary camera (OIS), a 32-megapixel telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom and a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a 114-degree field of view and a minimum focus distance of 4cm (when using macro mode). A 32-megapixel front-facing camera handles selfies. Just like OnePlus’s partnership with camera maker Hasselblad, which resulted in vibrant photos, Oppo’s rear camera is also a result of the same partnership and tends to show similar results.

The Oppo Find N3 Flip offers a very impressive array of high-resolution cameras for a compact smartphone

The primary camera captures photos with good, resolved detail and clarity in all types of lighting conditions. They come out a bit saturated but have a good dynamic range. Since I could use the cover display as a viewfinder, I could also snap portraits of myself with the camera, which came out sharp and with good edge detection. This worked wonders in low light as selfies appear crisp and with excellent detail in comparison to the actual selfie camera, which is embedded into the folding display. Even close-ups of objects came out sharp and had a natural bokeh.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Primary camera samples. Top to bottom: daylight, low-light, portrait mode selfie

The telephoto camera, a first for a clamshell foldable, did a fine job providing good close-up shorts with a nice natural bokeh in daylight. It loses some detail when shooting in low light conditions, but the photos are still quite usable. The images captured at 5X magnification using the in-sensor lossless zoom are also usable in daylight (with some noticeable purple fringing) but not so much in low light.

The 2X telephoto camera shoots sharp images with excellent detail in daylight

The colour tones produced by the ultra-wide-angle camera look a bit cooler compared to photos captured by the primary camera. These pack in good detail and surprisingly have good sharpness, but you cannot pixel peep. Dynamic range is quite good as well, bringing out enough detail in the shadows, but there’s noticeable barrel distortion towards the edges of the image. Macro photos came out surprisingly well, letting me get quite close to objects, the details are also quite sharp, but the colours were a bit cooler.

Oppo Find N3 Flip camera samples. Top: Primary camera, bottom: Ultra-wide-angle camera in macro mode

The phone is capable of recording 4K video at 30fps on all cameras thanks to their high-resolution sensors. However, I found the recorded videos to be a bit underwhelming in terms of detail and clarity. Stabilisation was decent, but the camera isn’t able to maintain a steady framerate while shooting. The low-light video also looked decent with good stabilisation but did have noticeable noise.

Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Verdict

It’s quite obvious with the two foldable releases from team Oppo and OnePlus (BBK Electronics) that the two brands have put up enough of a challenge, raising the bar for Samsung’s upcoming foldables, which are expected to be called the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6.

I have no doubt that the OnePlus Open is a clear winner compared to what Samsung currently offers in 2023. But I have mixed feelings about the Oppo Find N3 Flip. I’m also not a big fan of its vertical cover display layout and am quite confused about whether Oppo will get rid of this layout for something better with the next model.

While the Find N3 Flip’s raw performance (including gaming), overall camera quality and battery life (including charging) are quite impressive for a clamshell foldable, it’s all stuck behind an oddly laid out cover display experience, one that will vary depending on the apps that you use on a daily basis. Pick this one if you don’t use the cover display often on your current foldable or don’t intend to on your first one.

The post Oppo Find N3 Flip Review: Building on Basics appeared first on Tech Independent.

After its debut in Vivo’s home market, the company’s camera-centric flagships have now been announced for the global market. This would mainly include Europe and Southeast Asian markets, where the company has a noticeable presence. Vivo has announced both its X100 Pro and the X100 for global markets, and they both pack in some interesting specifications. Both smartphones will compete with the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series and the upcoming Galaxy S24 series, which is set to debut in January 2024.

Vivo’s X series has always been a camera-focused premium smartphone offering for years. It has been Vivo’s most high-end smartphone offering until the brand introduced its X Fold series of book-style or horizontal foldables a few years ago. With the X100 series, not much has changed in terms of Vivo’s approach towards this product lineup.

Vivo X100 Pro and X100 availability and pricing

At its China launch, the Vivo X100 Pro was priced at CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 56,500) for the 12GB + 256GB RAM storage variant, while the Vivo X100 was priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for the 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage variant. According to The Verge, both smartphones will be available in Southeast Asian markets, which will also include Indonesia and India.

While neither market in Southeast Asia has revealed pricing details, the publication did mention the pricing for the Hong Kong market. The Vivo X100 Pro will be available for HK$7,998 (roughly Rs. 85,224) for the sole 16GB + 512GB RAM and storage variant. The Vivo X100 will again be available at HK$5,998 (roughly Rs. 63,917) for the base 12GB + 256GB RAM and storage variant. There will also be a second 16GB + 512GB RAM and storage variant for the Vivo X100. The variants could change when the phone is announced in India.

