The history of earthquakes is nothing less than terrifying. Whether it’s the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake or something as recent as the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, every major earthquake in the world involves destruction and death. For centuries, scientists, geologists, saints, and seers alike have searched for answers to one inevitable question: Can earthquakes be predicted? Let’s try to find out. Myths about Earthquakes and Predicting Them The phenomenon of earthquakes has long been attributed to mythical and otherworldly happenings. Thousands of years ago, the occurrence of an earthquake not only brought destruction but also paved the way for the fear of the unknown and faith in supernatural power.  The concept of an earthquake is often attributed to Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. It is said that Poseidon uses his trident to shake the earth which causes earthquakes. Similar stories are found in Japanese mythology where the giant catfish Namazu causes earthquakes. According to Mongolian mythology, the earth is placed on the back of a giant frog. When the frog stumbles, it causes earthquakes. Read more: 10 Most Earthquake-prone Countries around the World But beyond the myths, there are also some common misconceptions about earthquake predictions. Unlike the myths, these aren’t quite outlandish and are often passed on as hard facts. Some of the common misconceptions regarding earthquake prediction include:  - Animals can predict earthquake - There are always advanced signs of earthquakes - Earthquake is preceded by sudden weather change - Planetary alignment influences earthquake - Increased seismic activity is a precursor for a large earthquake - A series of small earthquakes deters the chance of a large earthquake in a region. Unfortunately, none of these concepts are true. There is no set pattern to earthquakes and neither does it have any identifiable precursors. And that brings us to the all-important question.  Read more: Earthquake Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe

Tablets encompass a wide spectrum of functionalities, from being exceptional portable media players to becoming productivity champions with distinctive features such as modular accessories like magnetically-detachable keyboards and, in certain instances, stylus support. Let’s take a look at the 10 best tablets available in the Bangladesh market under BDT 25000.  10 Best Tablets within Tk 25000 TCL Tab 10 Gen2 The tablet, released in September 2023, offers a range of specifications tailored for a variety of user needs. With a 10.36-inch IPS LCD display featuring a resolution of 1200 by 2000 pixels and a 5:3 aspect ratio, it provides a crisp viewing experience.  The tablet's 8 MP main camera with LED flash and a 5 MP selfie camera both support 1080p video recording at 30fps. Under the hood, it houses a Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22T chipset with an octa-core CPU, making it suitable for everyday tasks and casual gaming, though it may not excel in handling resource-intensive games. Storage options include 128GB with 4GB of RAM or 64GB with 4GB of RAM, expandable via microSDXC.  A 6000 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery ensures long-lasting usage. Priced at BDT 22,000 in Bangladesh (exact pricing may vary by configuration), it offers a competitive package with its display quality, camera capabilities, and decent hardware for the price-conscious consumer. Read more: Honor Pad 8 Review: A budget-friendly capable Tablet Doogee U10 The Doogee U10 tablet was officially released in Bangladesh in September 2023 and is priced at BDT 15,000 for the available variant featuring 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. This budget-friendly tablet sports a 10.1-inch IPS LCD display with an 800 by 1280 pixels resolution, offering decent visuals for everyday tasks. Under the hood, the tablet is powered by an RK3562 chipset with a Quad-core 2.0 GHz CPU. While suitable for basic usage, it may struggle with more demanding applications and gaming. The tablet's single-camera setup consists of an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera, capable of recording videos at 720p@30fps. One of its standout features is the generous 5060mAh battery, complemented by 10W fast charging, ensuring extended usage without frequent recharges. The tablet runs on Android 13, providing access to the latest software features. Read more: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra Review: Is it really the ‘iPad killer’? Cubot Tab 40 The Cubot Tab 40 was officially released in Bangladesh in September 2023, and it comes at a price of BDT 10,000 for the available variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.  This tablet offers a 10.4-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1200 by 2000 pixels, ensuring sharp visuals for various tasks. Under the hood, the Cubot Tab 40 is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T616 (12 nm) chipset, featuring an Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) CPU. While not a powerhouse, it should handle everyday tasks and moderate gaming reasonably well. The tablet features a single-camera setup with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera, capable of recording videos at 1080p@30fps. This configuration is suitable for basic photography needs. One of its notable strengths is the large 7000mAh battery, ensuring extended usage without frequent recharging. The tablet runs on Android 13, providing access to the latest software features and updates. Read more: Walton Walpad 8G Review: Worth buying?

