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Fossil Q generation 4 Explorist reviews

Last year’s Fossil Q Control 3^rd Generation smartwatch was a big-time disappointment for a number of users. Though it has an aesthetic appeal, it came out with a disappointing feature set. When talking about its feature set, it lacked GPS and NFC which made it a big deal breaker. Almost every competitor offers you these features in their watches.

With the launch of its new 4^th generation smartwatches, Fossil had made an entry into the market of smart-watches. They have made it all by adding GPS and NFC in their all-new Fossil Q 4^th generation. It also has an optical heart rate sensor. But before making a buying decision, you must consider its features and then make a choice of whether it’s worth the money or not.

What do you need to know about Fossil Q 4^th generation?

As the previous models of Fossil smartwatch have a compatible Wear OS, the same is with the new Fossil Q 4^th generation. This feature allows you to make your watch compatible with both Android and iOS phones. Unlike the 3^rd generation smartwatch, this version of Fossil watches comes with a heart rate tracker, NFC, and GPS for keeping track of your runs and bike rides.

The device is also waterproof for up to 50m, so you can even wear it while your shower or swim. It also has a built-in speaker which helps you in using your Google Assistant. There is no specific speaker for attending calls from your wrist directly. It doesn’t support 4G, so you have to keep your phone nearby for using Wi-Fi.

Fossil Q 4^th generation- Pricing and Competition

The pricing for the watch starts with £250 for the silicon black variant. Fossil Q Explorist is up for giving a tough competition to Apple watch. Apple users are spending more £30 for Apple Watch Series 3 priced at £280. Though, the Apple watch series 4 comes with a larger screen and a faster processor; you can buy the watch worth £400. The price is quite high as per the other brands. Therefore, you need to spend a lot in order to have the privilege of owning it.

Another option for both Android and Apple users is the awesome Samsung Galaxy watch whose pricing starts from £280 onwards. The watch runs Tizen OS and has a superb battery life of up to 7 days. It supports GPS, NFC, and even offline Spotify playlists.

In case you don’t wish to spend so much, you can even go for the Mobvoi Ticwatch in series E and S. Pricing for this one starts from £120 which makes it a great option in a limited budget. You can even opt for the £50 Amazfit Bip which comes with one-month long battery life at a single go.

Fossil Q 4^th generation- Design

The 4th generation Fossil Q is a super awesome looking smartwatch. It borrows some of its features from the 3rd generation model. The watch resembles a traditional and mechanical watch, unlike the other smartwatch companies. It comes with a large glass at the front with crown styled buttons and a nice bezel.

What makes Fossil Q 4th generation different from other mechanical watches is its awesome 45×454, 1.4-inch display. The last year’s 3rd generation model had an air gap between the glass and the display. The Fossil 3rd generation has an OLED panel that is correctly placed at the forefront. Its pins are quite sharp, bright and very colorful.

There is no proper branding as it has a single small logo on its strap buckle. In case you want to flaunt your Fossil watch, you can go for customized watch faces from the manufacturer. Though the watch measures 45mm across, it doesn’t feel that heavy on your wrist. It is quite lighter and thinner than the Samsung Galaxy smartwatch. The Samsung galaxy smartwatch has a 0.1in smaller display than that of Fossil, still, it weighs much heavier.

The watch comes in 5 different color variants with different straps made of different materials. No matter whichever model you choose, you can use any 22mm band to have a look of your choice.

Fossil Q 4^th generation- Features

The previous Fossil Q Explorist lacked GPS, NFC, and a heart rate tracker. All these awesome features are available in the Generation 4 watch. It makes the watch a more appealing device. Therefore, you can leave your house without your phone and track the distance and time of your workouts and runs. Though it is a perfect choice for occasional walks and runs the Q Explorist cannot be an adequate replacement for a multisport watch. Its optical heart rate sensor gives you numbers that are quite flakey at times.

The NFC is another best feature of this smartwatch is the NFC. It takes just a few minutes for setting up Google Pay and makes other contactless payments. Making payments with this is much easier than using tangible cards. Moreover, it works without an active internet connection, so you can just pick up some stuff from the supermarket anytime. You do not need to keep your mobile phone and wallet with you.

Fossil Q 4^th generation- Verdict

Fossil had made big progress with its 4th generation smartwatch. It has a special aesthetic appeal that people will surely fall for. Moreover, it includes all the features a 2020 smartwatch user should demand.

But, when it comes to performance, you may face some issues. Its chipset is more than 2 years old and it can’t compete with the latest devices from Apple and Samsung. Still, if you want a faster chipset, you can wait for the next generation to come out in the market. If there is a 5th generation of the Fossil Q Explorist, there are chances they cover up this drawback.

For now, if you are looking for a minimum budget maximum feature smartwatch, you can surely go for Fossil Q 4th generation Explorist.

March 7, 2020
Which One To Go For Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus Vs. Pixel 4 XL

The most advanced Samsung phone with a superpower camera and a guaranteed battery is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. With its massive screen size, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is one of the most successful phones among the 2019 improving gadgets, which include high-quality display features, high pixel zoom camera, and a good quality video capturing features. The most noticeable feature of this phone is its in-built 5g connectivity.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus is considered one of the top phones in 2019. Its successor, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, has maintained the pre-set standards in 2020’s flagship. The most recognizable feature of this phone is its massive size screen, which is incorporated with various other features that creates a great viewing experience. The phone comes with a 120 Hz refresh rate, WQHD + display technology, and high resolution.

On the top-center of the display, the phone contains a punch-hole camera, which is considered to be 55% smaller than the S10 Plus. The phone has a resolution of 3200 x 1440, wide Quad high-definition Plus. The user can drop down the resolution level if he wants to save battery life. This is considered to be one of the most high-resolution phones available in the market now.

