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Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Series: Leaks, rumours, everything we know so far
Xiaomi has been a global leader in affordable smartphone experience. One of the subsidiaries of the brand, Redmi started its journey in 2013. The company is now synonymous with the “Affordable flagship experience” tag. The company’s latest offering, the Note 12 series is expected to hit the market in late October in line with last year’s release of the Note 11 series. Here is everything known so far about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Series lineup.
Leaked Features of Redmi Note 12 Series
Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 series launched with a plethora of options, each catering to a specific customer base. Last year we got the Note 11, Note 11 Pro, and the highest-endNote 11 Pro+. In line with this release, Redmi launched the T variant on May 24th this year. This leads to the speculation that the Note 12 series will be launched in October.
Notable leaker Digital Chat Station has confirmed that there won’t be a significant design overhaul with the Redmi Note 12 series. In fact, it will mostly be the same design and material with some aesthetic changes here and there.
Read Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition Review: Key features, advantages, disadvantages
Even with that, users will be getting a glass front and back device with an aluminum frame all around. The build quality of the Note 11 series was exceptional for its price and the same is expected to continue with the Note 12 series as well.
Last year, the headphone jack was present in all three models. This year, the headphone jack might be omitted for the Pro+ model. This is not a confirmed leak so take it with a grain of salt. The other physical features like the speaker, sim tray, and the buttons will all reprise in their previous positions.
Overall, the design isn’t really something to get excited about. It's the same tried and tested formula from Redmi and that isn’t a bad thing. The Note 12 series can be considered as an incremental update on the 11 series at least on the design front.
Read Google Pixel 6a Review: What’s special about it?
The Display
Last year, the Redmi series featured a 6.43-inch and a 6.67-inch display for the regular and the pro model. The 120 Hz Super AMOLED panel came with FHD+ resolution. Just like last year, Xiaomi will be using a flat display with a punch hole for the front camera.
The display tech won’t be noticeably different from the 11 series. Last year, Note 11 led the charge in the display department for all the smartphone releases. The same is expected to continue this time around as well. We might see some minor improvements here and there in terms of color calibration, viewing angles, and peak brightness. However, none of these features has been confirmed yet.
The size of the display is also expected to stay the same as the Note 12 is essentially a repacked version of the Note 11 series.
Read Nothing Phone 1 Review: Beyond the Hype and the Glyph
The Camera
Digital Chat Station also learned that this year, the triple sensor module on the back will feature a 50 MP main camera. Though the choice seems a bit odd considering the 11 series featured a 108 MP main sensor.
Though the choice would be understandable given the obvious cost-cutting needs. The 108 MP on the Note 11 series performed similarly to the standard mid-range 50 MP sensors because of the pixel binding tech. So the camera experience probably wouldn’t be much different than the Note 11. The front will feature a standard 16 MP shooter.
The other two sensors are expected to be an 8 MP wide angle and a 2 MP macro shooter. If last year is any indicator for the performance, users will be getting capable camera hardware that is definitely going to be a bang for the buck.
Read Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Review: Mid-range performance under premium price
The videography on Note 12 is expected to be 4K at 30 fps at max just like the Note 11 series.
Processor and Performance
Xiaomi has always stuck with MediaTek for its mid-range and budget options over the years. Snapdragon seems to be always reserved for the higher-end flagships. The same is expected to continue for the Note 12 series. However, a disputed claim also suggests that the recently released Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 might make a show on the 12 series.
If that isn’t the case, then users will be getting a refreshed version of MediaTek Dimensity 920. The chipset is built on 6 Nm architecture, making it one of the more power-efficient and balanced processors.
Read OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Know Pros, Cons
On the storage and RAM options, users will be getting a lot of choices like the Note 11 series. The 6 and 8 GB RAM options are expected to be coupled with 128 and 256 GB ROM options. And if rumors are to be believed, we might see a high-end 12 GB RAM capacity variant as well.
MIUI 14 is also expected to debut with Android 13 on board. This has not been confirmed yet and users may or may not get the Android 13 out of the box.
Battery and Charge Time
Last year, the standard Note 11 came with a 5000 mAh battery and the Pro variant came with a 5160 mAh battery. They also had 33W and 67 W fast charging respectively. This year Xiaomi might bump up the charging speed up to 80 W and that’s about all the change users will be getting in the battery department.
Read Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
Price of Redmi Note 12 Series
Last year, Note 11 debuted at 1244 CNY and the 11 Pro came at 1599 CNY. The Note 12 series is also expected to debut at the same price point. According to that, the price in Bangladesh should be around 17,371 BDT and 22,328 BDT for the base variants (1 CNY = 13.96 BDT). All of these are speculative prices. The price leak is expected to happen as the release date approaches.
Final Words
The ancestor Redmi Note series devices have been a fan favorite, especially in the Bangladesh mid-range market. The price-performance proposition of the series meant that these are the best-selling Xiaomi devices in Bangladesh. The upcoming Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Series is expected to continue this legacy.
Read Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
Walton launches two Prelude laptops
Walton has launched two new Prelude laptops at affordable prices.
Prelude N41 Pro and Prelude N50 Pro are equipped with Intel's powerful CPU, RAM, and high-speed SSD storage.
Walton Computer Product Chief Business Officer Touhidur Rahman Rad said: "Priced at Tk39,750 and Tk41,950, the new laptops have been released in the market to cater to the entry-level customers, including students and youths."
