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Xiaomi Redmi K70 Review: Mid-range phone with flagship features
On November 29th, 2023, Xiaomi unveiled three new devices, including the Redmi K70. This device appears as a worthy successor to the Redmi K60, boasting several enhancements over its predecessors. Xiaomi has managed to deliver notable improvements in K70 while keeping its price at a mid-range level. Let’s take a look at the key specs, pros, cons, and price of the Redmi K70.
Key Features of Xiaomi Redmi K70
Design
The Xiaomi Redmi K70 combines a sleek and lightweight design, weighing 209g and measuring 160.9 mm by 75 mm by 8.2 mm. The dual Nano-SIM capability enhances network flexibility, catering to diverse user needs. The subtle design changes include a modified photo module block, a distinct texture on the glass panel, and a reduced steel size relative to the display frame.
The plastic edging, while maintaining durability, reflects cost-saving measures. The device's thickness stands at 8.2mm, contributing to its ergonomic feel in hand. Although lacking weather-sealing for splash resistance, the Redmi K70 impresses with a manageable weight, compact dimensions, and a volumetric capacity of 98.95cm³, making it a practical and stylish choice for users seeking a balanced smartphone experience.
Read more: Most Hyped Smartphones Releasing in December 2023
Display
The Xiaomi Redmi K70 impresses with a visually stunning 6.67-inch OLED screen, boasting a 1440 by 3200 pixels resolution that ensures intricate details in visuals. With a 120Hz refresh rate, the display delivers seamless and fluid motion across various media, enhancing the overall user experience.
Notably, the screen achieves an industry-leading peak brightness of 4000 nits, setting a new standard for comfortable viewing even under bright sunlight. The incorporation of an AI algorithm elevates the display further by upscaling select apps and video games, ensuring crisp and vibrant visuals. The technology behind the screen includes OLED/AMOLED, offering vibrant colors.
With a pixel density of 526 ppi, the Redmi K70 ensures clarity and sharpness in image rendering. The support for HDR10 and HDR10+ technologies, along with Dolby Vision, enhances color depth and contrast for a lifelike visual experience. The inclusion of features like an always-on display and a touch sampling rate of 480Hz adds to the device's appeal, making the Redmi K70 a standout choice for those seeking a top-tier display in a smartphone.
Cameras
The Xiaomi Redmi K70 boasts an impressive camera setup, featuring a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.6 aperture and 1/1.55-inch size for exceptional image quality. The main sensor is equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), ensuring steady videos and sharp photos even in dynamic conditions.
Read more: itel A70 Review: A standard entry-level phone
Complementing this, the 8MP ultrawide lens and 2MP macro sensor enhance versatility, enabling users to capture a wide range of scenes with detail and clarity.
The front camera sports a 16MP sensor, perfect for high-resolution selfies.
Noteworthy features include built-in optical image stabilization, continuous autofocus for video recording, and phase-detection autofocus for photos, ensuring sharp and clear shots.
With the main sensor, this device can shoot 8K footage at 24fps, 4K videos at 24/30/60fps, 1080p videos at 30/60/120/240/960fps, and 720p footage at 1920fps. It has a gyro-EIS feature.
The front camera is capable of capturing 1080p videos at 30/60fps with gyro-EIS.
The inclusion of slow-motion video recording, dual-tone LED flash, HDR mode, and manual exposure settings further elevate the camera capabilities, making the Redmi K70 a reliable choice for photography enthusiasts seeking diverse and high-quality imaging experiences.
Read more: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Is this the best Android phone of 2023?
Performance and Software
The Xiaomi Redmi K70 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 4nm processor, offering robust performance for games and applications, despite being one generation behind the latest Qualcomm chip. Its graphic section is equipped with GPU Adreno 740.
Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the device excels in handling resource-intensive tasks and ensures smooth multitasking.
With internal storage options reaching up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, the Redmi K70 provides ample space for fast data transfers and extensive file storage.
Running on Android 14, the device introduces advanced privacy features, including clipboard warnings, location privacy options, and camera/microphone privacy controls. Additionally, users can enjoy theme customization, personalizing their devices according to their preferences.
