Cricket fans around the world are gearing up for a thrilling contest as India and Australia lock horns in the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The four-match Test series promises intense battles, fierce rivalries, and a display of exceptional cricketing skills. The first session between India and Australia began from 7:50AM IST today. Here’s how you can watch it live.
In India, the match can be watched through Disney+ Hotstar for those who prefer streaming. The platform will be live-streaming the entire series but you’ll require a subscription to watch it.
If you want to watch the live broadcast, then you can tune in to Star Sports channels as the official broadcaster for the series in India is the Star Sports Network. You can catch all the matches live on Star Sports channels, with coverage available in multiple languages including Hindi, English, and regional languages. The series will also be available on DD Sports for a wider reach.
Australian viewers can tune in to Fox Cricket to watch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy live. Fox Cricket provides comprehensive coverage of the series, including pre- and post-match analysis. Kayo Sports, a popular streaming service in Australia, will also be streaming the series live.
The second match in the series will take place from December 6 till December 10, third will begin from December 14 and end on December 18, fourth will begin from December 26 and end on December 30, while the fifth and the final test match will begin on January 3 and end on January 7, 2025.
India enters the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the defending champion, having clinched victory in the last four series against Australia. However, the team faces immense pressure after failing to secure a single win in the recently concluded series against New Zealand.
New Spotify Audiobook features are now being tested as shared by the music streaming platform, including Author Pages, Video Clips, and Follow-Along. The new video feature allows select authors and publishers to submit a short video about a specific title. Here’s everything to know about.
Currently in a pilot phase with a select group of authors, these dedicated audiobook author profiles feature biographical details about their lives and works. Author Pages will consolidate their entire catalogs available on Spotify, allowing you to easily explore an author’s past works and stay updated on new releases.
One of the new Spotify Audiobook features includes Video clips. The platform is testing a new video feature that allows select authors and publishers to submit a short video about a specific title.
This can be an interview snippet, a backstage video from the audio recording session, a video message from the author, or something else. Much like a book’s jacket, these videos give you a taste of an audiobook before pressing play, offering an engaging way to explore and evaluate audiobook offerings.
Finally, the platform is also testing a “follow-along” feature on select titles. Follow-Along is an immersive visual experience that allows you to see time-synchronized illustrations, photos, and graphics as you listen to an audiobook. These listening enhancements that help contextualize a story are available in the “extras” section of the audiobook.
Meanwhile, Spotify recently expanded its AI Playlists feature to more regions in beta to Spotify Premium users on Android and iOS devices in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. Spotify AI playlists extend beyond the regular method of creating a playlist where you add various tracks manually. Spotify’s AI capabilities extend beyond typical playlist requests tied to genres or eras, enabling users to seek out more varied mixes.
Tecno has announced the launch of Tecno POP 9 in India with a sub-Rs 7,000 price tag, stereo speakers, and as the first smartphone in the country to pack the MediaTek Helio G50 processor. The POP 9 is the 4G counterpart to the Tecno POP 9 5G which launched in India earlier this year.
Tecno POP 9 4G: Price, Availability
The Tecno POP 9 comes in a single 3GB + 64GB model, priced at Rs 6,699. Including the Rs 200 bank offer, the device can be bought for Rs 6,499. It can be bought in Startrail Black, Glittery White, and Lime Green shades from Amazon India starting November 26, 12 PM IST.
Tecno POP 9 4G: Specifications
The Tecno POP 9 sports a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz Refresh Rate, 90% Screen to Body Ratio, 180Hz touch sampling rate, 263 ppi, 480 nits brightness, 20:09 Screen Aspect Ratio and 720 x 1600 pixels HD+ resolution. The handset is powered by the MediaTek Helio G50 Processor along with 3GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB of storage which is expandable up to 1TB.
For optics, the device has a single 13MP rear camera and an 8MP selfie sensor with dual colour temperature flash. The handset packs a 5000mAh battery with 15W fast charging. It runs on Android 14 Go Edition based on HiOS 14.
Additional features include in-built Infrared remote control sensor, dual speakers with DTS, and an IP54-rated body. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 5, 4G LTE, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, and a USB-C port.
At a similar price point, one could consider the Moto G04s which comes for Rs 6,999. Not only does it offer more RAM for a slightly higher price, it also sports a better primary camera, at least on paper.
