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The Best Nintendo Switch Exclusives

The Nintendo Switch has been a great success, all thanks to the number of features that it comes with. While most players discuss the merits of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and the exclusives that they offer, Nintendo Switch has tons of them too. It is true that Nintendo Switch games generally are priced higher, but it is well worth it since they are of higher quality with a lower number of issues.

The Nintendo Switch was launched about two years ago. When it was first released, it didn’t have a lot to its name. However, in the past two short years, the console features tons of games featuring even third-party titles to pacify western players. Of course, how can they miss out Nintendo franchises?! In this post, we will look at some of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives. For more, check out our article on The Best NES Games Of All Time.

1. Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 is a worthy upgrade of the Super Mario Maker. The game, of course, is set around the building and levels. Players would be able to play other players’ creations which is quite fun, to be honest. While it is not available on Nintendo 3DS like its predecessor, this version has a longer single-player campaign. It has also been designed better with more features to keep the players engaged, such as the custom clear conditions and slopes. The Story Mode has more than 100 stages, making certain that players are in for a long treat. The drag-and-drop system introduced here is easy to use, both with a controller or using a touchscreen.

Super Mario Maker 2

2. Pokémon Sword And Shield

Pokémon Sword and Shield was released soon after the launch of the Nintendo Switch Lite. It is believed to be one of the most detailed and excellently designed Pokémon games till now. It can be plated in docked modes or in handheld. Users can trade and play with each other. While it is highly detailed, it is not as tough as the previous games, making certain that players stay entertained but still are able to have fun. The story was also different from the older games, making it more exciting for the players.

3. Super Mario Odyssey

This list would be incomplete without a mention of this iconic game, Super Mario Odyssey. With more level designs, boss fights, and non-linear gameplay, the developers have certainly revamped the game. New Donk City and other levels are now spacious and attractive than ever before. The design does it best to keep the players captivated throughout. A new character seen here is Cappy. Cappy can easily turn Mario into almost any object or enemy, move through narrow areas, and even make way through lava pits. In addition to the gameplay, the engaging audio and the cheerful graphics make it a must-play game.

4. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion 3 has an engaging storyline with the classic ghost-vacuuming gameplay. It also features Professor Elvin Gadd. Luigi goes to a hotel in the game to rescue his friends who are trapped in the paintings. If you don’t want to play alone, you can always try the ScreamPark and ScareScraper modes. It is one of the classic horror games that you just cannot miss. With regards to graphics, it is very beautifully designed with attention to detail and rich visuals.

Nintendo Switch Exclusives- Luigi’s Mansion 3

5. Kirby Star Allies

This is a kid-friendly game where Kirby floats through the air while copying enemies’ abilities. Although the 2D structure remains the same, Kirby’s abilities have improved. Where Kirby was once only able to steal power, now he would also be able to recruit enemies to add to his team. He would also be able to combine powers to hold fort better and launch more powerful attacks. If the game gets too tough for you, you can play it with your friends as well. This is a great game to play on a gaming console.

6. Snipperclips: Cut it out, together!

The game basically puts two players together to complete paper puzzles. How they do this together is what is ingenious. Players would have to literally cut segments out of their bodies using scissors. Although it is based heavily on trial-and-error gameplay, it is a big part of the entertainment factor. The users don’t seem to mind it either. If you are playing with friends, you can use the Party mode where up to 4 friends can be added.

7. The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

This game is a 3D remade of Game Boy, a 1993 hit. The game is set on Koholint Island and features much of the traditional elements that we are used to. Players can even win a Yoshi doll by playing the trade quest claw game. Although it is a remake, the graphics have improved in leaps and bounds. The game also has nice characters with a stable storyline. With the remake, Inventory management has become better than ever. Now, users can equip more than two items simultaneously.

The Legend Of Zelda Link’s Awakening

8. Octopath Traveler

Octopath Traveler is a turn-based role-playing game. This has a unique combat system that involves eight travellers who get into eight thrilling adventures. Since it features turn-based combat, it is already different than most others in the market. With plenty of stories, engaging characters, and a flawless storyline, you can be sure that you will stay entertained.

9. Tetris 99

How can we come to the end of this list without talking about Tetris 99? While it doesn’t fit into the concept of traditional video games, no one can deny its gameplay is captivating. Basically, the game pits 99 players against each other. The game is online and the last person to be standing is the winner. The twist here is that besides completing your board, players can also attack others by sending additional lines of tiles to their boards.

10. Golf Story

While there is a little bit of Golf in the game, as the name suggests, but it has a more in-depth game to it. It is a story-focused RPG that old-school players are likely to fall in love with. With the game set across different environments, a variety of activities, and of course, golf, you are likely to keep engaged.

This list of the best Nintendo Switch Exclusives should be a great trip down the memory lane.

January 13, 2020
Apollo Max Review: Is It Worth Buying?
Graphene has been in the news and dangled in front of tech enthusiasts for well over a decade now.

It’s meant to be a new, magical material that will solve all our energy storage problems. Nonetheless, it has somehow stayed out of consumer products.

However, it has now slowly begun to percolate down into products that the average consumer can buy – like this power bank from Elecjet.