The Redmi K70's hardware specifications, coupled with the latest Android version, promise a seamless and feature-rich experience for users, making it a compelling choice in the smartphone market.
Read more: realme GT5 Review: A gaming phone with high capability
Battery and Charger
The Xiaomi Redmi K70 is equipped with a non-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery, ensuring a reliable power source for extended usage. What sets it apart is its exceptional charging capability, supporting a blazing-fast 120W wired charging system.
With PD3.0 and QC3+ compatibility, the device boasts an advertised 100% charge in just 18 minutes. This impressive charging speed adds convenience to the user experience, addressing power needs swiftly and efficiently, making the Redmi K70 a compelling choice for those seeking a quick and reliable charging solution.
Pros and Cons of Xiaomi Redmi K70
Pros
- Sleek and lightweight design- Up to 16GB RAM, up to 1TB storage- Android 14 with privacy features- 120W wired charging- 8K video footage.
Read more: OPPO Find N3 Review: A New Standard for Foldable Smartphones
Cons
- Lack of weather-sealing- Plastic edging- Specific wide aperture details not provided
Price of Redmi K70
The Xiaomi Redmi K70 is priced at CNY 2499 in China, which translates to BDT 38786 in Bangladesh. The conversion rate between Chinese Yuan (CNY) and Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) is CNY 1 = BDT 15.52. So, if you're considering the cost in Bangladesh, it would be BDT 38786 based on the current exchange rate.
Summing Up
Redmi K70 with a well-balanced package with a sleek design, robust RAM, a powerful processor, and a smart display. The camera setup is also decent. One of the most remarkable features is 120W wired charging, promising a full charge in just 18 minutes. Its 8K video recording is also impressive. However, the device lacks weather-sealing and comes with plastic edging.
On the whole, Redmi K70 is a compelling choice for users seeking a feature-rich smartphone at a competitive price point. It won’t be overwhelming to say that Xiaomi Redmi K70 is a contender for the best mid-range smartphone of 2023.
Read more: vivo X100 Review: The Flagship Killer of 2023
realme launches 'Year-End Sale-Bration' campaign
realme has launched its "Year-End Sale-Bration" campaign to enhance the celebration of the holiday month and end the year with a blast.”
The sale is only available in stores, and the campaign will end till the stock lasts, according to a press release.
Also read: vivo unveils Y27s smartphone
In the "Year-End Sale-Bration" realme C55 (6+128GB) is only available at Tk 19,999 for customers, it said.
The consumer electronics company is offering the realme C53 (6+128GB), for Tk 15,999.
Also read: Most Hyped Smartphones Releasing in December 2023
Customers can buy the C51 (4+64GB) with 50MP AI cameras for Tk 12,999, added the release.
Those seeking a device with a powerful processor but at a reasonable price can purchase either the C30s (2+32GB) for Tk 8,999 or the C30s (3+64GB) for Tk 10,999, it said.
vivo unveils Y27s smartphone
Smartphone manufacturer “vivo” has introduced its latest mid-range smartphone, the "Y27s,” in Bangladesh, specialising in gaming and video streaming.
Similar to the gaming experience of “Call of Duty” in the Y series, the Y27s enhances gaming and addresses battery life concerns through efficient charging, according to a press release.
Also read: vivo X100 Review: The Flagship Killer of 2023
This new smartphone is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery and a 44-watt, powerful flash charger. The price of the vivo Y27s is set at Tk 22,999, it said.
With a full charge, the vivo Y27s can support continuous music playback for 18 hours, uninterrupted YouTube video viewing for up to 20 hours, and hassle-free enjoyment of Instagram or YouTube reels for a solid 12 hours.
The vivo Y27s smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 680 processor and operates on the Funtouch OS 13 operating system.
Also read: vivo V29e 5G Review: Is this mid-range phone rightly priced?
The vivo Y27s features Extended RAM Technology 3.0, providing 8GB of RAM. Additionally, there is an option to expand the RAM by another 8GB. The smartphone comes with 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1 terabyte, said the release.