Vivo X100 Pro and Vivo X100 specifications

Both the Vivo X100 Pro and Vivo X100 feature similar core hardware, with differences showing up mainly in the camera and battery departments.

Both Vivo X100 Pro and the X100 have a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,260 x 2,800 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. Both devices are powered by a 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, but the Vivo X100 Pro gets the newer V3 imaging chip while the X100 has to replace the older V2 chip.

The Vivo X100 Pro gets a 1-inch type 50-megapixel primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 50-megapixel Zeiss APO super-telephoto camera with 4.3X zoom capability, which also has OIS. A 32-megapixel camera is in charge of selfies. The phone has a 5,400mAh battery and supports 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

The lower-priced Vivo X100 has a regular 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, but a 64-megapixel Zeiss super-telephoto camera. A 32-megapixel camera is incharge of selfies. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery and supports a faster 120W wired charging but no wireless charging.

The post Vivo X100 Pro and X100 With Dimensity 9300 SoC, 50-Megapixel Cameras Launched Globally: Specifications, Prices appeared first on Tech Independent.

Compared to the above three models, the new Vivo X100 Pro appears quite different, even though it retains many of the elements that made the previous models special. There’s the distinct curved edge display which Vivo refuses to let go of, but it all results in a phone that appears different and feels unique. The brand retains the triple rear camera setup but with new hardware. Vivo also introduces its new and more powerful V3 imaging chip with the X100 Pro. This along with the new MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC (a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 equivalent) makes it a very intriguing and interesting offering from Vivo. I’ve been using this phone for a couple of weeks and here’s what I think about it.

Vivo X100 Pro Review: Price in India

It may not necessarily be a competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy’s S23 Ultra (as it falls in a completely different price bracket), but it will surely give Google’s pricey and AI-driven Pixel 8 Pro (from Rs. 1,06,999) a run for its money. The Vivo X100 Pro is priced at Rs. 89,999 for the sole 16GB RAM and 512GB storage variant. In the box, Vivo gives you a charger, a Type-C charging cable, and a well-made, durable silicon case.

Vivo X100 Pro Review: Design

Just like the X90 Pro, the Vivo X100 Pro is also available in a single finish and it’s called Asteroid Black, which has a fluorite anti-glare glass back panel. Indeed, Vivo does not give buyers any choice compared to other brands at this price point. The orange vegan-leather finish which was launched in China still remains a distant dream for the brand’s customers in India.

The Vivo X100 Pro’s design has seen plenty of refinements over last year’s X90 Pro. Starting off with size, it’s still quite large and chunky and the massive cookie-shaped camera bump adds to its thickness. However, Vivo has managed to make it appear slimmer with a more rounded design and it’s possibly the reason why Vivo still sticks to a 3D curved edge display, when most manufacturers have stopped using it.

Vivo’s X100 Pro appears very different from the older X90 Pro model.

Calling out the Vivo X100 Pro’s thickness and chunkiness does not mean that it is the largest or the heaviest phone in its class. The phone weighs 225 grams which is pretty much the same as last year’s model. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra is still heavier (234g), while Apple’s titanium laden iPhone 15 Pro Max feels smaller and slimmer but as light (221g) as the X100 Pro. Apple’s gamble with titanium and the new folded optical design for its telephoto camera has surely paid off.

While it has some design similarities with previous X series models, the massive camera bump sure helps the phone differentiate itself from the older models and does look quite unique. Vivo claims it was inspired by the sun’s halo when designing this slightly offset stainless steel ring around the large curved edge glass which sits inside it. I wished that Vivo had given the ring a raised edge as the camera glass seems quite vulnerable given its size.

Coming back to the overall design, it’s matte-finish feels luxurious, but also extremely slippery. Given that it is a camera phone, it’s advisable to attach the included case as soon as you unbox the phone, as it’s hard to grip and is also very top-heavy in terms of balance thanks to the large camera glass and sensors.

The phone feels quite chunky but its rounded appearance make its appear slimmer

The phone’s curved edge front glass (from an unnamed manufacturer) remained smudge-free during the review period and also free of any scratches. The display underneath this glass screen which curves on the left and right sides, also bends into the sides but not by much, so I did not find it distracting when viewing content indoors but it does reduce the viewing area (with reflections) when viewed outdoors.

The IP68 rating for dust and water resistance is still very much present and official. This along with the wireless charging coil and a larger than usual 5,400mAh battery seems to justify the X100 Pro’s chunkiness.