The Apollo Max is a portable charger made by Elecjet, a Chinese company. The company promises a 10,000mAh (37Wh) capacity, 100W charging, and 60W discharging.

The most astounding claim is the 19 minute recharge time – which unfortunately turns out to be false.

Design-wise, the Apollo Max is not exactly the sleekest power bank you can find. It looks a bit like a brick, weighing 373g with the dimensions 155 x 76 x 24mm.

The bottom and the top of the device have a soft plastic finish that almost feels like fabric. It does give it a nice feel but does not make it look like any less of a brick.

Both its ports, a USB Type-C, and a USB Type-A are embedded on a single side, together with a seven-segment display that indicates the remaining charge.

A button located on the side activates the display.

The device also has two lightning bolt lights that light up when the battery is either charging or discharging at over 5V.

The bolts indicate the amount of power the device might be using and leave a wide potential range.

The power bank is enormous considering its capacity – it looks like it might hold at least 20,000mAh. Part of the reason behind its size may be the significant input (100W) and output(60W) power it supports or may have to do with the new graphene cells used in the battery.

Elecjet claims that the graphene cells in the device help it stay cool even when a super high current is passed through it. Also, the power bank supposedly will last up to three times longer than other power banks.

The Apollo Max is too expensive for the features it offers. Another issue with the device is the loose USB-C port. Cables refuse to stay seated or fit the port snugly enough for it to charge the connected device.

For any power bank, let alone a power bank this expensive, a loose USB port is not acceptable.

Spec-wise the power bank is one of the best on the market, but it lacks execution. Its way too expensive and has significant quality control issues.

Before you buy it, make sure you weigh out the pros and cons.

Pros:
- - Excellent output (60W!)
  - Fantastic input (100W!)
  - Does not heat up
  - Compatible with all devices
Cons:
- - Huge size
  - The indicator isn’t accurate
  - Recharging takes between 30-40 minutes, not the advertised 15 minutes
  - Low capacity for the price
  - Quality control issues
Should you buy it?

Buying the Apollo Max isn’t recommended. The technology is still in its development stages and needs a lot more polishing before it becomes mainstream. Find out another good power bank here.
January 11, 2020
Motorola One Hyper Review

You may have noticed that the Motorola One range of smartphones do focus a lot on the camera quality and specs. After Motorola One Zoom with its four rear cameras, we saw the Motorola One Action with its triple lenses. Now, the latest in the line is the Motorola One Hyper. The phone is marketed as a budget model. With regards to the camera, it only has two rear lenses. However, the main camera features 64-MP. As far as the 32-MP front camera is concerned, it only pops out when the user wants to click a selfie. With a unique design and some nice features, the phone is a good option to consider.

Motorola One Hyper Design And Display

The case that the Hyper uses is made of plastic, but looking at the price of the phone, it seems just right. The phone features a 3D curved design on the back of the phone and has a matte finish. Overall, the device looks pretty trendy and stylish. Despite the plastic case, the phone gives off an expensive look. While Motorola One didn’t come in any cheerful colours, you can expect more exciting colours in Hyper. One Hyper is expected to come in Deep Sea Blue, with the Dark Amber colour releasing later. In certain areas, including Europe and Latin America, users will be able to purchase the Fresh Orchid colour model.

Motorola One Hyper Display

The fingerprint sensor is located at the rear and comes with a light ring around it. This lets you know if you are low on battery, or if you have a call coming in, or any other notification. The light ring is completely customizable. You can choose to make it blink or stay on continuously and also be able to change its brightness. You will notice a headphone jack on the top while the USB-C port is located on the bottom. The phone is completely water repellent too. By this, Motorola means that although there is no IP rating for water resistance, it is sturdy enough to withstand a splash or two. Of course, there is no notch or a bezel since the front camera is a pop-out model. This also gives you more space on the screen. The pop-up camera allows the phone to have a free border around the display. This is being called as Total Vision by Motorola.

Hardware

The Motorola One Hyper is powered by Snapdragon 675. This is the same one that is used in its flagship Moto Z4 and Motorola One Zoom. The device has 128GB of built-in storage which users would be able to expand up to 1TB with a microSD card. The phone comes with a 4,000 mAh battery, so you can be sure that the device is going to last you at least a day. It supports up to 45W fast charging. However, do note that only an 18W charger comes in the box. Talking about software, the One Hyper will be shipped with Android 10.

Motorola One Hyper Review

Camera Review

One of the main features to stand out in this phone is its front pop-out camera. While it is not the first one of its kind, it is Motorola’s first attempt with such a design. Asus ZenFone 6 and even OnePlus 7 Pro boast of a similar camera model. You can easily launch the camera by tapping on the front-facing camera icon within the Camera app. Since the phone also supports gestures, you can use it to open the camera as well. Making a twist-to-capture gesture with the phone will lead the pop-up camera to spring up for selfies.

Since the camera is designed to pop up in less than a second, you won’t have to wait too much. The camera popups with a mechanical noise, which many users seem to love. However, it is not actually due to any mechanics, it is simply audio set for it. If you are among those who find this disturbing, it can be switched off easily by visiting the settings menu. If you drop the phone, you will notice that the pop-up camera retracts automatically. The device’s accelerometer and gyroscope detect the fall and immediately retracts the camera to keep it safe.