As we step into October 2023, tech enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating new smartphone releases. The forthcoming smartphones for October 2023 promise to be especially captivating, with leading manufacturers ready to unveil their latest innovations. Let's take a sneak peek at some of the most awaited mobile devices scheduled to make their debut this month. 9 Best Smartphones Coming to Bangladesh in October 2023 Google Pixel 8 The Google Pixel 8, about to be unveiled in October 2023, is a highly anticipated smartphone boasting a range of impressive features. Its sleek design incorporates Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back, with an aluminium frame, and it's IP68 certified for dust and water resistance. The 6.2-inch AMOLED display offers a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, ensuring vibrant visuals.  Powered by Android 14 and the Google Tensor G3 chipset, it features a nine-core CPU for efficient performance, with 128GB or 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage and 12GB of RAM.  Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Is It Worth the Price? The camera setup includes a 50MP main shooter and a 12MP ultrawide lens, capable of 4K video recording with impressive stabilization features. The 10.5MP ultrawide selfie camera also supports 4K video capture.  The phone’s 4485mAh battery supports 24W wired and 12W wireless charging, as well as reverse wireless charging, making it a compelling choice for tech enthusiasts. Vivo V29 The Vivo V29 is a sleek and powerful smartphone boasting a premium glass front and back build with IP68 dust and water resistance for added durability. Its 6.78-inch AMOLED display offers vibrant visuals with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support.  Read more: Honor Pad 8 Review: A budget-friendly capable Tablet Running on Android 13 with Funtouch 13, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset, delivering robust performance through its octa-core CPU and Adreno 642L GPU. The device is available in multiple configurations, including 128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/8GB RAM, and 256GB/12GB RAM options, all utilizing UFS 2.2 storage technology.  The triple-camera setup on the rear comprises a 50MP wide lens, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP depth sensor, while the 50 MP front camera ensures stunning selfies.  Read more: OPPO A78 Review: Is it a balanced mid-range phone? The phone features 80W wired fast charging, filling up to 50% in just 17 minutes, and supports NFC, USB Type-C, and in-display fingerprint recognition. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 is a feature-packed smartphone with dimensions of 161.1 x 75 x 7.6 mm and a weight of 173.5 g, it's lightweight and easy to handle. Its 6.67-inch AMOLED display boasts vivid visuals with 1B colors, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1000 nits peak brightness. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects the screen.  Redmi Note 13 is equipped with the Mediatek Dimensity 6080 6nm chipset and an octa-core CPU. It runs on Android 13 with MIUI 14 OS. Memory options include 128GB/6GB RAM, 128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/8GB RAM, and 256GB/12GB RAM. Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Plus Review: What are the major upgrades? Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the dual rear cameras, featuring a 100MP main lens and a 2MP depth sensor. The 16MP front camera captures sharp selfies.  The device also offers robust audio with a 24-bit/192kHz speaker and a 3.5mm jack. It features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging, making the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 a compelling choice in the smartphone market. Tecno Phantom V Flip The Tecno Phantom V Flip is an innovative foldable smartphone set to be released in October 2023. Weighing 194g, its unfolded dimensions are 171.7by 74.1 by 7 mm. In folding mode its dimensions are 88.8 by 74.1 by 15 mm. With its unique folding design, it boasts a Foldable LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1000 nits, offering a stunning visual experience.  Read more: realme 11x 5G Review: Budget 5G Phone with a Great Camera The device is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 8050 6nm chipset, ensuring efficient performance, supported by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate its dual-camera setup featuring a 64 MP primary camera and a 13MP ultrawide lens, capable of 4K video recording. On the front, there's a 32 MP selfie camera. The device supports dual SIM cards, runs on Android 13 with HIOS 13.5, and has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security. Additionally, it offers fast charging with a 45W wired charger, promising 50% charge in just 15 minutes. Itel Power 55 The itel Power 55, set to make its debut in October 2023, boasts an array of noteworthy features and specifications. With a slim 8.4mm profile, this smartphone offers a dual SIM setup for enhanced connectivity. Its 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate provides crisp visuals at a 720 x 1612 pixel resolution.  