While we cannot comment on the performance aspect as we haven’t used the devices, we can tell you that the Motorola device offers a more stock android-like experience which may be ideal for many. The Motorola device offers handset does lack behind when it comes to speakers, as it gets a single speaker compared to Tecno’s stereo speaker setup. If you can overlook the speaker setup, the Motorola handset does look like a better offering than Tecno’s.
Vivo X Fold 3 series debuted earlier this year and a new Vivo X Fold 4 leak just emerged online, giving us some of its key specifications as well as its launch timeline. The leak also hints towards a major design change the foldable will sport. Here’s everything we know about the foldable so far.
Tipster Digital Chat Station posted a Vivo X Fold 4 leak on Weibo (via Gizmochina) which suggests that the engineering prototype of the Vivo X Fold 4 focuses on achieving exceptional lightness and thinness, aiming to redefine foldable phone design standards. Despite its slim form factor, it device may boast of a huge 6,000mAh battery with wireless charging support.
Additionally, the device is reportedly rated IPX8 for water resistance, ensuring durability, according to the tipster. The Vivo X Fold 4 leak further suggests that the Vivo X Fold 4 features dual ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, one for the front display and the other for the internal foldable screen.
The camera setup will include a centrally positioned large circular module that will pack three 50-megapixel sensors, include a standard primary sensor, a 3x periscope telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide angle lens. Moreover, the device will also feature a pressure-sensitive three-stage button, a first for Vivo smartphones that could likely act same aa the camera control button seen in iPhone 16 series phones.
Aside from that, the leak adds that there could be only one foldable device this year — Vivo X Fold 4, which would differ from last year’s strategy that included both the X Fold 3 and the X Fold 3 Pro. The X Fold 4 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. While the device was expected to launch in Q1 of 2025, the latest Vivo X Fold 4 leak says that the launch might have been delayed, and could take place in Q2 of 2025.
We reviewed the Google Pixel 9 more than two months ago, and in our opinion, it was the best Pixel Google ever made. Now, after about three weeks of use, we are reviewing its elder sibling, the Google Pixel 9 Pro. Here are our thoughts about the phone and whether we found it worth its price tag of Rs 1,09,999.
Design & Display
Similar to the Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro gets flat sides with a compact form factor. However, the sides are glossy instead of the matte frame on the Pixel 9. In addition, the back panel on the 9 Pro is matte instead of the glossy panel on the Pixel 9, which is better because the Pixel 9 attracted a good amount of fingerprints.
Design-wise, we feel this is one of the best smartphones of 2024. It gets a 10/10 in most areas, including comfort while holding the device, one-handed usability, premiumness, looks, etc. It is surely an eye-catcher, and the Rose Quartz shade we got surely has the baby pink vibe. It looks elegant yet catchy at the same time, and we can’t praise this design enough.
The only quirk with the design is the positioning of the buttons. As I said in the Pixel 9 review, the volume rocker should have either been on the left or on top of the power button. However, the quality of the buttons remained high in terms of how tactile they felt while clicking.
Durability shouldn’t be an issue either, as the device is protected with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the rear and front, while the frame is made of aluminium. It is also IP68 rated, so using the Pixel 9 Pro in rain or areas with excessive dust shouldn’t hurt it.
The Pixel 9 Pro’s Haptics are truly outstanding. They are both precise and powerful, ensuring you’ll feel notifications even when your phone is tucked away in your pocket. The stereo speakers are equally impressive, delivering robust sound with noticeable bass and excellent stereo separation. Vocals and other musical elements are crisp and clear, creating a truly enjoyable listening experience.
Coming to the display, it is a 6.3-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED display with a 1.5K Resolution of 1280 x 2856 pixels resolution, 495 ppi, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 3000 nits peak brightness and 2000 nits HDR brightness.
As it’s an LTPO panel, the Refresh Rate can go down up to 1Hz, depending on the content on the screen. Compared to the Pixel 9, this is a better panel in terms of how low the refresh rate can go as the Pixel 9’s panel is capped at 60Hz on the lower end, and in terms of brightness as Pixel 9 Pro display is much brighter as well.
Brightness and refresh rate weren’t an issue with the Pixel 9 Pro’s panel. The panel is responsive and, once again, one of the best on any Android flagship. In terms of colours, they are kept on the natural end of the spectrum rather than being too vivid, such as what you’d see on a Samsung flagship. The viewing angles and the sharpness of the content are excellent, and so is the immersiveness due to the even bezels on all four sides.