Available in Burgundy Black and Garden Green colours, vivo Y27s features a dual-camera ring design and a fantasy frame on the back side. With a 2.5D flat frame, the smartphone weighs just 192 grammes, and its thickness is only 8.17 mm, providing a comfortable grip, it sad.
It has a 6.64-inch multi-touch capacitive LCD display with a resolution of 2388 x 1080. This Full HD+ display offers a 90Hz refresh rate, providing a fantastic visual experience for watching video content. With a pixel density of 394 PPI and a 99% NTSC colour gamut, the display ensures vibrant and accurate colours, enhancing the enjoyment of video content.
On the camera front, the vivo Y27s features an 8-megapixel front camera and an impressive 50-megapixel rear camera, promising delightful photography experiences. The 2-megapixel bokeh lens adds a touch of artistry to selfies or portrait photography.
Also read: Vivo V29e: An entire studio in one Smartphone
Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Is this the best Android phone of 2023?
One of the most anticipated Android releases for 2023 has been the Google Pixel 8 lineup. The Pixel series is often considered the best of what Android has to offer since it brings the true stock Android experience. The Pixel 8 Pro was globally released on October 12, 2023. Here’s what’s changed and what’s better in this year’s 8 pro.
Key Features of Google Pixel 8 Pro
Design
The Pixel 8 Pro is in no way a small phone. At about 162.6 x 76.5 x 8.8 mm and 213 g weight, it’s hard to call the 8 Pro a one-handed phone. The classic visor design is carried over from the last generation. This time, the visor has a glossy finish with the glass back having a matte finish. The durable build, flat symmetrical display along with IP68 rating ensures that the 8 Pro has all the standard features of a premium flagship.
Display
Speaking of the display, the 8 Pro features an LTPO OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate HDR10+ support along with 1600 nits of HBM and 2400 nits of peak brightness. The resolution of the panel stands at 1344 x 2992 pixels with 489 ppi density. The display quality is impeccable as usual. The fluid response along with the minimalist stock android makes it a treat to interact with the display. The flat screen also has been a welcome addition over the 7 Pro’s curved panel.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Review: An Incremental Update Nearing Perfection
But let’s talk about what most people are excited about, the camera. Pixel phones have forever been known for their camera and post-processing magic. This year, the Pixel 8 Pro takes it a notch further with a higher level of ML and AI integration.
Camera
On paper, users will be getting a 50 MP (f/1.7) wide-angle main sensor, a 48 MP (f/2.8) telephoto, and a 48 MP (f/2.0) ultrawide sensor.
Initially, there were some hiccups with the camera but Google has promptly addressed those with a series of software updates. This year, the improvements aren’t really about the picture quality, but rather what the Pixel is capable of in post-processing.
From Magic Eraser, motion capture, and Best Take to completely changing the background using AI, the post-processing feels nothing less than unreal on the 8 Pro. Beyond that, the pictures themselves are more or less the same as the 7 Pro.
Read more: Honor X8a Review: Is it a value for money smartphone?
On the front side 8 pro offers a 10.5MP (f/2.0) selfie shooter.
Bothe the front and rear cameras are capable of shooting 4K video footage which is really praiseworthy.
realme GT5 Review: A gaming phone with high capability
The youth-focused smartphone brand realme got popularity for their affordable devices. The brand is now entering the mid-range phone market. In this wave, the realme GT5 was launched on September 4, 2023, in China. This smartphone is grabbing attention for its eye-catching design and impressive core performance. Let’s take a look into the features and functionalities that define the realme GT 5, exploring its strengths and any potential areas for improvement.
Key Features and Specifications of realme GT5
Design
The realme GT5 exhibits a streamlined design, measuring 163.1 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm and weighing 205 g. The silver mirror color scheme and contemporary back design contribute to its overall aesthetic appeal. Constructed with a glass front, aluminum frame, and glass back, the device emanates a premium quality.
