Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Z Flip 6 last week with a bunch of new Galaxy AI features over the ones which debuted back in January this year. A new confirmation from Samsung suggests that these Galaxy AI features will also be coming to older Galaxy flagship smartphone models with the One UI 6.1.1 update. Here are all the details about the development.
One UI 6.1.1: Supported Models for New Galaxy AI Features
According to a thread on Samsung’s Korean forums, One UI 6.1.1 will bring a host of new Galaxy AI features which debuted with Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. One of them is the Auto Zoom feature in Flex Camera mode in the Z Flip 6, which will be coming to the Galaxy Z Flip5 along with the Flex Camcorder mode.
Instant Slowmo, which debuted on the Galaxy S24 series and allows you to turn any video into slow motion, is coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip 6, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, the Galaxy S23 series, and the Galaxy Tab S9 series.
Portrait Studio, the feature that allows you to switch between different portrait effects, is coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, the Galaxy S22, S23, and S24 series, the Galaxy S23 FE, along with the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S9 series. Sketch to image, which launched with Z Flip 6 and Fold 6, is also coming to the same models that support the Portrait Studio feature.
The Live Effect feature, where you can extract a sense of depth from 2D images of people and animals in the picture to get three-dimensional results, is also coming to all the models which are receiving the portrait studio feature.
Motion Clipper, which creates GIFs from motion images is coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, the Galaxy S22, S23, and S24 series, Galaxy S23 FE, and the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S9 series. Overlay transition and cut out features are also coming to the same models.
Finally, the feature where you can edit DNGs in the Galaxy Photo Editor is coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, the Galaxy S22, S23, and S24 series, Galaxy S23 FE, and the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S9 series. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 also gets support for Expert RAW for the first time in the Flip series devices from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy M35 5G has been launched in India as the brand’s latest budget 5G smartphone. The new handset has already debuted internationally and Samsung has now decided to bring the device to India. Here are all the details you should know about it, from its price to its specifications.
Samsung Galaxy M35 5G: Price, Availability
The Galaxy M35 5G is priced at Rs 19,999 for the 6GB + 128GB model Rs 21,499 for the 8GB + 128GB model, and Rs 24,499 for the 8GB + 256GB model. Buyers can avail a discount of Rs 2,000 on all bank cards, plus an additional Rs 1,000 limited time discount in the form of Amazon Pay cashback.
The device comes in Moonlight Blue, Daybreak Blue and Thunder Grey. Galaxy M35 5G will be available on Amazon, Samsung.com, and at select retail stores.
Samsung Galaxy M35 5G: Specifications
The Galaxy M35 5G sports a 6.6-inch Full-HD+ sAMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a punch-hole notch, 1000 nits brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, and 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution. It is powered by the Exynos 1380 Chipset under the hood. It packs a huge 6000mAh battery with 25W Fast charging support.
It gets 8GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage that is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card. In terms of optics, there are triple cameras on the back, consisting of a 50MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, LED flash and OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, and a 2MP Macro lens with f/2.4 aperture. The phone gets a 13MP f/2.2 snapper on the front for selfies.
The handset has stereo speakers and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. For connectivity, it gets Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, NFC, GPS, and 5G. The handset also gets a USB-C port charging. It runs on Android 14-based One UI 6.1 and will receive 4 years of OS upgrades along with 5 years of security patches.
Dell India has announced the launch of two new laptops in India, including the XPS 13 and the Inspiron 14 Plus, where the former is Dell’s first XPS to feature Copilot+ powered by Snapdragon X Elite platform. Here’s what else the two new laptops have to offer.
The new Dell XPS 13 and Inspiron 14 Plus will be available to customers in India across Dell.com, Dell Exclusive Stores, large format retail partners such as Croma, Reliance Retail and Vijay Sales along with, multi-brand outlets and Amazon.in starting 16 July, 2024.
The XPS 13 will be available in three variants. The base variant costs Rs 1,39,990 while the highest-end variant costs Rs 1,69,990.The Inspiron 14 Plus will be available in two variants. The base variant costs Rs 1,15,590 while the higher-end variant costs Rs 1,19,590.