The 120 Hz refresh rate enables the display to update the viewing image by 120 times per second. The Galaxy S20 Plus has a somewhat generic look when compared to other phones. The phone has a dimension of 161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8mm body and is light as 186g.

The Google Pixel 4 Xl is the successor of Pixel 4 constructed by the use of very soft gorilla glass five backsides. It comes with a 6.3 inches P-OLED display and is way brighter than its predecessor. This phone has everything that Google has known since its inception.

Camera

The latest version of Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, Galaxy S20 Plus, has been upgraded with the newest camera version. It has a large sensor for a better picture. The significant change that the Galaxy S10 Plus has survived in the Galaxy S20 Plus is its improvement in the camera department with a 64MP sensor against 12MP. The Galaxy S20 Plus also comes with a 3x optical zoom feature against 2x of Galaxy S10. It has four rear cameras.

Apart from the above changes, the new Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus also comes with various small changes. The bigger battery of 4500 mAh, new chipset, 5G connectivity, and better RAM are few features to be mentioned. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus comes with a 6.7 inches AMOLED screen.

There has been a shift of the rear camera block to top-left, which is very common in many of the 2019 and 2020 smartphones. The back of the phone is made up of glass that is not very comfortable to hold. The placement of the front camera blocks much of the screen.

Another essential feature of the Galaxy S20 Plus is the Time-of-flight (ToF) lens to sense the depth and to distinguish between the subject and the background with a 10MP selfie camera.

It has an improved camera with added Astrophotography shooting mode and a viewfinder. With the addition of a new telephoto camera, the photo can capture pictures from far away distance. The fingerprint scanner, which was once discovered by Google, is being replaced with Face unlock features in Pixel 4 XL, which is a similar Apple face lock.

With the primary camera of 12.2 MP and a selfie camera of 8MP + ToF 3D Sensor, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus has few more points in its bag for having higher camera quality.

Processor

The camera has automatic scene optimization and secure options for better pictures within a short time. The phone comes with an 865 chipset with 5G connectivity. The phone runs on Android 10 and is upgradable to the newest updates in the future. It comes with a 25W fast charger for easy charging of the phone.

The Google Pixel 4 XL runs on Android 10 with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset and Octa-core processor. It has Adreno 640 GPU with non-expandable memory of 6GB RAM and 64/128 GB internal storage. The Google Pixel 4 XL has a 3700 mAh lithium polymer battery, which is lesser than the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.

Added to these, there is an added feature of Radar-based motion-sensing technology. It distinguishes the wave gesture made by the user when the screen sleeps. These are the best and the worst sides of both smartphones. Let us now compare both of them and see if they are worth their prices.

Conclusion

The Galaxy S20 Plus is sleek with round edges and a single hole-punch, whereas Pixel 4 XL has a larger bezel that makes it a bit ugly. The S20 Plus has a bigger display screen of about 6.7 inches Dynamic AMOLED display against 6.3 inch AMOLED Pixel Display. Both the phones have similar sharpness though Pixel 4 XL has tiny edge pixels-per-inch. While S20 has a 120Hz refresh rate, the pixel has about 90Hz refresh rate.

Both the smartphone’s bodies are having a glass. That prevents cracks and scrapes with an IP68-rating for dust and water-resistance. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus has a better and faster processor of Snapdragon 865, while pixel has Snapdragon 855. Again S20 has more memory of 12GB against 6GB memory of Google Pixel 4 XL.

The Galaxy S20 has MicroSD card support, which is not available in Pixel 4 XL.

As far as the battery capacity is concerned, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus has much battery capacity of 4500 mAh while Pixel 4XL has a battery capacity of 3700 mAh. Though Google Pixel has wireless and fast charging, it cannot surpass the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus in terms of battery capacity.

Therefore, it is preferable to buy Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus over Google Pixel 4 Xl.

March 5, 2020
Fossil Sport Review

Fossil, one of the best watchmakers out there, has been in the smartwatch industry for close to 5 years now. With Google finding their own interest in buying out the technology that it succeeded in has made the watch even more attractive. With their watches being powered by Vanilla Wear OS, it just makes it simple for every user to use the watch in their own way. When it comes to watches powered with Wear OS, Fossil, without doubt, is the best one available in the market. Let’s take a look at this Fossil Sport Review.

Design and Specifications

With multiple users focusing on sports, the need of the hour is a sports smartwatch. It takes precedence over the traditional one. As the name goes, the manufacturer has chosen to christen their latest model according to what it was intended for. It has a sporty and trendy look that goes well with almost anything. You will find an aluminium ring around the display that comes in handy when you want to change the straps for formal wear. There are also multiple colours on the trim – gold, black, blue, red, pink or yellow. Do note that this choice will have to be made upfront since you will not be able to change the trims later on. The straps can be changed easily. Thankfully, it is priced on the lower end, allowing users to swap easily.

Fossil Sport Smartwatch

The watch is water-resistant as well. This will ensure that it is not damaged as you have a shower or if you are swimming in a pool. The watch is about 0.47 inches thick and weighs close to 25 grams, which is ultra-light. You will find three controls on the right-hand side of the watch. The main crown of the watch is scrollable, which means that you will not have to worry about scrolling through the menu when your hand or watch is wet. The other buttons found on the top and bottom are customizable, and you can use these for almost any purpose. What you want them to be configured can be done via the app. The default strap that comes with the watch is awesome!

Display

There are 2 sizes available in the market – the 41mm and the 43mm. Both of these are water-resistant up to 5ATM. While many have noted that the display is poor in sunlight, it is sharp and clear under normal conditions. The bezels around the watch are thick and look odd at times but for the pricing, this is not too bad. The display is 1.19 x 390 x 390 inches OLED display. On the backside of the watch, you will find a glass layer that has the heart rate sensor and two contact points using which you will be able to charge your watch.

