keyword: aperture

oneplus-9-pro-review:-more-hassle-than-hasselblad?

OnePlus 9 Pro review: More hassle than Hasselblad?

(Pocket-lint) – OnePlus started off as that limited, small batch phone-maker that only insiders knew about, before growing into a proper big-time brand. And yet, despite being available through proper partner carriers and in real stores, it’s still not a company you’d consider hugely mainstream. It certainly doesn’t have that mindshare that Apple and Samsung have enjoyed for years. 

Counting all the ‘T’ versions, however, we’re now into the 13th generation OnePlus flagship. And in all of those generations it’s always nailed the speed, performance and fluidity. The cameras, however, have always raised questions, never quite delivering to the same degree as the competition. To try and conquer this final frontier OnePlus has brought in some outside help from a partnership with Hasselblad.

So does the OnePlus 9 Pro, Hasselblad riposte at the ready, succeed in flying us to the moon and back?

So shiny 

  • Finishes: Morning Mist, Forest Green, Stellar Black
  • Dimensions: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm / Weight: 197g
  • IP68 water- and dust-resistant rating
  • Stereo speakers

OnePlus has three different finishes for the OnePlus 9 Pro. We’ve been using the silver coloured Morning Mist version, which is oh so shiny. At least, the bottom third of the back is. It’s reflective enough that you can see your face in it (which also makes photographing it a real pain – not that this would be a concern to 99 per cent of the people who buy one). 

This reflective surface subtly gradients into a more misty, foggy look at the top. The surface of the glass on the outside is glossy and slippery, so attracts fingerprints like nobody’s business. All in all meaning you may just want to use the case, or pick up the frosted glass Forest Green variant instead. 

Still, there’s plenty to like about the 9 Pro’s design. For one, the camera housing has a look about it that says the designers really cared about how it turned out. It’s not just a characterless rectangle stuck onto the back. It’s colour-matched to the back and each of the two main cameras has a metallic ring around the lens, making it stand out against the background. It’ll certainly make it stand out from the crowd. 

The rest of the design is very familiar for anyone who’s used a OnePlus phone over the past year. The glass curves on the back towards the edges, making an otherwise quite large phone feel a bit more comfortable than it would if it were completely flat and square. 

It’s not the lightest phone around, but in its size category, squeezing in below 200 grams is a good thing. It makes it perfectly bearable to use day in day out. Plus, all the buttons being within easy thumb reach means there’s not too much over-stretching going on to locate the alert slider or the volume rocker. 

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While we’re on the subject of practicality, the Pro has IP68 rating against water and dust ingress. So when this slippery fish does inevitably slip out of your hand into a sink full of water, it won’t get damaged (well, not from the water anyway!).

Unlike the standard ‘non-Pro’ version, the OnePlus 9 Pro doesn’t have a completely flat panel, but the curves on the screen are definitely smaller than in previous iterations. That does mean the phone feels a bit chunkier than 7 Pro from two years ago, but it means it’s less prone to accidental touches. Plus, the bezels are really skinny, giving an almost edge-to-edge screen with only a neat little selfie camera punching its way through the top corner. 

Display and software 

  • 6.7-inch AMOLED display
    • QHD+ resolution (1440 x 3216 pixels; 525ppi)
    • Adaptive frame rate up to 120Hz
  • Oxygen OS 11 (over Android 11)

It’s not just in physical button placement where OnePlus has attempted to make its large phone comfortable to use. The software, Oxygen OS, went through a massive refresh for its Android 11-based version – which first launched on the OnePlus 8T. This update didn’t just radically change the entire look and feel of the previously Google stock-like experience, it was designed so that the bits you need to reach with your thumb are easy to get to. Buttons and controls are shifted down, so you don’t have to awkwardly stretch across to the top corner. 

The thing that works against this somewhat is that OnePlus has fewer of its own apps than it used to. It’s gone all-in with Google, so apps like Messages and the Phone app are Google; similarly, as we saw with the 8T in 2020, the Shelf that used to live on the left of the Home Screen has been replaced by Google’s Discover feed. 

None of these moves are bad, as Google’s Discover is far more useful and more relevant than Shelf. That in itself hasn’t disappeared completely, though, as you can get to it by swiping down on the Home Screen. It could be useful for things like getting quick access to favourite contacts, or remembering where you parked the car. We didn’t find it all that useful, so we just changed the setting so that a swipe on the Home Screen dropped down notifications instead.

As for the screen, it’s one of the best available on the market. It’s a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel that has a top refresh rate of 120Hz, meaning it cycles through 120 refreshes per second to give the sense of smoothness.

Like Samsung’s latest flagships – the Galaxy S21 Ultra at the top of the stack – the OnePlus also has adaptive refresh rate capabilities. Here, however it can go all the way down to just 1Hz when it detects a static page, which will help save battery life. It also means it’s pretty much identical to the screen on the Oppo Find X3 Pro.

It’s really bright and vivid, and – once you’ve enabled its maximum sharpness within the settings – it’s crisp to the eyes too. One clever little feature actually enables you to toggle on a battery saver mode when you choose the QHD+ resolution, which means the screen can switch to a lower resolution if it’s appropriate to do so. 

As usual, there are plenty of additional features, such as the ability to tune the appearance to your preferences: be that dark mode for night time, comfort tone for automatically adjusting the white balance based on the ambient light, or reading mode for, um, you guessed it, reading. 

On the whole, it’s a mighty fine display. Colours pop, bright areas are almost searing, and animations are smooth. There’s perhaps a bit too much contrast, while auto-brightness dims the output a bit much – as to not retain balance of highlights, shadows and colours – but most of the time we were impressed by it.

