Honor 400 series, consisting of the Honor 400 and the Honor 400 Pro, has debuted in the global markets with Snapdragon chipsets under the hood. The Honor 400 Pro comes packed with triple rear cameras while the Honor 400 gets a dual rear camera setup. Here’s everything to know about the devices.
Honor 400: Price, Specifications
Honor 400 is priced at GBP 399 (approx Rs 48,000) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant and GBP 449 (approx Rs 51,000) for the 8GB RAM + 512GB version. The handset comes in Desert Gold, Meteor Silver, and Midnight Black shades.
The Honor 400 sports a 6.55-inch (2736 x 1264 pixels) 1.5K AMOLED 120Hz display with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 460 ppi, up to 5,000 nits peak HDR brightness, 3840Hz PWM dimming, along with Amazon and Netflix’s HDR certification. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It runs on Android 15-based MagicOS 9.0.
For optics, there’s a dual-camera system on the back, including a 200MP primary camera with 1/1.56″ sensor, f/1.9 aperture, OIS, paired with a 12MP 112° ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 Aperture and a 2.5cm macro option. At the front, there’s a 50MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture for selfies.
The European model packs a 5300mAh battery while the rest of the world gets a 6000mAh option, both with 66W wired charging support. Additional features include an in-display optical fingerprint sensor, IR blaster, IP65 rating, and stereo speakers. Connectivity options include 5G SA/NSA, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging.
Honor 400 Pro: Price, Specifications
The Honor 400 Pro costs GBP 699 (approx Rs 80,000) for the 12GB RAM + 512GB storage model. It is available in Lunar Grey, Tidal Blue, and Midnight Black shades.
Honor 400 Pro sports a 6.78-inch (2800 × 1280 pixels) FHD+ AMOLED quad-curved display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, up to 5,000 nits peak HDR brightness, 460 ppi, 3840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, and Netflix and Amazon’s HDR certification.
The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Chipset paired with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. It runs on Android 15-based MagicOS 9.0 and will receive 6 years of OS updates and security patches.
For optics, there’s a triple rear camera system including a 200MP primary camera with 1/1.4″ sensor, f/1.9 aperture, OIS, a 12MP 112° Autofocus ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture, 2.5cm macro option, and a 50MP 3x portrait telephoto camera with Sony IMX856 sensor that gets an f/2.4 Aperture and OIS support.
At the front, it gets a 50MP camera with f/2.0 aperture. The device is IP68 + IP69 rated, has an IR blaster, and a stereo speaker setup. The Honor 400 Pro also has an optical in-display fingerprint sensor. It packs a 5300mAh battery for the European model and a 6000mAh cell for rest of the world, both with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging support. Connectivity options include 5G SA/NSA, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4 GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging.
Lava has announced yet another sub-Rs 10,000 phone dubbed Lava Shark 5G. The new Shark 5G comes with a Unisoc chipset under the hood. The device is the 5G counterpart to the Lava Shark which launched in March earlier this year. Here’s everything to know about the new launch from Lava.
Lava Shark 5G: Price, Availability
Lava Shark 5G will be available with Glossy Back design in Stellar Gold and Stellar Blue shades. It is priced at Rs 7,999 for the single 4GB + 64GB model. The sale begins across retail outlets and Lava e-store in India on 23rd May 2025.
Lava Shark 5G: Specifications
The Lava Shark 5G sports a 6.75-inch LCD panel that offers an HD+ resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, and a punch-hole notch housing the front camera. Under the hood, the device features the Unisoc T765 5G chipset and 4GB of RAM with up to 4GB of virtual RAM. There’s 64GB of built-in storage which is expandable up to 512GB and the phone runs on Android 15 OS.
For optics, you get a 13MP primary camera, along with an auxiliary sensor. You also get an 5MP selfie shooter. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W charging via the USB-C port, but Lava is providing a 10W charger in the box.
Connectivity options include dual SIM support, 5G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. There’s also a side-facing fingerprint scanner, and a single bottom firing speaker. The handset is also IP54 rated.
Xiaomi held a launch event in China where it debuted a bunch of new hardware, including the new XRING O1 Chipset and the Xiaomi 15S Pro that’s the first device to pack this chip. Alongside, the company debuted a new tablet dubbed Pad 7 Ultra and a mid-range phone called Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro.