Vivo X100 Pro Review: Specifications and software

The Vivo X100 Pro has a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC, which is a first for India. The processor is accompanied by the new V3 Imaging co-processor, which Vivo claims helps with imaging and gaming. The phone offers 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, with no room for expandable storage. However, you do get space for two physical nano SIM cards in the SIM card tray and the phone also supports eSIM functionality along with dual 5G standby.

The 6.78-inch full-HD+ curved edge AMOLED panel has 120Hz refresh rate and uses LTPO technology letting the refresh rate scale down when needed to save on battery life. The fingerprint reader is of the regular optical type and is embedded into the display itself. It worked accurately and reliably during the course of the review.

Communication standards include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, an infrared port, and a USB-C port (version 3.2) along with support for the usual satellite navigation systems. The large 5,400 mAh battery (made up of two cells) can be charged up using Vivo’s proprietary 120W wired charger (which is included in the box) but is limited to 100W. The phone also supports 50W wireless charging, which again requires a separately sold charging dock.

The phone runs Funtouch OS 14 which is based on Android 14 and has even been updated to the latest December 2023 security update. Vivo also seems quite committed to software updates and promises to deliver three years or security and firmware updates.

Funtouch OS 14 appears very similar to the previous version with the addition of some new Android 14 personalisation options

The software experience when using Funtouch OS 14 is not very different from what it was on previous models with Funtouch OS 13 (and Android 13). From what is obvious, the Material You-esque theming engine is now more polished and offers a lot more variety in terms of colours and swatches. Applying them too happens instantly and it is not as buggy as on the older software. However, Vivo claims to have worked on the optimisation and smoothness bit and now offers an instant start up mode which boots the phone in 20 seconds after plugging it into a charger from a dead battery. The software, while appearing quite polished, is a far cry from what is possible on a Pixel 8 Pro with Google’s customised version of AI-enriched Android 14 software.

Vivo X100 Review: Performance

As for software performance, things do appear and feel quite smooth. Whether multitasking or running several apps at the same time, the 16GB of RAM (along with 16GB of virtual RAM) seems more than enough for even the most demanding smartphone requirements and leaves apps and games in memory for long periods, which can be recalled instantly without a restart.

Given the new processor, I was eager to try out the various benchmarks and the numbers are quite impressive. The phone managed a score of 20,20,631 points in AnTuTu, which is even higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered iQoo 12’s 19,83,471 points. In Geekbench the Vivo X100 Pro managed 2,190 and 7,218 points versus the iQoo 12’s 2,225 and 6,726 points. In the GPU benchmarks the performance seemed to be capped at 120fps which is where the iQoo 12 managed to score around 140fps in most GFXBench test suites. The bottomline is that the chipset is as capable if not better (in some aspects) than the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which recently debuted with the iQoo 12 in India.

Apart from the processor, Vivo also claimed that the new 6nm co-processor brings a 30 percent increase in energy efficiency and also allows for 4K cinematic video portrait video camera feature. The imaging chip also allows for lower power consumption when playing games by using game frame interpolation (limited to 90fps).

Vivo retains its 3D curved edge display design from previous models

The LTPO panel is a big step up from last year’s basic 120Hz display. Vivo also claims that the display is optimised to match the software frame rate, so it automatically and dynamically adjusts depending on exactly what’s happening on screen and will instantly drop to 1Hz when not needed leading to better battery savings. Vivo has also optimised its software and GPU to sync with the display’s refresh rate which makes the whole software experience buttery smooth, with no sign of lag or stuttering. It also offers up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness when outdoors, meaning that one can comfortably watch movies without squinting at the display as it can easily tackle direct sunlight. The panel also supports 2,160Hz high-frequency dimming which worked as expected in dimly lit settings reducing eye-strain.

Some games including Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) already support up to 120fps with low/medium graphics and ultra frame rate enabled. Vivo’s Game Frame Interpolation feature (or MEMC for games) basically makes a game “appear” more fluid even though the system isn’t running at the achieved frame rate. While it appears quite smooth after being enabled, there is some touch sampling lag because of the overlaid MEMC system so it’s not ideal for FPS titles. Since games like CODM already support it I found the feature useful only for titles that don’t go over the usual 60fps target like Asphalt 9 Legends.

The phone deals with heat quite well thanks to its vapour chamber cooling system. However, I noticed that it does heat up when recording video and if you continue doing so for about 10 minutes, the preview in the viewfinder also starts stuttering. However, this on-screen stutter in the camera app’s viewfinder does not affect the recorded footage.