Read more: Infinix Zero 30 5G Review: Mid Range Phone with ChatGPT Assistant Support Under the hood, it runs on Android 13 with itel OS 13, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 6nm chipset and an octa-core CPU configuration. The device comes in two variants - 64GB of storage with 4GB RAM or 128GB with 6GB RAM. Camera enthusiasts will appreciate its 50MP wide main camera with AF and LED flash, alongside an 8MP selfie shooter.  The device also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. The 5000mAh non-removable battery ensures prolonged usage, with 18W wired charging support. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra Review: A Gamer's Delight

OPPO has been a market leader in the budget and mid-range segment for a long time. Whether it’s the innovative design of the camera or even the price-performance match, OPPO has always brought something that made it stand out from the rest. The brand recently launched the OPPO A58 in Bangladesh in September 2023. With a stylish design and powerful AI camera, the smartphone has much to attract budget buyers. Let’s have a detailed look.  Key Specifications of OPPO A58   Design and Build Quality  Being a budget smartphone, the choice of a glass front and an all-around plastic body was expected. Yet OPPO brought their flare with a frosted finish on the back and the dual tone strip carried on vertically below from the camera sensor.  The stripe has “INNOVATIVE AI CAMERA” written on it with tiny fonts. OPPO left no stones to get their branding right. The front features a center punch-hole display with a thick bottom chin. Being a budget device, it’s evident that OPPO cut corners in display symmetry.  The device has a physical footprint of 165.65 mm by 75.98 mm by 7.99 mm with 192 gm weight. Being a plastic-built smartphone, it's on the lighter end and doesn’t add much heft while using it on one hand.  Read more: OPPO A78 Review: Is it a balanced mid-range phone? Coming back to the physical features, the smartphone supports dual SIM, and micro SDXC. It even has stereo speakers on board. The power button on the A58 doubles as the fingerprint scanner. There’s a USB Type C port on the bottom from yesterday with the 2.0 configuration. The 3.5 mm headphone jack also remains on the A58 which will be a useful feature for many. And as for the colorways, users will get a choice between Glowing Black and Dazzling Green.  The Display  The display on the OPPO A58 is a 6.72-inch LTPS LCD panel with FHD+ resolution at 2400 by 1080 pixels. It brings the display pixel density to 391 ppi and the screen-to-body ratio to 91.40%. Even though the ratio is high, there is a noticeable chin at the bottom of the device.  Being an LCD panel, the device may feel a bit washed out or the blacks might not feel as dark as that of the AMOLED ones. But this is also one of the tradeoffs with a budget smartphone.  The panel itself is 8-bit which captures up to 16.7 million colors. There are two color modes on the display – vivid and gentle. The vivid mode provides up to 100% DCI-P3 and the gentle mode provides 100% sRGB output. The touch sampling rate goes up to 180 Hz which is good news for gamers.  Read more: Honor Pad 8 Review: A budget-friendly capable Tablet Outdoor visibility won’t be a major issue with the A58 as the typical brightness goes up to 550 nits. Under direct sunlight, the panel can push up to 680 nits of brightness. Overall, the display performance of the A58 is satisfactory. For a budget smartphone, it's hard to beat this setup unless there’s AMOLED. The Camera  There is a 50MP main sensor with f/1.8 and 75.5° field of view. The main camera is complemented by a 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The depth sensor is mostly here for marketing purposes to sell the A58 as a dual-camera phone. Almost all of the camera performance is exclusively limited to the main sensor.  In the test, the camera performs pretty well. There wasn’t any direct feature related to AI on the stock camera app. Shots under direct sunlight look natural with a cooler tone. Due to the cooler tone, the greens and the blues tend to pop a bit more than the reds. The dynamic range on the main camera was also pretty good as it maintains a good ratio of shadow and exposure. The portrait mode has also had an improvement. The edge detection in each shot was spot on every time.  Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra Review: A Gamer's Delight There’s also an 8 MP generic front shooter on the A58.  The videography of the A58 is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. The camera is capable enough to push up to 4K but the limited processing power is why budget smartphones still come at 1080P max. 

