While the reputed brands are bragging about folding or flipping smartphones, Huawei left them behind with its latest innovation of a three-fold device Mate XT Ultimate. It hit the China market on 20th September 2024. Featuring a magnetized triple-folding design, the phone has already set a fire of interest among smartphone enthusiasts. Let’s look at the details of the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate’s specifications, pros, cons, and price.  Key Features and Specs of Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate comes with a triple-folding body design featuring the capacity to transform into three different screen sizes- large, medium, and small. The ability lets it provide the convenience of a tablet while still being compact. When unfolded, the phone spreads a spacious display with dimensions of 156.7mm by 219 mm and a very slim thickness of just 3.6 to 4.8mm. When folded, the phone becomes much smaller and easier to carry, Folded Mate XT Ultimate measures 156.7 mm by 73.5 mm by 12.8mm. The solid and durable build of the phone weighs only 298 grams.  Despite its lightweight body of only 298 grams, it still feels solid and durable. The Mate XT also supports dual SIM cards and rooms essential buttons and sensors just in place. Read more: realme GT Neo 6 SE Review: Know the Pros and Cons Display The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate features a tri-foldable LTPO OLED display that adapts to different sizes based on how the phone is folded. In its full form, the screen measures 10.2 inches, offering clear visuals with a resolution of 2232 by 3184 pixels with around 381 PPI density. When partially folded, it transforms into a 7.9-inch display sporting a 2048 by 2232 pixels resolution. When fully folded, it has a 6.4-inch cover screen featuring 1008 by 2232 pixels resolution. The screen supports 1.07 billion colors and a wide P3 color gamut, ensuring a rich and accurate color experience. With a 90Hz refresh rate, the display delivers smooth movement, while the 240Hz touch sampling rate helps the screen respond quickly to touch inputs. The screen also uses LTPO technology to adjust the refresh rate for better efficiency and 1440Hz PWM dimming to reduce flickering and make viewing easier on the eyes. Read more: Top Smartphones Launching in September 2024: iPhone 16 and More Cameras The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate stands out with its camera setup, offering a 50MP (f/1.4 to f/4.0) main camera with a variable aperture, allowing users to adjust the amount of light for better photo control.  This feature is usually found in high-end photography phones. The 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide camera provides a 120° field of view, though it isn’t as high resolution as some competitors. The standout feature is the 12MP (f/3.4) periscope telephoto lens with 5.5x optical zoom, which is impressive for a foldable phone, giving users more flexibility for distant shots. The front-facing 8MP (f/2.2) camera might seem low in resolution, but it still compares favorably to other foldable, like the Galaxy Z Fold 6.  For video, the Mate XT can shoot a maximum of 4K footage with the rear and front sensors. The rear sensor offers features like gyro-EIS, HDR, and optical image stabilization (OIS) helping to improve video quality in various lighting conditions. Read more: Oppo Reno 12 Pro 5G Review: Midrange Phone with AI Features

Apple has been consistent with its mid-September launch schedule over the years. Last year, the iPhone 15 series was announced on 12th September with pre-orders beginning just three days later. With less than a month to go for this year’s speculated release, here are some exciting and almost-confirmed changes we’ll see on the new iPhone 16 series.  Major Leaks and Rumors Regarding iPhone 16 series  An Upgraded Display  The iPhone 16 series is set to feature a larger and brighter display with even more reduced bezels than the 15 series. The new models are tipped to be 6.3 inches in the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Pro whereas the 16 Plus and 16 Pro Max will be bumped up to 6.9 inches. It’s a good 0.2-inch upgrade over the current variants.  It’s also tipped that the 16 series will feature new displays developed by Samsung. The new models are set to be even brighter thanks to the M14 OLED material on the micro-LED panel.  There was a rumor regarding the inclusion of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. However, the plan is reported to have been scrapped in favor of an overhauled Face ID system.  Read more: Best Free Personal Safety Android, iOS Apps for Women in 2024 New Camera System  There will be several changes to the camera system of the 16 series. The first and most obvious change comes in the base 16 and 16 Plus as they will now feature vertical camera lenses. The change isn’t just aesthetic as the vertical setup will allow the devices to shoot spatial videos compatible with the Vision Pro headset.  The 16 Pro will get the 5X telephoto zoom lens this time around which was reserved for the Pro Max variant last year. The ultrawide sensor will also be updated to a 48 MP sensor across the models. This is a highly anticipated upgrade as the iPhones had the same 12 MP ultrawide shooter since the 11.  There’s also an unreliable rumor about a larger main sensor and a super-telephoto lens for the Pro Max. But you’ll be better off taking that with a grain of salt. Read more: Oppo Reno 12 Pro 5G Review: Midrange Phone with AI Features New Buttons  Last year we saw the Action Button on the Pro models which replaced the long-standing and much-loved mute toggle. This year, Apple is making the Action Button a standard in all the models. And with that, the mute toggle is truly gone from the Apple design system.  But for those who like customization, the Action Button is set to include all the features from the 15 Pro series with a possible inclusion of a few more with the new iOS update.  Apple is also planning to include a Capture Button this year. It will be placed below the power button where your index finger generally would be while taking a landscape shot. The haptic-based mechanism will function as a focus, zooming, and capturing button depending on press strength.  