Rear Camera

Regards the rear camera, the main camera is a 64-MP shooter which takes pictures of the utmost clarity and rich colours. With quad pixel-binning technology, the Motorola One Hyper cameras manage to combine four adjacent pixels into one, bringing better images. There is also a Night Vision mode for low light photography along with a laser autofocus feature for keeping images in focus. The phone also has shot optimization, allowing it to detect automatically when Night Vision should be applied. However, if you want, you would be able to enable it manually as well. According to Motorola, you will never to have to do anything manually since the camera has been specially designed to work automatically.

Motorola One Hyper Camera

In addition to the main 64-MP camera, there is an 8-MP wide-angle lens with a 118-degree field of view. This lets for about four times more scene capture, according to the company. The wide-angle lens can be enabled with a single click. How the camera will compare with Pixel 3a is something that is yet to be seen. However, this is one of the best camera phones in this price range.

Verdict

The company is selling the Hyper unlocked via its website. The phone will work on GSM-based cellular networks. This means AT&T and T-Mobile customers will have no trouble, but Verizon and Sprint customers are unlucky. On the brighter side, the display of the is quite large and it is very comfortable to use as well.

It is very difficult for devices like Motorola One Hyper to make the news when the company is working on more exciting models like foldable phones, such as Motorola Razr. However, on this budget, the Hyper is truly an excellent release. The camera is an excellent addition, and this looks as if it could be a worthy rival to Pixel 3a, considering its relatively lower price.

January 10, 2020
Redmi Note 8T Review

The Redmi Note series have been smartphones that have pleased both users and industry analysts alike. The newest addition on the block in the Note series is the Redmi Note 8T. This smartphone is an enhanced version of the Redmi Note 8, and we have every reason to believe that the new version will be as successful as its predecessor.

This smartphone was launched on November 22, 2019, shortly along with the heels of the Redmi Note 8 in India with an upgraded Note 8T version for the European and UK markets. The key differentiator that the Note 8T enjoys among its competitors is the NFC enablement. This feature makes the Note 8T one of the few smartphones that support Google Pay at its price point. Here’s our complete review of the specifications of the Redmi Note 8T.

The Body of the Redmi Note 8T

Most of the physical features of this smartphone are typical of the Redmi Note series. This budget phone sports a dual Gorilla Glass 5 shell with a splash-proof nano-coating body that offers some trendy gradient colors for its back panel ranging from Moonlight White to Starscape Blue and the more subtle Moon shadow grey. Although, it is only the blue which is available in the UK currently.

The back panel also sports a fingerprint sensor that does the job just fine. It is speedy, accurate and also appropriately placed exactly where the index finger sits when the phone rests in your palm. However, one must admit that the phone is a tad longer than one would prefer, giving a rather uncomfortable stretch to even a roomy grip.

The frame is a combination of plastic and metal with a small waterdrop notch curve body. The overall appearance of this smartphone is certainly more premium than the price bracket it belongs to. Probably the only aspect of its body that gives away its budget nature is the larger than normal bezel around the entire phone that’s most prominent around the chin of the phone.

The 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with an IPS LCD screen and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 offers a fairly good array of colors in the display. The screen to body ratio is a moderate 88.3%. The brightness of the phone, however, is a slight disappointment. It is slightly under-toned and limited even at its highest. The 3.5mm headphone jack, the USB-C port, and the speaker are all lined along the base of the smartphone.

The Build of The Redmi Note 8T

This budget smartphone sports a Snapdragon 655 chipset from Qualcomm. Despite this chipset being fairly mid-range, there are little or no complaints with the speed of the device during gaming or processing pictures. With a 4GB RAM and a 64GB storage, the smartphone pretty much packs in a decent punch when it comes to its built quality. There is an option of inserting a microSD card of up to 256GB.

The Redmi Note 8T runs on MIUI 10, and it isn’t long before it is upgraded to the latest MIUI 11. For the uninitiated, the MIUI 10 is a heavily skinned version of Android Pie that resembles the iOS in more ways than one.

The Camera of The Redmi Note 8T

The rear camera of the Redmi Note 8T is a four-camera set-up that includes a 48MP main camera, supported by an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera. The front camera is a healthy 13MP .9 micron pixel size camera. The colossal 48MP main camera certainly packs in a punch and places this smartphone ahead of all its competitors when it comes to the clarity and quality of the camera.

Although not the best in the market, all of the other cameras are just about good considering the budget nature of this smartphone. One drawback with most photos taken on this smartphone is the low differentiation of the background and the subject and its sub-par performance in low-light settings.

Something unique about all cameras in the Redmi 8T is the range of options available when it comes to camera modes. From night vision, short video mode, robust-pro mode and much more, this smartphone give you a feeling of dealing with a highly versatile and feature-rich camera that not many in its competition can boast of.

However, you are almost always better off using the camera in its standard mode as the quality and sharpness of images are quite compromised in the other modes especially in case of low-light settings.

The Battery of the Redmi Note 8T

The Redmi Note 8T offers a sizeable 4000 mAh battery that can support a day-long usage stint for moderate usage. If you’re running low on battery, the 18W fast charger of this smartphone can have your battery percentage shoot Up from 5% to 40% in just 30 minutes.