The XPS 13 offers two display choices: a bright 1920 x 1200 non-touch IPS display with 120Hz refresh rate, and a 3K OLED touch display with HDR, boasting 2880 x 1800 resolution at 60Hz along with Dolby Vision support. It is powered by a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite Processor with Dual Core Boost. It supports up to 32GB of LPDDR5x memory and up to 1TB of PCIe SSD storage.
The laptop gets a 1080p webcam supporting Windows Hello while connectivity options on the machine includes two USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery. It has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth v5.4 for wireless connectivity. Additional features include a glass haptic touch pad with Gorilla Glass 3 protection, dual digital array mics, capacitive touch function row, fingerprint reader, quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, and more.
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024): Specifications
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is powered by a 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processor which has an integrated NPU. It gets up to 16GB of LPDDR5x memory and 512GB or 1TB M.2 SSD storage options. It sports a 14-inch 2560 x 1600 WVA IPS touch QHD+ display with 400 nits of brightness.
Ports on the laptop consist of 2 x USB4 Type-C, 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1 x microSD card reader, and 1 x headset jack. For wireless connectivity, there’s Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth v5.4. It has a 54Whr battery and comes with a 65W USB-C adapter.
Addition features include Quad speakers, FHDIR Webcam with dual mic and privacy shutter, Energy Star 8.0 (Windows OS only), EPEAT Gold Registry, optional Fingerprint Reader with Windows Hello, and Hardware TPM with Pluton. The laptop runs on Windows 11 Home / Pro.
GOVO has announced the launch of a new soundbar in India, dubbed GoSurround 800. The new soundbar from GOVO not only supports Dolby Audio but also comes with a sub-woofer to enhance the bass experience. Here are all the details of the GOVO GoSurround 800 soundbar.
Available at an exclusive offer price of Rs 7,999 on Amazon, the GoSurround 800 Soundbar comes with a one-year warranty and is available in a single Black colour.
GOVO GoSurround 800: Features
GOVO claims the users will get to experience high-quality surround sound from 2.1 separate audio channels coupled with Dolby Audio. The soundbar offers a 180 Watt Dolby sound output with 3D Surround Sound from four 2-inch speakers along with the deep bass of the 5.25-inch subwoofer.
The soundbar offers three equaliser modes where you can switch through Movie, News, and Music modes. The remote control provided with the soundbar allows users to adjust the bass, treble, and volume. As for connectivity options, one can connect external devices with the soundbar via HDMI (ARC), AUX, USB, Optical, or Bluetooth as well. The soundbar is integrated with a Bluetooth v5.3 chip.
In addition, the users can control the music experience and pairing through the key panel on the soundbar. You can also check the status of your soundbar through the LED display. Finally, GOVO is offering users with a choice to either place the soundbar in front of the TV or mount it on the wall.
Back in May, GOVO launched the first Made-in-India Dolby Atmos soundbars. These soundbars from GOVO boast a powerful Chipset that allows consumers to take advantage of Dolby Atmos audio. Powered by DSP signal processing and a 2.1.2 configuration, these soundbars offer enhanced audio quality. Combined with Dolby Atmos, they are claimed to offer greater depth, clarity, and detail.
OnePlus debuted the OnePlus 12 earlier this year as its most premium smartphone offering till date, with a starting price of Rs 64,999. However, ahead of Amazon’s much anticipated Prime Day Sale that begins on July 20, OnePlus 12 is available for a discounted price of Rs 57,999 when clubbed with bank card offers. As OnePlus’ top-end flagship, can the OnePlus 12 compete with the Motorola EDGE 50 Ultra, which is Motorola’s highest end device in the same segment? Let’s have a look.
OnePlus 12 Discount
The OnePlus 12, as of writing this article, is available for Rs 57,999 on Amazon India if you purchase it with an ICICI Bank card or an HDFC bank card. The flat Rs 7,000 discount is available on both the variants of the OnePlus 12, where the 12GB + 256GB model costs Rs 64,999 and the 16GB + 512GB model costs Rs 69,998.