It's Apple’s way of mimicking traditional photography and bringing a sense of nostalgia into mobile photography. Read more: Honor 200 Pro Review: A Flagship Camera Experience A New Chip for Better AI and ML  The new 16 series will feature the updated Apple’s Bionic A18 chip. However, the chipset could be differentiated into A18 and A18 Pro for the standard and Pro variants. The souped-up version is expected to have more GPU cores than the standard one. The A18 Pro is also slated to have the next-gen neural engine for upgraded AI and ML capabilities. This will make way for future Apple Intelligence integration.  The new models will also feature a better thermal management system across all the options. The current iPhone models feature a copper-based heat dissipation solution. The new models, as tipped, will come with a graphene-based solution for better efficiency.  This is a much-needed upgrade considering how powerful the Apple chips are. Last year we noticed certain thermal throttling issues on the iPhone 15 series. Given the processor upgrade, the thermal management system upgrade also seems the logical solution.  Read more: vivo iQOO Z9x 5G Review: Budget Meets Substance RAM Upgradation  iPhone has been stuck on 6 GB RAM for several iterations. That’s hopefully going to change with the iPhone 16 series as all the models are slated to come with a standard 8 GB RAM.  Latest Battery Technology  The iPhone 16 series will see the introduction of the stacked battery technology for the first time. Battery stacking is usually seen in EVs and medical equipment. It's still an emerging tech in smartphones which helps to save a lot of internal space.  The 16 series may also see the use of a stainless steel casing for the battery. It’ll increase the overall battery density by 10% which in turn means longer-lasting battery health. However, it is highly likely to be featured on one of the Pro variants.  Read more: Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Flip Phone Review: A Trip to Nostalgia Reports coming out of China hint at a 2.5% to 6% increase in battery on the standard 16, 16 Pro, and Pro Max. The Plus however might see a battery decrement.  Unconfirmed reports also suggest the charging speed be bumped up to 40W wired and 27W MagSafe charging. The significant jump in charge speed makes us question its authenticity even more. But if it does happen, we’re all here for it.  New 5G Modem  Apple is reportedly going with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 modem for their Pro models this year. The X75 brings upgraded and advanced 5G capabilities with AI and ML integration. It is also reported to use 20% less circuit than the existing X70 modems making it more power efficient.  Read more: OPPO Reno 12 5G Review: Upholding the Legacy? However, the standard 16 and 16 Plus will feature the X70 modem seen on the 15 series. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecasts that this is the last year of Apple using third-party modems. We might see in-house 5G modems coming out with the 2025 iPhones.  Increased Price  An unfortunate report coming out of China is that the 16 series might see a price increment for all the models. Last year the production cost of the 15 series was already at an all-time high with a 16% increment over the 14 series. While Apple resorted to absorbing the cost, the same might not hold for the 16 series. As a result, there’s strong speculation of “The most expensive iPhones yet”.  Final Words  To be honest, the iPhone 16 series might not be the next big thing in Apple's innovation list. It's going to be just another incremental update over the 15 with minor spec bumps and new colorways. The Apple Intelligence is expected to show up sometime in Q4 this year, well after the launch of the 16 series. For now, all eyes are on a mid-September release date and the speculated release of the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 17 Air next year.  Read more: Top 8 Smartphones Launching in August 2024: Features, Specs, and Release Dates

In the early 2000s, the Razr lineup took the world by storm with the Razr V3. The feature phone was the slimmest flip phone with a futuristic design that looked decades ahead. Over two decades later, the Razr line now represents cutting-edge foldable smartphones from Motorola. The new Razr 50 Ultra was released on June 25, 2024, as a successor to last year’s 40 Ultra. Here’s a detailed take on this year’s flip from Moto. Key Specs of Motorola Razr 50 Ultra   Design and Build Quality By all means, the Razr 50 Ultra brings a similar aesthetic to the bygone era of feature flip phones. The same compact form factor has now incorporated a large cover display and a foldable inner display, among a host of other improvements. The device has a dimension of 73.99 mm by 171.42 mm by 7.09 mm (open) and 73.99 mm by 88.09 mm by 15.32 mm (closed). The effective weight comes in at 189 g with a 6000 series high-strength aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass Victus front, and a vegan leather back. Read more: Honor Magic 6 Pro: Is It a Value for Money Smartphone? The 50 Ultra brings improvements over last year's 40 Ultra in several aspects. Users will now get a larger cover display, a revamped camera system, and an improved stainless steel hinge mechanism. The crease on the inner display looks even more minimal than last year, visible only under direct light. Ports and buttons are all in their usual positions. As with all flip phones, the in-display fingerprint scanner is scrapped in favor of a side-mounted power button. This year, the device's IPX8 water and dust resistance has also improved. The 50 Ultra will be available in four color options, Midnight Blue, Spring Green, Peach Fuzz, and Hot Pink. The Display Both the cover and inner display on the 50 Ultra use the LTPO AMOLED panel, which has been a trademark choice for Motorola in its high-end offerings. The cover display now comes in at 4 inches with a 1272 by 1080 pixels resolution, 417 ppi, and a 165 Hz refresh rate. It also supports a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, while the inner screen bumps it up to 120%. This is by far one of the largest cover displays among any flip phone out there. Read more: Samsung Galaxy S24 Review: Striking Balance Between Flagship Features and Price The inner display comes in at 6.9 inches with 1B colors, Dolby Vision, a 165Hz high refresh rate, HDR10+, and 3000 nits of peak brightness. The resolution is 1080 by 2640 pixels with a 413 ppi density. The aspect ratio on the inner screen is 85.33% due to the tall aspect ratio of 22:9. Both the cover and inner screen look every bit flagship-worthy. Especially the cover screen, which now supports Google Maps, photos, and Gmail natively. Other apps are available as widgets. App functions are also seamlessly transitioned between the cover and inner screen, making