XRING O1: Details
Xiaomi unveiled its first flagship processor, Xiaomi XRING O1 3nm SoC at the event. The chip is built on a second-gen 3 nm process with 19 billion transistors, features a 10-core CPU and 16-core Immortalis-G925 GPU, delivering flagship performance with industry-leading power efficiency. It also integrates Xiaomi’s fourth-gen ISP and a 6-core NPU offering 44 TOPS for advanced AI processing.
The deca-core chip packs two Arm Cortex-X925 prime cores are clocked at 3.9GHz, with four more cores at 3.4GHz, two at 1.9GHz, and another two at 1.8GHz. The Processor is launching first in domestic China with Xiaomi 15S Pro and Pad 7 Ultra.
Xiaomi 15S Pro: Specifications
The 16GB + 512GB trim of the Xiaomi 15S Pro starts at CNY 5,499 (approx Rs 65,600) while the top-tier version with 1TB storage is priced at CNY 5,899 (approx Rs 70,400). It comes in two finishes: the Xiaomi Composite Fiber Edition, crafted from aramid fiber with a carbon-fiber texture, and a Sky Blue variant with a matte fiberglass back.
The Xiaomi 15S Pro sports a 6.73-inch display with a WQHD+ resolution, achieving a Pixel density of 521ppi. It utilises C8 light-emitting material co-developed by Xiaomi and CSOT, reaching a peak brightness of 3200 nits and supporting Dolby Vision HDR format. Furthermore, this display employs LTPO technology, enabling avariable Refresh Rate from 1-120 Hz, alongside DC dimming, 300Hz touch sampling rate, and 1920Hz PWM dimming.
The Xiaomi 15S Pro is powered by Xiaomi’s in-house XRING O1 SoC. The device gets up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The Xiaomi 15S Pro has a triple rear camera system, including a Leica Summilux 50MP Light Fusion 900 f/1.44 primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP Samsung JN1 f/2.2 ultra-wide angle lens with a 115-degree FoV, and a 50MP Sony IMX858 OIS-enabled telephoto unit with an f/2.5 Aperture and 5x optical zoom. There’s a 32MP f/2.0 selfie snapper on the front.
The Xiaomi 15S Pro is equipped with Dolby Atmos dual stereo speakers and a 4-mic array capturing sound in 360 degrees while recording a video. As for the battery, the Xiaomi 15S Pro packs a 6100mAh battery with 90W fast wired charging, 50W wireless charging with magnetic charging support, and 10W reverse wireless charging support as well.
The handset further has a customised high-vibration X-axis linear motor, USB-C 3.2 Gen1 port, NFC, Bluetooth v5.4, 5G, Wi-Fi 7, an IR blaster, and Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15. It is also IP68 rated.
Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro: Specifications
The Civi 5 Pro costs CNY 2,999 (approx Rs 35,700) for the 12GB + 256GB model, CNY 3,299 (approx Rs 39,300) for the 12GB + 512GB trim and CNY 3,599 (approx Rs 42,950) for the top of the line model with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It comes in Nebula Purple, Cherry Blossom Pink, Iced Americano, white, and black shades.
The Civi 5 Pro sports a 6.55-inch OLED curved display with a Resolution of 2750 x 1236 pixels. It offers 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 3200 nits peak brightness, 1920Hz High-Frequency PWM Dimming, 460ppi, 300Hz touch sampling rate, 12-bit colour, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision technologies.
The smartphone draws power from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage capacity. It operates on the Android 15-based HyperOS 2 operating system.
For optics, the Civi 5 Pro has a triple-camera setup on the rear, comprising of a 50MP primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS) support and f/1.63 aperture. Accompanying it is an 12MP ultra-wide camera with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 50MP f/2.0 portrait telephoto Samsung JN1 lens. On the front, the device sports a 50MP f/2.0 sensor for selfies and video calls.
The smartphone is backed by a 6000mAh battery with 67W Fast charging support. For connectivity, you will get Dual-SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, and a USB-C port for charging the handset. There’s also an under-display fingerprint sensor, Z-Axis linear vibration motor, IR Blaster, and stereo speakers as well.
Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra: Specifications
The Pad 7 Ultra comes in Misty Purple and Classic Black, in the following variants:
The Pad 7 Ultra sports a 14-inch 3.2K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1600 nits peak brightness, and a 93.6% screen-to-body ratio with a 3:2 aspect ratio. There’s also a nano soft light screen variant reduces reflectivity by 70% and glare by 99%, offering a writing experience similar to that of a paper. The display supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR Vivid, ZREAL, and TÜV Rheinland certifications for low blue light and flicker-free experience. There’s Gorilla Glass 5 protection on top.
It is powered by the XRING O1 chipset, paired with LPDDR5T RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. For optics, there’s a 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor on the back with an f/1.8 aperture along with a 32MP f/2.2 sensor on the front.
Inside, there’s a 12,000mAh battery with 120W fast wired charging. Connectivity options include a USB-C port that offers USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds (10Gbps), Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and an IR blaster.
There’s a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button on the side. The top side supports magnetic attachment and acts as a charging point for the optional stylus. The tablet has a set of 8 speakers including groups of bass + tweeters. Additionally, you can purchase a magnesium alloy keyboard if want a laptop-like feel.
Android 16 QPR1 dropped earlier this week and it has had Pixel users cheering due to the first major revamp to Android’s design since Android 12. With Material 3 Expressive, Android 16 QPR1 introduces one of the major redesigns in Android’s history and here’s a quick glimpse of what you can expect from it once it debuts later this year for all Pixel phones or if you decide to install the beta.
Changes to Notifications
Android 16 QPR1 brings several updates to notifications. A new set of shortcut buttons appears beneath notifications, with a prominent “Clear All” in the centre, flanked by shortcuts to notification history and settings. These buttons vanish when there are no active notifications. Changes to Lock Screen notifications have also been introduced which have been discussed below.
Google also added springy new swipe animations and haptic feedback when dismissing notifications, aiming to deliver a more polished, premium experience.
Quick Settings redesign
The Quick Settings panel has been completely overhauled. You can now place tiles like how you’d do for apps on the Home Screen as the tiles are now resizable, similar to what we have seen in Nothing OS 3.0.
Once you have changed the tile size, you can place it anywhere in the QS panel as per your liking. Tiles of certain features, such as Do Not Disturb, can now be used to enable the feature with a single tap.
Tweaked Recents Menu
Old UI (right), New UI (right)
Next, the Recents Menu has been refreshed too. In Android 15, the extended App options were available by tapping the app icon above each preview, but Google hadn’t provided any indication to the user that he/she can do so. Now in Android 16 QPR1, app options in the Recents menu have moved to a more visible pill-shaped button with a drop-down menu. It offers the same options as before but is easier to spot and sits directly on the app preview at the top left corner. The floating icon above the preview has also been removed.
Lock Screen changes
Android 16 QPR1 brings a few key updates to lock screen customization. The clock settings now sit under a dedicated button, replacing the small gear icon previously found under the preview. Further, all the styles appear individually instead of having the user to swipe through each clock style to select the one they need which was Android 15’s implementation.
Further, colour settings are also in the same menu, with a slider to adjust intensity. You still get the default Material You colour and several other choices. Clock size options remain the same—dynamic or small.
Old UI (right), New UI (right)
As for notifications, on the lock screen, there’s now a “Compact view” that shows one full notification with icons for others below it. A new “Full list” option displays multiple notifications before collapsing extras into an overflow section. These options are now housed in a full “Notifications on lock screen” settings page (screenshots below), replacing the old pop-up menu. Notification settings on the lock screen have expanded too. Rather than a single toggle, there’s now a full menu with view modes—compact or full—and a new “Show seen notifications” option, which hides alerts after you’ve viewed them.
Lock screen shortcuts have also been improved. Instead of a carousel, there’s now a grid layout, making it easier to choose the option you need. In addition, the lock screen sees a subtle layout tweak as well. The At a Glance widget now sits below the main big clock. When the smaller clock at the corner is active, the day, date, and temperature shift to the right side instead of being below the clock like in the earlier versions of Android.
Left (Old UI), Centre & Right (New UI)
While AOD style hasn’t changed much, it now displays the clock in the accent colour set for the system instead of being white like it was till Android 15. This change was introduced in the previous Android 16 builds.
Google has introduced new “Effects” for wallpapers on Pixel devices in Android 16 QPR1. After choosing a photo, an “Effects” button with a sparkle icon appears below the wallpaper. Note that the button appears only with the user’s photos being used for wallpaper and not with the default wallpapers.