Given that this phone has a large 5,400mAh battery, I expected it to be quite a challenge to deplete it. In our standard video loop battery test, the phone performed well managing a solid twenty hours and fifty-three minutes.

Vivo promises three years of security and firmware updates with the X100 Pro

My daily usage included WhatsApp messages, scrolling through Instagram, about thirty minutes of gaming and fifteen to twenty minutes of camera usage. With this the phone easily managed to last a day and a half without the need to plug it in at night. Even on days with an hour of gaming and an hour of camera usage, this phone managed to last a whole day with about 35 percent left to spare, which is pretty good for a flagship phone.

Vivo’s 100W wired charging system came to the rescue whenever I needed it. Letting me charge this massive battery rather quickly from 0-90 percent in 30 minutes, completing the charge in just 37 minutes, which is pretty quick. I did not get to try out the 50W wireless charging system as it requires the proprietary charger, which Vivo did not provide for this review. But it charges up just fine on a standard Qi charging pad.

Vivo X100 Pro Review: Cameras

Glance through the Vivo X100 Pro’s camera spec sheet and it’s not hard to tell that despite retaining its triple camera setup from the X90 Pro, every one of these cameras has changed. Thankfully, this time around, all of these have changed for the better.

Aiming for consistency, Vivo claims to have gone with three 50-megapixel camera sensors this year for its rear camera layout. The primary is a 1-inch type (Sony IMX989) camera with PDAF, laser-assisted autofocus and OIS. There’s a new Zeiss APO floating periscope telephoto lens setup backed by a half-inch OV64B sensor, which lets users shoot people and objects up close (including macro) using the same 4.3X optical zoom camera. Lastly, there’s a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera which now uses a Samsung JN1 sensor. Selfies are handled by a 32-megapixel camera which Vivo claims is different from the one on the X90 Pro.

The camera app has three colour modes when shooting photos

Given that this is a camera-focussed smartphone, it is a given that the camera interface is going to be loaded with options. However, Vivo has managed to make sense of it all with all the right controls available in the right place and in the expected section. This means that I rarely entered the camera app’s settings menu, which is a good thing. Vivo also lets one choose the colour treatment when shooting photos. Users can choose between Vivid, Textured and Zeiss Natural. I preferred the Natural mode because it captured colours which were mostly accurate or closer to the actual scene.

Since the Vivo X100 Pro’s closest competitor will be the Google Pixel 8 Pro, I have compared the general image quality between the two smartphones to give you a better idea about how one compares with the other despite sitting at slightly different price points.

Vivo X100 Pro primary camera sample (tap image to expand)

Vivo’s X100 Pro excels in detail and dynamic range in low light (tap image to expand)

The primary camera captures some really detailed photos without going overboard with sharpening, which is typical of most smartphones these days. The photos no matter the lighting condition seem to pack in detailed textures accompanied by excellent dynamic range (an area where the Pixel 8 Pro faltered at times), which seemed to be spot on, getting enough details in the shadows without getting too contrasty. Bright lights are also handled well, thanks to the multi-lens Zeiss T* coating which drastically reduces lens flare especially when shooting under street lit conditions at night.

The highlight of this year’s camera setup is indeed the new telephoto camera. Typical periscope telephoto camera aside, Vivo along with Zeiss managed to squeeze in another lens which is placed in front of the prism. This basically lets users shoot close-ups of objects or people at 4.3X zoom, without distancing themselves too far away from the subject, which is a big advantage when it comes to shooting portrait photos.

Vivo X100 Pro telephoto camera samples. Top to bottom: 1X, 4.3X (tap images to expand)

When shooting portraits using the Portrait camera mode, Vivo lets you select specific professional portrait focal lengths (24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm) which have been optimised keeping in mind the camera sensors and lenses. Portrait photos captured at all of these focal lengths came out well with excellent detail even under artificial or low light conditions.

While I loved using the various software enabled Zeiss Style portrait modes, I found these images to be a bit soft compared to shooting in the regular Photo camera mode at its native 4.3X focal length, which was tack sharp (with granular detail) and still had enough natural bokeh, which is perfect for portraits.

Vivo X100 Pro’s zoom image quality is impressive but not as capable as the Galaxy S23 Ultra (tap image to expand)

As for zoom range, the phone is capable of shooting as far as 100X using hybrid zoom. The Vivo X100 Pro’s capabilities here are not as great as the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s telephoto mainly because of its limited native telephoto camera (4.3X versus 10X) and the fact that the former is geared more towards portraits than all out zoom. One can get great photos up to 10X which pack in good detail and texture, but it all starts to fall apart beyond this point.