In the ever-evolving landscape of smartphones, OPPO has consistently carved a niche for itself by offering devices that strike a balance between impressive features and affordability. The OPPO A78 was officially released in Bangladesh in September 2023. In this comprehensive review, this article will dive into every aspect of the OPPO A78, from its design and display to its performance and camera capabilities Key Features of OPPO A78 Design The OPPO A78 5G boasts a decent design but lacks the substantial feel of mid-range and high-end Android counterparts. It weighs in at a mere 180g, significantly lighter than its counterparts like the Pixel 7 Pro at 212g. This lightweight 160.01 mm by 73.23 mm by 7.93 mm build makes it comfortable to hold but may raise concerns about durability. At the top, there's a small teardrop notch, and while the bezels around the sides and the chin at the bottom are noticeable upon unboxing, they tend to fade into the background during use. Read more: September 2023 New Smartphone Release: Top 10 Most Anticipated Phones in Bangladesh The display is labeled as 'toughened glass' by Oppo, but it falls short of the sturdiness of Gorilla Glass found in pricier devices. It does come with an IPX4 rating, offering protection against splashes but not immersion in water. A fingerprint scanner is positioned under the power button on the right side, which is responsive but less convenient for left-handed users compared to the under-screen scanners found in higher-end products. Alternatively, users can opt for the quick and efficient face-unlock feature. The OPPO A78 5G comes in three color options: black, purple, and blue. However, there's a noticeable color difference between the majority of the back and the ovular composite panel housing the cameras. Unfortunately, this design choice makes the phone feel less premium, and running a fingernail across it produces an undesirable high-pitched scratch, reminiscent of a tazos coin. Read more: Walton Xanon X20 Review: Is it a value-for-money gaming phone? On a positive note, the A78 5G keeps the headphone jack alive, although its placement at the bottom rather than the top of the phone might not be everyone's preference. There's also room for a microSD card alongside the single SIM card slot for expandable storage.

Honor had a distinct history of providing affordable yet capable gadgets back when it was part of Huawei. Fast forward to 2023, Honor is now owned by a Shenzhen-based state-controlled enterprise. But the value proposition of Honor as a utility-focused, cost-effective brand remains. Last year the company launched the Honor Pad 8 on 22nd July. It’s a mid-range tab aimed to be a budget-friendly alternative to higher-end Android tabs. So how does it fare compared to other Android tabs? And does it compare in any way with the iPad? Let’s find out.  Key Specifications of Honor Pad 8   Design and Build Quality  The designs of pads in general are more or less the same across the spectrum. Just like the Honor Pad 7, the Pad 8 also has a rectangular design with thin bezels and a camera on the side. The front is made from glass whereas the frame and the back are made from plastic.  Dimension-wise the Honor Pad is 278.54 mm by 174.06 mm by 6.9 mm with 520 gm of effective weight with the battery. The pad is on the lighter side considering its dimensions. The even weight distribution adds a layer of comfort to the user experience of the device.  Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Plus Review: What are the major upgrades? There is no SIM support on the Honor Pad 8. Meaning users would have to depend on Wi-Fi only for connectivity. Another drawback of the Pad 8 is the lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Even in 2023, a headphone jack in tabs is a pretty common sight. However, the Pad 8 is missing out on one. The lack of a headphone jack is complemented by 8 speakers all around the device. Users will get a surround sound stereo experience with the pad.  The power and volume buttons are situated on the right of the device. There aren’t any external ports on the device other than the Type C port as the device doesn’t support micro SDXC as well.  The Display  The display on the Honor Pad 8 is a 12-inch LCD panel. Two distinct things stand out the most the moment you look at the panel. And that’s the thin bezels and their symmetric distribution. The bezels are 7.2 mm thick on the left and right end giving it a reminiscent look of the new iPads and the Tab S from Samsung.  