Fossil Sport Review

Performance

The Fossil Sport runs on the latest wearable chipset from Qualcomm, the Snapdragon Wear 3100. Naturally, the watch feels super-fast. The smartwatch comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Thanks to these specs, you can be sure that the apps on the watch are ultra-responsive and the battery life is unbelievable. For some, updates may take a while, but once that is done, you are ready to tear ahead. You can load and use multiple apps simultaneously and never feel it lagging.

Thanks to the abundance of storage, you can freely loan more apps, more music, and so on. There is nothing to stop you. Obviously, you can only load your favourite tracks and not the entire library! The watch also comes with NFC, meaning you can easily make contactless payment using services like Google Pay. It is compatible and works well with both iOS and Android devices.

Fitness

The Fossil Sport Smartwatch is designed to be swim-proof. It comes with fitness trackers, a heart rate monitor, and GPS. Since the Sport model is completely focused on fitness, you will find that the trackers on the watch are pretty accurate. The watch itself boasts of long battery life, light build, and accurate sensors, allowing you to use it, no matter what you are doing. The accelerometer, GPS, and heart rate monitor all play a role in helping you track your activities better. Using this data, you can improve your workouts.

Fossil Sport Design

On the downside, you may notice the watch taking a bit of time to pick up a GPS signal. That’s an area for improvement. If you plan to use the watch with an iPhone, you will have content yourself with using the fitness options in the WearOS app. The Google Play Store has some much better ones. Regarding workouts, you should find tons of pre-configured workouts available. If you are looking for a device that can track every minute of your workout, you may not be happy with this product. Fossil Sport is swim-proof, which means you will be able to swim with it and track the activity as well.

Battery Life

The Fossil Sport smartwatch can last for about two days on a single charge. The always-on display is optional, and you can switch it off if you want the watch to last longer. There is also a low power mode which you can enable if you are going out somewhere and don’t have your charger on you.

Verdict: Fossil Sport Review

To wrap up, Fossil Sport smartwatch is not a product that is designed with dozens of stunning features. Yes, it does have the most features that we need. However, if you want a smartwatch having all the high-end features, this may not be the right one for you. This is an affordable model that is fast and responsive. The fact that it has a reliable fitness tracker and a good battery life make it an amazing option to consider. Aesthetics-wise, the watch looks lovely, but again, it is not the ideal pick if you are looking for a luxurious one.

March 5, 2020
Aria Waterproof Earbuds Review

The xFyro Aria is a crowd-funded true wireless earbuds that has gained quite a bit of popularity in the recent weeks. It offers a lot to the users, such as 8-hours battery per charge with the carrying case having 24 hours more in it. It is true that even premium headphones might find it difficult to compete in this class. The Aria waterproof earbuds also come with Bluetooth 5.0, making for a distortion-free experience. Another benefit to this stunning earbuds is that it comes with IP67 rating meaning you can safely play around water. So, just how good is it? Is it all the manufacturer claims and more? Check out this review on Aria Waterproof earbuds.

Comfort and Fit

It is a bit of a tough job to get excellent fit, so much so that manufacturers are still trying to work out the best way for it. However, Aria seems to have fared better than most. The buds are a bit large but manage to fit in the ears comfortably. There is no danger of them falling out, so you can use them as you go for a jog or in the gym. The Aria waterproof headphones are designed to lightweight so you will not feel it heavy. The ear-wings ensure that the buds stay in place, no matter how much you move about.

Aria Waterproof Earbuds Review

While the fit is excellent, the fit could have been a bit better. The Aria earbuds are comfortable, but there are better ones available at the same price range. Once you figure out the right fit, you can wear them for hours on end without facing fatigue. You will definitely feel them, but it will not be uncomfortable in any way. Both the earbuds have markings on them, allowing you to know which one is for which side. All in all, the Aria waterproof earbuds are a nice option to consider with regards to comfort and fit.

Noise Cancelling and Noise Isolation

This may be a bit disappointing to many. The company mentions that the earbuds have a noise cancellation feature. However, they mean to say that they have noise isolation. The earbuds do have microphone CVC technology, but it is only for the mics and not the earbuds themselves. Passive isolation, which the earbuds do have, is good enough to block out most noises in the surroundings.

While the earbuds don’t have noise cancellation, their passive noise cancellation is not bad either. Noise leaking outside is pretty minimal so you can confidently turn it all up and listen to audios. Do note that in order to get the best noise isolation experience, get the right ear tips. Ones that don’t fit properly could get in the way of your getting the best experience.

Bluetooth

The xFyro true wireless buds come with Bluetooth 5.0, the latest tech in the market. It comes with a ton of upgrades and overall, offers better performance than its predecessor. While it offers better connectivity and longer range in addition to extended battery life, it is not something we can call an upgrade. The Bluetooth range has improved from 33ft to supposedly 35ft, which is a step forward, but it does not make a huge difference.

Aria Waterproof Earbuds

The earbuds also offer about 30 feet of uninterrupted range without obstacles. If you have a wall, the connection remains pretty consistent and does not get disturbed. However, multiple walls remain an issue for most devices. The product does not support any special Bluetooth codecs. This could be done as an attempt to save money since the company would have to foot the pay for the royalties.

Pairing and Using

Connecting the Aria waterproof buds are quite easy. First, you will have to go through the initial connection establishment process. The instructions are mentioned in the user manual. Once done, you can very easily turn it off and disconnect them by keeping them back in the case. The case acts as the charging port as well and will start charging them once you pop them in at the charging mode. Whenever you want to use the buds, simply take them out and don them. They are designed to pair ad connect automatically. This will happen even if the case is turned off at the moment. It makes for excellent user experience as well. Users have reported that they experience distortion occasionally, it was not a big disturbance.