Read Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Review: Mid-range performance under premium price
Prelude N41 Pro features a 1.1 GHz Intel Celeron N4120 quad-core processor and Intel's UHD Graphics 600.
Prelude N50 Pro features a 1.1 GHz Intel Pentium Silver N5030 quad-core processor and Intel's UHD Graphics 605.
Both devices have 8GB DDR4 2666MHz SODIMM RAM as memory and 256GM M.2 SSD as storage which is expandable up to 512GB.
Read Nothing Phone 1 Review: Beyond the Hype and the Glyph
Also, the laptops feature a 14-inch FHD Matte LED-backlit display with 45 percent NTSC and 1920X1080 pixel screen resolution.
A powerful 36WH smart lithium-ion battery pack has been used in the laptops to ensure up to 520 minutes of power backup.
Both devices have a 1MP HD camera and 2X2W speakers along with a built-in microphone for clear video calls and conferencing.
Read Google Pixel 6a Review: What’s special about it?
realme launches 9 Pro+, 9 Pro, Pad Mini
Youth-centric brand realme recently launched three new devices – realme 9 Pro+, 9 Pro and Pad Mini.
Available in 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM, realme 9 Pro+ is available in Aurora Green and Sunrise Blue for Tk39,990 (excluding VAT).
Priced at Tk31,990 (excluding VAT), 9 Pro is available in Aurora Green and Sunrise Blue and comes with 128GB storage and 8GB RAM.
Read Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition Review: Key features, advantages, disadvantages
Realme 9 Pro+ is a smartphone in the 5G segment and the first mid-range phone with the Sony IMX766 OIS flagship camera.
The device comes with a flagship 6nm advanced 5G processor – MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor with an Antutu score of over 500,000. This processor improves gaming and allows users to capture 35 percent more details in their pictures, compared to previous generation Dimensity chips.
Realme 9 Pro+ also comes with a 90Hz Super AMOLED display, 60W fast charging, vapour chamber cooling system, dual stereo speakers and Gorilla glass 5.
Also read: Realme narzo 50, C31 available across Bangladesh
Realme 9 Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon 695 5G processor, 120Hz ultra-smooth display, 64MP nightscape camera, a 5000mAh battery and 33W dart charge support.
Pad Mini features an 8.7-inch and 7.6mm ultra-slim display, and of 6400mAh battery.
Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition Review: Key features, advantages, disadvantages
The Xiaomi Redmi K series smartphone has been a popular choice for buyers looking for a budget phone with good features. The Redmi K series has a range of prices and features, from the budget-friendly Redmi K20 to the more expensive Redmi K50 Pro. Recently the company has introduced a new phone for gamers, the Redmi K50. It has already been released in April in India. Let’s see some top features, pros and cons of the Xiaomi Redmi K50 gaming edition.
Key Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition
Design and Display
The K40 Gaming Edition’s metal frame and the frosted back glass show that it is similar to last year’s K40. The lens module changed from an oval to a rounded rectangle. The lightning-like flash and the RGB lights on the camera also have been retained from the Redmi K40 Gaming Edition. But, RGB lights if you get any message or plug in the charger. Hence, it will not light up when gaming. This might be a downside of the K50 gaming edition.
There is no headphone jack, which is typical among gaming phones. However, the phone has an extra microphone port on the side. Besides, you will also get the Xiaomi brand’s exclusive physical shoulder button.
Read: Google Pixel 6a Review: What’s special about it?
The IR transmission power of the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition has been enhanced, allowing it to be used to control devices up to ten meters away. If you liked the K40 Gaming Edition last year, it is evident that you will like the K50 Gaming Edition too.
The screen in this year’s Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition is from the same screen producer as last year’s, and the specs are also the same.
Adaptive Colors have been added to Options, and this enhances PWM dimming with 1920Hz high-frequency. This lets you say goodbye to the conventional dimming control technique.
The fifth-generation screen protection glass has been replaced with the updated Corning Victus Glass. This screen is well equipped for gamers.
Read: Nothing Phone 1 Review: Beyond the Hype and the Glyph
Cameras
Anyone who was expecting a lot from this version of Redmi’s K50 gaming phone in regards to photography will be in for a disappointment. In reality, it’s not as bad as you’d expect. While it does not use the same camera as the K40 Gaming Edition from last year, it does just fine most of the time. But you will get enhanced performance on night photography.
The camera on the ultra wide-angle camera provides generally good results but is not without flaws, particularly at the edges of the shot. The main camera can record 4k/60fps video. Further, the ultrawide camera supports up to 1080P 30fps. Also, it allows reducing the color sensor for the flicker sensor when shooting. However, you will not get much support for video recording. The flickering brightness of the lights will continue even if the schedule of the lights is different.
Overall, the phone offers a 64 MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro lenses. With these, you can capture HDR photos and videos along with panoramas. In addition to that, the camera also features a dual-led flash.
Read: OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Know Pros, Cons
On the front, you will get a 20 MP selfie camera with HDR capability. Besides, you will be able to record 1080P @30/60fps videos too.
Sound
The Redmi K50 gaming edition’s audio output is comparable to that of the Xiaomi 12 Pro, which also uses four units of speakers. It comes with two high-range JBL speakers for high-frequency sounds and the other for playing the lows. It’s an impressive device to try out when playing video games. The stereo loudspeaker and 3 mm jack give you 24-bit/192kHz audio.