Inside the Effects section, you can apply one of three effects. The first is “Shape,” which isolates your wallpaper’s subject and fits it into one of five shapes, with parts often extending outside the frame. This is similar to OxygenOS’ implementation of the same feature. A colour, matching the photo’s palette, surrounds the shape, and a slider lets you adjust its intensity.
The second effect, “Weather,” adds animated overlays—like fog, rain, snow, or sun—on top of your wallpaper. The default “Local” setting syncs these effects with the real-time weather at your location. This weather-based effects for wallpapers have been seen on Samsung phones in the past.
The “Effects” section also now includes Pixel’s “Cinematic” wallpaper, which adds 3D depth to your images. The Cinematic wallpaper feature isn’t new but has been relocated to the “Effects” section.
Settings app redesign
Old UI (right), New UI (right)
In Android 16 QPR1, the Settings app gets a fresh visual update. Moving away from its old design, each category now features its own pastel coloured icon, with some similar sections sharing hues.
Other Changes, Animations, and Performance
The status bar has also been revamped with new icons for Wi-Fi, Signal, Battery, Vibrate, and more. They look more modern and seem to have taken inspiration from Apple’s status bar. Further, some animations have also changed such as the one while closing apps where the blurring of the Home Screen wallpaper is now more prominent while the morphing of the icon shape has also been tweaked slightly. Blur has also been added in the background in various places across the UI, such as while using the notification shade, app drawer, and more.
Old UI (right), New UI (right)
The App drawer animation has also changed in Android 6 QPR1 which I am not a big fan of. It doesn’t match the vibe of the rest of the user interface and as of now, isn’t even smooth. Moreover, the app drawer now opens with a Sheet UI with an outline on top instead of the full screen user interface we were used to seeing. Private Space is still at the bottom of the app drawer like before and is opened with a slow animation after you unlock it.
Old UI (Left & Centre Left), New UI (Centre Right & Right)
The animation while changing the sound mode from the volume bar has also changed and now shows a stretchy effect after the mode has been changed. The rest of the volume bar user interface has also been refreshed entirely with a new line at the end of the bar to denote the current volume level instead of the normal curved end that was in use before.
Then on the Home Screen, the space the “At a glance” widget takes has reduced, allowing user to place one more row of apps. The widget still can’t be removed, though.
The dynamic wallpaper-based colour theming is now applied to different parts of the system user interface compared to before. Finally, the app info page has also been tweaked. You now see more options on the screen, thanks to the App Info header size being reduced. The buttons for Archive, Disable, and Force Stop have now been separated.
Aside from these changes, I haven’t seen any performance improvements in Android 16 QPR1 on the Pixel 9a for now. Instead, I was noticing some lag across the user interface with a few glitches but that’s normal as this is still a beta and a stable build is scheduled to come out later this year, likely around September or October, which will polish things up. There was no abnormal heating during my use and neither did I face any major issues that would render the device unusable.
Overall, Android 16 QPR1 has introduced welcome changes with a UI revamp that was much needed for Android on Pixel. The updated animations, icons, and colour scheme in Android 16 QPR1 give the system a fresh, modern look with a cool, refined vibe. We’ll see what additional changes Google will introduce in the upcoming updates and at the end, which one of these will make their way to the stable build.
Alcatel V3 series specifications have been teased by the brand ahead of next week’s launch. Some of the reports online suggest that all three devices will be powered by the same MediaTek processor. Further, as leaked last week, the teaser by Alcatel confirms that the series will consist of the Alcatel V3 Ultra, V3 Pro, and the V3 Classic.
The Alcatel V3 series specifications were confirmed by a Flipkart microsite. The microsite states that the Alcatel V3 Ultra will debut in India with a 6.8-inch FHD+ 120Hz LCD screen featuring TCL’s anti-glare NXTPAPER technology. It introduces INK Paper Mode, which, at the press of a button, transforms the screen into a full-colour electronic paper display—perfect for comfortable reading.
Powering the phone is a 5010mAh battery that supports up to 7 days of usage when Max Ink Mode is enabled. It also includes dual speakers for immersive audio, 8GB of RAM paired with an additional 8GB of virtual RAM, a 108MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The device supports 33W Fast charging and comes with a charger in the box. Additionally, it includes a built-in stylus for added functionality. Reports suggest the device will have the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip under the hood, same as the other two devices in the lineup.