OnePlus 12 Vs Motorola Edge 50 Ultra
The OnePlus 12 and the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra are now competing in the same league, where the latter has a price tag of Rs 59,999, but is available for Rs 54,999 on Flipkart at the time of writing this article. With the OnePlus 12, you are paying a premium over the Edge 50 Ultra but is it worth it? We think it is.
The OnePlus 12 sports a 6.82-inch QHD+ (3168 x 1440 pixels) 120Hz 3D AMOLED LTPO display. Furthermore, there is 4500 nits of peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, 93.5% screen-to-body ratio, Dolby Vision support and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection
The Edge 50 Ultra sports a 6.7-inch LTPS pOLED curved display with a Resolution of 1.5K and a Refresh Rate of 144Hz. The display will boast Pantone-validated colours, Gorilla Glass victus protection, 360Hz touch sampling rate, HDR 10+ support, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and 2500 nits peak brightness.
While the Edge 50 Ultra has a smoother 144Hz panel, the OnePlus 12 still wins in this segment because its panel is not only sharper with a higher QHD resolution, but is also brighter with up to 4500 nits brightness.
The Motorola handset has a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip under the hood while OnePlus packed the 12 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is again a more powerful and capable chip. Both of them have 12GB RAM but if you opt for the lower end 256GB model of the OnePlus 12 that is available at Rs 57,999, you lose out on storage in comparison to Motorola Edge 50 Ultra that has 512GB of storage.
OnePlus makes up for it in the software department with its OxygenOS that has been more fluid and smoother as compared to Motorola’s Hello UI that still needs optimisation. OnePlus 12 will receive four years of major OS upgrades which is one year longer than that of Motorola’s Edge 50 Ultra.
Both the devices have the same camera sensor setup, including a main sensor, an ultra-wide angle sensor, and a telephoto sensor. We won’t comment on which one’s the better one as we haven’t tested the Edge 50 Ultra. As for battery, the OnePlus 12 wins it again with a bigger 5400mAh cell compared to a 4500mAh cell on Motorola’s handset. The Edge 50 Ultra sports slightly faster 125W wired charging compared to 100W on OnePlus 12. Both of them 50W wireless charging support and 10W reverse wireless charging support also.
They both have stereo speakers, IP rating, NFC, 5G, and more.
Verdict
The OnePlus 12 surely looks like the superior offering if you can compromise on the storage front. It not only has a better display, but also a smoother software, offers longer software support, and packs a bigger battery that’ll appeal to many, and are worth paying the premium for.
YouTube Music is now rolling out a new feature dubbed Sound Search that makes it easier for users to search for songs by humming or singing them. The feature is rolling out to premium users in the US and there’s no word on when it would make its way to other regions, including India.
The report comes from 9to5Google, stating that the new feature called “sound search” in YouTube Music allows you to play, sing, or hum the song you want to find. It then lets you locate that song from the “catalog of over 100 million official songs by sound.” Some users got access to the feature in May earlier this year before the feature was rolled back for some reason.
However, the feature is now available to all the YouTube Music Premium subscribers in the US on both iOS and Android. As for how you can access it, you’ll have to first tap on the magnifying glass icon at the top right corner to enter the search section. Next, you’ll have to tap on the ‘waveform’ icon where you can then hum, play, or sing the song you want to search for.
The publication further adds that the results page which appears after the song has been identified by YouTube Music, shows the cover art, song name, artist, album, year, and download status, as well as the buttons to Play or Save that track to your library. As we haven’t tested the feature yet, we cannot comment on how reliable or fast the recognition is.