Remember to change the resolution of the display through display settings to the maximum available because it’s set to the lower option out of the box.
Like the Pixel 9, the Adaptive Touch feature automatically adjusts the screen’s sensitivity so you can use it without any unusual behaviour, even with wet hands. It also automatically increases the display’s sensitivity if it detects you are using a screen protector or tempered glass.
Then, the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor used in the Pixel 9 Pro was also a much-needed upgrade over the previous Pixel devices. The performance improvement is evident, especially in terms of speed. The accuracy of the sensor also remains high.
Performance & Software
The Pixel 9 Pro is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 processor, has 16GB RAM, and has 256GB storage. It is sold in a single variant in India.
The Tensor G4 falls short in performance compared to its competitors, but this gap is noticeable primarily under heavy workloads or in benchmark tests. Previous iterations of Tensor chips have struggled with issues such as thermal management, network reception, and rapid performance throttling, raising concerns about their overall reliability.
While I noticed that the Pixel 9 didn’t face any of the major issues I listed above, for some reason, the Pixel 9 Pro did. It was quick to heat up when using 5G, which is exactly the opposite of the Pixel 9. I also observed that 5G wasn’t working in the same areas where it worked fine on my Galaxy S23 Ultra. Apart from the 5G issue, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance remained optimal.
Aside from these two issues, the Pixel 9 Pro performance remained smooth for the most part. The user interface felt fluid and highly responsive, with smooth animations for the most part, though not consistently throughout.
I did face a couple of hiccups in animations, but those were likely part of the Android 15 update because the Pixel 9 on Android 14 worked just fine and didn’t have any of the issues I am about to list below.
Firstly, there was a bug where the lock screen clock font would shrink on its own, and I would have to re-apply it to fix it. Then, the device began to lag regarding the transition animation between the lock screen and the Always-on display. This got fixed after a reboot, though.
None of the issues were significant and something a software update couldn’t fix. You’ll be getting a good number of software updates as the device is set to receive 7 years of OS and security patch updates, which should be ideal for those who hold on to their smartphones for a long time.
Gaming performance is decent but not the best compared to flagships powered by MediaTek or Snapdragon chips in the same segment.
The Pixel 9 Pro excels in software, offering a smooth, minimalist experience packed with advanced AI features—perfect for those who prioritize seamless functionality over flashy extras.
In the Pixel 9 review, we briefly explained the new AI features of the Pixel 9 series, and all of those are present in the Pixel 9 Pro as well. These include the new “Add me” feature in the camera app, Magic editor in the Photos app, Pixel screenshots app, Pixel Studio, Circle to Search, and more.
Aside from these, the vanilla Pixel 9 won’t offer you some extras, but the Pro does. That includes a free one-year Gemini Advanced subscription, which you can claim via the Google One App after you have set up your device.
The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL also feature a dedicated Thermometer app enabled by specialized hardware exclusive to these models. The app measures the temperature of objects around you using the additional sensor on the back. While it works as advertised, I found little practical use, apart from trying it out once purely out of curiosity and for the sake of the review.
The new Private Space feature in Android 15 and features like Theft Protection are also useful for users who want to keep their data secure and safe. A bunch of Gestures are also on offer, such as Flip to Shhh, tap to check phone, lift to check phone, flip camera for selfie, double-tap power button to open camera, and more.
I would have appreciated it more if it also had the double-tap to wake up screen gesture instead of the single tap, but it seems like we’ll have to work with what we have, as Google doesn’t seem to be planning to add that gesture anytime soon.
Features like “Now Playing,” which identifies tracks playing nearby, and extensive lock screen customization options enhance the already exceptional software experience on the Pixel.
Battery Life
For some reason, the 4700mAh battery on the Pixel 9 Pro struggled to get me through the day at times. While I didn’t have to plug it in midway during the day, by the time my day ended, I would hardly have any juice left, which wasn’t the case with the Pixel 9, even though it had the same battery capacity as the Pixel 9 Pro.
With the Pixel 9 Pro, I got around 6.5 to 7 hours of screen-on time and about 24 hours of total usage time, including scrolling through Instagram, making WhatsApp calls, chatting, browsing on Chrome, watching videos, and listening to music. This is a similar usage pattern as the Pixel 9, which got me around 7 to 8 hours of screen-on time, but with the 9 Pro, I couldn’t cross 7 hours most of the time.