Durability

The xFyro true wireless headphones look and feel like premium earbuds. They have been, no doubt, designed well. The buds are durable and likely to last you a long time. Aria waterproof buds, as the name suggests, has an IP67 rating which is equivalent to IPX7. This means it will survive an underwater adventure. Many users have tried to see if it works as advertised and good news, it does!

xFyro Aria Earbuds

Features

Naturally, most wireless buds come with built-in controls and the Aria earbuds are no different. However, you cannot tap on them and wait for a response. The button is designed to be clickable. While the user feedback is good, there is one major drawback with the design. Every time you put pressure to click the button, the earbud would be pushed deeper into your ear. This could end up being an uncomfortable and annoying experience. Each of the buds has one button and you would be able to control it for activities like skip/previous, volume up/down, play/pause, accept/reject/end calls, activate Siri or Google Assistant and turn on/off and so on. The LED light on the buds acts as an indicator to know the activity.

Battery and Charging Case

Lastly, let’s take a quick look at the battery and charging case details of the Aria waterproof earbuds. While the manufacturer claims that the product is designed to offer 8 hours playback, it does not offer nearly as much in practice. Users, on an average, can expect to get about half of the promised power.

Regardless of some of the issues, it is an amazing product and well worth a try.

March 5, 2020
Mobvoi TicWatch C2: Everything You Need To Know

Mobvoi is a comparatively new contender in the field of electronics but has quickly gained popularity with all the new features and gadgets it brings in the market pretty frequently. Mobvoi is also renowned for its extremely durable products, which offer worth for the money that the users pay.

Recently, Mobvoi has introduced an all-new wearable device, the Mobvoi TicWatch C2. With an impressive design and sleek look, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 goes beyond just the hefty price tag. Unlike the previous version, this device is way better in every aspect than the Mobvoi TicWatch Classic.

Here, we will discuss everything you need to know about this all-new wearable device from the house of Mobvoi. Read on to know more:

Design and Display

With a sleek and high-end design, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 looks pretty sophisticated on the wrist. It has a 42 mm black case and is about 13.1 mm in thickness. Although not as rich as the TicWatch Pro, this smartwatch does come in other color variants like platinum and rose gold. There is also a smaller variant, which is about 12.8 mm and comes only in the shade rose gold. It has a minimal yet urbane look, which can be easily paired with any outfit.

Coming to the display, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 has a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with a 360×360 pixel resolution. On the edges of the watch, there are two multifunction buttons that help you navigate around the user interface.

Primarily made of stainless steel, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 does have a premium look on the hands. You can also choose from the variety of leather straps that Mobvoi has to offer. The smartwatch is lightweight on the sides, making it easily wearable throughout the day.

The notifications are pretty clear and neat, appearing one after the other from the top. If you would like to know more of specific information, you can simply tap and expand it, read it, and tap it once again to collapse the notification.

Performance

The Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, which can be a downside as it is a comparatively old processor than the other competitor products which come with new and advanced technologies.

The good part is, the smartwatch works on a redesigned Wear OS platform, which is known to pair well with the old chipset and offers a smooth user experience without any friction or discontinuity. The Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 also comes with a heart rate monitor, but it does not have an in-built feature to measure the heart rate automatically.

It is almost fluid when you scroll through the menu. Initially, it can be a little challenging to get accustomed to the button technology in this age of touch displays. Still, eventually, it becomes easy and pretty comfortable to handle the watch.

Storage

Talking of storage, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 comes with 4GB storage space where you can easily store Google Play music or even Spotify. But it does not support downloading and storing tracks and files in the watch.

Operating on the Google redesigned Wear OS smartwatch platform, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 offers an extremely smooth user experience without any lag or unnecessary glitches. Users do not need to understand and use different gestures to operate the watch but ca simply swipe up or down for accessing shortcuts like Do not disturb mode or even other installed applications.

Although the Google redesigned Wear OS works well with both iOS and Android devices, the smartwatch seems to work in a specific manner when connected to an Apple device. It does not allow the user to send text messages via the smartwatch when connected to an iPhone.

Battery and Add-ons

The Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 comes with various fitness features and has an in-built GPS, which allows users to track distance while running, biking, or walking. Normally, the watch uses TicHealth to monitor your fitness aspects, but you can also download and access Google Fit to track your workout sessions or others.

Mobvoi claims that the battery life of this wearable device lasts somewhere between 24 to 36 hours in a single charge. This s an excellent attribute of the smartwatch as one of the significant features required in a wearable device is its battery holding capacity.

However, the duration mentioned above lasts when the device is used with very little activity. But even when you use the various features of the smartwatch, like heart rate monitor, distance or workout tracker, music, or any other application, the battery life lasts one full day. This is also good enough given the kind of battery exhaustion most wearable devices have.

All variants of the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 are IP68 water and dust resistant, so you can easily use it anytime, anywhere, without worrying too much about getting the device damaged

Conclusion

Given the price range, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 is a good enough product to own. It does offer a wide range of usability and advantages, along with great battery life. Being second in the line from the house of Mobvoi, we expect more and more to come from the brand. Although not as great as the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro, the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2 will be worth the pocket pinch.

So, if you are considering to buy the Mobvoi Ticwatch C2, it will be a good buy. Packed with great features, smooth performance, and stable battery life, this fitness wearable device is going to a great one to invest in.

March 3, 2020
OPPO Reno2 and Reno2 Z review

Oppo owned by BBK electronics is emerging to be a tough competitor among some big brands such as Vivo, Redmi and Real Me. It boasts of great quality and affordable pricing catering to the upper and lower-middle-class group, majorly. It also is famous for its good display, amazing camera and a decent battery back-up.