Plug it in for a little over an hour if you are aiming to look at a 100% charged battery. The phone, however, does not offer any wireless charging mechanism. Overall, there isn’t much to complain about when it comes to the battery of the Redmi Note 8T.

Unboxing the Redmi Note 8T

Unboxing this smartphone reveals the usual suspects that include a USB-C cable, an 18W charger and the smartphone itself. The charger of the Note 8T is a notch above the Note 8 that offered a slower 10W adaptor. The box also offers a transparent silicon cover for the phone which is a pleasant surprise.

Final Verdict

All in all, the Redmi Note 8T certainly aims high and offers a whole lot more than an average phone in its segment. The look and appearance of the phone are quite snappy and the specs are typically those you would end up looking for in a phone that’s a couple of notches above the Note 8T.

It is one of the best budget smartphones in the market with the coveted NFC support that makes online payments a whole lot easier. At a price of 169.99 pounds, we would certainly consider this smartphone a good buy.

January 9, 2020
ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G Coming In H1 2020

phonexxxxxxxxxxWe know the name, design, and specs of ZTE’s upcoming flagship device. It is likely to be called ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G. The company is planning to launch the device in H1 2020. The phone will run on Snapdragon 865 SoC. The details about it emerged during the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2019 where the company talked about the Axon-branded phones featuring Snapdragon 865 SoC.

Design and Specs

The device will feature really thin bezels, have a curved display, and a visible front camera. The materials used for the body would be majorly glass and metal. Although it has not yet been specified whether or not the phone will have a display hole or a waterdrop display notch, we should know more about it soon enough. The ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G will have three rear cameras with an LED flash located right underneath. Since there is no sight of a fingerprint scanner at the back, it looks like the device is likely to use an under-display fingerprint scanner.

ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G

The phone is designed to be only 7.9mm thick, weighing about 175 grams. The device will support SA/NSA dual-mode 5G network and WiFi 6. Besides this, it will come with a flexible hyperboloid glass, a 4,000mAh battery, and many other features. The phone will also use AI engine Z-Booster 2.0 which allocates system resources smartly, helping optimize game and multitasking duties.

The ZTE smartphone will run on Android 10 out of the box with ZTE’s MiFavor 10 skin on top of it. The latter was announced quite recently. It offers better battery life, new system icons, AI-related improvements, and so much more. Besides the smartphone, ZTE has plans of introducing as many as 15 5G products in 2020. Out of these, at least 10 of them will be 5G smartphones.

What else?

The popular Chinese smartphone manufacturer recently launched an official press meet. Here, the company talked about its upcoming devices, including the ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G. It would be powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC. It is likely to have a dual-mode 5G support, UFS 3.0 storage, and 6.47-inch full-HD+ OLED display. The smartphone has a model number ZTE A2020 SP. Regarding other specifications, the phone will have 12GB RAM and up to 512GB of storage.

ZTE Axon 10s Pro 5G Release

With regards to the camera, the phone will have a triple rear camera setup. The main camera will be a 48-megapixel one with a 2-megapixel secondary camera and an 8-megapixel third shooter. The front will sport a 20-megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone is most likely to have a waterdrop-style notch on the front. The phone’s triple camera sensors will be vertical with the LED flash following them. The right side of the screen will feature the power button and the volume control buttons. Although the phone is expected to launch in the first half of 2020, there has been no official word on it from ZTE so far.

January 7, 2020
Fitbit Versa 2 review: The Subscription Smartwatch
Since inception, Fitbit Versa has come as a really handy gadget for users who wanted notifications and improved wellness at the same time. Though it was a good balance between both worlds, it could be delivered fully in any way.

Finally, Fitbit Versa 2 is here, which is more a smartwatch than anything else, with Spotify and Alexa support along with AMOLED display. However, you need to buy a new subscription service, Fitbit Premium for fitness insights. For more detailed info, the paywall leaves data-hungry fitness freaks with much to be wanted.

New Display, Old Design

The Fitbit Versa 2 has an AMOLED display, which seems to be a great upgrade. Like Apple Watch Series 5, it also has an always-on display and it is great to see the activity and time without having to do anything. The build quality is the way better than any kind of knock-off design. It feels light, solid and well-built.

The silicone band embedded on it tells a different story, which is quite stiff and doesn’t hug the wrist without tightening it over the cozy level. But the stiffness no longer exists as you wear it longer. The replacement bands offer more functionality, style, and comfort.

I hadn’t faced any trouble reading the display when going outdoors. The deep blacks fade the thick bezels. However, on the design front, the Versa 2 comes as new wine in an old bottle. You will see the bezels are rounded and smooth on the watch face. Some other changes are upgraded processor, bigger battery, and NFC support to use Fitbit Pay.

Usage

When it comes to navigating the operating system, the experience was quite smooth, despite a few stutters on animations. There are no constant hangs. It just has one button. When you press it once, it takes you back to the menu. When you hold it, it takes you to Fitbit Pay or Alexa. It opens apps like alarm, exercise, clock, and other apps like Spotify when you swipe right from home screen. There is a sleep mode on the quick settings which turns off the display when you sleep.