Usage cycle 1 (left), Usage cycle 2 (right)
While the 9 Pro sports a more efficient panel than the Pixel 9, the higher battery usage could be attributed to the higher resolution of the display compared to what the vanilla Pixel 9 offers.
With heavier use, such as navigation and gaming, the device will likely require a top-up before the end of the day. The battery life was also inconsistent overall, as one of the usage cycles only got me about 5 to 5.5 hours of screen-on time.
I further had to rely on a third-party app to measure the battery stats because, unfortunately, Android 14 and 15 have a bug that causes the screen-on time to reset randomly, and Google hasn’t fixed it yet.
The standby battery drain at night was noticeably high, with the device losing around 5-6% and occasionally up to 8%, even with Wi-Fi and Mobile Data turned off.
The Pixel 9 Pro’s charging time remains identical to that of the Pixel 9, as both phones support the same 27W wired charging speeds. The Pixel 9 Pro took nearly 2 hours to charge from 0 to 100% with the CMF 65W GaN PD charger, while the wireless charging speed is painfully slower.
Cameras
For optics, the Pixel 9 Pro gets a triple rear camera setup, including a 48-megapixel f/2.8 telephoto camera with up to 5x Optical Zoom and OIS support, a 50-megapixel f/1.68 primary Wide-Angle camera, and a 48-megapixel f/1.7 ultra-wide-angle camera. On the front, it has a 42-megapixel f/2.2 camera for selfies and video chats.
The camera app retains a clean UI, and while most of the other features remain identical to the Pixel 9 camera app features, such as the Pro mode, Palm timer, top shot, guided frame, button shortcuts, rich P3 colour format, Ultra HDR, timer light, and more.
The photos captured outdoors are stunning, delivering vibrant, true-to-life colors that pop without looking overdone. The dynamic range is excellent, balancing highlights and shadows beautifully, while every detail in the shot stands out with remarkable clarity. From the lush greens of trees to the vivid blues of the sky, the colors remain rich, natural, and lifelike—showcasing Google’s classic Pixel camera tuning.
Due to the wider field of view, ultra-wide-angle photos allow you to capture a noticeable amount of scenery in front of you. EDGE distortion could have been handled better, but in terms of detailing and colours, I have no complaints.
Portrait photos are equally impressive, with colours maintaining their natural, lifelike quality. Edge detection is precise, ensuring subjects are perfectly separated from the background. The bokeh effect appears smooth and natural, free from any inconsistencies. Exposure levels are well-balanced, and the sharpness and detailing are spot-on, enhancing the overall quality of the shots.
5x zoom
Compared to the Pixel 9, the 9 Pro has an extra telephoto sensor on the back that shoots detailed zoomed photos. The maximum zoom in is capped at 30x, but even when zooming in that far, the detailing is reasonably retained with good colour composition.
30x zoom30x zoom
You get optical zoom up to 5x, and up until there, there’s not a noticeable loss in terms of overall quality, and the shots still look impressive. Even if you go further than 5x, as I mentioned, the software does a good job of enhancing the photos for high sharpness.
The camera performs admirably in low-light conditions, managing exposure effectively while preserving a high level of detail. The photo quality is imposing, and even upon zooming in, the finer details remain sharp and easily discernible. Shots clicked under artificial lighting also look outstanding if we talk of colour and details.
With night sight enabled, the exposure is cranked up, but for some reason, the colours look better with night sight disabled, even in low lighting. Also, keep in mind to keep the device stable when clicking with Night sight enabled, as even the slightest movement could blur the shot, as it did in my case. I truly appreciate how well the device captures low-light photos, maintaining clarity with virtually no noise.
Finally, the selfies are far better than the output of the Pixel 9. The Pixel 9 Pro not only shoots detailed selfies but also handles the skin tones impressively. Unlike the Pixel 9 selfies, the HDR doesn’t seem overdone. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro offers an all-rounded camera experience with nearly nothing to complain about.
Google may have given up on its plans to make a new Pixel Tablet, as the Pixel Tablet 2 has reportedly been cancelled. A recent report suggested that Google was working on the Pixel Tablet 2 with an official keyboard accessory but it seems like that plan was short-lived. Here’s everything to know about the development.
The report suggesting Google was working on Pixel Tablet 2 came from Android Authority, and the report claiming it has been cancelled also comes from the same source. Mishaal Rahman, a contributor at Android Authority, wrote, “I learned from my source that Google had decided to cancel its plans to release the device, citing concerns that the company would lose money on it.”