Read more: Xiaomi Mi Pad 5: An Ideal Tablet to Replace iPad The 12-inch display has 1.07 B color support with 1200 by 2000 pixels of resolution and an impressive 84.5% screen-to-body ratio. The 5:9 aspect ratio makes for 194 ppi density. Even though the pixel density is on the lower end, the aspect ratio makes it a clear and crisp display. Users would have to squint to spot individual pixels on the Pad 8. The typical brightness of the Pad 8 reaches up to 350 nits. There’s no dedicated HBM mode on the pad so it might be a bit difficult to navigate the display under bright and direct sunlight.  The pad also supports Widevine L1 for HD streaming OTT content. The sharp resolution and large panel make it an impressive media consumption device. Unfortunately, the Pad 8 doesn’t come with a high refresh rate panel. Users are stuck with a 60 Hz refresh rate on the display.  The Camera  There’s not much going on with the camera on the Honor Pad 8. This isn’t just a case with the Pad 8. Rather tabs in general do not focus on the camera end as smartphones are leading the charge in the photography department. Read more: Apple iPad, iPad Pro 2022 Review: World’s most advanced tablets The Honor Pad 8 has two cameras – one on the front and one on the back. Both the shooters are 5 MP with the exact same spec at f/2.2 aperture, 27mm (wide), 1/5", and 1.12µm sensor size.  The back camera can shoot video up to 1080P at 30 fps. As a bonus, the back camera has autofocus. That’s about it when it comes to the camera spec on the Pad 8.  In terms of performance, the Pad 8 can take some generic shots. These are, by no means, even comparable to entry-level smartphones. It’s more suited for a quick scan of documents or video calls.  Read more: Symphony SYMTAB 80 Review: Budget Tablet for Regular Use Processor and Performance  The Honor Pad 8 is powered by Snapdragon 680 based on the 4 Nm chipset. The octa-core processor has a 4 A73 2.4GHz and 4 A53 1.9GHz chip design. The processor is coupled with Adreno 610 GPU.  On paper, the 680 is a lower mid-range processor from Snapdragon. So it would be a bit extreme to expect gaming-level performance from the Pad 8. Even then, the device was able to run all the leading 3D game titles like PUBG, Asphalt 9, and COD with moderate graphics settings. However, there were slight stutters and frame drops here and there. The Pad did a good job at heat management. The device didn’t excessively heat up even after an hour of continued gaming.  The Pad 8 comes with Android 12 onboard with Magic UI 6.1. The OS has been customized to suit Pad usability with iPad OS-like design. There’s a dock on the home screen with the recently used app list. The device also supports a split screen with two apps and an additional floating app. So in effect, users will be able to use up to three apps at the same time. It’s an impressive feature given the limited processing power of the Pad 8.  Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Pad Review: Budget Tablet Worth Consideration Overall, the performance of the Pad 8 is more than satisfactory. The tab is geared to be a utility device for day-to-day tasks like reading, split screen use, casual browsing and media consumption.  Battery and Charge Time  The Honor Pad 8 comes with a 7250 mAh battery on board. The battery is coupled with  22.5W fast charging. With a full charge, the device can last around 10 to 100 hours of continued use. The higher battery performance is partly due to the Wi-Fi-only connectivity on the device.  Pros and Cons of Honor Pad 8 Tab Pros:  ·      Large bright display  ·      Lightweight design  ·      Utility-focused OS customization  ·      Long battery life  ·      Decent front camera for video calls. Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Is It Worth the Price? Cons:  ·      Only Wi-Fi connectivity  ·      No expandable storage  Price of Honor Pad 8 Tab  The 4/128 GB variant of the Honor Pad 8 is officially available in India. The price of the Pad 8 is 17,999 INR which roughly amounts to 23,684 BDT (1 INR = 1.32 BDT). However, the official price differs in Bangladesh due to several regulations like import duty and local tax.  Final Words  The Honor's latest tablet Pad 8 is the perfect mid-range tab that brings a good balance of performance and price. It brings a great display, processor, and battery on board. The plastic build of the device might be a letdown but it’s an understandable trade-off considering the price and overall performance. On the whole, Honor Pad 8 can not compete with the high-end tabs from Honor or other brands. But this Tablet makes a niche of its own as an efficient and affordable option. Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra Review: A Gamer's Delight