Featuring dual SIM capability (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), it incorporates practicality into its design. The integration of the camera module with the back panel is seamless, enhancing the device's visual appeal. The middle frame, coated with metal, ensures a tactile and visually pleasing experience, enhancing the comfort of holding the realme GT5. This smartphone distinguishes itself through a sophisticated and considerately designed appearance, suitable for both hand-held use and display.
The seamless transition between the camera and back panel, coupled with a 1.5K T7+ screen dimming scheme, enhances both aesthetics and functionality.
Read more: OPPO Find N3 Review: A New Standard for Foldable Smartphones
Display
The realme GT5 is equipped with a 6.74-inch AMOLED display, featuring a resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels and a 20:9 ratio (~451 ppi density). The screen supports a 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10+, reaching a peak brightness of 1400 nits.
The minimized bezel design eliminates the plastic bracket, creating a flat display with slightly curved edges outside the display area. The Tianma-manufactured display utilizes diamond pixels for clarity. Notably, the brightness measurement in Bright HDR Video Mode reaches 905 nits, aided by the Pixelworks X7 chip enabling frame interpolation for smooth video playback up to 120FPS.
The user can choose between 1.5K and 1080p screen resolutions, with a customizable refresh rate for each application. The touch sampling rate, measured at 120 Hz, demonstrates responsiveness, complemented by an in-screen fingerprint sensor providing highly accurate authentication, despite the device being limited to Widevine L3.
Performance and Software
Running on Android 13 with realme UI 4.0, the realme GT5 is powered by the Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (4 nm). Its octa-core CPU configuration includes a Cortex-X3 core at 3.2 GHz, two Cortex-A715 cores at 2.8 GHz, two Cortex-A710 cores at 2.8 GHz, and three Cortex-A510 cores at 2.0 GHz. The Adreno 740 GPU contributes to smooth graphics performance.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Review: An Incremental Update Nearing Perfection
The device is available in configurations of 256GB with 12GB RAM and 512GB with 16GB RAM, catering to diverse storage needs.
With its robust processor, the realme GT5 delivers reliable performance. This device excels in handling high-configuration games, delivering a lag-free gaming experience.
Camera
The realme GT5 is equipped with a versatile triple-camera setup on its main camera module. The primary lens boasts 50 MP with an f/1.9 aperture, providing a wide 24mm perspective. It features 1.0µm pixel size, PDAF, and OIS for enhanced focus and stabilization.
Accompanying this is an 8 MP ultrawide lens with an f/2.2 aperture, offering a 112˚ field of view. Additionally, a 2 MP macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture is included for close-up shots. The camera system is complemented by features such as Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, and panorama mode. The video capabilities include recording at 4K@30/60fps and 1080p@30/60fps with gyro-EIS.
Read more: Tecno Phantom V Flip 5G: What does it offer?
On the front, the selfie camera is a single 16 MP lens with an f/2.5 aperture, providing a wide 25mm perspective. It features HDR and panorama modes, with video recording capabilities at 1080p@30fps with gyro-EIS. The realme GT5's camera system offers a range of functionalities suitable for diverse photography and videography needs.
Battery and Charging
The realme GT5 is powered by a non-removable Li-Po battery with a capacity of 5240 mAh. Notably, it supports rapid charging with an impressive 150W wired charging capability, utilizing Power Delivery (PD). The advertised feature claims a swift 1-50% charge in just 7 minutes, providing efficient and quick replenishment of the device's battery.
Pros and Cons of realme GT5
Pros
-Comfortable grip for a smooth user experience-An attractive array of shades-Ultra-fast charging-Stunning customizable LED indicators-Configurable up to 24GB RAM, 1TB storage
Cons
-Plastic frame-Compromised camera performance-Aggressive background app management-No wireless charging.
Read more: Xiaomi 14 Pro Review: What’s special about it?
Price of realme GT5
The phone is priced at CNY 2999 or BDT 46,102 for the 12GB+256GB(150W)version. The conversion rate here is 1 CNY equivalent to 15.37 BDT. However, the price of realme GT 5 may vary in Bangladesh.
Verdict
The realme GT5 is great for gaming. It charges super fast, making it perfect for heavy use.