Another report from Android Headlines said Google had cancelled Pixel Tablet 3 and not Tablet 2, but Android Authority contradicts that report, where Rahman said, “I found this report to be strange, considering that Google has almost assuredly not started working on the Pixel Tablet 3 while the Pixel Tablet 2 is still in an early stage of the product development lifecycle.”
The Android Headlines stated “Kiyomi” as the device’s codename that’s been cancelled, but Rahman says Pixel Tablet 2 had the same codename, not Pixel Tablet 3. Moreover, the Pixel Tablet 2 was still in the prototyping stage, so there was no sense in cancelling the Pixel Tablet 3, which Google may not even have started working on.
Google was working on both a Wi-Fi-only and a 5G variant of the Pixel Tablet 2. In addition, the company was working on an official keyboard (with touchpad) accessory for the device, suggesting improved productivity. On the bright side, the third-generation tablet could still be in the works, as per Android Authority, and the Pixel Tablet 3 might be getting a massive upgrade for power users.
Google says it has been working behind the scenes to improve the process of setting up your Android phone and transferring your information. As a result, switching from iOS to Android and Android to Android is now easier than ever with new features and a faster transfer process.
Google Launches Android Switch
To make the process of switching to a new device as simple and straightforward as possible, Google has launched Android Switch. It is a streamlined onboarding experience Google has developed in partnership with several phone manufacturers.
“We know it’s important to be able to get your chats, calendars, contacts and more on your new device, including the nitty-gritty information like your Wi-Fi, screen lock and Google account. That’s why our Android Switch experience walks you through clear steps to get set up and to learn about the features on your new device,” said Google in a blog post.
Next, if you are switching from iOS to Android using a cable, it’s 40% faster to transfer your data compared to 2023. This saves hours for people who have a lot of data to move from phone to phone.
To provide users with the convenience of first checking out their new phone and then transferring their data, Google introduced a new feature with Pixel 9 series. Coming to more Android phone makers in 2025, you will be able to quickly complete your initial setup and get your data when you’re ready.
When ready, head to Settings to copy data from your old device or check out the App on Google Play. From there, you’ll be able to connect to your old device and get the information you want, when you want it.
For those upgrading an Android device to a new one, Google has introduced an express setup option. You can opt to transfer only the information that is stored on the device, and none of the information you already have stored in the cloud. And, if you have a Pixel Watch, that device will prompt you to transfer data to your new phone at the end of setup.
Google Launces ‘Restore Credentials’ for Developers
Aside from making it easier when switching from iOS to Android or Android to Android, Google is introducing a new feature called ‘Restore Credentials’ for developers they can implement in their apps on Android that can keep you logged in to apps when you transfer them to a new Android device.
With Restore Credentials, apps can seamlessly onboard users to their accounts on a new device after they restore their apps and data from their previous device. “This makes the transition to a new device effortless and fosters loyalty and long term relationships,” as per Google.
On top of all this, there’s no developer effort required for the transfer of a restore key from one device to the other, as this process is tied together with the android system’s backup and restore mechanism.
Developers can also opt for a silent login method, where they can login their users silently as soon as the restore is completed. Users will continue being signed in as they were on their previous device, and they will be able to get notifications to easily access their content without even needing to open the app on the new device. This process occurs automatically in the background during device setup when a user restores apps and data from a previous device.
Vivo Y300 5G has been announced in India as a new mid-ranger that comes with advanced AI camera features including AI Erase and AI Photo Enhance. The Y300 5G sports a Sony camera sensor, a Snapdragon processor, and a lot more. Here’s everything to know about the device.
Vivo Y300 5G: Price, Availability
The Y300 will be available in three colour options – Titanium Silver, Emerald Green, and Phantom Purple, and will be priced at Rs 21,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant and Rs 23,999 for the 8GB + 256GB variant. Consumers can purchase the smartphone starting November 26, 2024, across vivo India e-store, Flipkart, Amazon, and all partner retail stores. Pre-booking for the Y300 starts from November 21 and runs until November 25, 2024.
Consumers can avail of the following offers using SBI Card, IDFC First Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, BOB Card, Federal Bank, and other banking partners:
Instant cashback of flat Rs 2000 or easy EMI of Rs 43 per day
vivo TWS 3e at a discounted price of Rs 1499 (only when purchased with the Y300). This offer is valid from November 21 to November 30, 2024, and can be availed on Flipkart, Amazon, and in-store only. It is not applicable at the vivo e-store.