A notable new addition in its feature set is a special mode for clicking sunsets called Telephoto Sunshot. This is enabled automatically between the 10X-30X zoom range and helps with shooting perfectly exposed sunset photos and silhouettes but I found the colours to be exaggerated and not natural.

Vivo X100 Pro Super Macro camera sample (tap image to expand)

Just like on the iQoo 12, Vivo has also included a Super Macro mode which allows for macro photography using its telephoto camera. It lets one focus on objects from as close as 18cm and this leads to some really sharp and detailed photos which can be captured at 4.3X (optical) and even at 8.6X (digital) with good background separation (even before enabling software bokeh).

While Vivo’s X100 Pro excels at dynamic range, Google Pixel 8 Pro offers a much wider field of view (tap image to expand)

Lastly there is the ultra-wide angle camera that does a fine job of shooting photos in daylight but not so much in low light. Despite its 50-megapixel sensor resolution, I did not find the photos all that impressive in terms of resolved detail. I also found the photos to be a bit washed out in comparison to what the Google Pixel 8 Pro is capable of.

Vivo X100 Pro selfie camera samples (tap image to expand)

As for selfies, these are just about passable and aren’t the best I’ve seen on a smartphone in this class. While skin tones are accurate, the camera tends to smudge out details despite disabling all types of beauty enhancements. Edge-detection could have been a bit softer as well as it seems to have some random and roughly cut out edges when applying the software bokeh.

Video captured at 4K at 30fps from the primary camera looks really good in all types of lighting conditions including low light. The enough detail and dynamic range and the bright spots also seem to be under control. Recorded video is also surprisingly stable in low light with limited noise. Footage from the Ultra-wide camera appears better in daylight but is loaded with noise in low light. The camera also packs a Cinematic Portrait mode which does a decent job of recording with 4K footage with an artificial bokeh but the edge detection leaves a lot to be desired when compared to Apple’s iPhone 15 series of devices.

Overall, it was easy to conclude that while Google’s Pixel had the upper hand in terms of photo editing capabilities, it was easily outpaced by the Vivo 100 Pro’s updated camera hardware.

Vivo X100 Pro Review: Verdict

When it comes to cameras, Fujifilm seems to have found its sweet spot with photographers as an enthusiast’s camera. Among smartphones, Vivo too seems to be the best suited to smartphone camera enthusiasts or those who love extracting the most out of their smartphone cameras. It hits the sweet spot when it comes to mobile imaging, delivering a delicate mix of AI imagery while also giving enough emphasis to hardware. It’s not out to defeat the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (Review) in a zoom contest, or the Pixel 8 Pro (Review) with its AI smarts, but it has the potential of becoming a favourite with those who are into street- photography or love clicking portraits (kids, pets, objects) and generally spending more time on the telephoto camera than the primary. At the same time, the Vivo X100 Pro also provides enough flexibility for general camera requirements.

And that’s just the photography bits. The rest of this phone is also equally impressive in terms of capability whether its entertainment, raw performance, software, gaming and even battery life. And this makes it a solid all-rounder in the premium smartphone segment, with an equally impressive price tag to take on 2024’s flagships.

The post Vivo X100 Pro Review: A Smartphone With an Eye for Photography appeared first on Tech Independent.

Izi, a consumer electronics brand focussed on consumer drones, has launched its new Mini X nano drone in India today, January 24. The Mini X nano drone is available in two different versions — Standalone and Fly More Combo. The drone is said to be capable of transmitting live videos from a maximum distance of 4km. It features a Sony CMOS sensor with f/2.0 aperture and boasts video recording capabilities at 4K (Ultra-HD) resolution. The Mini X nano drone starts at the price of Rs. 29,999.

Izi Mini X nano drone price in India

The Izi Mini X Standalone nano drone is available at the price of Rs. 29,999, whereas the Mini X Fly More Combo has been priced at Rs. 37,999. The main difference between the two models is two extra batteries that allow the latter to sustain flight for 93 minutes as opposed to the base variant’s 31-minute flight time, as per the company. The base model also does not come with a triple-charging hub that can charge all the batteries at the same time. The drone can be purchased via Izi’s website and Amazon.

Izi Mini X nano drone specifications

The Izi Mini X nano drone features a 20-megapixel Sony sensor that has 4x zoom capabilities and can record videos in 4K resolution. The drone weighs 249g and the body has a foldable modular design for added portability. It can reach a maximum altitude of 800m and can fly at the speed of 16m/s or 58kmph, as per the company.