Coming to the Alcatel V3 Pro 5G, it will pack a 6.7″ HD+ 120Hz LCD screen that will feature a NXTPAPER 4-in-1 electronic display mode. The company promises 7 days of runtime in the e-display mode. It comes with a slightly bigger 5200mAh battery. It will pack a 50MP primary camera on the back joined by a secondary camera and an 8MP front camera. It will feature 8GB of RAM and additional 10GB of virtual RAM. It will come with a 10W charger in the box.
As for the Alcatel V3 Classic 5G, it also packs a 6.7″ HD+ 120Hz LCD screen, with he main differentiator being the use of NXTVISION display instead of a NXTPAPER screen used in the other two phones. The device packs a 5200mAh battery, 50MP primary rear camera along with a secondary camera and an 8MP front camera. The device will sport 128GB of storage with expandable memory up to 2TB with microSD, NFC support, and will include an 18W charger in the box.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic renders have been leaked, showing a design that’s inspired from the Galaxy Watch Ultra but with the famous rotating bezel with which Samsung has had a love-hate relationship in the past few years. Here’s everything to know about the new leak.
The report comes from SammyGuru, confirming that the Classic model is making a comeback after being left out last year and getting replaced by the Ultra. The report says that the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic could arrive in a single 47mm size and could pack a 435mAh rated battery, which typically translates to a 450mAh typical capacity.
The report further shared the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic renders which shows that the watch could get a squircle dial, similar to the Watch Ultra from last year, paired with a rotating bezel. Samsung left it out in the Watch 5 series, brought it back with Watch 6 series, just to leave it out again in the Watch 7 series, and now, the rotating bezel is coming back this year. Aside from that, we get to see two buttons on the right, along with a third orange button.
Compared to the 47mm Watch 6 Classic, which had a 425mAh battery, this year’s model will have a marginally bigger cell, rated at 435mAh capacity. “While it’s still smaller than the Watch 5 Pro or Watch Ultra’s batteries, that’s likely due to the rotating bezel taking up extra internal space,” the report says.
It is unclear at this point whether the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic is a successor to the Watch 7 Classic or the Watch Ultra. In other words, there could be a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, but there’s no information regarding that as of yet.
The Galaxy S25 Edge, priced starting at Rs 1,09,999, is one of the unique devices Samsung has launched aside from its regular set of flagships. It combines a sturdy and premium build with other powerful hardware but with a few tradeoffs too. Ahead of our full review, here’s a detailed look at the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge battery and gaming performance.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Gaming Review
The Galaxy S25 Edge packs a Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset along with 12GB of RAM which are some of the most high-end specs you’ll find on a smartphone at this point. The 8 Elite is known to handle gaming titles with ease and on the S25 Edge, that’s no different.
The Galaxy S25 Edge performs well when playing titles like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile. Even at the highest graphics, the device could easily output a consistent frame rate. As for thermals, they are manageable too, for the most part. While the device does get hot to the touch when playing such titles, it didn’t affect the performance of the game adversely.
When it came to Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, though, the device not only heated excessively but the game also began to lag. However, we’ll give the device the benefit of the doubt considering the title itself is known for poor optimisation and taking into account the handset’s performance in other demanding titles.
Games like Bullet Echo work without any issues and don’t cause any heating. It runs at 120 FPS which makes the gameplay much more fluid than some other flagships I have tested the game on.
The touch responsiveness in all the titles remained exceptional, along with high graphics quality and consistent fps.
As for gaming features, you do get the likes of an in-game panel that can lock auto brightness, enable touch booster, touch protection, or help you quickly take a screenshot or enable screen recording while you play a game. It also shows you some device metrics while gaming and can open apps in a pop-up window so you don’t have to leave the game if you want to reply to a text or do other tasks.
Aside from that there’s the Game Booster, where you get to choose the Game profile for the device from options like Performance, Battery Saver, and Balanced.
Then there’s customisation for individual games where you can adjust the fps, screen resolution, game optimisation, and frame booster, for each game you install.
Next, you can enable “Pause USB PD charging when gaming” which essentially bypasses the battery and instead gives power to the CPU while gaming so the device doesn’t heat up and also maintains power.