Vivo Y300 5G: Specifications
The Vivo Y300 5G sports a 6.67-inch AMOLED Display with a full-HD+ Resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, 394 ppi, and up to 1800 nits of peak brightness. It also supports 100% DCI-P3 wide colour gamut as well.
The Y300 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Processor paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. One can also expand storage up to 2TB using a microSD card.
The device has a dual rear camera setup, including a 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX882 main sensor with PDAF and an 8MP ultra-wide angle f/2.2 sensor. On the front, it gets a 32MP f/2.45 selfie sensor. The handset is backed by a 5000mAh battery with 80W fast wired charging support.
Connectivity options on the device includes Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, and a USB-C port. It further runs on FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14, packs stereo speakers, and is also IP64 rated for dust and water resistance. There’s also an under-display optical fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication.
Oppo hasn’t launched a Find X series smartphone in India since 2020 when it debuted the Find X2. However, it is now making a comeback with the Find X8 series with a focus on being an all-rounder flagship. If it’s indeed an all-rounder flagship, that means it needs to excel in the camera department too.
Do the Find X8 cameras impress or do they fall short? Let’s find out in our Oppo Find X8 camera review.
The Oppo Find X8 camera setup includes Hasselblad optics along with a triple rear camera system, including a 50MP primary camera with 1/1.56″ Sony LYT-700 sensor, f/1.6 aperture, OIS, 10-bit HDR, paired with a 50MP Samsung JN5 ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.0 aperture, 120-degree FoV, and a 50MP 1/1.95″ Sony LYT-600 3x periscope telephoto sensor with an f/2.6 aperture, OIS, up to 120X digital zoom, and Hasselblad portrait. At the front, there’s a 32MP Sony IMX615 f/2.4 sensor.
Speaking of the camera App first, it is similar to the one you see in OnePlus devices as well, with an orange shutter button resembling the Hassleblad signature shutter button. I must also point out that the shutter lag is very well contained and the photo is clicked instantly after the button is pressed.
However, there are some differences, such as Smart scenes, including Stage, Silhouette, and Fireworks, which slightly change the look of the photo. Then there are filters, which drastically affect the look of the photo. Live Photo, pro mode, Google Lens integration, auto HDR, timer, etc. are also part of the camera app.
You can also scroll through the settings to choose functions like the touch-and-hold shutter button, lens focal length, focus lock in video, volume button action, quick launch setting, and more.
In video mode, you can also turn on HDR, which shoots in Dolby Vision format. The device can shoot 4KResolution videos at up to 60fps. For some reason, the 8K resolution option is missing, and I felt it should have been there, considering this is a top-level flagship.
Coming to the experience, the image remains impressively stable even if your hand isn’t. Without any modes or filters enabled, the photos turn out to be incredibly detailed with impressive dynamic range and vivid colours. They deviate slightly from the natural tone but that works in favour of the shot.
There’s a slight difference in terms of colours when shooting ultra-wide-angle shots, as these have a cooler tone than normal. However, the detailing is excellent, and so is the handling of EDGE distortion in such shots. Overall, ultra-wide-angle photos are also equally reliable and detailed as the shots from the primary sensor.
1x 2x zoom3x zoom
The third telephoto sensor doesn’t disappoint either. The exposure can vary at different zoom levels, but the zoomed photos also retain most of the characteristics of the main sensor. 2x and 3x shots look beautiful. Shots captured at 3x zoom may occasionally display minor noise, but it’s nothing significant enough to detract from the overall quality.
6x zoom6x zoom
The performance at 6x zoom is even more remarkable, delivering vibrant and well-balanced colors. The bokeh effect in these photos look natural and pleasing. In summary, the telephoto sensor excels at producing some of the finest zoomed-in photos I’ve encountered. Shots clicked at 120x zoom are barely usable because the quality considerably drops, which is expected.
Turning on the Portrait mode helps with an even better bokeh but edge detection can vary based on the subject you are shooting. It worked fine for me for most of the time. However, if I get too close to the subject, the “Ready” status fails to appear, which shouldn’t happen. Without the “Ready” tag glowing orange, the bokeh effect doesn’t activate, resulting in less-than-ideal portrait shots. When it is ready to shoot, though, the photos once again look perfect if we talk of colours, details, as well as sharpness.