it convenient to use at a glance. The Camera There’s a dual camera setup on the 50 Ultra, with the main camera being a 50 MP, f/1.7, 24mm wide-angle shooter with a 1/1.95" sensor. The secondary camera is a 50 MP, f/2.0, telephoto lens with a 1/2.76” sensor. It supports up to 2x optical zoom. Read more: vivo iQOO 12 Review: Flagship Killer or a Flagship Itself? The front camera is a 32 MP f/2.4 wide-angle shooter. In terms of performance, the camera won’t exactly blow you away. Foldable and flip phones have a track record of prioritizing cameras less, and the 50 Ultra is no different. But it's an improvement over the 40 Ultra. The main camera can take well-exposed and detailed pictures in daylight. The color balance and contrast were on point, with great dynamic range. However, the white balance appears to be a bit saturated, which doesn’t translate to natural images. Read more: 7 Best Smartphones in Tk 35000-45000 Range in July 2024 The low-light performance was also pretty decent, thanks to the night mode. The details may look a bit oversharpened when zoomed in, but other than that, it was a smooth sail. As for the front camera, it also produced decent selfies. However, you can easily use the main 50 MP camera as your selfie cam thanks to the large cover screen. The videography on the 50 Ultra is rated at 4K at 30/60fps and 1080P at 30/60/120/240/960fps. It supports HDR10+ thanks to the OIS and EIS of the main shooter. Read more: Honor Pad 9 Tablet: Is It Worth Buying? Processor and Performance The processor on the 50 Ultra is Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 based on a 4 Nm architecture. It has a chip design of 1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4, 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520 with an Adreno 735 GPU. On paper, the 8s Gen 3 is slightly below the flagship 8 Gen 3 and more on par with the outgoing 8 Gen 2. But in day-to-day use, you’ll hardly notice any difference. Gaming titles like PUBG and Genshin Impact could be easily played at max settings. Optimized titles like Asphalt 9 ran smoothly without any hiccups. However, the thermal management hasn’t been great on the 50 Ultra. As is typical of most flip phones, this device also suffers from thermal throttling. We noticed a 51% rating on the CPU throttling test, which isn’t all that great. Read more: Meizu 21 Review: A Detailed Look at the Latest Flagship Killer Benchmark Geekbench 6: 1866 (single-core); 4441 (multi-core) Antutu 10: 1140567 3D Mark Wild Life: 12024 The Razr 50 Ultra falls short of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra in all the benchmarks except for the 3D Mark test. Software The Razr 50 Ultra is running Hello UI based on Android 14. It is an AOSP UI with several of Moto’s in-house additions. The tweaks are neatly arranged in the Moto Hub, including Smart Connect options. Motorola has committed to 3 years of major software updates and 4 years of security patches. Battery and Charge Time The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra comes with a 4000 mAh battery. The relatively smaller battery can be charged up by the included 45W TurboPowerTM charging support. Additionally, the device supports 15W of wireless charging and 5W of reverse wireless charging. Read more: Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro Review: A Camera-focused Smartphone with Flagship-level Specs Pros and Cons of Motorola Razr 50 Ultra Pros: - Foldable LTPO AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution- 165 Hz refresh rate on both the cover and inner screen- Larger cover screen- Up to 3000 nits of HBM- Stereo speakers- Upgraded camera system- IPX8 water resistance- 45W wired fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse charging. Cons: - No headphone jack- Thermal throttling issues- Cameras are still not on par with traditional flagships- Lower battery life. Read more: Motorola Edge 50 Pro Review: A Competent Mid-Range Smartphone Price of Motorola Razr 50 Ultra The Razr 50 Ultra is available in only 12/512 GB variants. The price of the device is 94,999 INR (with a discount). It roughly translates to around 1,33,127 BDT (1 INR = 1.40 BDT). However, the official price of the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra in Bangladesh may vary depending on tax and other issues. Verdict The Razr 50 Ultra brings a host of improvements in terms of the hinge mechanism, cover display, inner crease, and camera. With its improvements, the 50 Ultra feels like a strong contender to this year’s industry-leading flip phone, the Galaxy Z Flip 6. Although the Razr falls short in terms of performance and other metrics, it also comes at a reduced price point. If you are looking for a solid flip phone with a dash of Razr nostalgia from the yester-decades, then the Motorola Razr 50 Ultra will be an easy pick for you. But if budget is not an issue, the Flip 6 would still be a better deal overall. Read more: Top 10 Smartphones Coming in July 2024

Honor has always been a prominent name in smartphone innovation. Originally part of Huawei, it is now a separate company. With the Magic series, Honor launches their top-tier smartphones. Magic series has been steadily improving its features over the past few years. The new Honog Magic 6 Pro was released on 18th January globally. This phone is currently available in Bangladesh too. Let’s look at the specifications, pros, cons, and price of Honor Magic 6 Pro for a better understanding of its value. Key Features of Honor Magic 6 pro Design The Honor Magic 6 Pro inherits a design, that evolved from its predecessor, the Magic 5 Pro. It measures 162.5 mm by 75.8 mm by 8.9mm with a 6.8-inch display, making it a great choice for those who prefer larger screens.  Despite its size, it weighs 225g, making it lighter than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (232g).  The phone showcases a refined "Star Wheel" camera module. This design adds a unique look and makes the phone more comfortable to hold.  Read more: itel S24 Review: A Budget-friendly Smartphone with 108 MP Camera It has a glass front. It comes with a glass or silicone polymer built panel on the rear side. Unlike flagships such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max or Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Magic 6 Pro is not built with titanium. However, 6 Pro offers durability with its IP68 water and dust resistance.  Display The Honor Magic 6 Pro features a 6.8-inch OLED display with curved edges that spill over the sides of the device, setting it apart from most flat-edged phones. It includes a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate for smooth scrolling. 