Izi Mini X nano drone is equipped with GPS and GLONASS sensors that enable precise navigation and safe returns with one-tap control. This is useful in low battery or lost control scenarios. The drone offers 10+ flying modes that help in capturing a diverse set of videos. The photography modes on the drone include Normal, Helix, Comet, Circle, Follow Me, Dronie, Rocket, Waypoint, Route Plan, and Panorama.

For storage, the Mini X nano drone sports an SD card slot supporting up to 128 GB Class 100 UHS-1 microSD card. The drone works with the Izi Sky Eye app for remote piloting control, aerial photography, cinematography, and flight parameter adjusting.

The post Izi Mini X Nano Drone With 3-Axis Gimbal, 4Km Live Video Range Launched in India appeared first on Tech Independent.

So, is the lack of AI-enabled features a big deal in a smartphone segment that has stagnated over time? Or has OnePlus done enough to make one forget about the absence of AI features? Let’s find out.

OnePlus 12 Review: Price in India

Unlike the OnePlus Open, the OnePlus 12 is available in two variants. The visible bump in its price tag (from Rs. 56,999) seems justifiable given that the base variant now offers 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is priced at Rs. 64,999. The second variant, with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, retails at Rs. 69,999, which seems quite competitive, keeping the hardware on offer.

The OnePlus 12 is available in Flowy Emerald and Silky Black. We received the Flowy Emerald finish of the 512GB variant for review.

In the box, OnePlus offers a soft TPU case, a Type-A to Type-C charging cable and a 100W charger. This seems like quite a handful, given that Samsung’s Galaxy S24 only provides a charging cable in the box.

OnePlus 12 Review: Design

The OnePlus 12 sticks to its roots when it comes to design and choice of material. Unlike the OnePlus Open, which was a step in a different direction altogether, the OnePlus 12 builds on the bigger changes. These were brought about by the OnePlus 10 Pro, which introduced the odd-looking, gas stove-like layout. With time, this layout, which started off with four camera cutouts (one of which was for the dual-LED flash) set into a square with rounded corners, evolved into a circular module, which appeared to be pressed into the raised glass rear panel on the OnePlus 11.

The OnePlus 12’s curved glass screen has curved edges at the top and bottom as well

For the new OnePlus 12, OnePlus goes with a flat glass rear panel and a similar-looking circular camera module, with the same wraparound design on the left side of the frame. To make it appear different, the company went with a flat holder for the circular camera module, which has flat glass fitted into the circular holder that resembles a premium timepiece and looks very classy. But for some reason, this one isn’t finished to the typical OnePlus standards.

The part where the camera module wraps around the edge of the frame is quite sharp at both corners, and the plastic filler that connects both the camera module and mid-frame together seems a bit misaligned as well, resulting in a noticeable ridge, which breaks the seamlessness of the curved flap. I’ve inspected some other OnePlus 12 units, and the sharp corners, along with the misaligned filler, indeed seem to be a design and quality oversight. These tolerances indeed seem to be similar to the ones initially reported by some users in China at the launch.

The wrap-around camera module has some really sharp edges near the mid-frame with some misaligned plastic fillers

Thankfully, these misalignments and fitting issues don’t appear to affect the IP rating of the device. The IP65 rating also surprisingly aligns with the above, so there’s no reason for a user to immerse the phone in water as it is only designed to handle splashes of it. This is a bit limiting as several smartphones in and below this segment offer an IP67 or IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

As for the finish, I like the polished metal frame, which adds a level of grip, given the beautifully textured glass of the Flowy Emerald finish. Fans will be happy to see the return of the iconic Alert Slider, but for reasons best known to OnePlus, it’s now located on the left side instead of the right. The power and volume buttons are now on the right. This is a layout similar to the OnePlus Open in an unfolded state.

OnePlus 12 Review: Specifications and software

As always, this flagship has the latest and best core hardware available. This would include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, there’s a maximum of 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage but no room for storage expansion. The fingerprint reader is embedded into the display, is of the optical variety, and worked reliably during the course of this review.

Communication standards include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC and support for several global satellite positioning systems. There’s also support for plenty of 5G bands and space for two physical nano SIM slots and dual-5G standby.

The phone looks and feels quite premium and also has an official IP65 rating this year

The phone has a 5,400mAh (dual-cell) battery, and OnePlus includes a 100W charger in the box. However, charging speeds are capped at 80W. The phone also offers 50W wireless charging using the company’s proprietary wireless charging dock, which is sold separately at Rs. 5,499.