The colours in selfie shots could be better but the skin tones look good, and so do the details. You can observe the strands of hair in the beard in the selfie shot above if you zoom in. In a portrait selfie, the edge detection is surprisingly well handled and is near perfect.
Low-light shots maintain a vivid color tone, with details remaining clear and free from muddiness. The bokeh effect in these conditions also appears stunningly beautiful and natural. Turning on the Night mode also helps till some extent in brightening up the shot without losing out much on the sharpness or the detailing.
Finally, shots in artificial lighting look equally reliable. They have the vivid colours, the high sharpness, and the well-maintained exposure. Once again, I have nothing to complain about.
The Oppo Find X8 camera setup impressed us in all the scenarios we tested it in and didn’t fall short in meeting our expectations. Overall, we’d say Oppo Find X8 camera setup excels and should definitely be on your list of smartphones to consider if you are a camera enthusiast.
Oppo Find X8 series is the first set of true flagships from the Chinese smartphone maker to launch in India in the last three years. Out of the two, we’ll be taking a look at the Oppo Find X8 to create our first impressions about the handset. A full review of the device is also in the works, so keep an eye out for that.
The Find X8 comes in two storage variants: 12GB + 256GB priced at Rs 69,999 and 16GB + 512GB priced at Rs 79,999. It will be available from 3rd December on the Oppo e-store, Flipkart, and across mainline retail outlets.
Coming to the first experience of the device, which would be unboxing, you’d be greeted with a few manuals, a SIM ejector tool, a regular TPU case, along with an 80W charger, and a USB-A to USB-C cable within the box, along with the device itself, of course. The case quality isn’t the best, and we’d assume it will begin turning yellow within a matter of weeks. The device also comes with a pre-applied screen protector that is out of the box.
Aside from that, the device feels pretty polished and premium in the hand and reminds you of last year’s Find N3 and the OnePlus Open, thanks to the similar camera module design. The frame, the rear glass, and the front are all completely flat. The brushed metal finish frame has Antenna lines on all sides, with the volume rocker and power button on the right and an Alert Slider on the left, which is one of my favourites since OnePlus introduced it.
The bottom side has the speakers, mic, USB-C port, and SIM tray. The top has mics and a speaker and an IR blaster. The device is comfortable to hold and operate with one hand, thanks to its curved corners that prevent sharp edges from pressing into your palm. The flat sides enhance grip for better handling. The space black colour adds to the device’s sleek and stylish design.
The front display supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to 4500 nits peak brightness, 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 2160Hz instant touch sampling rate, Dolby Vision, and OPPO Crystal Shield protection. We haven’t faced any issues so far with this panel, and it handles the colours impressively. The brightness may not suffice in some situations, but we’ll talk more about it and other characteristics of the display in the full review.
The handset gets an in-display fingerprint reader, which is an optical sensor. This is surprising considering most other brands are switching to the ultrasonic one with their 2025 flagships. The fingerprint sensor on the Find X8 works as it should, with decent speed, good accuracy, and no major issues.
The OPPO Find X8 packs the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Processor paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This processor is the best MediaTek has to offer and so far, it shows in real-world usage too. There have been no hiccups or lags but we’ll have to spend more time with the device for a detailed analysis. The device runs on Android 15-based ColorOS 15 out of the box, which packs most of the features as OxygenOS 15, and you can expect an identical software experience on the OPPO Find X8. There are some AI features available as well, such as the AI reflection eraser, AI eraser, AI summary, AI speak, and more, which we’ll discuss later.
The device is backed up by a 5630mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast wired and 50W wireless charging. We will talk more about battery performance in our detailed review.
The Hasselblad-tuned triple rear camera system includes a 50MP primary camera with 1/1.56″ Sony LYT-700 sensor, f/1.6 aperture, OIS, 10-bit HDR, paired with a 50MP Samsung JN5 ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.0 aperture, 120-degree FoV, and a 50MP 1/1.95″ Sony LYT-600 3x periscope telephoto sensor with an f/2.6 aperture, OIS, up to 120X digital zoom, and Hasselblad portrait. At the front, there’s a 32MP Sony IMX615 f/2.4 camera. We already have a detailed camera review up for the device and you should check that out. We can only say that the Find X8 shouldn’t disappoint you in this department.
The Find X8 appears to be a powerful flagship capable of catering to all types of users. The full review will determine if it lives up to this promise, covering aspects like performance, haptics, speaker quality, software features, connectivity, and more. Stay tuned!