The new addition here is Spotify integration, which is limited. It can be used only with a premium Spotify subscription. In addition, it controls the only playback on other devices like your smart speaker or phone. You can also store up to 300 songs on the device using the Fitbit desktop app. However, you need to load them over Wi-Fi as you cannot do it using a wired connection.

Fitbit App and Wellness integration

Versa 2 is quite handy in use when it comes to working out. Music controls are few swipes away and you can easily keep track of workout routines in real-time with an always-on display. Keep in mind that the reflective bands are not sweating or water resistance.

When exercising, use silicone bands. You can keep track of calories burned, steps are taken, heart rate, workout minutes, and seven exercise modes like cycling, running, treadmill running, swimming, general exercise trekking, and weight training, along with integrated training.

You can easily track your health and exercise and get accurate results. Also, you can get more insights into the data in the Fitbit app. The only catch here is that Fitbit Premium membership is the only way to get detailed data. A smart wake feature is also coming soon in Versa 2, which will wake you up on time.

Battery Life

The 3-day battery life is one of the standout features in Versa 2. It lasted up to 3 days of regular usage. I use this smartwatch frequently and enabled most of the vital notifications (up to 5 apps for messaging and daily scoop). I also turned on sleep tracking at night and worked out for 30 minutes every day. These all happened while enabling always-on display.

Overall, the battery life is on par against the likes of Samsung Galaxy Watch Active, another fitness-based smartwatch in the same price range. On the other side, Apple Watch can last only a day and a half, and a maximum of 2 days with light usage.

The Takeaway

The biggest strength of Fitbit Versa 2 lies in its 3-day battery life on one charge. There are limited insights and app support, especially in terms of Spotify and Alexa is not that great here. Apple Watch Series 3 and Galaxy Watch Active also come at the price tag of $200, making tough competition for Versa 2.

Availability, Price, and Warranty

The price of Versa 2 is $200 or a maximum of $230 if you choose from one of two colors in the special edition, while replacement bands are available in the range from $30 to $100. Fitbit Versa 2 also ships with a money-back guarantee for 45 days and limited warranty for 1 year, along with optional protection plan for 2 years against damage, for $44.99 at Square Trade.

Is it long-lasting?

With the strong build quality and water resistance of over 50 meters max, Versa 2 can easily last up to 2 to 3 years or so.

Who should buy it?

Versa 2 really looks stylish and can do virtually everything you can expect from Galaxy Watch Active. But there is a bit more on which Galaxy Watch Active 2 stands ahead. Apple Watch is recommended for iPhone users if sleep tracking is not required.

Are other options available?

Apple Watch is a better choice if you are using an iPhone. Even better, Series 3 price has been dropped to $200 by Apple and it is a great competitor. You can have better support with in-built GPS, iPhone, and access to several third-party tracking apps and fitness plans. However, it lacks in-built sleep tracking and you will need to charge it by the end of every day.

Pros
- - Ships with an affordable price tag
  - Effective sleep tracking
  - Strong battery life
  - User-friendly interface
  - Enough storage to store music
Cons
- - Shows only a few details
  - Alexa is not that helpful
  - Unable to stream with Spotify
  - Seems like a knock-off of Apple Watch
Overall

With excellent battery life, Fitbit Versa 2 is a nice buy but major details are hidden behind the subscription.
January 6, 2020
Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro review

If you’re looking to get the most out of your money, Xiaomi phones are the way to go. This Chinese smartphone manufacturing giant consistently offers impressive features on-par with flagship devices at astonishingly low prices.

Xiaomi recently launched the Mi CC9 Pro, and it has stunned the smartphone market with its impressive features.

Let us quickly go over Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro’s features and find out what makes the smartphone so appealing.

Looks:

The Mi CC9 Pro is a sleek looking phone that comes with a 6.47-inch AMOLED screen that has curves on the edges, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S series.

The screen boasts a high resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The stunning design on the rear gives the phone a unique appeal. The device is available in four beautiful colors – Midnight Black, Aurora Green, and Glacier White.

The phone is super durable since the entirety of the phone’s body has the protection of robust Gorilla Glass.

The CC9 Pro comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor, and the phone also supports the face unlock feature.

According to the company, the fingerprint sensor in this phone has been made 88% thinner than the earlier versions and is the world’s first “ultra-thin in-display fingerprint sensor.”

The sensor feels snappier and more accurate than the previous generation phones and also has a larger recognition area, which is excellent.

Cameras:

The Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro boasts the world’s first 108MP camera setup.

In the triple rear camera package, the primary camera is a 108MP sensor. The ultra-wide camera is of 20MP, and the macro camera is of 2MP. Both of the secondary cameras have an autofocus feature.

There are also not one but two telephoto cameras. One provides the user with 5x optical zoom and the other with 2x optical zoom.

The 32MP front-facing camera vivid and vibrant selfies and works well even in low-light situations.

The cameras on the back come coupled with two dual-LED flashes. While one flash is diffused and helps take pictures in dim light, the other is brighter and comes with clear front glass.

Battery:

The phone comes with a high-capacity 5260mAh battery that is non-removable.

A full charge will get a power user through the day. An average user can expect the device to last over two days without needing a charge.

The best part is that the Mi CC9 Pro supports 30W fast charging. The device will charge fully in just 65 minutes.

Fast charging is a useful feature for users who are always on the move or travel a lot.