The camera section may disappoint many realme fans. Some contemporary flagships or even mid-rangers like Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro are offering better camera configuration at a much lower price range. Wireless charging could make this package a better deal.
However, those looking for a speedy charging device with overall reliable performance can consider this phone.
Read more: Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Review: Flagship Phone with Slim Foldable Design
Honor X6a Review: A minimalist budget-friendly phone with standard features
The journey of Honor as a smartphone brand started with their entry into the budget-friendly and mid-range smartphone market. Honor launched the X6a on 28th July 2023 in India. The Honor X6a comes as an update over last year’s Honor X6. Let’s have a detailed look into it.
Key Specifications of Honor X6a
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Honor X6a is quite minimal. The device has a plastic frame and back with a glass front. The sensors protrude from the back panel. The frosted finish on the Cyan Lake variant refracts light which gives the smartphone its unique look. Those looking for an even more minimal option, the Midnight Black can be an option with a matte black finish.
Dimension-wise, the X6a comes in at 163.32 x 75.07 x 8.35 mm with 188 g of weight. The smartphone comes with standard ports and button choices including a headphone jack and a dedicated micro SDXC slot. The power button on the X6a doubles as the fingerprint scanner. The front of the device has a water-drop notch display with a sizable chin at the bottom. Being an ultra-budget smartphone, the large chin isn’t entirely unfounded.
Overall the flat style design with frosted finish adds a new dimension to the X6a.
Read more: itel S23+ Review: Budget-friendly phone with AI-assistant
The Display
The display on the Honor X6a is a 6.56-inch TFT LCD panel with HD+ resolution. The panel has a 720 x 1612 pixel layout with 260 ppi. However, the most distinctive feature of the display is the 90 Hz refresh rate. It’s great to see even ultra-budget smartphones are offering faster refresh rate displays.
The panel also supports up to 16.7 M colors. It has a slightly different aspect ratio at 20.15:9. It can be due to the large chin at the bottom which brings the screen-to-body ratio to around 83%. The multi-touch gesture support can accommodate up to 10 touch points at the same time.
Speaking of usability, the display looked great for a budget smartphone. The default color was a bit on the warm side but that can be easily calibrated from the settings. For anyone coming from a 60 Hz panel, the faster refresh rate would be easily noticeable.
Read more: OPPO Find N3 Review: A New Standard for Foldable Smartphones
The Camera
There is a triple camera setup on the X6a even though there are 4 distinct sensor housings on the back. One of the sensor spaces actually houses the flashlight which helps to bring that square symmetrical look at the back.
The main camera is a 50 MP f/1.8 wide-angle sensor with PDAF. The complementing camera modules are a 2 MP f/2.4 macro and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. In effect, the X6a is carried mostly by the main camera as the macro and depth sensors aren’t very useful in any way.
Being a budget smartphone, the camera on the X6a was quite impressive. The main camera was able to capture some great shots in daylight conditions. One of the key issues with budget-friendly smartphone cameras is the loss of dynamic range. However, the X6a did a good enough job of preserving it throughout every shot. The portrait shots also came out pretty well. There were slight edge detection issues at times which will hopefully be solved with a software update.
Read more: Honor X5 Plus Review: A decent budget-friendly phone
itel S23+ Review: Budget-friendly phone with AI-assistant
Ever since the itel S23+ has been announced, there has been quite a hype around this smartphone. itel is known for its smartphones in the entry-level to mid-range segment. The brand launched its S23+ on 19th September 2023 in India. Beyond the obvious confusion with Samsung’s flagship, the itel S23+ brings surprising features that are almost unthinkable in the budget segment. So what’s this hype about? Let’s find out.
Key Specifications of Itel S23+
Design and Build Quality
The design and naming philosophy of the smartphone can be considered a cosmopolitan mix of brand identities. The back looks like the iPhone, the front like Huawei, and a name that mimics the Samsung flagship, the S23+ has a lot going for itself.
But on a serious note, it is surprising to see itel pull off a sleek-looking curved screen device at such an ultra-budget price segment. The exact dimensions of the smartphone couldn’t be confirmed but the device is 7.9 mm thick with 178 g weight. There are two color options – Lake Cyan and Elemental Blue.