Aside from that, YouTube also confirmed that it’s working on the “AI-generated conversational radio” feature in the US for Premium users. It lets you create a custom radio by “describing exactly what they want to hear.” One can access the feature by tapping on the “Ask for music any way you like” card in the Home feed
CMF by Nothing has entered into the smartphone arena with the CMF Phone 1, priced starting at Rs 15,999. With some borrowed elements from Nothing’s own devices, the CMF Phone 1 wants to dominate the category with a MediaTek chip under the hood, paired with a Super AMOLED display, dual rear cameras and much more. Is it worth its price tag or does the competition get the best of it? Find out in our review of the CMF Phone 1.
Design & Display
The CMF Phone 1, like other Nothing devices, keeps design at the centre stage. While you won’t see the glyph lights on the back of this one, you can expect to replace the back panel of this device by purchasing a new one for Rs 1,499. The back panel can be screwed out using an apt screwdriver.
It comes in four colours, including CMF’s signature orange shade, light green, blue, and black. You can then purchase a panel in one of these colours separately from the one that came pre-applied when you purchased the device. The blue panel that came pre-applied on the device had a vegan leather finish that felt decent but not the best.
The quality of the panel itself is questionable because it permanently bent around the power button after we tried replacing it 3 to 4 times. For Rs 1,499, we expected the brand to offer a well-made panel.
The sides of the handset are flat, and because it’s big and heavier, it feels dense in the hand. It is not meant for one-handed use by any means. The buttons on the left and right feel tactile when clicked, giving them a much better key travel than what we experienced with the buttons on the Nothing Phone (2a).
There’s a single speaker at the bottom that sounds good and is adequately loud. We would have loved it if it had stereo speakers, though. The vibration motor is much better than what we saw with the Motorola EDGE 50 Fusion, iQOO Z9, etc. It’s still not as strong as it should be, but it’s the best-feeling motor we have seen at this price, as it doesn’t feel as cheap as others do.
The overall design of the CMF Phone 1, including the silver camera module, which stands out from the rest of the panel, looks appealing. It is also IP52-rated, meaning moderate splashes shouldn’t hurt the device. While not the most premium feeling, the device is undoubtedly eye-catching and distinguishes itself in its segment in terms of design.
The display on the CMF Phone 1 is a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED LTPS display with a Refresh Rate of 120Hz. It has a peak brightness of 2000 nits, 395 ppi, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and a 960 Hz PWM Dimming rate.
The Phone 1 display seems quite decent for the price tag. It gets bright enough outdoors, and there’s no issue with it indoors as well. Aside from that, the Phone 1 handles colours quite well. These seem vivid, and while viewing HDR content, the screen displays even better colours.
The viewing angles are average, as I constantly noticed a rainbow-ish hue when viewing from certain angles. The display on the Phone 1 runs smoothly without any hiccups and is also responsive to the touch. When set to a high refresh rate, I couldn’t notice any unnecessary drops in it. The bezels aren’t even on all sides, as seen on Nothing’s own devices, but they still aren’t intrusive by any means.
There’s an in-display optical fingerprint sensor that works 8/10 times. It’s not the quickest at unlocking and also sometimes fails to detect my fingerprint accurately.
While not as bright, the display on the Nothing Phone (2a) was certainly better when compared to that of CMF Phone 1’s panel.
CMF Phone 1 Replaceable Case (Light Green)
CMF also sent us a replaceable back panel in the light green shade for review alongside Phone 1. The back panel has a matte finish and, as mentioned, is made of plastic. It has a decent finish, but not better than the ones with vegan leather.
Within the box of the case, CMF also provides other elements such as the SIM Ejector-cum-Screw tool for unscrewing the four screws, four extra screws apart from the ones that came pre-installed on the device, the main accessory screw in the same colour as the back panel, and finally, a SIM tray which is also the same shade as the back panel.
The panel removal process is quite easy, where you pull it off by holding the bottom left corner once all the screws are off.
If you want, you can mix and match the colour of the accessory screw, SIM tray with the colour of the back panel, as shown in the image above. For instance, as we did above with our case, we kept the screw and the SIM tray of the dark blue case with the light green back panel. This allows the user to personalize the appearance of their handset according to their preferences instead of sticking to a simple design with elements in a single colour.