You can also customise an in-game panel such as its position, ability to reorder the tools, and add apps for the pop-up apps feature.
There’s also auto-touch protection which can keep the game running in the background and not lock the phone if you remain inactive for the specified period. Finally, you can also choose the screenshot format and screenshot Resolution as well.
To sum up, the Galaxy S25 Edge isn’t designed with gaming in mind and understandably lacks the features found in dedicated gaming devices. However, the device can still handle demanding titles fairly well—though it does tend to get a bit warm during extended sessions.
The most questionable feature of the device is its battery. The Galaxy S25 Edge packs a 3900mAh battery with 25W Fast charging and one can straight up tell that its a considerably small cell for a device that packs a 120Hz QHD display, supports lock screen wallpaper AOD, and at the same time, is powered by a demanding Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
I have gone through multiple cycles with the Galaxy S25 Edge since I got the device. I’d say that the battery life isn’t particularly impressive if you are someone like me who uses all the features mentioned above.
Cycle 1
With all those enabled, on Wi-Fi, along with using apps like Instagram, Apple Music, Chrome, and some amount of calling while playing Bullet Echo for more than an hour, the device got me around 4h 45m of screen-on time which is average considering the device costs over a lakh.
Cycle 2
During this other cycle, with a similar usage, I got around 4h 15m of screen-on time. However, during this time, the device was learning my usage patterns and Samsung users know that once the device gets past this stage, the battery backup improves to some extent and it did with the S25 Edge, too.
Cycle 3 After Usage Patterns Were Learnt
After my usage patterns were learnt, the device could get me up to 5 hours of screen-on time with a similar usage. In some cases, the screen-on time could go above 5 hours as well. While the device can make it through a full day, it’ll be running on the edge by the time you reach the end.
If you, by any chance, start performing demanding tasks throughout your day, including navigation on 5G, regular 5G use, using the cameras, or gaming, the device will most likely require a top-up mid-day. For instance, the battery dropped by 5% within a matter of 10 minutes when using the cameras outdoors in bright sunlight.
Speaking of charging times, the device can charge from 1% to 100% in about an hour and a fifteen minutes which is again quite high considering the size of the battery. Batteries much larger this size can charge in under an hour and that’s a bummer for Samsung, keeping in mind the cost of the device.
Another major concern is how frequent top-ups could degrade the battery life quicker in the longer run compared to competitor phones.
The battery backup and the charging times for the Galaxy S25 Edge not the best among the S25 series of smartphones. It seems to be the compromise you’ll have to make if you want a device that’s powerful yet so thin and gorgeous.
Stay tuned for our full review coming soon, where we’ll dive into the device’s everyday performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
Google has announced the release of Android 16 QPR1 Beta which comes with the much-awaited Material 3 Expressive design language for Android. The new update completely changes some of the user interface elements in Android on Pixel devices and here’s how you can install it.
Android 16 QPR1 Beta: What’s New?
Android 16 QPR1 includes some of the Material 3 Expressive changes covered in last week’s announcements, with visual refreshes to notifications, quick settings, the lock screen, and the launcher.
Material 3 Expressive feels more fluid and introduces a system of more natural, springy animations. Android is also getting updated dynamic color themes, responsive components and emphasized typography so you can customize your phone to your style and preferences. And Google is working to bring these visual choices across Google apps like Google Photos, Fitbit and Gmail.
The design balances modern aesthetics with improved functionality. You can now customize Quick Settings to fit in more of your favourite actions like Flashlight and Do Not Disturb. The whole notification shade and the quick settings shade has also been redesigned. The all-new Live Updates feature helps you easily track progress notifications from select apps. For example, after placing an Uber Eats order, you get a glanceable Live Update to track your delivery progress.
Google says that unlike developer previews and betas for unreleased, major versions of Android, the QPR beta builds are suitable for general use.
The supported devices for this update include all those Pixel phones that have a Tensor chip. The device list is as follows:
Pixel 6
Pixel 6 Pro
Pixel 6a
Pixel 7
Pixel 7 Pro
Pixel 7a
Pixel Tablet
Pixel Fold
Pixel 8
Pixel 8 Pro
Pixel 8a
Pixel 9
Pixel 9 Pro
Pixel 9 Pro XL
Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Pixel 9a
As for the installation guide, you can get the OTA update for Android 16 QPR1 by opting into the beta program through the dedicated website.