Read more: realme C33 Review: Key specs, pros, and cons
There is a large camera housing on the back that looks exactly like that of the iPhone Pro, except it is much larger in size and one of the arranged sensor spaces is actually dedicated to the flashlight.
The plastic back has a frosted finish that gives it a glass-like look. However, the main design attraction is at the front with the curved panel.
The scant bezels on the top and bottom along with the small punch-hole camera make the display look like an upper mid-range or flagship device.
Read more: Symphony Z47 Review: 90Hz Refresh Rate on a Budget Device
Another interesting feature is the in-display fingerprint scanner which is also uncommon in budget smartphones. Ports and buttons are as usual but the micro SDXC and the 3.5 mm headphone jack are missing on the S23+ which is a bit odd considering these are almost staple in budget smartphones.
The Display
The display on the itel S23+ is a 6.78-inch AMOLED curved panel with FHD+ resolution. The panel has a 1080 x 2400 pixels distribution at a 20:9 ratio and 388 ppi density. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The display is what’s usually seen on a mid-range smartphone. Except the S23+ is placed almost in an ultra-budget segment. The performance of the display has been pretty good. There’s a decent amount of curve on both sides but itel has optimized the OS well to ensure there aren’t any accidental touches. The color reproduction looked great with good viewing angles all around. There’s also 500 nits of peak brightness on the panel which makes it fairly legible under direct sunlight.
Read more: itel Vision 5 Plus Review: Standard Phone under Tk14000
The display of the S23+ has generated considerable buzz around the smartphone and honestly, the hype here is absolutely justified. The only lacking would be a higher refresh rate but its absence doesn’t take away anything from an already great experience.
The Camera
There’s a dual camera setup on the S23+. The flashlight is arranged in such a way that it might look like a triple camera sensor at first glance. The main camera is a 50 MP f/1.6 wide-angle shooter with AF. The secondary camera is a 0.08 MP camera. The S23+ is essentially a single-camera smartphone as the secondary camera won’t be of any practical use.
Even then, the camera performed pretty well. Pictures taken outdoors and in bright conditions came out sharp and crisp. The dynamic range was average and the shadow exposures were a hit and miss at times.
Read more: Infinix Hot 20 5G Review: What's New
OPPO Find N3 Review: A New Standard for Foldable Smartphones
The Find series from OPPO has been their premium flagship range since the brand’s inception. It brought top-of-the-line features that competed for the best of what Android has to offer. Back in 2021, the N series was introduced as OPPO’s first take on foldable and flip phones. Fast forward to 2023, OPPO released the Find N3 foldable smartphone on 19th October in China. The N3 brings some big and effective changes compared to the N2. Let’s find out what those are.
Key Specifications of OPPO Find N3
Design and Build Quality
The Find N3 doesn’t really reinvent the wheel. It looks similar to the existing range of foldables from the likes of Huawei and Samsung. There is a distinct round camera housing on the back with Hasselblad branding that gives it its distinguishing look.
Coming to the design specifics, the curves around the hinges have been sharpened. It might be due to the hinge mechanism used in the N3. Speaking of the hinge mechanism, it now does an excellent job of dissipating the crease at the middle of the inner display. It’s still possible to feel the crease by touch, but visually it is much less pronounced compared to the Mate X5 or the Z Fold5.
Read more: Top 10 Smartphones Coming to Bangladesh in November 2023
The front glass and aluminum frame are complemented by a choice of either a glass back or an eco-leather back. The dimension comes in at:
Glass Folded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7 mmEco-leather Folded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.9 mmGlass Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8 mm Eco-leather Unfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 6.0 mm
The weight comes in at 239 g for the eco-leather option and 245 g for the glass-back variant. The front is protected by OPPO’s own Ceramic Guard protection with the inner panel being a plastic one as usual. The choice of ports and buttons are carried over from the N2 which means the 3.5 mm headphone jack didn’t make the cut. The power button doubles as the fingerprint scanner similar to the N2.
Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus Review: Know the Pros and Cons
Another useful addition this time around has been the IPX4 splash resistance rating. Overall, the updated hinge mechanism massively improves the experience and alleviates the design experience of the device.
The Display
OPPO used the new state-of-the-art LTPO3 OLED panels for the N3. The cover screen is a 6.31-inch panel with 1116 x 2484 pixels with 431 ppi density. The panel supports 1.07B colors, Dolby Vision, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2800 nits of peak brightness in HBM.
On the other hand, the inner panel is a 7.82-inch Foldable LTPO3 OLED panel with 2268 x 2440 pixels resolution at 426 ppi. The panel supports 1.07B colors, Dolby Vision, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2800 nits of HBM. The screen-to-body ratio of the N3 comes in at 89.6%.
The best thing about the N3 display is the utilitarian design. The cover screen isn’t unnaturally tall like that of the Z Fold5. Rather it looks much like a standard smartphone. The inner screen is also 1:1 which gives it a square look. This display design enhances the usability all the while being a cutting edge panel.
Read more: vivo V29e 5G Review: Is this mid-range phone rightly priced?
Being an LTPO3 panel, the screen is everything one would expect from it. It has high contrast, great color, and amazing visibility under direct sunlight. And thanks to the new hinge mechanism, the inner crease also isn’t as distracting anymore.
Honor X5 Plus Review: A decent budget-friendly phone
The Honor X series has been the brand’s entry-level and mid-range line of smartphones. The X series has always brought a compelling price-performance balance that has aided in its huge popularity. Honor launched X5 Plus in Bangladesh on 16th August 2023. Apart from the large screen, the Honor X5 Plus brings some exciting features. Let’s check them out.
Key Specifications of Honor X5 Plus
Design and Build Quality
The X5 Plus is sort of a semi-update to the X5 released earlier this year. As a result, the X5 Plus carries a lot of the design elements forward with several internal updates. There are subtle changes in the design on the X5 Plus with the back having a frosted glass hue. However, the back is still plastic which just looks like glass. The camera housing now has a refractive glossy finish which stands out in direct light. As for colors, users will be getting a choice of Cyan Lake or Midnight Black.
Dimension-wise the devices come in at around 163.32 mm by 75.07 mm by 8.35 mm with 188g of effective weight. The lightweight design and the rounded edges give an impressive hand feel to the device. The device has all the ports and buttons in their usual place. Except for the sim slot which is placed at the top of the device. Apart from the two stand-by nano sims, there is a dedicated micro SDXC slot as well. It’s a useful addition considering the internal storage is only 64 GB.
Read more: Xiaomi 14 Pro Review: What’s special about it?
The power button on the right also doubles as the fingerprint scanner on the X5 Plus. There is also the usual bottom-firing speaker, Type C port, and the ever-disappearing 3.5 mm headphone jack at the bottom of the device. Being an entry-level smartphone, there is a noticeable chin at the bottom of the smartphone. Other than that, the X5 Plus is a well-built solid device that will withstand heavy and rough usage.
The Display
The display on the X5 Plus is a 6.56-inch TFT LCD panel with HD+ configuration. The resolution stands at 720 by 1612 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 269 ppi density. The slightly larger display on the X5 Plus allows for the screen-to-body ratio to be bumped up to 84.3%.
As mentioned before, the front chin stands out as an eyesore in 2023. But given the ultra-budget positioning of the X5 Plus, it only makes sense that Honor had to cut corners.
Read more: Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Review: Flagship Phone with Slim Foldable Design
However, it's not all gloomy with the display. Even as a TFT panel, the screen showed good contrast and balance. The blacks weren’t completely washed out and there wasn’t also any noticeable blue tint. What’s even better is that users will be getting a 90 Hz refresh rate on the X5 Plus.
It’s not a great display by any means. But for its price, it doesn’t get any better than this.