6 pro features a 1280 by 2800 pixels resolution. The display uses Honor’s Circadian Night Display technology to filter blue light, improving sleep quality and has a high 4,320Hz PWM dimming cycle rate to reduce eye strain. It ensures a clear and vibrant display with a peak HDR brightness of 5,000 nits in specialized conditions and around 1,600 nits in everyday use.  Honor’s NanoCrystal Shield protects the screen, claimed to be 10 times stronger than regular glass. It offers durability against daily wear and tear. Read more: OnePlus Nord CE4 Review: A Performance-oriented Mid-range Smartphone Performances The Honor Magic 6 Pro is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s 4 nm chipset, ensuring fast and efficient performance. The processor is combined with GPU Adreno 750. It comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, allowing for smooth multitasking and ample space for apps and media.  The phone runs on Honor's Magic OS 8.0, based on Android 14, and includes unique features like Magic Capsule for quick control of music, timers, notifications, and calls. Magic Portal simplifies app switching with a single swipe. Although lacking generative AI tools, the Magic 6 Pro promises four years of Android updates and five years of security updates. This setup easily handles web browsing, messaging, gaming, and video streaming.  Read more: OPPO A60 Review: Durability within Budget Cameras The Honor Magic 6 Pro has come with a powerful camera system.  It includes a 50MP wide lens with an adjustable aperture (f/1.4-2.0), automatically switching for optimal lighting conditions. The 180MP periscope telephoto lens (f/2.6) offers 2.5x optical zoom and 5x lossless zoom. Additionally, there’s a 50MP ultra-wide lens (f/2.0) and a 50 MP front-facing camera.  The rear cameras can record 4K video at up to 60 fps, while the front camera supports a maximum of 4K video recording at 30 fps. Battery and Charger The Honor Magic 6 Pro features a 5,600mAh silicon-carbon battery, offering about a day and a half of casual use.  It supports 80W wired and 66W wireless charging, though no charger is included in the box.  Read more: How to Extend Laptop Battery Life Honor claims a full charge takes 40 minutes, which tests confirmed. Using a 100W charger, the phone reached 36% charge in 15 minutes, 70% in 30 minutes, and a full charge in 46 minutes. This is faster than charging times for iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24 models but slightly slower than the Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12R. However, the lower-wattage chargers will result in slower charging. Pros and cons of Honor Magic 6 Pro Pros - 5G and NFC support- LTPO OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate- High brightness rating- Excellent performance for gaming and multitasking- Triple camera with 2.5x optical zoom- 4K video recording with gyro-EIS- Long battery life with fast wired and wireless charging- IP68 dust/water resistance - Stereo speakers- Infrared port- Latest Android 14 with MagicOS 8- Emergency SOS via satellite- Advanced selfie camera with TOF 3D and 4K video recording. Read more: Samsung Galaxy S24 Review: Striking Balance Between Flagship Features and Price  Cons - Slightly unreliable software - Slightly heavy - No audio jack - Cameras are inconsistent - No charger in the box - No micro SD card slot - Curved display - No 8K video recording Price of the Honor Magic 6 Pro in Bangladesh Honor Magic 6 Pro is available in Bangladesh for around BDT 1,15,000. However, the price may vary depending on the sellers. Read more: Symphony Innova 20 Review: An Affordable Phone with Smart Features Conclusion The Honor Magic 6 Pro is a high-end smartphone that excels in multiple areas. Its sophisticated design, highlighted by an OLED display with a higher refresh rate and durable build, is complemented by impressive performance powered by the powerful chipset, innovative software, and vast memory. The camera system features a wide lens with an adjustable aperture, a periscope telephoto lens, and an ultra-wide lens. This triple rear camera series offers versatile photography capabilities. The battery supports fast wired and wireless charging, ensuring extended use.  However, the 6 Pro lacks a micro SD card slot and audio jack.  Overall, the Honor Magic 6 Pro's robust feature set makes it a compelling choice for those seeking a high-performance flagship device. Read more: 6 Most Talked About Smartphones Releasing in June 2024

Earlier this year, Samsung introduced its flagship lineup, the S24 series on 17th January globally. The device is currently available in Bangladesh. So what makes this device so special? Let’s find out through the display, design, processor, pros and cons of the Samsung Galaxy S24 5G.  Key Specs of the Samsung Galaxy S24   Design and Build Quality  If you put last year’s S23 next to the S24, it will be hard to tell the difference. Other than being a millimeter taller and wider on the S24, there’s virtually no difference between the two. And that’s probably a good thing.  The S24 comes in at 147 mm by 70.6 mm by 7.6 mm with either 167 g or 168 g weight (depending on the processor). The front and back feature the latest Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with updated armor aluminum 2 making up the frame.  The three camera cutouts are arranged vertically with a single LED flash on the side. The S24 with all its powerhouse glory is a remarkably minimal smartphone with muted elements.  Read more: vivo iQOO 12 Review: Flagship Killer or a Flagship Itself? Ports and buttons are all as usual from the S23. Users will get a host of sim options from nano-sim and e-sim to dual e-sim or dual nano-sim depending on the region. The micro SDXC and the headphones are missing as expected.  The S24 comes in Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Onyx Black, and Marble Gray color options. The device also retains the IP68 water and dust resistance of its predecessor (Up to 1.5 m for 30 mins).  The Display  The display on the S24 is a 6.2-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel with 120Hz refresh rate HDR10+ support, 16 M color, and 2600 nits of peak brightness. The near end-to-end display looks every bit stunning as the spec suggests. It has a 1080 by 2340 pixels resolution at a 19.5: 9 aspect ratio. The pixel density comes in at 416 ppi. The screen-to-body ratio comes in at 90.9%. The screen quality is the same as the S23 except now it gets even brighter and the bezels are even narrower. It's no secret that Samsung is the standard when it comes to smartphone displays and the S24 rightly holds up in its compact space.  