The phone runs OxygenOS 14.0, which is based on Android 14. OnePlus promises four years of OS updates and five years of security updates, which seems good enough. As for the OxygenOS 14, it pretty much appears the same as the previous version of the ColorOS-derived software.

Among the minor visual updates is something new called Fluid Cloud functions like iOS’s Live Activities. The feature adds a Dynamic Island-inspired capsule on the extreme left in the status bar that provides relevant data (like a countdown timer for a delivery service) for native and third-party apps. Like iOS, you can tap and hold the capsule to expand it to a bigger card with additional buttons (to pause or stop the activity) or tap once to open the app itself. The same data also appears on the lock screen as well. The feature is also available on the Android 14 versions of Oppo’s ColorOS and Realme UI 5.0 (called Flash Capsule).

OxygenOS 14’s Fluid Cloud works well but is limited to a few apps.

Also new is Smart Suggestions, which works with Fluid Cloud on the home screen and on the lock screen but also shows relevant updates from Zomato and Swiggy (for now) on the Always-on Display (AOD). It’s a nifty new feature that takes advantage of the phone’s AOD feature, reducing the need to pick up your phone, unlock it, and check notifications for updates.

While the overall software experience is pretty polished, the phone does not offer any generative AI software features, which is the current party trick for premium devices this year. There are a few AI-enabled features if you look for them, like Smart Touch, which basically extracts text from a screenshot. Smart Imaging Matting, according to Oppo, also uses AI to cut out people and objects from photos, but this is something we have already seen on Samsung devices or even on iPhones in the past year, so it’s nothing new.

This is not just the case with OnePlus but also with all brands under the BBK Electronics umbrella, as was the case with Vivo X100 Pro, which is priced at Rs. 89,999. While Google and Samsung seem to have made a fun and handy use-case for their respective generative AI capabilities, it has indeed yet to come to the point where a consumer will start to expect or demand such features from every flagship smartphone.

With Samsung and Google joining hands to push for more generative AI features on their respective smartphones, the BBK brands will soon start to miss out and risk losing customers if they don’t cook up something interesting in coming updates. This is more so because Apple, which has for long steering cleared of “AI” is also expected to go big on it with its iOS 18 software update.

OnePlus 12 Review: Performance

With the latest hardware inside, my expectations, whether it was the user experience with software or raw performance in synthetic benchmarks, were sky-high. Software performance is buttery smooth, but benchmarks even with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC come up short when compared to the iQoo 12 (also Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) and were noticeably less when compared to the Vivo X100 Pro (MediaTek Dimensity 9300), especially in AnTuTu and Geekbench. The OnePlus 12 scored 1,629,220 points on AnTuTu, while Vivo’s X100 Pro managed 2,020,631 points on the same test.

As for raw performance, the phone performs well while playing Call of Duty: Mobile. It easily manages 120fps when set to ‘medium’ graphics and ‘ultra’ frame rate. Setting the graphics and frame rate to Very High also seems to not stress out this phone. More importantly, the large vapour cooling chamber seems to be doing its job of keeping the phone cool both when playing high-end 3D games and even when using the camera app to shoot 4K videos back to back.

The OnePlus 12 (right) appears very different from its foldable cousin, the Open (left)

More importantly, the 120Hz display keeps up, with the touch sampling rate being on point and very accurate, making this a very reliable mobile gaming machine. The display shows mostly accurate colours when viewed in the Pro Screen colour mode. Pictures and text appear tack sharp at 510 ppi. The OnePlus 12 still remains one of the only smartphones to offer such a high-resolution QHD+ display at this price point, and I had this set to its full resolution during the review.

With 4,500 nits of peak brightness, outdoor usage is not a problem either. But this also works well in its favour when watching HDR10+ or Dolby Vision content on supported streaming apps. The ProXDR display also comes into use when viewing photos in their full dynamic range, and the same applies to Dolby Vision 4K 30fps video recordings, which the phone is capable of. The audio quality is pretty good as well, and it sounded very immersive while playing games. It was also sufficient when it came to watching the video. Aqua Touch also works quite well when there’s water on the display and can be a lifesaver on rainy days, given that the phone finally supports an IP65 rating.