The Camera
There is a dual camera module on the X5 Plus. The main camera is a 50 MP f/1.8 wide-angle shooter with PDAF. There is no OIS and EIS for stabilization. Pictures during the daytime came out pretty well. There were good details in the images with post-processing color pop. The boosted colors rendered a better result as the color reproduction was almost always on point. However, the camera failed to replicate the same in shades or under artificial lights. The dynamic range was also average with passable details.
Read more: vivo V29e 5G Review: Is this mid-range phone rightly priced?
The story continues the same in low light conditions as well. There were noticeable noises in the pictures and most shots came out softer than one would like. The shutter speed on the night mode is pretty slow. But if one can keep a steady hand, the images would come out far better than they usually do.
There is an additional 2 MP f/2.4 depth sensor. It aids a bit in the portrait shot but nothing other than that.
The front-facing 5 MP shooter can be considered generic at best.
Videography is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. But without any form of stabilization, the results aren’t really passable per se.
Read more: Top 10 Smartphones Coming to Bangladesh in November 2023
DOOGEE V31GT 5G Rugged Phone Review: Sturdy mid-range gaming device
The Doogee V31GT, crafted by the Chinese company Doogee, is a rugged phone released in China on September 23, 2023. Despite its initial appearance as a typical budget-friendly rugged phone, the V31GT stands out in the smartphone market with distinctive features. Representing a noteworthy advancement in Doogee's V series, it combines durability with unique functionalities, making it a compelling option in the evolving landscape of rugged smartphones.
Key Features and Specification of the Doogee V31GT
Design
The Doogee V31 GT phone stands out with its robust build, resembling a tool with dimensions of 178.5 mm by 83.1 mm by 17.9 mm and a weight of 390g. Its Hybrid Dual SIM setup and IP68/IP69K dust/water resistance make it durable, surviving drops with a drop-to-concrete resistance of up to 1.8m.
The device sports dual speakers for practical stereo sound. On the back, a distinctive circular camera module houses a thermal camera, LED flash, main optical camera, and night vision camera, all protected by a robust rim. The handset, encased in black-coated metal with protective rubber, includes a fingerprint-sensing power button, textured volume buttons, a custom button, and a TF/SIM card slot.
Unlocking options include a fingerprint ID and 2D face ID. While lacking an always-on display, a small red/green LED signals a full charge effectively. Overall, it's a rugged, functional device with a unique design.
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Display
The Doogee V31 GT features a sizable 6.58-inch IPS LCD display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, providing users with an expansive and engaging visual platform. Covering about 70.5% of the front, the screen strikes a balance between size and usability.
Measured diagonally, the display's 6.58-inch height contributes to a visual experience without sacrificing practicality. Sporting a resolution of 1080 by 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio, the display ensures clarity and detail, boasting a pixel density of around 400 ppi.
The use of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 adds durability, protecting against scratches. The multi-touch capable screen enhances user interactions on the Doogee V31 GT, making it a versatile tool for various tasks. Whether enjoying multimedia content or navigating the device, the display's size, resolution, and responsiveness contribute to a user-friendly and immersive experience.
Cameras
The Doogee V31 GT boasts a robust quad-camera setup on its rear, headlined by a 50 MP wide lens with an f/1.8 aperture for detailed and bright photos. Accompanying this is a 24 MP (f/1.8) night vision lens with two infrared lights for low-light scenarios, an 8 MP (f/1.8) wide lens, and a unique 256 by 192 pixels thermal camera. This thermal camera adds a distinct capability to capture temperature variations in the environment.
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The array supports features like LED flash, HDR, and panorama, catering to various photography needs. On the video front, it can shoot in 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps.
The front-facing selfie camera is a 32 MP wide lens with an f/1.8 aperture, delivering detailed self-portraits, and it supports 1080p video recording at 30fps.
The Doogee V31 GT's camera system is designed to offer versatility, covering a range of photographic scenarios with its varied lenses and capabilities.
Hardware and Performance
The DOOGEE V31 GT boasts a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor, featuring an octa-core solution clocked at 2.6 GHz. This includes 6 Cortex-A55 cores running at 2.0 GHz and 2 Cortex-A78 cores at 2.6 GHz. Complementing the processor is a Mali-G68 MC4 GPU.
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