Performance & Software
The Phone 1 packs a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Processor and runs on Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14. The device will get 2 Android OS upgrades and 3 years of security patches which is a standard update policy for smartphones in this price range. We have already received one update after taking it out of the box, which introduced a couple of necessary bug fixes, and also integrated the latest July 2024 security patch.
The top model has up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of expandable storage. CMF sent us the 8GB RAM model of the Phone 1 for review, and we were definitely impressed by how the device performed.
RAM management was efficient in the variant we tested, and the handset’s performance was smooth and responsive. In fact, thanks to the MediaTek chip, this is the smoothest device we have tested in this price range so far.
However, not all the credit goes to the chip for smooth operations, but to Nothing OS as well. The OS is excellently optimised and enables a fluid experience. The animations are smooth and there have been no lags during our review of the CMF Phone 1. I could also quickly switch between apps without ever facing a single stutter.
While the device isn’t meant for gaming, it can handle casual games without issues. The Phone 1 also gets a revamped Game Mode that can be enabled via a handle that shows up at the top left corner when you launch a game. Via the game mode, you can switch on the Performance mode, enable or disable quick call notifications, change the notification style, enable brightness lock, or instantly record the screen.
Aside from that, the regular Nothing OS features are also present, minus the glyph lighting features, which are, of course, due to hardware limitations. You get all the widgets with the Nothing launcher along with the ability to set custom icon packs, set an App lock, hide apps, change the system colours, create AI wallpapers with certain preset combos, use gestures like double pressing the power button to launch the camera, and much more.
There’s also a new pop-up view where you can swipe down on an incoming notification to instantly open the app that’s sending the notification in a small pop-up window. In addition, there’s a new Smart Cleanup feature that will intelligently handle file fragmentation on your device to defrag it, further improving performance. We don’t see this feature on the Nothing Phone (2a) as of now.
The software experience remains clean, with very little bloatware present. Aside from Nothing’s Proprietary recorder, Nothing X, and the weather apps, all the other apps are from Google.
What I didn’t like about the Nothing OS in CMF Phone 1 is that it doesn’t support an Always-on display despite having an AMOLED display. To view time or notifications at a glance, you’ll have to either pick up the device or move it, which will then show you the said information. However, you cannot keep it switched on at all times. The feature has also been renamed from an Always-on display to a Glance display.
Based on our experiences with smartphones in this price range, the CMF Phone 1 currently delivers the cleanest, smoothest, and most balanced software in its segment. It’s as fast as what we saw with the Phone (2a), which is commendable.
The connectivity of the handset, including 5G performance, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, remained optimal. The device does lack NFC support, which is a bummer but manageable.
Battery backup
The CMF Phone 1 packs a 5000mAh battery with 33W Fast charging support. However, you do not get the charger in the box and will have to buy it separately for Rs 799 within 60 days of your CMF Phone 1 purchase, after which it will cost Rs 1,299. We think that’s one of the biggest disappointing aspects of the device in this price range, as almost all other devices in this segment come with a charger in the box.
The handset takes around 1h 15m to charge from 0 to 100%. That’s not the best charging time, but again, it’s acceptable. However, the battery backup of the CMF Phone 1 is impressive, as noted during our review period.
With moderate use, including tasks like chatting or scrolling through social media, some calling, casual gaming, listening to music, and browsing the web, the device easily lasted me more than a day with around 7 hours of screen-on time. With more active use, you can also get up to 8 hours of screen-on time which is excellent.
CMF Phone 1 also offers a couple of battery-related features that Nothing’s own devices don’t have. These include battery health features that allow you to limit charging to a certain percentage, with options including 70, 80, or 90%. A smart charging mode enables the device to charge steadily overnight to preserve long-term battery health.
A charging assistant feature also shows a charging notification when the device doesn’t reach the fastest speeds while charging or when a charging limit is set.