Since Redmi became the independent sub-brand of Xiaomi, the concept of value for money has become an integral part of its identity. Xiaomi’s Redmi flagship phones have consistently delivered exceptional performance. From the K20 series to the K60 lineup, each of these phones provides top-notch specifications at an astonishingly competitive price point. This trend persists with the introduction of the Redmi K60 Ultra. While K60 Ultra was released on August 15, 2023, it was available in Bangladesh on August 25. Let’s see the details of this phone. Key Features of Xiaomi Redmi K60 Ultra Design In the K60 Ultra mobile phone, Redmi has made a significant change by removing the plastic brackets on all four sides of the screen. The immediate result of this change is a noticeably enhanced screen-to-body ratio. At the bottom of the phone, the adoption of the COP packaging process and the ultra-slim border create a visual effect where the bottom appears almost as wide as the left and right sides of the screen. weighing 204g, its dimensions are 162.2 mm by 75.7 mm by 8.5 mm. Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Plus Review: What are the major upgrades? The K60 Ultra phone has three cameras on the back. The main camera is really good because it’s the same kind as the one in the Mi 13. There are also two other cameras for wide-angle and close-up shots. On the top right corner of the camera, there’s a special light that helps take better pictures in different lighting. Right next to it, there’s a sensor that helps the camera work better, too. On the top of the phone, there’s a really good speaker all by itself. To the right of it, there are sensors for a remote control and two microphones that help block out noise. At the bottom of the phone, there’s another speaker that works together with the one on the top to give you stereo sound. To the right of it, there’s a port where you can plug in your charger and headphones, a microphone, and a slot for your SIM card. Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Review: Worth the Price? Display The K60 Ultra boasts a 6.67-inch OLED display with a typical brightness reaching up to 2600 nits. What sets it apart is its impressive peak brightness of 2600 nits, surpassing even the most premium flagship devices like the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Galaxy S23 Ultra.  Even more significant is the screen’s 1.5K resolution at 2712 x 1220 pixels. Because of this high resolution, you can enjoy an exceptionally immersive, detailed, and vibrant viewing experience with the phone.  Furthermore, it doesn’t skimp on performance, sporting a 144Hz refresh rate that ensures a seamlessly smooth gaming experience. Read more: Apple iPhone 15 Review: What's New? Camera The Redmi K60 Ultra has a top-notch camera setup. It features a 50 MP main camera with an IMX800 sensor. This sensor comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which helps you take sharp and clear photos without blurriness.  In addition to the 50 MP main camera, the phone also has an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro lens.  On the front, there’s a 20MP selfie camera that takes high-resolution selfies. Plus, there are various camera modes to help you get the best possible photos. In daylight photos, the Redmi K60 Ultra captures colors that look true to life, and it gets the white balance just right. When paired with Xiaomi Imaging Brain 2.0, it gives the photos a distinctive atmosphere and mood. Even though it doesn’t have a telephoto lens, the picture quality remains excellent with high resolution. Read more: realme 11x 5G Review: Budget 5G Phone with a Great Camera