The high-frequency section of the sound is played by the two speakers, while the low-frequency part is played by the other two speakers. Hence, it is a remarkable device for playing music too.
Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
Charging & Battery Life
You will get the charger in the box. It uses a Type-C cable which is L-shaped, and it is longer than other phones. The K50 Gaming Edition provides 120W charging capacity, allowing 19 minutes to full charge 43, ten minutes for 71%, and five minutes for 43% charging. Thanks to the exceptional heat dissipation design, faster charging is also possible while playing games. The extraordinary heat dissipation design allows the device to charge while gaming without being made the device hot.
With 120 watts of charging power, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is less than as powerful as the K50 Gaming Edition. The battery capacity is just 4700mAh, but it is not overwhelmingly small.
Performance
The Redmi K50 gaming edition features Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen, which is the most powerful for gaming phones. Equipped with an Adreno 730 GPU and Octa-core CPU, the phone can give you excellent gaming performance.
Read Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Review: Mid-range performance under premium price
However, the phone doesn’t come with any external SD card slot. It offers three variations to the buyers, 128GB+8GB RAM, 128GB+12GB RAM and 256GB+12GB RAM.
Price of Redmi K50 Gaming
The official price in India is 38,179 rupee or BDT, approximately 55,000 (1 rupee= BDT 1.18). However, the phone is yet to get an official release in Bangladesh. The official price in Bangladesh might be higher after paying the taxes.
Final Words
The Redmi K50 Gaming is clearly better than its predecessor, with numerous improvements in every area. It’s slightly below expectations in gaming for the pro gamers, but its performance for Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones is great. Its audio and video quality is also very good.
Read Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
Apart from its less camera performance, the Xiaomi Redmi K50 gaming edition is an excellent value. This year, it also finally supports Google Mobile Services without incompatibility concerns. This phone is recommended to anyone who is looking for a high-performing gaming phone. But if you are someone who needs a phone for high-quality images, this phone is a big No.
Google Pixel 6a Review: What’s special about it?
Google launched the first Pixel series phone in 2016. Since then several successors have been released. The Google Pixel 6A is expected to be released on July 21, 2022. This phone comes with many outstanding features at an affordable price. In this review of the Google Pixel 6A, you can find a detailed examination of the features that are special about it to help you decide if this phone is right for you. Let’s dive in!
Key Features of Google Pixel 6a
Design and Display
Google has verified that the display on the Pixel 6a measures 6.1 inches, making it somewhat more compact than the screen on the Pixel 6, which is 6.4 inches. For the Pixel 6a, we anticipate Google will employ an OLED display with a resolution of 1080p. However, the screen of the Pixel 6a only has a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is a significant decrease from the 90 Hz screen on the Pixel 6.
Images released by Google revealed that the design of the Pixel 6a is identical to that of the Pixel 6. There is a large camera bar, a color scheme with two tones, and many more features. Strangely enough, the construction of the phone is made of glass and metal. The majority of low-cost electronics are made of plastic. On the other hand, the Pixel 6a has a display made of Gorilla Glass 6 and a battery that has a capacity of 4306 mAh. Gorilla Glass Victus and a 4614mAh battery are included in the base model of the Google Pixel 6.
Read Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
Green, black, and white are the three-color options for the Google Pixel 6a (or silver). AT&T has said that its measurements are 2.8 inches by 6.0 inches by 0.35 inches. Google has not shown any cases or other accessories that may be used with the smartphone.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a, as was to be anticipated, makes use of the same tensor chip as the Pixel 6. This indicates that it has a large number of features that are driven by AI, such as Live Translate and the Magic Eraser. What's more noteworthy is that it's a clue that the Pixel 6a will deliver premium performance at a very cheap price.
Obviously, the Pixel 6a does not perfectly match the technical specifications of the Pixel 6. For instance, according to AT&T, the Google Pixel 6a only offers 128 gigabytes of internal storage space. That is one-half of what you get with the Pixel 6 in its regular configuration.
Read Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
Other specifications, such as the amount of RAM, are not yet known. However, the base model of the Pixel 6 is equipped with 8 gigabytes of RAM, so it's probably reasonable to believe that Google won't go much lower.
It is expected that the Pixel 6a will get three operating system upgrades to Android 15 and security patches until the summer of 2027, according to Google Tensor. This would provide the Pixel 6a with an absurdly extended shelf life for a phone in its price range.
It will come preinstalled with Android 12, which will provide it access to Material You as well as improved privacy features. It will also get Android 13 in the autumn, which will provide it access to improved theming as well as some minor UI adjustments, in addition to a great deal of other brand-new features.
Read OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Know Pros, Cons
Camera
The main sensor in almost every Pixel phone is a 12-megapixel Sony IMX363, however, Google broke this pattern with the introduction of the 50-megapixel lens on the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6a has an outdated 12MP sensor, which is a bummer for photography enthusiasts. However, the "downgrade" is not a major concern for the average person.
The quality of a pixel photograph is not determined by the hardware. The computational photography techniques used by Google are very cutting-edge, which enables the company to produce high-quality images with equipment that should be obsolete. Even if this 12MP lens won't be able to beat the 50MP lens on the Pixel 6, it will absolutely dominate any other phone camera that costs less than $450.
Given that we have not yet had the opportunity to evaluate the Google Pixel 6a, you should take this conclusion with a grain of salt since it is only an informed assumption.