Cameras
The CMF Phone 1 uses a dual rear camera system: a 50MP f/1.8 primary sensor paired with a 2MP depth-sensing lens. The camera app is the same as the one used in Nothing devices.
The app’s shutter lag is noticeable but not something to worry about frequently. It further comprises features like a QR code scanner, portrait mode, time-lapse, Expert mode, HDR, and a new mode selector that gives you two options, including natural mode and vivid mode.
Shot in Natural modeShot in Vivid mode
The natural mode retains the natural colours in a photo, which would appeal to those who want to shoot photos with a lifelike feel. The vivid mode, on the other hand, simply increases the vibrancy in the shot with colours that have higher contrast.
The detail in the photos we shot during the review of the CMF Phone 1 is decent, while the colour tones depend on the mode you select, as described above. Both of them offer a distinct look and will have their audience. The dynamic range remains acceptable in either of the modes.
When shooting portrait shots, the colours do not remain consistent even when a single mode is selected. However, the edge detection and detailing in the photo remained satisfactory.
Selfies from the front-facing 16MP sensor are below average in terms of how it handles skin tones and overall quality. The photos also looked overexposed in some scenarios.
When shooting under artificial lighting, the photos appeared a little smudgy. However, the colours looked vibrant. As for low-light photos, the noise levels in the photo shot up. The smugness in the shot also increased. Activating Night mode in pitch-black conditions or at night enhances the dynamic range and increases the detail in the photos.
Google is prepping up a new launch event that’ll take place on August 13 where it will be unveiling the Pixel 9 series. Ahead of the launch, a new leak has emerged which suggests that Google will be offering a free 1-year subscription of Gemini Advanced to those who buy the Pixel 9 Pro.
9to5Google has shared its insights of an APK teardown of the latest Google App beta (version 15.28), wherein it found a string that states, “Your Pixel Pro gives you access to a 1-year subscription to Gemini Advanced, our most capable AI model with priority access to new features, at no cost to you.”
Google has used the terms “Pixel Pro” to possibly refer to the Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in general, suggesting all three of them will receive free access to Gemini Advanced for a year. In a separate report from AssembleDebug, it is found via an APK teardown that the standard Pixel 9 might get only 6 months of free Gemini Advanced access. The Gemini Advanced subscription launched earlier this year in February and costs Rs 1,950 for a month in India.
It provides users with access to Gemini’s 1.5 Pro model, featuring a one million token context window. Additionally, users receive priority access to new and exclusive features, the ability to edit and run Python code directly within the tool, and 2TB of Google One storage, among other benefits. The subscription will also offer access to Gemini Live, an upcoming AI feature where you can ask Gemini about your surroundings in real-time or have a two-way conversation with it.
Google doesn’t want to be left behind in the AI race, with Apple showcasing a bunch of new Apple Intelligence features earlier last month and Samsung showing a new set of Galaxy AI features more recently at its Unpacked event.
The segment of audio products in India is filled with companies and a plethora of products, due to which it becomes highly important for a brand to distinguish themselves from others. Mivi being one such brand, is trying to do so with its latest pair of TWS earbuds, dubbed Mivi SuperPods Dueto. How worth is it at Rs 1,999? Let’s have a look.
Design & Comfort
The SuperPods Dueto uses the bling factor and is painted in gold. The lid of the case is entirely coated with a gold shade with a shiny surface, and so are the stems of each of the earbuds. If you like flashy designs, the SuperPods Dueto would suit you well.
However, it has its downsides, too. Because it is all made of plastic, it’s not only prone to fingerprints but also quite a lot of scratches. Furthermore, our unit also had a defect with the lid of the case, where one side of the hinge was broken, as shown in the images above. We don’t think it’s a widespread issue, as it could have been caused during transportation.
The front of the case has four LEDs indicating the battery left in the case. The lid felt flimsy, loose, and delicate when opening the case. The magnets that keep the buds in place feel strong, though.
As for the buds, they fit well in the ear. While they are also made entirely of plastic, the silicone ear tips feel comfortable in the ear. They are also IPX4 rated, meaning sweat and some splashes won’t adversely affect the earbuds in any way.