The iPhone 15 Pro Max sets a new standard for smartphones, boasting innovative materials and top-tier camera capabilities. While it comes at a slightly higher price and lacks true fast charging, these are minor issues in an otherwise exceptional device. It was unveiled alongside its siblings on September 12, 2023, with pre-orders starting on September 15 and shipping on September 22. This article will dive into its impressive features and specifications. Key Features of Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Design The 2023 Pro-level iPhone from Apple showcases significant design changes and specifications. It replaces the stainless steel frame with a brushed titanium one, offering toughness, corrosion resistance, and reduced weight. Notable design alterations include contoured edges, making the phone more comfortable to hold and a thinner bezel that enhances the appearance of the Super Retina XDR display. Read more: September 2023 New Smartphone Release: Top 10 Most Anticipated Phones in Bangladesh In terms of dimensions, the iPhone 15 Pro Max measures 76.7 x 159.9 x 8.25mm, slightly smaller and thicker than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which measured 77.6 x 160.7 x 7.85mm. It is worth mentioning that the new model is almost a millimeter thicker. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is 19 grams lighter than its predecessor, weighing 221g compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max's 240g. This weight reduction is attributed to the use of a titanium body and a new recycled aluminum frame. A significant functional change is the adoption of a USB-C port, which, while slightly larger than the previous Lightning port, enables 10 Gbps high-speed data transfers (note that the included cable is not high-speed). The iPhone 15 Pro Max offers a selection of stylish color options, including Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. Read more: Vivo V27 5G Review: Is it worth buying? Display The iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with some noteworthy improvements. Apple reduced the bezel size surrounding the display, creating a visually larger screen and making the Dynamic Island appear smaller. The display maintains the same resolution as its predecessor, at 2796 x 1290 pixels and a pixel density of 460ppi. Essentially, it offers the same pixel count but with a more immersive feel. The screen is both beautiful and bright, featuring a maximum brightness of 2000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. Its wide color gamut delivers rich visuals, and the impressive 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio allows for deep blacks, enhancing the viewing experience for various content, including photos, games, apps, websites, and videos. With ProMotion support, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers smooth scrolling for web pages and impeccable performance in video playback and gaming. Its adaptive refresh rate, which can go as low as 1Hz when power conservation is required, makes it suitable for always-on functionality while maintaining energy efficiency. The device also features an Always-On display mode, which remains visible but conserves power. This mode is especially handy for quickly checking the time during the night. Read more: Honor 90 Review: A New Standard in Midrange Aesthetics Performance and Software The iPhone 15 Pro Max features the A17 Pro chip, a substantial improvement over the A16 Bionic found in its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Built on a more efficient 3nm process, the A17 Pro offers enhanced performance and potential battery life gains. Its CPU delivers a 10% speed boost, while the six-core GPU is not only 20% faster but also introduces support for on-hardware Ray Tracing. Benchmark results affirm Apple's performance claims, with the A17 Pro clocked at 3.78GHz, surpassing the A16 Bionic (3.46GHz) and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (3.36GHz). Gaming on the iPhone 15 Pro Max demonstrates its prowess, providing console-quality gaming experiences. Resident Evil: Village, for example, delivers impressive visuals on the 6.7-inch display, though on-screen controls for console games may feel cramped, necessitating a physical controller. Despite minor pixelation issues in some areas, the gaming experience remains smooth and responsive. In everyday tasks, the iPhone 15 Pro Max excels, maintaining a highly responsive user experience. It handles activities like editing multiple 4K 60fps clips in iMovie without performance hiccups. Read more: Infinix Zero 30 5G Review: Mid Range Phone with ChatGPT Assistant Support In terms of software, the iPhone 15 Pro Max runs iOS 17, which, while relatively light on updates, introduces quality-of-life enhancements. StandBy mode transforms the device into an efficient bedside clock and information hub. Features like Contact Posters and Name Drop enhance convenience. iOS 17 also enhances FaceTime interactions with new gestures for added interactivity during calls.