Read Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Review: Mid-range performance under premium price
Take note that the Pixel 6a has both a front-facing camera with 8 megapixels and a rear camera with 12 megapixels and an ultra-wide lens. These cameras are probably the same ones that are included in the Google Pixel 6 device.
Price of Google Pixel 6a
The price of Google Pixel 6a phone is Rs. 34,790 which converts into TK 40969.52. The conversion rate for the prices is 1 RS = 1.18 BDT. However, the price may change in Bangladesh due to tax and other issues.
Conclusion
The Pixel 6A to join Google's lineup is one that won't break the bank, and its feature set is tantalizingly similar to that of the company's full-fat versions, despite its lower price. The Google Pixel 6a is equipped with a camera that is inferior to that of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, although it is powered by the same Tensor chipset as is found in those two devices. It will first launch in the United States, with EE, a network based in the United Kingdom, being the first to announce that contracts would be available on this side of the Atlantic.
Read Nothing Phone 1 Review: Beyond the Hype and the Glyph
Nothing Phone 1 Review: Beyond the Hype and the Glyph
Founded by the ex-OnePlus CEO Carl Pei, ‘Nothing’ company first came into the tech scene with their Ear 1 last year. Over the last six months, the company has slowly teased an android smartphone which eventually built the hype train around it. This hype game is nothing new for Carl Pei as he has basically laid the foundation of OnePlus in a similar manner. The company’s first phone, the Nothing Phone 1 launched globally on 12th July 2022. Here’s a take to see whether Nothing can actually offer something.
Key Specifications of Nothing Phone 1
Design and Build Quality
From the outside, the Nothing Phone 1 looks like a Cyberpunk version of the iPhone 12. Whether it’s the camera position, frame, or button, everything looks like a direct inspiration from the iPhone 12. And the choice is also understandable. Carl Pei has repeatedly said that Nothing only considers itself a rival of Apple. The company’s first step to challenging Apple is to re-innovate its own design language.
Beyond the obvious design choice, the phone is made from 100% recycled aluminum and 50% bio-recycled plastic. The aluminum frame with a glass front and back gives the device a premium hand feel. Not to mention, the transparent back which is unlike anything we’ve seen before.
Read Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Review: Mid-range performance under premium price
The power button and the volume rocker have been placed on two opposite ends with the sim slot being next to the Type-C port. There’s also dual stereo support on the device but no headphone jack unlike other mid-range devices in this segment. All in all, the design can be easily termed the android of iPhones.
But there’s one more thing that separates the Nothing Phone 1 from any device out there. Let’s talk about that.
The Glyph Interface
Nothing has aligned 900 LEDs on the back of the device to create a distinctive lighting pattern. These LEDs light up to provide notifications, ringtones, and a myriad of other options. We have seen the use of light in the likes of the ASUS ROG phone. But that is mostly a complete gimmick.
Read OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Know Pros, Cons
What Nothing has tried to do is incorporate functionality in an otherwise gimmicky design choice.
The glyph interface is mostly like a new toy that is sure to turn heads. While Nothing has put a host of customization on the lighting, it will ultimately come down to the user preference and using habit to determine its relevance.
The Display
The Nothing Phone 1 uses a 6.55-inch OLED FHD+ 120 Hz panel. The display also supports HDR 10+ as well as Widevine L1 codecs. If the overall design wasn’t reminiscent of iPhone enough, the front will remind the users of the same as well.
Read Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
Phone 1 uses a single punch hole display with a uniform bezel all around. Typically it's not seen in android because it overruns the cost of using a flexible OLED panel.
Nothing has gone the extra mile to ensure the uniformity of design aesthetics and it honestly delivers. The front and the overall consumption experience feel much superior to its price point.
The Camera
One of the major complaints with any mid-range androids is the camera gimmicks. You’ll see a triple or even quad camera setup with one or two sensors being completely useless. These additions are made simply as a marketing stunt.
Read Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
Fortunately, Nothing has come out of that bubble and included only two sensors on Phone 1. A 50 MP main shooter and a 50 MP wide-angle lens also double as a macro lens. This is an excellent choice as it keeps the back minimal all the while retaining functionality.
Speaking of camera performance, both lenses shine in bright outdoor conditions. Pictures look crisp with a high dynamic range and great details. But the problem starts with artificial lighting as there are noticeable grains and noises in the picture. The glyph lighting comes in handy where flash might be an overkill like in most macro shots. The 16 MP front shooter also suffers from the same issues.
The videography can go up to 4K at 30 fps. The OIS and EIS do a decent job but it's not perfect. It is expected that Nothing will address the existing camera issue with the running updates.
Read Tecno Camon 19 Neo Review: Know its advantages, disadvantages
Processor and Performance
Many people expected that the Nothing Phone 1 would be a flagship or at least sport the latest 7 Gen 1 premium mid-range chipset from Snapdragon. However, the steady leaks from Nothing itself leading to 12th July suggested that the Phone 1 will feature a Snapdragon 778G+ processor. The 778G+ is an overclocked version of the usual 778. The octa-core processor features 1 2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 and 3 2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 and 4 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 chips along with Adreno 642L GPU.
Speaking of in-hand performance, the phone feels nothing less than a proper flagship. The NothingOS is a completely stripped-down stock android OS that runs smoothly thanks to the 120 Hz panel. The only noticeable difference can be seen in gaming where high-intensity games like PUBG and COD run in medium graphics settings.