After logging into your Google account, tap on the “Opt-in” button below your supported Pixel device and then accept the terms and continue. Finally, tap on “confirm and enroll”. Now, open the Settings app, go to “System”, tap on “System Update”, and download and install the update.
Alternatively, if you have a PC, you can also sideload the update but make sure to download the correct OTA builds for your phone.
CMF by Nothing debuted the CMF Buds 2 a couple of weeks back as the successor to the original CMF Buds which came back in early 2024. A year later, with a price tag of Rs 2,699, are the CMF Buds 2 worth considering and do they pack any improvements over their predecessors? We’ll answer all these questions in our CMF Buds 2 review.
CMF Buds 2 Review: Design and Comfort
When it comes to design, CMF stuck to the old saying: ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ The case keeps a familiar look, much like the earlier CMF Buds, but with a twist — the plastic dial now has a transparent finish and features two holes for attaching a lanyard.
Aside from that, the dial is also prone to scratches so you might want to keep it with care. The rest of the case has that matte plastic finish which doesn’t feel the most premium but the quality is still decent given the price.
The case opens with a spring mechanism and isn’t flimsy at all. There’s a button inside for pairing while an LED light on the front tells you the charge and battery status of the buds and the case both.
The buds are nearly identical in terms of shape and design, which also means that they are as comfortable as their predecessors. They fit well in my ear and I didn’t face any fatigue while wearing them for extended periods. The black coloured buds look average and ordinary and won’t turn any heads but the signature orange shade definitely will.
The customisable touch controls work well without any issues. However, I still miss the single tap gesture that’s missing for some reason and you’ll have to choose between one of the earbuds to play/pause the music using one of the gestures, which in my case was the double tap one as the rest of the gestures were taken up for other useful actions. Due to that limitation, I had to use the double tap gesture on the right earbud for play/pause and use it for skipping forward to the next song on the left one.
On the durability front, the earbuds are IP55 rated for dust and water resistance, while the case is splash-resistant with an IPX2 rating.
The CMF Buds 2 pack 11mm custom drivers tuned with Dirac Opteo and Nothing’s Ultra Bass Technology 2.0. They also come with upgraded Bluetooth 5.4 for better connectivity, dual device pairing, and support for both Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair.
Speaking of audio quality, you get a balanced sound signature with no frequencies overpowering the other which was the case with the CMF Buds which mainly focused on the bass and the mid-range. The vocals sound crisp on the CMF Buds 2 and so does the bass and mid-range frequencies. You can hear each beat vibrate in your ear while the treble is maintained with clarity at the same time. Even the instrument separation was handled much better than what I expected.
Note that my entire testing took place with the Dirac Opteo equaliser which did a great job at handling my music and giving me a satisfactory experience. However, if you want more control, you can choose the custom equaliser and adjust the bass, treble, and mid frequencies accordingly, through the Nothing X app. Further, if you want more thumping bass, you can turn on the Ultra Bass option and cycle through a 5-level intensity slider with level 5 offering the most bass-heavy experience.
Overall, the CMF Buds 2 sound drastically better than their predecessors and offer a crisp and clear experience which exceeded my expectations.
Coming to the Nothing X app, with it, you can enable or disable the low lag mode which works the best if you have a Nothing or a CMF Phone and in my experience, it did a good job while gaming. There’s support for in-ear detection and multi-device connectivity, both of which worked optimally.
You can also use the Find my Earbuds feature through the app or do a ear tip fit test so you know you are wearing the earbuds right and with the correct size of ear tips.
It also lets you set one of the touch controls to trigger ChatGPT for voice assistance through a single tap but I didn’t find myself using it much and stuck to the traditional settings including volume control, skip forward or back, and the ability to cycle through ANC and Transparency modes.
The app also lets you switch between ANC and transparency modes. Talking about the ANC performance, CMF claims that the hybrid ANC can block out up to 48dB of ambient noise, covering a wide 5,200Hz range that adapts in real time based on your environment.
While I mostly used the High ANC mode, the buds didn’t disappoint in this area either. They cancel out a good amount of noise while the music is playing and handle high pitched noises surprisingly well. Other regular noises like those of people talking around you, car horns, etc., are again nicely cancelled out even at lower volumes.