Read more: Symphony Innova 20 Review: An Affordable Phone with Smart Features The Camera  There’s a triple camera setup on the Galaxy S24. Again, it’s the same sensors from last year’s S23 with almost all the tweaks and changes made on the software end.  The main sensor is a 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm wide-angle shooter with dual PDAF and OIS. The second sensor is a 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm telephoto lens, and the last one is a 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120Ëš  ultrawide shooter. The front camera is a 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm wide-angle shooter.  The S24 with its camera performance doesn’t compare with the Ultra model. Pictures taken in daylight came out great with good exposure, color balance, and dynamic range. The ultrawide shooter also held its ground on par with the main sensor. However, things are almost the same as the S23 when it comes to nighttime photography. There are still noticeable grains even with the night mode on. The exposure was great but it still leaves much to be desired from a flagship smartphone. The front camera took great photos outdoors and indoors and the 3x portrait shots.  Read more: Meizu 20 Review: A Solid Performer in the Mid-range Segment The maximum videography capacities for rear and front cameras are 8K at 24/30fps, and 4K at 30/60 fps respectively. The video quality was flagship-worthy with its focus, smoothness, and overall stability.  Processor and Performance  The processor is where things get a bit convoluted with the S24. Unlike last year, Exynos is back on the Galaxy S24. The S24 comes with Exynos 2400 based on 4 Nm architecture for all international models.  However, the USA, Canadian, and Chinese variants come with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also based on 4 Nm architecture.  The Exynos chip is a deca-core processor whereas the Snapdragon one is the usual octa-core one. The change is also reflected in the GPU as the Exynos chip comes with Xclipse 940 and the Snapdragon one comes with Adreno 750.  Read more: Walton Walpad 10H Pro Review: Budget-friendly Tablet with Decent Performance Here's a side-by-side comparison in terms of benchmark scores.  Benchmark/Processor Geekbench 6 Antutu 10  3D Mark  Exynos 2400 2196 (single core) 6964 (multi-core)  1777263 13930 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3  2193 (single core)  7304 (multi-core)  2087940 16526 In terms of performance benchmark, it is clear that the 8 Gen 3 holds a slightly upper hand over the Exynos processor.  In the test, the Snapdragon processor performed as it should. The gaming experience was top-notch notch with Warzone supporting max settings. We were able to get a constant 60 fps until the device started heating. After an hour or so, the fps stabilized between 45 to 50. The results were similar to PUBG, Genshin Impact, and Asphalt 9.  Read more: realme C65 5G Review: Is This Budget-friendly Phone Worth Buying? Day-to-day use was also a breeze with the S24. Everything felt quick and snappy with no lags whatsoever.  Software  The software is also where Samsung has hit it out of the park. The company is offering up to 7 years of security and major software updates for the entire S24 series. The S24 itself comes with One UI 6.1 based on Android 14. It’s clean and near bloatware-free which is miles better than what Samsung’s OS used to be.  Battery and Charge Time  The battery on the S24 is 4000 mAh. For a compact phone, the battery sacrifice was expected.  The device supports up to 25W wired fast charging that can take the device from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes.  The S24 also supports 15W wireless and 4.5W reverse wireless charging.  Read more: Motorola Moto G24 Power Review: A Competent Smartphone within BDT 13000 Pros and Cons of Samsung Galaxy S24  Pros:  - Compact size - Strong build quality - Excellent Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel - Great Camera performance with telephoto and ultrawide lens - IP68 water and dust resistance - Host of AI features - Up to 7 years of OS and security update- Wireless and reverse charging facilities. Cons:  - No headphone jack or micro SDXC slot - No satellite SOS - UFS 3.1 storage on 128 GB variant.  Read more: Haylou RS5 Review: A Budget-friendly Smartwatch with Health Monitoring Features Price of Samsung Galaxy S24 5G The 8/128 GB variant of Galaxy S24 is currently available in Bangladesh for around BDT 72000. And, the 8/256 GB variant costs around BDT 80000. However, the price may vary depending on the sellers. Verdict  The Galaxy S24 can be best described as an incremental update over last year’s S23. There are some minor tweaks which makes it even more polished, even more refined. The display, camera, and performance are its strongest suit as ever.  A better charging speed and the option for a global Snapdragon would’ve made things perfect for the S24. There are other compact smartphones like the Pixel 8. But the Samsung Galaxy S24 5G is simply a better all-around deal in the flagship market.  Read more: vivo V30 Lite Review: Know the Pros and Cons

iQOO smartphones are known for their reliable performance at a marginal price. Their lineup is often dubbed as gaming on a budget. But the marginal price and the flagship killer tag come with certain corner cuts. But that all changed with their new release. iQOO launched the iQOO 12 on 14th November 2023. The device brings improvements in almost every sector compared to its predecessor. Now the question arises, is the vivo iQOO 12 a flagship killer or a proper flagship itself? Let’s find out.  Key Specs of the vivo iQOO 12   Design and Build Quality  It seems like iQOO has been inspired by OnePlus’s Never Settle philosophy when it comes to design. Gone are the rectangular camera housing which has been replaced with a rather square-ish round look. iQOO calls it the porthole design.  The build quality feels more sturdy thanks to the aluminum frame and glass back composition. The dimension of the iQOO 12 comes in at 163.22 mm by 75.88 mm by 8.10 mm (Alpha and Legend) or 8.35 mm (Desert Red). The weight of the device also differs as Alpha and Legend comes in at 203.7 g and the Desert Red comes in at 198.5 g. iQOO has partnered with BMW for the Legend variant. It adds a distinct dash of the M series colorways in a white AG Fluorite back. Read more: Infinix Note 40 Pro Review: A Mid-Range Phone with 108P sensor, MagSafe Charging Ports and buttons are in their usual space as before. The 12 with its updated looks and build quality seems to be on par with most flagships today. The Chinese variant even has IP64 water and dust resistance. However, it couldn’t be confirmed whether it’s the same for the global variant as well.  