There’s no point in discrediting the device because of its mid-range processor. Instead, the bare OS and high optimization make the device a perfect daily driver even for heavy users.
Read Walton Primo R9 Review: Competitive in entry-level budget segment
Battery and Charge Time
The Nothing Phone 1 is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery. The 4500 mAh battery is good enough to make the device last for an entire day. The battery is coupled with a 33 W fast charger. An hour of charge will take the device from zero to 100% in about an hour.
Price of Nothing Phone 1
The Nothing Phone 1 launched in three variants. The 8/128 GB variant is priced at 31,999 Rs while the 8/256 GB and 12/256 GB are priced at 34,999 Rs and 37,999 Rs. The price translates to roughly 37,620 BDT, 41,147 BDT and 44,647 BDT respectively (1 INR = 1.18 BDT). But the price may vary depending on the availability and import policies.
Verdict
The Nothing Phone 1 is much like the company claims. It’s a breath of fresh air in an otherwise increasingly boring smartphone design. The glyph interface looks like a gimmick but it can be a handy little feature for those who are into futuristic light shows. The design is complemented well by the display, processor, and battery. The only drawback might be the price which is a bit more than similar ranged devices.
Read Infinix Note 12 G96 Review: A Budget Phone With Top-Notch Features
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Review: Mid-range performance under premium price
Samsung has perfected its mid-range offering through the Galaxy A series. This is a company that brings devices for every price range as well as region-specific devices. The A series is the culmination of devices from entry-level to premium mid-range devices with the spec also seeing incremental upgrades. Samsung Galaxy A73 5G is the highest-end A series device from Samsung.
This latest Sasung A series phone also boasts the overall best specs from the line. The A73 5G was released on 22nd April 2022 following the global unpacked event by Samsung. Here’s us telling you the good and bad of the device so that you can make an informed decision.
Key Specifications of Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
Design and Build Quality
The design choice has been quite unified by Samsung in the last few years. The Galaxy A73 finds itself in the mix between the S21 and the S22 series. The device has a unified rectangular camera housing which is slightly raised to make the camera bump more prominent. The quad camera setup is certainly the most distinguishing feature of the back of the device.
Read: Samsung Galaxy F13 Review: Is it a good budget phone?
The A73 5G is a plastic-built phone. For the price it comes at, the material choice is quite unacceptable. But that’s how it's always been with the A series devices. The frosted finish on the back gives it some form of premium feel. But that’s just a saving grace.
The port and button choices remain the same. The in-display fingerprint sensor felt a little slower this time around. But it's mostly due to the animation rather than the mechanism itself.
Other than that, the headphone jack is missing on the A73. Again, this is nothing new as only the entry-level A03 and A23 series devices come with the headphone jack currently.
One of the important pros this year is the dual stereo speaker. Samsung has always ensured superior sound quality in their devices. The A73 takes it up a notch by vastly improving the earpiece speaker. The result is a crisp and loud sound experience that doesn’t distort or break at high volume.
Read OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Know Pros, Cons
Overall, the design of the A73 follows long-established standards by Samsung. The plastic build might be a letdown but overall, it’s a nice package.
The Display
The core strength of any Samsung device has always been its display. From entry-level to flagships, LCD to Super AMOLED, Samsung brings quality and calibration unlike any other in the market.
The Galaxy A73 features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. This is a bump up from last year’s 90 Hz panel found on the A72. The A73 also removes the adaptive refresh rate. So, users will have to select anyone between 60 Hz and 120 Hz. The constant 120 Hz will have an impact on the battery life, but that’s the tradeoff for the smooth buttery experience.
The display also supports Widevine L1 encryption for secured video playback. There’s nothing much to say about the quality itself. It’s a Samsung panel and users will get excellent output from it. Overall, the display impresses through and through making it the perfect media consumption device in the upper mid-range section.
Also read: Samsung Galaxy A04s: The coming soon budget killer phone
The Camera
The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G is stacked when it comes to cameras. The rear features a quad camera setup with a 108 MP main sensor, 12 MP ultrawide, and a couple of 5 MP macro and depth sensors.
While the macro and depth sensors might feel a bit gimmicky, the 108 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide shines out. The main sensor can capture great details thanks to the large aperture. Images look sharp with full dynamic range. The quality doesn’t falter in low light as well. In addition to the dedicated night mode, Samsung also boasts variable shutter speed to capture the best possible image even in the darkest settings. The exposure to artificial light also impresses as it doesn’t suffer from over or under-exposing the subject.
The post-processing from Samsung has always been great. The A73 takes it up a notch. This is undoubtedly the best camera experience in any mid-range spec device. The front features a 32 MP sensor. It’s a decent shooter which is a carry-over from the previous generation.
Read Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
The main camera supports up to 4K videography at 30 fps. The videography is also amazing thanks to the gyro-EIS onboard. Overall, the camera system on the A73 is capable of the likes of flagships from the company.
Processor and Performance
The A73 5G is after all a mid-range device. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 778 5G chipset. The octa-core processor has a 4 2.4 GHz Kryo 670 and 4 1.8 GHz Kryo 670 chip design with Adreno 642L to complement the graphics.