Storage and other features:

The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core processor and runs Android 9 (Pie) right out of the box.

The processor has been optimized for gaming purposes and can handle demanding games without heating up or slowing down.

There are two variants of the phone available: the cheaper version has 64GB of internal storage expandable up to 128GB with 6GB of RAM and the expensive premium version with 128GB of internal storage that’s expandable up to 256GB and which has a RAM of 8GB.

The phone comes with a mono bottom-firing speaker, an IR blaster, and also an FM radio chip.

Merits:

The is a phone well worth the money as a package. Let us look at what specifically makes it stand out.

Firstly, the smartphone looks super attractive. It is one of the best-looking budget smartphones on the market and stands with the likes of the OnePlus 7 in terms of good looks.

The phone looks especially appealing in the Aurora Green variant.

The fingerprint sensor is better, quicker, and more accurate. It features the world’s first ultra-thin fingerprint sensor with enhanced sensitivity and makes for better unlocking.

The company claims that the phone can unlock your phone with ease, even if your fingers are wet or the temperature dips too low.

The cameras on this phone are amazing. The 108MP camera makes for super-sharp and detailed shots.

Even the front-facing camera boasts high-quality and is capable of capturing some beautiful selfies.

The 5260mAh battery gives it an exceptionally long battery life that could last the average user days. The most significant advantage that the CC9 Pro offers is the support for fast charging.

The phone can charge from 0% to 100% in a little over an hour.

Drawbacks:

The phone does not come with a microSD card slot. The storage cannot be expanded whatsoever after buying the device.

Also, the phone is not water-resistant, which is surprising for a phone positioned to be a flagship-killer.

Verdict:

We now live in a world staying connected is a vital part of daily life. And smartphones are the primary means of staying connected.

The CC9 Pro is a powerhouse that boasts a large battery, a large screen, and great cameras.

Features like quick charging, the in-display fingerprint scanner, and the ability to connect to 5G networks make the Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro a formidable device.

The phone has been released in China already and is fetching great reviews. Xiaomi fans from across the globe are awaiting its global release.

January 5, 2020
Jurassic World Evolution – A Complete Review

Jurassic World Evolution is another great addition in the world of simulator games brought to you by Frontier Developments. It has become one of the top favorites for all gamers.

If there is anything you know about Frontier Developments, you would see that they are a pro when it comes to theme and roller coaster games. Jurassic World Evolution is nothing but a business simulation game that is developed and published by Frontier Developments. It released in June 2018.

The creation of the game had approximately 100 people in the development team, with a high-end budget of £8 million.

The game is based on the 2015 Jurassic World movie. The development team has examined various dinosaur models that were used in the films over the years.

Within a matter of 7 months from the date of release, the game had sold more than two million copies, making it one of the most successful games ever launched by Frontier.

So, Jurassic World Evolution is a business management game that needs you to build and maintain attractions that are full of lizards and turning out of them a beautiful, thriving enterprise.

It is almost like a homage to the age-old series.

The central theme of the game is mainly based on one question: ‘How exactly would you run a dinosaur theme park?’

Frontier Developments has done an excellent job when it comes to creating something that is closet to a dinosaur park. Whether it is the park itself or the dialogues, it is a superb put-together of everything that relates to dinosaurs.

The in-game menus also contain immense significance and references to the movies itself, making it one buff for the Jurassic Park nerds.

It is compatible with Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Game Play

This simulator game offers you with offers 40 dinosaurs that can be unlocked by completing the various missions. It is not as easy as it sounds.

The difficulty level of the game is standard to high. For unlocking each of the dinosaurs, you will need to collect fossils and extract their genomes. You have to accumulate at 50 percent of a species genome to incubate it and then bring it to life in your game. Thus, into your dinosaur park.

Extracting the genome for every one of the dinosaurs can be somewhat repetitive and slow.

There are new islands with different kinds of bearings for each one. But again, you have to complete critical missions to unlock these islands. There are various drawbacks in each of the islands, like one may be tormented with storms while another has gone bankrupt.

The game needs you to identify these and work towards a safer or profitable island. You can quickly move between islands and keep an eye on the visitor experience often. This way, you can also revamp your older parks with new dinosaurs and other research.

But, the main attraction of the game remains with the dinosaurs. They are also the only means to earn.

For this reason, it is essential to cater to the needs of different kinds of dinosaurs. Like, the type of food they eat and the amount of social exposure that they require.

These are essential aspects the dinosaurs healthy, satisfied, and thus, capable of earning more.

Gameplay Modes

There are a few modes in which you can play the game like career, challenge, and sandbox mode.

Career mode: In the career mode, the player needs to build five-star dinosaur parks across the islands. You are assisted continuously by Dr. Ian Malcom throughout the gameplay.

If you are not a Jurassic Park geek, Dr. Ian Malcolm is a mathematician in both the Jurassic Park novel and movies.

In this mode, the player meets figures representing the development of the park in three branches, which are entertainment, security, and science. They will have contracts for you to be completed to receive rewards and reputation in that field or branch.

Sandbox Mode: You can play in the sandbox mode once you achieve a four-star rated park on the starting island. After this, everything that you have made in the career mode will be transferred to the sandbox mode. But, the players will have unlimited money while also they can set their desired weather and time at the parks.