OPPO Reno2 Review

Oppo Reno series added another model to series in the form of Oppo Reno 2. This phone can be the best option for purchasing due to its massive storage, amazing camera, good charging speed, and fabulous configuration. It will serve as a very good option for a game lover. The cost of the phone is around Rs.36,990.

Design

Oppo Reno 2 has a beautiful design with slim bezels all around with the screen covering a maximum of the model. In the front, there is a 6.5 AMOLED display along with a shark fin module. This module comprises of the earpiece and secondary microphone. It has got the clarity of sound. The touch screen is quick and smooth.

It is available in some beautiful shades such as Ocean Blue and Luminous Black. Ocean Blue is subtle and soothing whereas luminous black is blackish with edges in blue. It is light and easy to carry.

The volume buttons are on the left whereas the power button is on the right side. The SIM tray is present above the power button, on the right.

Display and camera

Oppo Reno 2 features the Snapdragon 730 G Processor which makes it easy and convenient to use. It has 8GB RAM suitable for doing multiple tasks.

Oppo Reno 2 offers decent pictures with its good camera specifications. The model comprises of a 48-megapixel primary sensor with 20X digital zoom. It also has a 13-megapixel telephoto camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. It has a quad-camera set-up with the fourth one being a 2-megapixel depth sensor.

Battery and performance

Oppo Reno2 has a decent battery life with a 4000mAh battery. It lasts for one and a half days after regular usage of Google maps, WhatsApp, and a few more apps. With the 20W fast charger, Oppo Reno 2 charges quickly. You can charge the phone’s battery within one hour and 25 minutes.

Oppo Reno 2 is not a bad choice if somebody wants to play heavy games. Such games will not affect the settings of the phone.

Oppo Reno 2 is a good model in terms of storage, battery life, looks, and performance. The phone boasts of being a camera oriented one. The quad-camera feature is the perfect reason as to why taking pictures from this phone is amazing. The battery life is an addition to the great features. Being priced at 36,990 this phone is the option that describes the great design, battery life, and performance.

Oppo Reno2 Z Review

Oppo Reno2 Z launched Reno 2 Z as a part of its Reno series. It is one of the few phones to include Mediatek Helio P90 SOC. It comprises of some great features such as fingerprint scanner for better protection, Android 9 Pie, 6.5 Amoled display and many such attractive features. The cost of this phone is around Rs.29,990.

The phone is a good choice at a price under Rs.30, 000. The features of this model are good enough to satisfy every mobile lover’s satisfaction.

Design and Display

Oppo Reno 2 Z comprise of 6.5 full High Definition and Amoled display. It is covered by Black Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front with 8.7mm thickness. The phone has got curved edges on the sides to facilitate easy handling of the phone. It also has a glossing panel. The weight of the phone is 195 grams yet easy to carry.

It is available in Sky White and Luminous back shades. Sky White is a soothing shade of white while the luminous black is of shiny black texture. It comprises of bezels on the top with very thin sides.

Performance and storage

It has got an 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It provides good storage for a sufficient amount of files, documents, videos, and pictures. The phone is easy to operate. The buttons are quick in response. The power buttons and volume buttons respond quickly. The audio is clear. The touch screen is smooth and quick.

It is easy to open applications on Oppo Reno 2 Z and the phone runs smoothly. It also offers a pleasant working experience. You can play some of the heavy games such as PUBG easily on this phone. The other apps will not run slow while playing the games.

Camera

Oppo Reno 2 Z comprises of 48MP quad-camera set-up as good as Reno 2. It has got Ultra dark mode, dazzle color, Ultra Steady Video, and a few more features. The front camera of 8 MP provides portrait mode. The pictures are clear and worthy. It provides good clicks during the day and at night. The color balance is good with beauty mode. You can use the beauty mode feature per your choice. The pictures are good with or without beauty mode.

One can take great advantage of the phone with such features, especially in terms of camera. There are various modes and four cameras that enhance the picture quality greatly. The pictures shot are natural and attractive.

Battery

Oppo Reno 2 Z offers a 4000 mAh battery. It has a decent battery back-up which lasts sufficiently for a day or so. One can easily charge the phone with its fast charger. Within more than ninety minutes, the phone shall be ready to run. After using apps, playing games and other uses, Oppo Reno 2 Z will last till the end of the day.

Overall, Oppo Reno 2 Z is a great phone in terms of price value. It is a fantastic looking phone with great battery, amazing storage, and superb pictures. One can easily take great pictures with the quad cameras. The phone provides an amazing scope for taking good selfies and portraits.

March 1, 2020
Redmi K20 Pro Review

The recently revealed Redmi K20 Pro, otherwise known as Mi 9T Pro, is basically the successor to the wildly popular Pocophone F1 by Xiaomi. The regular variant of the smartphone did quite well as well with a good screen, a reasonable battery, and a nice camera. However, it could have had better performance. This is exactly where the Pro version of the phone enters the game. The newer model has a flagship Snapdragon 855 chip, a good upgrade from the Snapdragon 730 that Redmi K20 had. The Redmi K20 Pro runs on the Poco launcher 2 based on MIUI 10 with Android Pie core.

Mi 9T Pro

The Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro has a 6.39″ notch-less Super AMOLED screen protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The 20MP selfies camera is housed behind the pop-up module. This is the latest solution for the notch issue and is being followed by many manufacturers. The rear camera module has a 48MP f/1.8 primary, an 8MP f/2.4 telephoto, and a 13MP f/2.4 ultrawide arrangement. It offers excellent value for money with an amazing processor, a splendid camera, and all the other features we take for granted on a flagship. It doesn’t hurt that is it affordable as well.