The Display  The display on the iQOO 12 is a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED 8T panel with 1B colors, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1400 nits of HBM, and 3000 nits of peak brightness. The resolution of the panel comes in at 1260 by 2800 pixels at a 20:9 aspect ratio. It brings the pixel count to about 452 ppi.  One of the impressive things about the iQOO 12 is the ultra-slim symmetric bezel on all sides. It takes the screen real estate to 89.6% screen-to-body ratio.  Read more: Samsung Galaxy M55 Review: Here’s What It Offers The display also has a 2160 Hz PWM dimming mode for ease of usage in ultra-low light conditions. iQOO also incorporated an intelligent anti-fatigue brightness strategy and low blue light emission to relieve the stress on the eyes.  The overall experience with the host of features has been excellent. The display is fast, accurate, has great colors, and is simply a pleasure for content consumption.  The Camera  The camera on the iQOO 12 got a massive improvement over last year’s 11. There’s a new triple camera setup with the main sensor being a 50 MP f/1.7 23 mm wide angle lens with PDAF and OIS. There’s also a 64 MP f/2.6 70 mm periscope telephoto lens and a 50 MP f/2.0 119 degrees ultrawide lens.  There’s also a 16 MP f/2.5 selfie shooter on the front.  Read more: ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus Review with Pros and Cons The flagship-grade sensors also provide impressive results. Pictures taken during the day had great contrast and sharpness to them with decent dynamic range. You might notice a slightly warm tone in a typical vivo fashion. Pictures taken at night were on par with daylight images thanks to the night mode. The front camera also took decent selfies. However it lacked details and sharpness compared to the main sensor.  The videography on the iQOO 12 is rated to be 8K at 30fps, 4K at 24/30/60fps, and 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps. Both the EIS and OIS do a great job of stabilizing and providing good-quality videos. The selfie shooter can capture only 1080p videos at 30fps.

After an exciting March release schedule, smartphone enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to in April as well. March saw most of the releases at MWC. The story would be more or less the same in April as well as Chinese releases in the previous months will have their global debut in April. With that said, here’s a list of the most anticipated smartphones to be released in April 2024.  Most Hyped Smartphones Releasing This April  OnePlus Nord CE4  The Nord CE from OnePlus has been the budget lineup of the brand for several years now. The Nord CE phones bring exceptional value for money like an ode to OnePlus’s early days.  We already have official renders of the new Nord CE4 on OnePlus India’s official website. The smartphone is expected to feature a 6.74-inch AMOLED panel with 1240 by 2772 resolution, 451 ppi density, 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR 10+ support.  The processor will be an octa-core Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 based on the 4 Nm architecture coupled with Adreno 732 GPU. Users will be getting micro SDXC support along with 8/256 GB and 12/256 GB RAM configurations.  Read more: iQOO Neo7 SE Review: Competent Mid-range Gaming Phone The back will feature two cameras with the main one being a 50 MP f/1.8 shooter. The second camera is rumored to be an 8 MP ultrawide shooter. The front will feature a usual 16 MP sensor.  We don’t have an exact release date as of yet, but based on rumors, it is expected to be sometime in mid-April.  OnePlus Nord 4  Another smartphone from OnePlus that’s expected to hit the international market is the OnePlus Nord 4. The Nord 4 will be the global variant of the already announced OnePlus Ace 3V.  By all accounts, the Nord 4 will share a lot of similarities with the CE4. But the former will have certain features to justify its higher price.  Read more: ZTE Blade V50 Design 4G Review: Surprising Features on a Budget-friendly Phone Unlike the CE4, the Nord 4 will come with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor. It will also have IP65 water and dust resistance. The Nord 4 will unfortunately miss out on the extendable storage option. The rest of the configuration is expected to be the same as of now.  Samsung Galaxy M15  Samsung is gearing up with their budget and mid-range lineup in April. The first of the M series smartphones to hit the market would be the budget Galaxy M15.  The M15 will feature a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate, 800 nits HBM, and 1080 by 2340 resolutions. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio will boast 396 ppi density.  On the processor end, users will be getting the entry-level MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ based on a 6 Nm architecture. The octa-core processor has a chip design of 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55. The smartphone will come in 4/128 GB, 6/128 GB, 8/128 GB, and 8/256 GB storage configurations. Read more: ZTE Nubia Red Magic 9 Pro Plus Review with Pros and Cons There’s a triple camera setup on the M15 with the main sensor being a 50 MP f/1.8 shooter. The additional sensors are a 5 MP f/2.2 ultrawide and a 2 MP f/2.4 macro lens. The front will feature a 13 MP f/2.0 selfie shooter.  The expected release date of the Galaxy M15 is sometime in mid-April.  Samsung Galaxy M55  There’s a hard rumor going around about the new Galaxy M55. The initial idea that the M55 would mirror the A55 has been quelled thanks to a series of new leaks.  The M55 will feature a 6.7-inch screen with Super AMOLED tech onboard. That means a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 1000 nits HBM is on the cards.  Read more: Symphony Z70 Review: 52MP Camera under BDT 10000 The Exynos 1480 found on the A55 would be replaced by a rather old Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 on the M55. The storage options will be either 128 GB or 256 GB with an extension of up to 1 TB.  The camera remains more or less the same with reduced ultrawide and macro capabilities and an enhanced selfie camera compared to the A55. The Galaxy M55 will go live sometime in late April.  