The buds also have touch controls for music playback, call accept or decline, triggering the voice assistant, and volume control. Although the touch controls were responsive, there was no feedback in terms of sound when any control was triggered.
While the buds’ and cases’ design is appealing and comfortable, the materials used feel somewhat subpar.
The Mivi SuperPods Dueto have a dual driver system, with a 6mm tweeter and a 13mm woofer. They support the AAC codec with Bluetooth v5.3. They also support multi-device connectivity and low Latency of up to 50ms while gaming.
The sound quality of the earbuds, considering the price, is good. It sounded like a classic V-shaped equaliser tuning with clear vocals and treble, including good instrument separation. While they aren’t bass-heavy, the bass is enough to make its presence felt.
Each beat was separated well enough for the ear to recognise it. The mid-frequencies could have been handled better, but considering the price point, I don’t have any major issues with the sound quality of the earbuds.
Connectivity performance of the earbuds remained optimal. The latency while gaming was acceptable as well.
Mivi claims the buds can offer up to a total playback time of 50 hours and 8.5 hours on a single charge. While we couldn’t get close to 8.5 hours, we could get up to 6 to 7 hours of playtime, but that could be because of playback at higher volume levels. The case can keep the buds powered for over a week, even with daily playback sessions of 2 hours, before needing to be recharged itself.
In my experience, call quality was below average. Even though they claim to support so-called AI ENC, we don’t think it worked one bit. During my testing, the buds picked up a lot of background noise while calling, to the extent that my voice was unhearable to the receiver on the other end. Moreover, even in quiet environments, my voice had a noticeable echo, which the caller often complained of.
iQOO has launched the Z9 Lite 5G smartphone in India. The new Z9 Lite 5G from iQOO shares its specifications with the Vivo T3 Lite 5G that launched last month in India. The Z9 Lite 5G offers up to 1TB expandable storage support, dual rear cameras, and more, but is it worth considering over its competitors? Let’s have a look.
iQOO Z9 Lite 5G: Price, Availability
Priced at Rs 10,499 for 4GB+128GB and Rs 11,499 for 6GB+128GB model, theiQOO Z9 Lite will be available on the iQOO e-store and Amazon.in in two colour variants: Aqua Flow and Mocha Brown. Buyers can get a discount of Rs 500 as a part of exclusive launch offers on purchasing the device with an ICICI bank or HDFC bank card.
iQOO Z9 Lite 5G: Specifications
The iQOO Z9 Lite 5G sports a 6.56-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 840 nits peak brightness, and 269 PPI. The handset is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 Processor paired with up to 6GB LPDDR4x RAM and up to 128GB eMMC 5.1 internal storage, which is further expandable via a microSD card. There’s also up to 6GB RAM Virtual RAM support.
The handset runs on Android 14-based Funtouch OS 14 custom skin out of the box and will receive two major Android OS upgrades. The device features a dual camera setup on the back, with a 50MP f/1.8 Sony primary camer and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. There is an 8MP f/2.0 shooter on the front for selfies. It is backed up by a 5,000mAh battery with 15W Fast charging support.
Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 5, 5G, Bluetooth v5.4, GPS, and a USB-C port for charging. The handset gets a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and is also IP64 rated.
iQOO Z9 Lite 5G: Competitors
The iQOO Z9 Lite competes with the likes of Realme C65 5G. Compared to the Realme handset, the iQOO Z9 Lite 5G offers a brighter display and the same Chipset that’s paired with higher amount of storage for the same starting price of Rs 10,499. While the preference for the custom Android skin each of them use would be subjective, both Realme UI and FunTouch OS offer ample of customisation options.
You can also consider the Vivo T3 Lite 5G in case you want a different colour option for the iQOO Z9 Lite 5G, as both of them are essentially the same devices with same specs and set of features. Overall, we’d say that the iQOO Z9 Lite 5G is worth considering at its price point as it has a lot to offer over its competitors in the segment.