Design

The Redmi K20 and Mi 9T phones are designed to look extraordinary while featuring amazing specs. The smartphone boasts of an immersive screen with a durable body. The notch-less AMOLED, called by Xiaomi as Horizon AMOLED, makes for a great look. The pop-up selfie camera is the solution to a notch-less display. Now, the K20 Pro users will be able to enjoy using the 6.39″ Samsung-made OLED screen with 1080p resolution without any distraction.

The phone also features an under-display optical fingerprint reader at the bottom. It is reliable, accurate, and super-fast. The pop-up camera lights up in red as it comes up, making it appear very stylish. The pop-up contains the LED notification lighting. The back of the device contains the same texture as that of the all-Kevlar Pocophone, but it is a mix of gradient hues and patterns. The Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro comes with a loudspeaker, a USB-C port, SIM/microSD card, and of course, the 3.5mm audio jack.

Display

The Redmi K20 Pro has a 6.39″ Super AMOLED screen that is fully made by Samsung. You may notice that the rounded corners eat up the pixels a bit. The resolution is 2,340 x 1,080 pixels with a 19.5:9 screen aspect ratio. It is one of the most common screens in the market, regardless of the notch’s presence. It covers the DCI-P3 colour space and is completely shielded by a Gorilla Glass 5.

Redmi K20 Pro Review

With regards to the brightness, the screen’s OLED panel is about 450 nits. It can reach 643 nits in bright light, exceeding the company’s word of 600 nits. The minimum brightness is quite impressive. With pure white colour, it was 2.2 nits. Users can make use of the three contrast settings offered by Xiaomi – default, warm, cool. The standard contrast is as per RGB with an excellent setting for colour accuracy.

Battery Life

The Redmi K20 Pro is supported by a 4,000mAh Li-ion battery. It has a Quick Charge feature as well. Thanks to the 18W charger, the phone’s battery can reach 50% in just 30 mins. A full charge, on the other hand, will take about 100 minutes. The screen-on times are quite high and the phone offers nearly 20 hours in video playback. The standby was better with the Mi 9T/K20 variant than on the Pro model, but then the chipset is less power efficient as well.

Android 9 Pie, MIUI 10.3, and Poco launcher 2.0

The Xiaomi K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro smartphone run on MIUI 10.3 ROM based on Android 9 Pie. One difference is that the K20 Pro comes with Poco launcher 2.0 pre-installed. It supports the Always-on display and you can choose if you want to enable, disable, or schedule it. There are also plenty of themes that you are likely to fall in love with. The launch adds a feature-rich app drawer.

Redmi K20 Pro Back Panel

Audio, Video, and Speakers Quality

The Redmi K20 Pro smartphone has a single bottom-firing loudspeaker which is quite loud. The output is appreciable at its rich sound, high volume, and detail. It also performed well with an active external amplifier by being extra clear at a very high volume. While the headphone was not nearly as awesome, the accuracy was good enough.

With regards to the video, the smartphone cam captures video up to 4K @ 60fps. Unfortunately, not all the camera can capture the video. You cannot use the ultrawide snapper for shooting in 4K @60fps. The 2X zoom toggle cannot switch to the telephoto camera at all, meaning you will have to stick to the main camera. The video is sharp, clear, and quite detailed, with no cause for concern.

Camera Quality

The Redmi K20 Pro or Mi 9T Pro have the triple-camera at the rear. The main camera has a 1/2″ 48MP sensor with f/1.75 26mm lens that takes 12MP pictures. Other sensors are 8MP (1/4″) telephoto snapper with f/2.4 52mm lens for 2x optical zoom and a 13MP (1/3″) sensor with an f/2.4 15mm lens for ultra-wide-angle shots. The primary sensor here is the Sony IMX 586 while the older one had the IMX 582. While both of them are pretty similar in most respect, the IMX 586 can take 4K video capturing at 60fps.

Redmi K20 Pro Camera

The 48MP main sensor has a Quad-Bayer colour filter which basically combines four pixels to help capture more light and reduce noise. The selfie camera is a 20MP one on a motorized pop-up module. The pictures are sharp, detailed, and rich in colours. Unfortunately, there is no autofocus available here. Despite the lack of a depth sensor, the camera takes pretty good pics with blurred backgrounds.

Verdict

Xiaomi’s latest Redmi K20 Pro / Mi 9T Pro smartphone is one of the best releases this year. While it is not called a Pocophone, it features everything and more than the phone would have. Redmi K20 Pro is what the phone is called in India while the other regions know it as Mi 9T Pro.

February 29, 2020
EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds Review

Whenever we think of music, we generally think of the dual: earphones and music. The best way to experience the depth of music is to feel it using your headphones or earphones. In this era of Miniaturization and technology, the use of wires is gradually coming to halt.

The wireless technology is blooming the electronic industry so are earphones also. Earphones nowadays are becoming wireless and are operated using Bluetooth technology. It has become easier to carry two little buds than to have almost a meter-long wire.

Wireless technology has not only added to the ease but has also let to more classy looks. As we all believe in the brand of brevity, Miniaturization has also won the class award. The two buds in the ears penetrate into the ear canal and help to hear more clearly. It fits right into the ear and you will never have to worry about it falling once you actually wear it.

EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds is just another brand that provides you wireless earphones. It is unique in many aspects. It offers you many exciting features

An Overview of its Design

EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds offers almost the same appearance as that of conventional earbuds. Its charging case is pill-shaped and the earbuds are large teardrop-shaped. There are four small circular lights at the front of the charging case. This helps you to know the charging levels. The number of lights ON tells you the percentage of charging which is complete.