The 778 5G is a very capable processor. Of course, it won’t challenge the likes of 8 Gen 1 but it makes a space for casual users. Day-to-day usage like video streaming and browsing is a breeze coupled with a high refresh rate display. Beyond that, the processor can also handle graphics-intensive titles pretty well. Games like PUBG and Free Fire run at moderate settings without any frame drop. The balanced processor also helps to keep the device stable in long gaming sessions. In short, users won't find any thermal throttling in this device.
Read Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
For an upper mid-range device, the value proposition concerning the performance of A73 is definitely commendable.
Battery and Charge Time
The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G features a 5000 mAh battery. The large battery is coupled with 25W fast charging. Users can expect to get around 7 to 8 hours of SoT from the device which is pretty standard for an upper mid-range device.
Price of Samsung Galaxy A73 5G
The official price of the Samsung Galaxy A73 5G in Bangladesh is TK 68,500. The price is dependent on the vendors and offers provided at the time of purchase.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G brings the reliability of Samsung with near flagship-level performance. The display, camera, and processor all components shine in their respective department. However, the only letdown is the plastic body. Now the question remains, would the users be interested to buy a mid-range device at such a high price when there are other, proper flagship alternatives?
Read Tecno Camon 19 Neo Review: Know its advantages, disadvantages
OnePlus Nord 2T Review: Know Pros, Cons
The OnePlus Nord series is known for its flagship-level specifications and sleek design. It features a unique design and differentiation from the other devices in the market. The phones are made with a focus on gaming, photography, and audio. While the series was first introduced in 2020, the company continues to add new phones to the series. Now they are releasing a new phone, the OnePlus Nord 2T, in its lineup. The phone was released on July 5 in India. Let's see the details of the Nord 2T and what we can expect from it.
Key Features of OnePlus Nord 2T
Design
The Nord 2 T's design is very similar to its predecessor Nord 2 5G. From the front, it is nearly impossible to tell the two telephones apart as the sides have the same glossy polycarbonate frame. However, you will see the difference on the back as Nord 2T has a larger camera with a big circular element. But the cameras are in the same place as the Nord 2. Nevertheless, the placement of the flash and ambient light sensor is different from Nord 2.
The back of the phone contains the same Corning Gorilla Glass 5 as the front part. But the texture is smoother, which makes the phone slippery.
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The phone comes with Jade Fog finish with a glossy back, which features a better grip. However, the Nord 2T is smaller in size compared to flagship phones. On the sides, the phone features a power button on the right and a volume rocker on the left. Buttons are located high on each side so that you can adjust your grip easily.
Display
Nord 2T comes with a 6.43-inch screen which features a 2400x1800 resolution AMOLED display. The display also supports a 90Hz refresh rate. Besides, it will also provide HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. Although OnePlus mentioned Display P3 support and sRGB, it doesn't offer any color management support. But you will be able to switch manually using the screen color mode setting. In this way, you can also change the color temperature.
While the display brightness is good for indoor use, the outdoor performance might be satisfactory for some users. However, the display has an excellent viewing angle.
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While most of the phones in 2022 offer a 120Hz refresh rate, Nord 2T comes with a 60Hz and 90Hz refresh rate. This may seem outdated to some users.
The good thing about the 2T display is that it offers a built-in optical fingerprint sensor.
Camera
Despite the lack of premium camera features, the OnePlus 2T model does not come with a poor-quality camera setup. It has a triple camera setup at the base that includes a 50-megapixel main, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor for black and white photographs.
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The 50MP main camera includes optical image stabilization. It may perform less low light, but it manages to produce sharp and clear pictures. The pictures are clear and powerful, seeming under daylight, but there's a lot of graininess when the light decreases. The autofocus might not be great, but it does not affect the picture.
Further, the 8MP ultrawide sensor takes the finest photos, taking into account the amount of light and the depth of the subject you are photographing. In light conditions, the 2MP lens takes average photos.
The front-facing 32 MP selfie camera produces images that accurately depict natural skin tones. However, the subject and other details are secondary, but the colors are true. The selfie camera comes with a low noise feature while the videos remain crisp and smooth, with even less flicker and dimming.
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You can record 4K videos at 3fps or 1080p at 60fps with OnePlus Nord 2T.
Software and Performance
OnePlus Nord 2T uses the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 chipset. It doesn't seem to provide much improvement over Dimensity 1200 SoC as the processor cores and their clock frequencies remained identical. MediaTek swapped the Density 1200 SoC with HyperEngine 5 for superior gaming performance.
OnePlus has incorporated a Dimensity 1300 SoC chip with 12 gigabytes of LPDDR4X memory. It also offers 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. OnePlus One 2T uses Android 12 with Oxygen OS 12.1 as its operating system. This is an optimized version that runs smoothly and eliminates any unnecessary complications that may be present in other OS versions. The OS has a private safe for storing sensitive data and features comprehensive customization options. You can customize the software, so you are never left wanting to do more.
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Oxygen OS 12.1 is a well-known choice for various phones, having previously been used on the OnePlus 10 Pro, Nord CE 2 Lite, and 10R. ColorOS 12 with an alternate design and should be encountered by anyone who has come from Oppo or realme.
Battery and Charging
The Nord 2T 5G has a dual-cell 4500mAh battery even in the newest generation, with 80W charging speeds, an improvement of 65W.
With the fast-charging capability, the Nord 2T 5G can draw the batteries back to full capacity in approximately 38 minutes and 98% in just 30 minutes. These numbers are more or less comparable to the ones using the 65W charger on the Nord 2T 5G.