Challenge Mode: You can play the challenge mode with the ease of setting your level of difficulty but with limited funds.

It is but proven from the above facts that Jurassic World Evolution is a pretty smart and well-crafted simulator game. While it gives you a boost of immense joy of running a dinosaur park, it also keeps you thrilled about the perils that could follow.

Conclusion

We cannot but admit that Jurassic World Evolution is an accessible game, but it can be monotonous and overwhelming for seasoned management game players.

Despite a few misses here and there, this game is gripping. While it also keeps a secure connection with the inspiration, the movies as well as the novel.

Despite the repetitiveness of the game, it is an excellent choice for anyone who has ever wanted to run a disaster-prone dinosaur park.

January 2, 2020
Honor V30 vs. Honor V30 Pro

Honor’s V30 and V30 Pro are some of the first flagships on the market that already support 5G. However, there is a lot more to love about the devices other than their advanced connectivity potential.

The devices feature the new Kirin 990 chipset, which is what enables the devices’ support for 5G. The latest Kirin chipset used in these devices are versatile – they support both NSA non-independent 5G networking and also independent SA 5G networking.

The versatility of these chips in and of itself entitle these Honor devices to some pioneering bragging rights. They happen to be one of the few devices outside of Huawei’s brand lineup that support both classes of 5G networking.

In ideal conditions, 5G could enable download speeds of up to 2.3Gbps, and upload speeds up to 1.25Gbps. The Balong modem used in these devices can also seamlessly work with 4G, 3G, and 2G networks, making it the current king of mobile networking.

The Kirin 990 5G is a different chipset from the vanilla Kirin 990. The Kirin 990 5G is created using a more optimized 7nm+ EUV manufacturing process. It boasts slightly high clock speeds than the vanilla Kirin 990 on some of its cores and also has one large extra NPU core. It also includes the previously mentioned Balong 5G modem.

Comparison:

Both the V30 and the V30 Pro include the basic Kirin 990 chipset with the Balong 5000 modem as an external component. Therefore, both models are 5G enabled.

However, there are many differences between the two models – most notably in the camera department.

Cameras:

The Pro version comes with a better ultrawide camera in the rear setup. All other camera lenses on the front and the back of the two phones have no difference.

In-hand feel:

In the hands, the V30 feels a little heavier than the V30 Pro, even though they’re the same size and comprise of similar hardware.

Processing Power:

On the processor front, the V30 Pro dominates, since its cores have higher clock rates than that of the V30.

Both the phones have the same Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Storage Capacity:

The V30 is available in two variants – 6GB of RAM and 8GB of RAM. Both options have a fixed internal storage capacity of 128GB.

On the other hand, the Honor V30 Pro is available only with 8GB of RAM; however, one can opt for either 128GB internal storage or 256GB internal storage.

Both the V30 and the V30 Pro do not have a microSD card slot, limiting users to relying on the fixed internal storage for the life of the product.

Design:

As mentioned earlier, both phones feature a similar layout –a 6.57-inch LCD screen that has a 1080p resolution. Both displays have a punch-hole on the top left corner.

Both phones have a side-mounted fingerprint reader incorporated into the power button itself. Also, both phones include the same sensors – gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, and compass.

The V30 Pro is only available in three colors – Blue, Black, and White. The V30 comes in Blue, Black, White, and Orange.

Batteries:

The battery capacity on the Honor V30 is slighter larger at 4200mAH, whereas the V30 Pro has a 4100mAh battery.

There is also a difference in charging speeds. The V30 Pro supports 40W fast battery charging, which can charge the phone to 70% in about 30 minutes. It also supports 27W fast wireless battery charging and reverses battery charging.

The V30, on the other hand, only supports 40W fast battery charging – wireless charging and reverse battery charging is not supported.

Here are the spec sheets for both devices:

Honor V30 specifications:

Body: 162.7×75.8×8.9 mm; Front glass, aluminum frame.

Weight: 213g.

Screen: 6.57″ IPS LCD, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 px), 400ppi pixel density.

Cameras:

Primary Camera: 40MP, f/1.8 aperture with Laser Autofocus and AI Ultra Clarity mode;

Ultra-wide: 8MP, f/2.4 aperture with Fixed focus;

Telephoto: 8MP, f/2.4 aperture with 3x optical zoom, Laser Autofocus, and OIS functionality.

Dual Selfie Cameras: 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm + 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)

Chipset: 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 990 chipset, octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Memory options: 6GB/128GB or 8GB/128GB.

OS: Magic UI 3.0.1 based on Android 10.

Battery: 4,200mAh supporting 22.5W charging.

Connectivity: Dual SIM Slots with separate Balong 5000 Dual standby 5G modem; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Honor V30 Pro:

Body: 162.7×75.8×8.8mm; Front glass, aluminum frame.

Weight: 206g.

Screen: 6.57″ IPS LCD, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 px), 400ppi pixel density.

Cameras:

Primary: 40MP, f/1.6 aperture with Laser Autofocus, Dual OIS and AI Ultra Clarity mode;

Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture with 109-degree FOV, 16:9 sensor, Laser Autofocus, and Cine-lens;

Telephoto: 8MP, f/2.4 with 3x optical zoom, Laser Autofocus, and OIS functionality.