It has a plastic case. This is to impart quality appearance. This further makes it light-weighted. The EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds are available in two colors: white and matte black.

Features that EarFun offers

Bluetooth 5.0

It uses Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to a device. Bluetooth 5.0 is an amazing technology that provides a better range and bandwidth. It can quadruple the range of its predecessor. You can walk, run, exercise or roam around up to 800 feet of distance from the device, without any disturbance in connectivity.

Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) manages Bluetooth 5.0. It makes the communication and the broadcast possible wirelessly. The most striking feature of Bluetooth 5.0 is that it makes it easier to connect multiple devices at the same time. This is because of its excellent bandwidth. Further, it depends upon the software used in the phone or computer, if it can stream to multiple devices or not.

Charging

It offers you with both USB-C and wireless charging. Charging by the usage of USB is the conventional method. But the newest technology now brings before you wireless charging. EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds even have a wireless charging system. It is a process of electrically charging battery-powered devices without directly connecting them with the power supply. It means charging without the use of conventional USB ports.

Wireless charging works by transferring energy from the charger to a receiver. It happens through the phenomenon of electromagnet induction. Wireless reduces your pressure to connect with traditional wires. Our modern world now needs contemporary solutions. The smartest solution put into action to date is wireless charging.

Another most striking feature of these earbuds lies in its 30 hours long battery life. That means you don’t need to worry about charging it every day or every time you use it. That’s really great. This feature is not available in most of the wireless devices. You need to charge them too frequently. But, EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds live much longer.

Waterproof

EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds is fully waterproof (IPX7). With a waterproof device, you don’t need to worry about the bucket. Waterproof devices with an IPX7 rating are great. They can resist the harm due to the accidental submersion of the device up to 30 meters of depth. They can submerge in up to 3.3 feet deep water for about 30 minutes without causing any harm to the device.

So, are you a swimmer? Well, I have a good option for them. They can now listen to their favorite songs, even in water. What can be better than this for them? This will definitely not damage the internal infrastructure of the earbuds and also will retain its sound quality.

Even if your friends are crazy enough to splash water on you, while you are busy with your songs, this will retain its strength even in water and will keep on singing its best vocal sounds. This will definitely work for the jammers. They can sweat without any worries and that will not harm the quality of its sounds.

Weightless

It is very light in weight. Along with miniaturization, what is in trends these days is light-weightiness. The charging case and the earbuds are made up of plastics. This is to keep them as light as possible. It is always easy to carry low weight in the ears and is recommended.

There is a common review that the plastic looks cheap. No doubt, these earbuds have got several features with recent technologies. But branding comes with technology and quality, both.

Noise isolation

These earbuds penetrate into the ear canal and can block most of the external noise. There is no need for separate active noise cancellations. You can easily enjoy and feel your favorite songs with the undisturbed atmosphere.

Areas EarFun needs to work upon

No volume control: These earbuds don’t allow you to control the volume of the sound using your earbuds. You will have to use your phone for it. The benefits of it being wireless are somewhere denied if you have to reach the phone to control volume.

Cheap build quality: No doubt the plastic outers make these earbuds low-weighted. But most of the users complained about its bad plastic quality. For better branding, the company should improve the quality of the outers used to make the charging cases.

Conclusion

For around $50, EarFun Free True Wireless Earbuds is plenty good for its price. At such a low price, you get a lot of benefits and some of the best technologies to date. Its sound quality is also average, but fairly good for this price.

February 28, 2020
Vivo NEX 3 5G Review: More Power Than You Can Handle

One look at how Vivo is doing and we know the smartphone industry is set for tremendous growth in the next few years. In the last three years, Vivo has worked with multiple new techs to turn new ideas into reality. This includes ideas and techs like retractable camera modules, high-res front cameras, and bezel-less designs. In 2020, Vivo is all set to release its flagship NEX series. While this range of devices may not be sold in its millions, but chances are that they will be a huge hit. The Vivo NEX 3 5G features the company’s latest waterfall display tech where the edges of the screen literally flow over the sides.

Vivo NEX 3 5G Review

Samsung already has worked with it in the past. Vivo is working with involves making it more pronounced than ever. Another nice touch that the NEX 3 has includes 5G connectivity along with other hardware that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere at this price. The phone is powered by Snapdragon 855+ with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. With regards to camera specification, the smartphone comes with a 64MP camera at the back. It has a 16MP camera at the front housed behind a retractable module. The device has a huge 4500mAh battery with 44W fast charging.

The Good and The Bad

The NEX 3 5G by Vivo is a truly smart and powerful phone. It can be considered to be an all-screen phone thanks to the waterfall display with extreme curves on either side. In addition to this, the phone has a huge battery, a wonderful camera, and support for 5G, making it one of the most powerful models out there.

Some advantages of the NEX 3 5G includes its awesome hardware, bezel-less design, 64MP camera, a 3.5mm jack, and an immersive display. On the other hand, it also could do with some improvements in certain areas. This includes the fact that the phone does not support wireless charging and is not resistant to water. It runs on Funtouch OS which is not without its quirks.

Vivo NEX 3 5G

Vivo NEX 3 5G

The latest flagship by Vivo, the NEX 3 5G, is sure be received quite well. In fact, many believe that this would be pretty similar to other smartphones slated for a 2020 release. The fact that Vivo is among the first to launch gives it a great head start in the market. Other manufacturers like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Huawei are planning a release of their phones as well which are quite similar to this model.

However, as of now, the NEX 3 is the only one out there that can give us the kind of truly immersive experience we long for. The bezel-less screen highlights the extreme curves, making it an amazing experience. What makes it even better is that Vivo has thought about the issue of accidental touch. It has already got some measures in place. The hardware is pretty powerful, and the phone can easily last for you for several years.