Motorola Edge 50 Pro  Motorola is gearing up with its flagship release of the year, the Edge 50 Pro.  The smartphone is expected to be powered by the new Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 processor. It’s an underclocked version of this year’s flagship 8 Gen 3. The smartphone is absolutely stacked in terms of storage as users will be getting options of up to 12 GB RAM and 512 GB of internal storage. Read more: Best and Worst Android OS Considering Bloatware in 2024 The display on the Edge 50 Pro is rumored to be a 6.7-inch FHD AMOLED panel with a 165 Hz refresh rate. The smartphone will also feature a triple camera setup with the main camera tipped to be a 50 MP one.  The official India launch date of the Edge 50 Pro is set on 3rd April.  realme GT 5 Pro  Even though the realme GT5 Pro had its official launch last December, it didn’t make its global debut. Words coming from China indicate that things are about to change as the GT5 Pro may make its global debut sometime in April. The smartphone is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 4nm processor with storage options going up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB internal.  Read more: Pros & Cons of Flagship Smartphones As for the display, the GT5 Pro has a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with 1B colors, 144 Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support with 1264 by 2780 resolutions.  The triple camera setup features a 50 MP f/1.7 main shooter, a 50 MP f/2.6 periscope lens, and an 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens. The front camera is a 32 MP f/2.5 selfie shooter. For more on the GT5 Pro, check out the in-depth review. Infinix Note 40 Pro+  Infinix Note 40 Pro+ will make its global debut sometime in late April. The news comes after the smartphone had its official Chinese release on 18th March 2024.  The Note 40 Pro+ will be powered by the mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7020 based on a 6 Nm architecture. The storage configuration comes in a single 12/256 GB option.  Read more: Infinix Hot 40 Review: Is It A Good Deal Under BDT 18000? The display on the Note 40 Pro+ is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 1080 by 2436 resolution.  The camera on the Note 40 Pro+ is its key selling point. The main sensor is a 108 MP f/1.8 sensor with both PDAF and OIS. The additional sensors are two 2 MP depth and a macro shooter. The front features a 32 MP f/2.2 sensor.  Tecno Pova 6 Pro  And the last one on the list is the Tecno Pova 6 Pro slated to launch in mid-April. The news comes after the device was officially announced in February this year.  Tecno Pova 6 Pro is expected to be powered by Mediatek Dimensity 6080 based on 6 nm architecture. The storage option on the device will go up to 256 GB internal and 12 GB of RAM.  Read more: Tecno Spark 20 Pro Plus Review: Budget-friendly Phone with Premium Camera The display on the Pova 6 Pro will be a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution featuring 1080 by 2436 pixels, and 1300 nits of peak brightness. Pova 6 Pro will feature a triple camera setup. However, users will have the 108 MP f/1.9 main sensor only to work with, in principle. The additional rear sensors are a 2 MP depth sensor and a 0.08 MP auxiliary sensor. It also has a 32 f/2.2 MP selfie shooter.  Final Words  April 2024 is lined up with a lot of exciting smartphone releases ranging from flagships to mid-range to budget-friendly segments. Most of the releases have already been launched in the Chinese market as it always gets the exclusive first release from most local brands. Nonetheless, users will be getting a lot of choices in terms of price and performance match. Read more: Most Anticipated Smartphones Coming in March 2024

The smartphone market brings diverse types of devices to cater to the needs of people seeking diverse price levels. The most advanced smartphones that belong to the top tier are called the “flagship phones”.  But not everyone can afford these high-end phones. Like other segments, flagship phones have a particular fan base around the world. Now the question arises, is it necessary to buy flagship phones while breaking the bank? Let’s take a look at the advantages and drawbacks of flagship smartphones. What is a Flagship Phone? The word “flagship” represents a conventional term in the technology industry. A product becomes a flagship item when it comes packed with updates, features, and technologies incomparable to other items of the same product line. For presenting the highest-end features, a flagship device usually tags itself with the highest price, too.  Most of the popular smartphone manufacturing brands have a flagship phone series; for instance, ‘The Mi series by Xiaomi, the iPhone series by Apple, the Galaxy S series by Samsung, etc. These flagship phones boast some exclusive features that are unavailable in the mid-range or budget phones. Read more: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: The Flagship Benchmark for 2024 Pros of a Flagship Phone As flagship phones come with the highest price range, they, therefore, come with the most convenient features and powerful abilities. When you are set for a flagship phone, usually you can expect it to offer a few privileges over other general phone models. Like: Cutting-edge hardware  First and foremost, a flagship smartphone is designed to appear as the latest and most updated product of a company. From robust processors to ingenious camera systems, flagship smartphones aim to convince even the most doubtful tech enthusiasts of having the best product from the manufacturing company. User experience Of course, a flagship is not all about the unparalleled hardware. A flagship phone is also about getting the best possible user experience. These phones are faster, more responsive, and easier to use. Manufacturers implement the latest UI and newest version of the operating system to give the smoothest and most efficient interactivity. Read more: ZTE Nubia Z60 Ultra Review: A Heavy-Duty Flagship Gaming Device