The phone’s QHD+ display is very sharp and gets really bright at 4,500 nits of peak brightness

Battery life is also equally impressive. The phone managed a solid 28 hours and 6 minutes in our standard video loop battery test, which was well above expectations for a smartphone both at this price point and above. With daily usage, I easily managed around 9 hours of screen-on time or about a day and a half of heavy usage (connected to both data and W-Fi), which also included camera usage, an hour of gaming and about 3 hours of video streaming.

And when the battery did eventually die out, charging it was pretty fast, with the 80W capped wired charging managing 99 percent in 30 minutes and completing the charge in 37 minutes. Wireless charging is also available, but OnePlus did not provide us with their AirVOOC charger, so we could not test it.

OnePlus 12 Review: Cameras

The OnePlus 12 packs an impressive camera setup, which has been largely borrowed from the OnePlus Open, the company’s book-style foldable. Its primary camera’s Sony LYT-808 50-megapixel sensor is slightly different from the Sony LYT-T808 camera used on the OnePlus Open, but the results are very similar. The main differences I noticed when comparing the two were down to focusing speed and reliability along with slightly superior image processing, which is probably down to the slightly advanced ISP in the new SoC as the OnePlus Open has a slightly older Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.

This year’s camera module has been inspired by wristwatches

The primary camera captures detailed images with excellent contrast and colour, showing plenty of details in shadows and not going overboard in the brighter areas of the scene. Sharpness is on point, and details are excellent, whether it’s textured surfaces or even foliage. Low light performance also comes quite close but drops a bit in terms of detail and dynamic range.

OnePlus 12 camera samples. Top to bottom: Ultra-wide, primary and telephoto (3X) (tap expand images)

Like the OnePlus Open, the 64-megapixel 3X telephoto camera is the showstopper and manages jaw-droppingly impressive photos in all kinds of lighting conditions. Pictures of objects and subjects come out quite sharp, even under artificial light, with a natural bokeh. It’s excellent for portrait photos of pets and people alike, and I enjoyed using this one to snap photos of my 4-year-old. However, this camera prioritises exposure over shutter speed and cannot handle moving subjects well. So, despite packing OIS, there are chances that your subject may appear a bit blurry if they move during capture. In terms of zoom, the phone manages good photos up to 6X (lossless in-sensor zoom), beyond which image quality begins to deteriorate.

The primary camera (top) captures good photos in low light, but the telephoto camera (bottom) performs even better (tap image to expand)

One detail that OnePlus has, for some reason, still not managed to fix (even on the Open after updates) is the white balance of its telephoto camera. Images captured with it appear quite warm and saturated compared to the primary camera, which is closer to accurate. This results in photos that appear yellowish, especially when shooting something largely white.

Given how well the primary and the telephoto perform, I did expect the ultra-wide to perform equally well (hoping that the new SoC would make a difference), but it handles imaging in the same way the Open did. While they look alright on the phone, they lack sharpness and detail and somehow seem a bit soft, not just in low light but in daylight as well. Indeed, these are far from what Google’s Pixel 8 Pro manages, but it is priced a lot higher.

The OnePlus 12 shoots detailed selfies in daylight (top) but does not perform well in low light (bottom) (tap images to expand)

Macro photos pack in a lot of detail, and the telephoto camera also lets me shoot close-ups that appear quite sharp. Selfies come out well with good dynamic range, accurate skin tones and edge detection in daylight, but low-light shots are quite average and leave a lot to be desired.

Video quality has notable improvements over the OnePlus 11, footage captured at 4K appears very stable and shows slightly vibrant colour as well. Dynamic range is excellent, and so is the bitrate. Quality takes a slight hit in low light, but noise is kept to a minimum. Colours are in check, and stabilisation is also handled well. I also tried out the 8K video, which still feels a bit gimmicky, given that the phone cannot handle a steady framerate while shooting.

OnePlus 12 Review: Verdict

The OnePlus 12 performs well on all fronts and easily outdoes the smartphone it replaces. And so, it’s easy to recommend as an upgrade even for those who own the previous model.

OnePlus has followed its usual formula and delivered a smartphone that fits in perfectly between the sub-Rs. 50,000 premium devices and the high-end sub-Rs 90,000 segment, which includes devices like Google’s Pixel 8 (Review) (starts from Rs. 75,999) and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 (starts from Rs. 79,999). However, both of these contenders do pack some cool AI tricks which the OnePlus 12 properly avoids.

If you are the type that wants to try out something new and hop aboard the AI bandwagon, then the latter two are a better choice. But if you don’t care about AI, it’s really hard to ignore the OnePlus 12 as it offers excellent value for money, getting you a bigger (and better display), better performance, flexible cameras and excellent battery life (with wireless charging) for less.

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