The transparency mode, however, feels a bit muddy. It does amplify ambient sounds, but not as much as you’d expect from a good transparency mode. That said, for this price, I haven’t come across any earbuds that do it better.
Next, the Nothing X app also offers a Spatial Sound feature which creates an echo chamber effect to make it sound as if the music is coming from different locations. The feature works fine for movies as it creates an immersive effect but for music, it may not sit well with most.
CMF Buds 2 Review: Call Quality, Battery Backup
Coming to call quality, each bud has three mics and there’s support for Clear Voice Technology 3.0 and Wind Reduction Technology 3.0. However, the call quality still remains average at best. The wearer’s voice isn’t the most clear to the person on the other end and some amount of background noise is always picked up by the buds.
Finally, for battery life, the brand claims that you can get up to 13.5 hours of playback on a single charge, and a total playback time of up to 55 hours with the charging case with ANC off.
I didn’t go for such long sessions at a time but what I can confirm is that the buds offer exceptional backup even if you listen to music at high volumes and use ANC most of the time. I could easily get more than a week of use when coupled with the case. My usage included daily sessions of about two hours at 70 – 80% volume and ANC turner on, and at the end of the week, I had about 55% left in the case which is great.
The CMF Buds 2 offer great value, delivering impressive sound quality and effective ANC for the price. Though the call quality and transparency mode could be better, the long battery life and a solid set of features make them a strong choice for most users.
Sony Bravia 2 II series has been announced in India featuring 4K Ultra HDLED display technology, Google TV, X1 picture processor, and more. The series is available in multiple screen sizes up to 75-inches. Here’s everything to know about the newly announced Sony TVs in India.
Sony Bravia 2 II: Price, Availability
The pricing and availability details for all screen sizes of the Bravia 2 II series is as follows:
K-75S25M2 (75-inch): Rs 1,45,990 – Available now
K-65S25M2 (65-inch): Rs 97,990 – Available now
K-55S25M2 (55-inch): Rs 75,990 – Available now
K-43S25M2 (43-inch): Rs 50,990 – Available now
K-50S25M2: Details to be announced
K-50S22M2: Details to be announced
K-43S22M2: Details to be announced
These models will be available across all Sony Centers & major electronic stores and e-commerce portals in India. As part of ongoing offers, customers can avail cashback of up to Rs. 5,000/- on purchase of BRAVIA 2 II televisions. Additionally, easy EMI options are also available, starting from Rs 1,849 for 108 cm (43), and Rs 2,995 139 cm (55), 164 cm (65), and 189 cm (75) screen sizes.
Sony Bravia 2 II: Features
The new set of TVs from Sony feature the X1 Picture Processor, which uses advanced algorithms to reduce noise and enhance detail. With an even clearer 4K signal, everything you watch appears closer to true 4K resolution, enriched with lifelike colors powered by Live Color technology.
Content filmed in 2K or even Full HD is upscaled close to 4K Resolution by 4K X-Reality™ PRO, using a unique 4K database. Motionflow XR technology creates and inserts extra frames between the original ones for a smoother video playback. It analyzes key visual elements across successive frames and calculates split-second moments of missing action.
BRAVIA 2 II series features open baffle down-firing twin speakers that deliver 20 watts of powerful sound, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. The open baffle speakers offer impressive low-end sound, ideal for movies, sports, and music, says Sony.
With the new BRAVIA 2 II series, you can download over 10,000 apps and access more than 700,000 movies and TV episodes, plus live TV—all in one place, thanks to Google TV. The BRAVIA 2 II series boasts a minimalist design with its ultra-narrow bezel.
With ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) in HDMI 2.1, the BRAVIA 2 II recognizes when a console is connected and powered on, automatically switching to low latency mode offering a smoother, more responsive gameplay crucial for fast-paced, high-intensity games. With Auto HDR Tone Mapping, HDR settings are optimized instantly during your PS5 console’s initial setup.
The BRAVIA 2 II series includes SONY PICTURES CORE, a movie service that offers a selection of the latest Sony Pictures releases and classic blockbusters. With Pure Stream, you can stream HDR movies at up to 80 Mbps, delivering picture quality comparable to 4K UHD Blu-ray. The BRAVIA 2 II television comes with movie credits, allowing you to redeem up to five movies and enjoy up to 12 months of access to a curated selection of up to 100 movies, updated regularly.