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro debuted in India on January 08, 2024, and people are wondering if it's still a gaming phone. Unlike the ancestors, this new model looks quite different. Even with the new look, the 8 Pro keeps its focus on gaming without making things complicated. However,  this flagship smartphone's performance has changed a bit though. The previous ROG phones used to work like a gaming PC. Interestingly, the latest 8 Pro serves in simpler and easier ways like a PlayStation. Let’s take a look at the detailed review of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro. Key Features and Specifications of ROG Phone 8 Pro Design The ROG Phone 8 Pro brings some notable changes to the table, introducing an edge-to-edge screen that enhances its aesthetic appeal. However, this design shift comes with trade-offs, such as the removal of dual front-facing speakers, impacting the immersive gaming experience.  The incorporation of a pinhole camera in the screen raises concerns for a gaming device, disrupting the seamless display. Despite losing some distinctive features that set the ROG Phone apart, it retains the headphone jack and gains an IP68 rating, a positive addition given its open ports. The transition from a glass to a plastic back raises concerns about slipperiness, emphasising the need for a protective case.  Read more: Asus ROG Strix G16 Review: Is it a value for money gaming laptop? The device maintains its off-centre USB-C, but a secondary USB-C on the side proves handy for charging during portrait-mode gaming. Notably, the pixel-like LED effects on the back, customizable to display various information, provide a unique touch and contribute positively to the gaming aesthetics, standing out from typical RGB implementations. Weighing 225g, 8 Pro’s dimensions are 163.8 mm by 76.8 mm by 8.9 mm. It is available in Phantom Black colour. Display The ROG Phone 8 Pro maintains a 6.78-inch FHD OLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It features 2,500 nits of peak brightness  It lacks the QHD resolution seen in the contemporary Android flagships. The display supports an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate for regular use, with a fixed 165Hz rate for specific games, enhancing smoothness during gameplay.  Read more: Asus ROG Phone 8 Review: 2024’s First Flagship Gaming Device In comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the ROG Phone 8 Pro excels in key metrics/ However, 8 Pro faces tough competition from the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which offers remarkable brightness and color accuracy.  Notably, the ROG Phone 8 introduces a unique always-on display called Screen Light, utilizing tiny icons for charging status and essential information due to the absence of a thick top bezel. While functional, there's room for improvement, such as a scaling feature for better readability from a distance.

OnePlus has long since passed its prime from being the “flagship killer” in the Android space. It slowly shifted from offering value-for-money smartphones to full-on flagships with secondary mid-range iterations. OnePlus launched the OnePlus 12 on December 11, 2023, making it the last big release of 2023. But with all that it has under the belt, OnePlus is aiming for the fastest Android experience in 2024.  Key Specifications of OnePlus 12   Design and Build Quality: Same Old Design with a Dash of Character  By all means, the OnePlus 12 looks exactly the same as its predecessor, the OnePlus 11. The merging round camera housing and all sides curved front reminisce the somewhat iconic design introduced with the OnePlus 10. The front glass features Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with the rear featuring standard Gorilla Glass. The back now has a marble-like finish with a glossy inlay on the camera housing.  The device comes in at 164.3 mm by 75.8 mm by 9.2 mm and has a hefty weight of 220g. Ports and buttons are all standard as usual. The power button, volume rockers, sim slot, and alert slider are all placed in their desired position. The phone comes with IP65 water and dustproofing rather than the standard IP68 seen on most flagship smartphones. In a sense, the design of the OnePlus 12 adds a minor refinement over their proven strategy.  Read more: iQoo 12 Pro Review: Flagship phone for gamers The Display: A New Standard for Brightness  OnePlus has recently been marred with green line controversies on its panel. And it seems like OnePlus has decided to completely overhaul the display tech with the OnePlus 12. The 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED ProXDR panel comes with 1B colors, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ support. OnePlus has used a diamond pixel layout compared to the traditional square layout. It has a 1440 by 3168 pixels resolution with 510 ppi density and a 19.8:9 aspect ratio. The all-around curve gives the panel about 90.8% screen-to-body ratio. The display also supports 100% Display P3 and 10-bit color depth.  What’s interesting here is the brightness of the panel. The typical brightness holds at 600 nits and up to 1600 nits at HBM. But the panel can crank up to 4500 nits in peak mode. That’s more than any smartphone out there in the market by a long mile. And its something that won’t be exercised even in the harshest sunlight. On the flip side, the panel supports 2160 Hz PWM dimming for ultra-low brightness for nighttime use. All things considered, the display is definitely a highlight for the OnePlus 12.  Read more: vivo X100 Pro Review: A New Standard for Camera The Camera: Same Old OnePlus  The camera has consistently been a point of contention with OnePlus smartphones. And unfortunately, things haven’t really changed much. There’s a triple camera setup on the OnePlus 12 with the main camera being an updated 50 MP sensor. It has an f/1.6 aperture and a 23mm wide-angle opening. The additional sensors are a 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm periscope lens with up to 3x zoom and a 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ ultrawide shooter. The front camera is a 32 MP, f/2.4, 21mm wide-angle shooter. All the sensors are stacked with features like multidirectional PDAF, OIS, and gyro-EIS. OnePlus has been partnering with Hasselblad for a customized color calibration. The pictures on the OnePlus 12 can be best described as slightly better than that of the 11 with somewhat similar flaws. Images have slight exposure issues with an average dynamic range. The camera is also post-processing heavy to the point that what you see on the screen grossly differs from what’s processed after the shutter click.  The videography of the rear cameras stay the same at 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/480fps. The selfie shooter can capture a maximum of 4K footage at 30fps. However, the exposure issue and low light videography leaves much to be desired from the Oneplus 12.  Read more: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Is this the best Android phone of 2023?