February 28, 2020
Google Pixel 4 XL Review
Google Pixel 4 XL: What to Expect?

The journey of pixel series has quiet often disappointed people but generation 4, has completely changed the game. One of the biggest releases of 2019, this Google Smartphone has tremendously given significant improvements compared to previous generation Google smartphones. Although Google has launched its phone with a hefty price tag, it surely makes up to its value. Built-in with the latest technology and features it balances out the positive and negative pointers of the phone. The Google Pixel 4 XL runs Android 10 smoothly and consistently, without the random bugs and errors of prior Pixels generation phones.

Google Pixel 4 XL Review

The new Google Pixel 4 XL is a camera-centric phone, one of the main features Google has bragged about for years and years. Pixel 4 XL comes with a higher quality in capturing images and videos with an alluring high resolution and pixel spread.

A Closer Look: Google Pixel 4 XL Camera

Design and Display

Running on Pure Android software Google Pixel 4 XL a waterproof phone that measures at 160.4×75.1×8.2 mm and weighing at approximately 193 grams. Pixel 4 XL has an impeccable design, while the materials are basically the same as in the last few phones i.e. metal (aluminium) and glass. It is equipped with gorilla glass 5 at both front and back. Although, the coatings and finishing on the phone make it feel a lot more rugged and much more gripping feel on to the phone. Google has launched the phone in three vibrant colours,
- Clearly white
- Just black
- Oh so orange
Pixel 4 XL comes with a 6.3-inch Quad HD+ display with a resolution of 1440×3040 pixels. Working at a 90Hz refresh rate, allowing the user to use the smartphone smoothly and lag-free. Installed with P-OLED capacitive touchscreen, exuding 16M colours, a pure HDR feel at 537 pixels per inch (PPI) with an aspect ratio of 19:9.

Google Pixel 4 XL

Hardware

Google Pixel 4 XL has the latest version of the OS. Combined with QualcommSM8150 Snapdragon 855 chipset on an Octa-core CPU, along with Adreno 640 GPU and in a total of 6GB RAM. Pixel 4 XL match is unbeatable and has ultimate performance with minimum bugs. It comes in two storage variations i.e. 64GB and 128GB, having no additional memory card slot.

Camera

When it comes down to the camera, Google always makes sure it delivers the best in class camera quality. The cameras are equipped with 12-megapixel f/1.7 main camera and 16-megapixel f/2.4 2x telephoto camera and 8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide) selfie camera featuring with auto HDR and a whooping 8X zoom. Pixel 4 XL also has an improved night sight camera, giving you a crystal clear night time images or videos. Beyond that Google also introduced astrophotography mode, an extension to the night sight mode this feature allows the user to take pretty decent pictures during night time.

Platform and Features

Running on Pure Android 10 OS, the latest release of android developers. Together combined Pixel 4 XL’s hardware it is one of the topmost performance-based phones in its category and amongst its rivals.

Pixel 4 XL comes with several features that include,
- Face ID security.
- Smarter Google assistant.
- Gyro scope sensor.
- Proximity sensor.
- Compass/magnetometer.
- Motion sensor (hand gesture).
- Ambient light sensor.
Connectivity

Google Pixel 4 XL works on dual SIM and is compatible with all the latest connectivity technology, LTE, CDMA, GSM, HSPA and EVDO. This latest smartphone accepts Nano-SIM and eSIM cards.

Google Pixel 4 XL Camera

Wi-Fi 802.11, dual-band and hotspot. Making sure you stay connected to the world all the time. Uses Bluetooth version 5.0 and enabled GPS and NFC functions. Connects on USB 3.1 type C and 1.0 type reverse connector.

Battery and Performance

Google Pixel 4 XL has a significant improvement with the new battery installed on it, comes with a long-lasting and reliable battery holding capacity up to 3700mAh capacity compared to 2800mAh capacity battery of its previous version that is Google Pixel 4.

Pixel 4 XL comes with a non-removable battery and supports exclusive fast charging. This particular smartphone has gotten a significant upgrade in the terms of performance, tests conducted on the smartphone had shown significant performance outputs, delivering approximately 15 hours of activity in a single charge.

What Do You Get?

Google Pixel 4 XL has a generic and safe packing, includes the phone of course. The box comes with,
- A SIM tool.
- Quick switch adapter.
- Power adapter (USB Type-C 18W).
- USB-C cable V2.0.
- A quick start guide.
Missing from the box is a pair of earphones and a 3.5mm-to-USB C converter. As a result, one has to fork out extra money in order to enjoy music or taking calls without using the smartphones’ in-built stereo speakers.

Verdict: Google Pixel 4 XL

Although, it is a bit pricey for its class of smartphones. Google’s latest addition to its smartphone family has once again proven to have the best in class features as compared to its rivals. Consisting of a camera sings and exudes a quality function that provides exceptional outcomes of images and videos. In addition, Pixel 4 XL has a lot of improvement compared to Pixel 4, with a lot better battery capacity, OS, software features and its design. Compatibility with all the latest connectivity sources and platforms and has up-to-date security inbuilt with the smartphone.

To sum up there are quite a few pros and cons to the phone, i.e.

Pros
- Amazing camera performance, several features.
- Exquisite colour display screen.
- Quick and secure face unlock feature.
- Exclusive textured design.
- The screen works on a 90 Hz rate.
Cons
- Not up-to mark motion sense features.
- Battery performance is above average, but not too amazing.
- Lacks in ultra-wide-angle camera feature.
- It comes without a fingerprint reader.
- No cables, adapters and earphones are included within the box.
- Compared to its rivals, Pixel 4 XL is a bit pricey.
- Face ID doesn’t support banking apps.
- It comes without any expandable storage.
February 27, 2020