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Price of OnePlus Nord 2T Official
OnePlus offers 2 versions of the Nord 2T in India. The 8GB+128GB storage is priced at ₹28,999 or BDT 34066 (1 rupee= BDT 1.17) and 12GB+256GB is ₹33,999 or BDT 39940 (1 rupee= BDT 1.17). The official price of OnePlus Nord 2T in Bangladesh may vary depending on tax and other issues. The phone is not officially available in Bangladesh yet.
Final Words
OnePlus Nord 2T is an outstanding new edition to the OnePlus Nord 2 phone. It may not have a flashy design, but it does have its own pros. The phone has a fast processor, an outstanding display, speedy charging, and a layout that may make you nostalgic. The OnePlus Nord 2T mobile phone is rated IP52 and 5G ready, and it also has a tidy UI. The camera setup is not uniform, and the refresh is not quick, but these specs are negligible.
On the whole, OnePlus Nord 2T is a great choice if you are looking for an inexpensive phone capable of 5G connectivity.
Read Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: Customized Variant Exclusively in Bangladesh
When it comes to proper mid-range devices with an affordable price tag, the Redmi series from Xiaomi has always been delivered. The series has become known for its value-for-money proposition along with its reliable performance. Early this year, Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 11 series globally. Recently, the company announced a customized variant of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 specifically for the Bangladesh market. The device comes at a time when smartphone prices are volatile in the international market. Here’s a detailed take on the device to see what’s different and how it benefits Bangladeshi users.
Features of Redmi Note 11 (Customized Variant for Bangladesh)
Design and Build Quality
From the outside, the customized variant is the exact same as that of the Redmi Note 11. The Redmi Note 11 came in three distinct color options. However, the customized variant got rid of the pearl white and star blue options and stuck with the graphite gray only. Other than that, users won’t see any difference.
The phone itself comes in a complete plastic build. The back of the device has a matte frosted finish which gives the device a rather premium look. At 179 gm, the device is comparatively lightweight. It provides a good hand feel thanks to the balanced weight distribution. So users will be able to use the device for long hours without any complications.
Read Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
On the ports and buttons end, the device has everything standard and some more. The power button on the right of the device doubles as the fingerprint scanner. The two included secondary noise cancellation mics drastically increase the call quality.
The standard 3.5 mm jack is also present here along with a dedicated microSD slot and Type-C charger. There isn’t any dual stereo speaker, however. Users will have to settle with the single bottom-firing speaker.
Overall, the device is consistent in its design, keeping much of the elements from the previous models while making minor adjustments here and there.
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Display
The display is easily one of the key highlights of the device. Xiaomi used a 6.43-inch 90 Hz AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution in Note 11. One thing to mention here is that the customized variant only has bumped-up memory options. Other than that, everything else is the same as Note 11 and so is the display.
As a 90 Hz AMOLED panel, the device offers a smooth touch response. Using the device feels much faster than it actually is thanks to the high refresh rate. Another useful feature of the display is the 1000 nits brightness. It makes the device clearly legible even in direct sunlight. While the panel doesn’t have HDR 10 support, it still churns out crisp contents thanks to the vibrant color contrast of MIUI.
Camera
The Redmi Note 11 features four cameras on the back. While on paper the device boasts four sensors, in reality only two are useful while the other two are quite gimmicky. The main sensor is a 50 MP f/1.8 shooter complemented by an 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor. The remaining two sensors are a 2 MP macro shooter and a 2 MP depth sensor.
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The main camera produces great images in daylight and outdoors. The images look sharp and crisp with a great deal of dynamic range. Xiaomi has also perfected its portrait mode as the images now show better edge detection.
The quality slightly drops as users shift to the ultrawide lens. The 118° field of view brings in a lot of subjects to the camera but the fish eye effect is ever so present in every shot.
There’s also a 13 MP front-facing camera on Note 11. The lens can take decent shots with impressive color reproduction.
The videography of Note 11 is limited to 1080P at 30 fps. While the main lens can churn out more resolution, it is ultimately held back by the limited computational power of the processor.
Read Xiaomi 12 Pro Review: Is it a value for money flagship?
To sum things up, the camera experience on the Note 11 won’t be anything drastically better. But it does bring some impressive performance and improved quality to outperform most of its peers in this price range.
Processor and Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 features Snapdragon 680 4G processor built on the 6 Nm architecture. The chip design uses 4 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold and 4 1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver chips. The processor is coupled with Adreno 610 GPU for practical and balanced performance.
Note 11 blazes through in day-to-day usage. In fact, the 680 4G is the perfect processor for lightweight usage.
While it's true that the device is geared towards lightweight usage, the device doesn’t fall short by much in gaming. The device can smoothly run even graphics-intensive games in medium settings. However, it does tend to heat up the device easily.
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The performance gets an extra boost on the customized variant. The standard Note 11 came with 6 GB RAM as the maxed-out option. However, the customized variant ups the RAM count to 8 GB. This allows the device to retain more apps in the memory and boosts the overall performance by quite a few margins.
On top of that, the customized variant is made in Bangladesh and for Bangladesh only. Meaning only the users here can get their hands on the souped-up version of the device.
Battery and Charge Time
The Redmi Note 11 features an impressive 5000 mAh battery capacity. The battery combined with a power-efficient processor makes the device last up to 10 hours in continuous usage. There is also a 33W fast charger that charges the device from 0 to 100 in an hour.