Apple recently announced their much-awaited iPhone 15 series in the “Wanderlust” event held at Apple Park, California on September 12. The event introduced a revamped Pro series with some interesting upgrades all across the board, especially the standard 15 and the 15 Plus. With a large display and a new front design. There’s a lot that the iPhone 15 Plus brings to the table. Let’s have a detailed look at what’s changed and what’s improved.  Key Specifications of iPhone 15 Plus   Design and Build Quality  The external design of the new iPhone 15 Plus has been slightly changed from the previous generation. It has much to do with the sharp edges, which have now been replaced with a more rounded one. Apple is calling it their “Contoured” design, which is a fancy way to describe a minor upgrade.  The next thing that’s apparent is the USB Type C port on the bottom. Apple has finally made the switch to Type C meaning the days of the lightning cable on iPhones are finally over. That is at least, for the iPhone 15 series and onwards. However, the Type C is still 2.0 on the 15 Plus, meaning reading and writing speeds would be much slower compared to the newer 3.0 found on the Pro model.  Read more: Honor 90 Review: A New Standard in Midrange Aesthetics The display has also been upgraded from the last generation. This year, users will get the Dynamic Island display first introduced in last year’s pro model. The change has much to do with the design itself as the 15 Plus is not getting the same specs as the Pro model.  Dimension-wise, the 15 Plus comes in at 160.9 mm by 77.8 mm by 7.8 mm with 201 gm weight. Apple is using Corning-made glasses for both the front and back of the device. The front glass comes with Ceramic Shield protection. The back glass now has a color-infused design which gives it a very light and toned-down look. Other than the black, the blue, green, yellow, and pink color variant looks like a lighter shade of their original color.  The 15 Plus will come with a nano sim and e-sim support for international release. The USA model will have dual e-sim support with the Chinese variant coming with dual nano-sim support. The device also has IP68 water and dust resistance. Apple claims that the device can survive up to 6m underwater for 30 minutes.  Read more: September 2023 New Smartphone Release: Top 10 Most Anticipated Phones in Bangladesh The Display  Similar to last year’s 14 Plus, the 15 Plus comes with a Super Retina XDR OLED display. The panel supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for HD-quality content streaming. The HBM mode goes up to 1000 nits with the peak hitting at 2000 nits. That is a massive 800 nits upgrade from the 14 Plus.  The 6.7-inch display with an 88% screen-to-body ratio has a flat symmetrical design on the front which gives it an aesthetic look. The display has a resolution of 1290 x 2796 pixels which makes for an uncommon 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 460 ppi. The glass front is protected by Ceramic Shield glass. The performance of the display is as usual stellar here. The colors look sharp with great contrast all around. The upgraded peak brightness makes it even better than the already amazing outdoor legibility seen on the iPhone 14 series. The Dynamic Island also makes for a useful upgrade over the last generation. Apple has included a lot of useful features over the last year on the Dynamic Island like turn-by-turn map direction, active timers, Uber waiting time, and many more. It's great that non-Pro users will be able to experience these perks as well. Read more: Walton Xanon X20 Review: Is it a value-for-money gaming phone? However, the major drawback with this otherwise stellar display is the refresh rate. The 15 and the 15 Plus still come with a 60 Hz refresh rate which is a massive letdown by 2023 standards. Apple has kept the high refresh rate only for the Pro models this year too.  The Camera  Like last year, there’s a dual diagonal camera on the back. The main sensor has been upgraded to 48 MP from last year’s 12 MP. The sensor has an f/1.6 aperture with sensor-shift OIS and 100% focus pixels.  The main sensor is complemented by a 12 MP 2 times telephoto lens with the same f/1.6 aperture. It enables the sensor to achieve lossless optical zoom of up to 4 times and digital zoom of up to 10 times.  The front side has the same 12 MP f/1.9 aperture sensor from last year.  Read more: Vivo V27 5G Review: Is it worth buying? This year, Apple has infused a lot of cutting-edge camera tech on the 15 Plus, owing to the upgraded sensor that is now on par with the main sensor on the Pro model. Users will be getting true tone flash, a photonic engine, smart HDR 5, next-generation portraits and depth controls, photographic styles, and many more.  The camera samples from the launch event looked right on par with the flagships out there. The real-world performance remains to be seen.  The videography on the 15 Plus remains the same as last year. There’s 4K at 24,25,30 and 60 fps. The cinematic mode is also here with 4K HDR at 30 fps. The action mode which can shoot hyper-stabilized videos at 2.8K is also here. The sensor shifting OIS coupled with an improved main sensor will provide some excellent videography, probably the best among any smartphones of 2023.  Read more: Oppo Reno10 5G Review: Is it a balanced phone?

Bangladesh has dropped six places on Surfshark’s annual Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index since last year. The country ranked 82nd among 121 countries, according to Surfshark’s 5th annual DQL index. The Digital Quality of Life Index is an annual study that ranks 121 countries by their digital wellbeing based on 5 core pillars. Also read: Bangladesh climbs 5 spots in latest passport ranking, still behind Sri Lanka and Libya The study is based on the United Nations’ open-source information, the World Bank, and other sources. Out of the index’s 5 pillars, Bangladesh performed best in internet quality, claiming 65th place.