Dual Selfie Cameras: 32MP, f/2.0 aperture + 8MP, f/2.2, 105-degree FOV.

Chipset: 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G Chipset (EUV), octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Memory options: 8GB/128GB or 8GB/256GB.

OS: Magic UI 3.0.1 based on Android 10.

Battery: 4,100mAh with support for 40W wired SuperCharge; 27W wireless SuperCharge; 7.5W wireless reverse charge.

Connectivity: 5G (NSA and SA mode) Dual SIM, Dual standby; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Honor’s V30 and V30 Pro are both formidable flagships comparable to the like of Samsung’s newest Note 10+ – even though they come in at a few hundred dollars less.

Picking the right one among the two can be a super simple decision. It’s all a matter of preference.

If you prefer to have a slightly better ultrawide camera lens (8MP vs. 12MP), you must go for the Pro version.

However, if you’d like to spend less and want a slightly larger battery, the V30 is the better option.

Since both support 5G and have mostly similar specs, you can make a decision solely based on these three preferences and not worry about losing out on any features.

January 2, 2020
BlackBerry Key2 Review: Is it only for old Loyalists?

Blackberry has seen a time when its popularity was second to none. The brand started as a phone for corporate execs through which they could have one-on-one encrypted chats and share private data.

However, with the introduction of the Android operating system, the Blackberry range of smartphones started to lose a lot of customer base. Brands like Samsung and a deluge of others took over, leaving the company somewhat shaken and unable to evolve.

However, to revive the Blackberry smartphone industry, the company released its Android smartphone Blackberry Keyone last year. It supported the Android operating system and provided a large touchscreen and a full physical keypad.

This year, the company has again offered the market the successor of Key one, which is named as BlackBerry Key2.

The Blackberry key2 has a much powerful processor, better battery life, and increased camera performance. Blackberry has launched the phone at a premium price of $650.

Specifications & Design

This good-looking phone is much sleeker and compact in looks when it comes to the design. Since the entire body is divided between the screen and the keyboard layout, you will never feel the screen being too short or the keypad being small.

The proportion between screen and keyboard is perfect for those who like using the keyboard for typing.

The mobile comes with a USB C type charger port, which means it will support faster charging time and faster data transfer speeds. It also comes with a 3.5mm jack, which some of the premium smartphones miss in the market.

The phone has a 4.5-inch LCD screen with 1620×1080 resolution and a bright and clear display, which pops out colors naturally with high contrast and brightness ratio.

The screen size is the same as what was used in the Key one device, but the display and colors seem to be more vivid and bright. The text on the screen appears to be clear and visible, even in the most intense sunlight.

The BlackBerry Key2 houses a powerful Snapdragon 660 processor, which can provide decent performance when it comes to multitasking. The multicore processor can efficiently run multiple applications at one time.

However, at this price point, many different smartphone brands are providing Snapdragon 845 or even 855 chipsets. Snapdragon 660 can be found on a lot of different mid-budget phones and does give an excellent performance. The smartphone comes bundled with 6 GB of RAM for smooth app operation.

It might disappoint you when it comes to hardcore gaming, but most of the blackberry users do not purchase the phone for gaming.

Key2 also comes with a 3500 mAh battery, which as per the company will provide a full day of battery life with regular usage.

Since the battery is combined with a mid-range processor, it will not drain much power while still being efficient. Also, since the screen is the biggest battery drainer, a smaller screen size helps in spending less battery life.

Other Features of BlackBerry Key2

From the old days, Blackberry has been known to provide the best security features to given end to end encrypted chat and data transfer. The phone works on Android 8.1 and will be getting security updates from Google in the future, making the device much more secure. Blackberry has still retained some of the software that used to run on its operating system to android.

Blackberry’s locker application has improved over previous smartphones. The app can secure your other apps and even the launcher on the home page if you want.

The main feature of this phone is the physical keyboard. The keyboard is super-soft to use, very similar to the earlier Blackberry devices.

If you are new to the keyboard style phone, then it will take you very little time to get used to it, thanks to the comfortable and beautifully designed keyboard.

The keyboard has a glossy button and has an exceptional finish. The keys are 20% longer than the keys on the Blackberry Key one. Apart from regular usage, the keyboard is also touch-sensitive, which is useful to scroll through the screen, just by sliding the fingers on the keyboards.

You can also swipe the finger on multiple keys to create a word while typing. The Speed key function on it, lets you create a shortcut for an application by simply pressing a single key.

The phone also comprises a dual camera setup where both the camera sensors are 12 megapixels with f/1.8aperture and f/2.6 aperture. The HDR mode on the camera provides great-looking photos. Furthermore, low light photography is just satisfactory on these sensors.

The camera can take good quality night portrait photos and has a good blur effect with natural colors and exposure.

Conclusion

Blackberry Key2 is a worthy successor to the Key one and has some significant and significant improvements over the previous generation. The phone itself has a great design, a better keyboard, and a faster processor.

Although at such a high price point, we could have expected a better and high-end processor, still the phone works flawlessly even with multiple applications open. If you are a blackberry fan and want your hands on a keyboard style pad, then this is the phone to purchase.

January 1, 2020