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Price of Xiaomi Redmi Note 11's Customized Variant for Bangladesh
The official price of the customized Note 11 in Bangladesh is 23,999 BDT. The price has been adjusted according to the spec bump and local production in mind.
Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11's customized variant for Bangladesh brings more power to a proper mid-range device. The device launched in early 2022 got a mid-year refresh which is sure to appeal to most people looking for a reliable budget option. The device may slightly fall short in the camera but other than that, there’s hardly anything to complain about at this price point. Especially now that the device has more RAM and better performance in the cards.
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Vivo Y01 Review: Is it a worthy entry level budget phone?
With retail business in over 30 countries, Vivo has become one of the largest mobile producers in the world. The company entered the Bangladeshi market in 2017 with its V7+. Since then, the company has made a reputation for providing affordable quality phones from budget to flagships. The brand recently launched the Vivo Y01 on 16th May 2022 with the device being already available in Bangladesh now. Here’s a detailed review of Vivo Y01 and see whether it’s worth the money.
Key Specifications of Vivo Y01
Design and Build Quality
The Vivo Y01 is an entry-level ultra-budget smartphone. This phone is an amalgamation of necessary features rather than filling the spec sheet with unnecessary gimmicks. The straightforward approach from Vivo created a simple design that doesn’t stand out in any way but definitely showcases its presence.
The device has a plastic back and frame. The back of the device has a vertical design with a color-shifting frosting. This type of design choice is pretty common among budget and mid-range devices. The design brings a certain sense of premium quality to an otherwise cheap build.
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The ports and buttons on the Y01 are all standards found on budget devices. There’s the 3.5 mm headphone jack and a speaker grill. The left side houses the sim tray along with the micro SDXC slot. The right side holds the power button and the volume buttons. Depending on the region and market, the power button will either have the fingerprint enabled or not.
However, one surprising choice here is the use of a microUSB charging port. It's unexpected to see microUSB in 2022 as most companies are using USB Type-C.
Overall, the design and build quality of the Vivo Y01 is just as expected from a budget device. It’s not revolutionary, but rather a subtle refinement of the previous offerings. The device also comes in two color variants – Sapphire Blue and Elegant Black.
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Display
The display of the Vivo Y01 is an IPS LCD panel. The HD+ resolution means the device isn’t exactly crammed with pixels. Instead, users will have to do with 270 ppi in the 6.51-inch display. It's commendable that Vivo didn’t go with a TFT or PLS LCD as is most common in the ultra-budget segment. Vivo calls it their Halo FullView Display. It saves the panel from being an eyesore and churns out a decent performance.
Even at HD+ resolution, the display performs relatively. It doesn’t get past the 400 nits mark but that still makes it visible in the glaring sunlight. There aren’t any weird color shifts or blue tints. Viewing angles aren’t excellent but it's nothing to make it a bad deal. Looking at the display from its price point, it's really hard to complain.
Camera
When we mentioned there are no gimmicks in this device, we mainly meant the camera system. Budget devices often come with a triple or even quad-camera setup. However, other than the main sensor, the accompanying lenses are pretty much useless anyway.
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Vivo was smart about their choices. Instead of cramming multiple sensors, the company went with a single sensor. The 8 MP f/2.2 shooter is the only camera lens on the back of the device, something which is incredibly rare these days.
Speaking of the performance of the camera, it does relatively well for an 8 MP shooter. It’s a basic point-and-shoot camera with no real pro mode options. The supposed AI helps to create portrait mode in post-processing. Beyond that, the camera also offers some degree of lossless zoom digitally, but that’s only so much.
The videography is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. The videos produced by the camera are passable at best. The front camera is a simple 5MP shooter.
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Processor and Performance
The processor for the Vivo Y01 sports an entry-level 12 Nm architecture. Vivo has gone with Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 with octa-core 4 2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 design.
The P35 is a very basic processor geared towards casual use. The processor does a good enough job while general browsing, using social media, or consuming media. It can also run lightweight 2D games without any hiccup. We tried running graphic-intensive games like PUBG and Asphalt 9. While PUBG ran relatively well in low settings, Asphalt 9 had a lot of frame drops here and there. The device also heats up easily after some time of gaming.
The device sports Android 11. Vivo has used the Go edition of Android. This helps to keep the device running smoothly with just the basic version of android.
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Overall, the performance of the device is on par with the price point. Vivo has kept the bare minimums in the device and the Y01 is a proper example that sometimes less is good.
Battery and Charge Time
The battery of the Vivo Y01 is 5000 mAh. Based on the power consumption of the processor, the device can last up to 7 to 8 hours of continuous usage. There is no fast charging here, however. On top of that, the basic Type-C is also not present. So expect long charging hours with the device.
Price of Vivo Y01 in Bangladesh
The Vivo Y01 comes with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM. The official price of the device in Bangladesh is 9,990 BDT.
Read Best Upcoming Phones in July 2022 in Bangladesh
Verdict
Vivo shares its roots in budget and mid-range devices. The brand has foraged into ultra-flagships over the years but it didn’t move away from the core offerings. The company still does a great job at producing budget devices and the Vivo Y01 is a testament to that.
From the display to the design to the processor, everything comes together to create a handy little device that delivers. The only noticeable issue here is the microUSB port. Other than that, the Vivo Y01 is a great device priced at a very competitive range.