For those who want it there’s plenty of customisability too. The display settings menu lets you adjust the overall look of the screen, making it more or less vibrant and adjusting colours and white balance. 



Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today


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The best smartphones you can currently buy, covering the best of iPhone and Samsung, and everything Android has to offer

More hassle than Hasselblad? 

  • Quad camera system:
    • Main: 48-megapixel, f/1.8 aperture, 1/1.43in sensor (Sony IMX789), optical stabilisation (OIS)
    • Ultra-wide: 50MP, f2.2, 1/1.56″ (Sony IMX766)
    • Tele (3.3x): 8MP f/2.4
    • Mono: 2MP
  • Front-facing camera: 16-megapixel
  • Video: 8K30p / 4K120p

So to the all-important cameras. Both the primary and ultra-wide cameras use high-end Sony sensors – which is OnePlus showing off that it’s sourcing the best core kit for the job. For the most part, these sensors deliver good pictures.

The primary sensor looks like it’s had the most love from Hasselblad’s partnership, delivering natural-looking colours with good detail. Likewise, the ultra-wide sensor can take great pictures – and that’s no surprise given it’s the same sensor used by the Oppo Find X3 Pro in both of its two main cameras. 

In good light you’ll get sharp mostly noise-free pictures, while the freeform ultra-wide lens will ensure you don’t get lots of curving and distortion at the edges. In fact, it’s very level and doesn’t suffer from that fish-eye effect you sometimes see from such lenses. It’s not as good in low-light situations as the primary sensor, neither is perfect once light levels drop. You’ll start to see image noise introduced when it gets a bit darker, particularly in greys and blues in any shadows. 

The only inescapable problem isn’t with either camera individually. It’s when you compare them to each other. At some points it looks like results are from two different phones. Not in terms of angle of view, as that’s inevitable, but with the final aesthetic. The ultra-wide often boosts warmth and saturation to give a really vivid (almost more orange feel), while the primary lens delivers a more neutral, cooler image where blues are more standout. 

You can see this difference when switching to Macro mode – which automatically switches to the ultra-wide sensor to perform the close-up shot – as well as when you shoot at night time using the Nightscape mode. 

Nighstscape mode seems to have improved from previous generations of OnePlus phones, though, with the 9 Pro able to draw in decent light. We did sometimes struggle to get results looking sharp though, with finer details and edges blurring – not an out-of-focus blur, more like a motion blur as if the camera’s optical stabilisation can’t quite compensate for hand-shake enough. 

It wasn’t the only time the phone’s camera struggled with detail either. Using the telephoto zoom lens – which is 3.3x that of the main camera, and can reach up to 30x digitally – we found that detail simply lacked. It’s not a great optical zoom.

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: Ultra-wideUltra-wide

If you scroll through the gallery above – which cycles through the cameras at ultra-wide, 1x, 3.3x, 5x, 10x and 30x – you’ll see how the tree branches in the 3.3x shot turn into a weird-looking mush. And once you zoom past 3.3x the detail becomes increasingly ropey with the images at the top end looking more like an oil painting than a photograph. 

As for macro mode, that’s pretty strong in good light. Details are sharp and in-focus, while the background blur adds depth and doesn’t suffer from unnatural and nauseating bokeh like some dedicated macro lenses do. That’s likely down to the fact the OnePlus 9 Pro is using the ultra-wide sensor, rather than have a poor low-resolution macro camera. 

On the whole, then, the 9 Pro’s cameras are a bit of a mixed bag. It performs well, but the difference in colour balance between the primary and ultra-wide is confusing, especially given OnePlus’ insistence on using Hasselblad’s ‘strict’ tuning standards. The optical zoom lens is quite poor when it comes to detail, and night mode suffers a little with motion blur. 

The primary lens is great for the most part, but we’d just love to see that consistency between the different lenses. It’d turn this system into one that truly competes with the market leaders. The hardware is obviously there, we just need to see attention to detail on balance still.

Speed, I am speed

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 platform, 5G connectivity
  • RAM: 8GB/12GB LPDDR5
  • Storage: 128GB/256GB (UFS3.1)
  • 4,500mAh battery (2x 2250mAh cells)
  • Warp Charge 65T flash charging (1-100% in 28 minutes)
  • Warp Charge 50 wireless charging (1-100% in 43 minutes)

If there’s one thing you can virtually guarantee from OnePlus when it comes to its flagship phones: they’re all fast and fluid. For years the company has used whichever is Qualcomm’s latest top-tier processor. For 2021 that’s the Snapdragon 888. 

In all areas, the OnePlus 9 Pro performs like a proper flagship should. It’s fast and smooth, loading any games and apps without stopping to think about it. We had no instances of stutter or delay. Part of that is also down to the screen’s refresh rate, but also its touch sampling rate – which can read your fingers taps and swipes at a rate of 240 times per second. The animation on screen responds virtually immediately, making it feel nimble and instant. 

Even simple and mundane tasks like refreshing a Twitter feed or loading a web page is hassle-free. Plus, if you live in an area with 5G signal, you get that goodness too, for speedy cellular downloads. 

During our testing there were moments where – after an hour or so of gaming – the phone became a little warm, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. That’s likely down to having an efficient vapour chamber and graphite-based cooling system inside, making this the most non-gamer gamer phone on the market. 

As for battery life, with the screen cranked up to its highest resolution and frame rate settings, the 4500mAh capacity is more than capable of pushing through a full day. Even on quieter ones, however, we never quite got the sense it’d make it through two full days.

On our heavier days with a three or more hours of screen time, we got to bed with somewhere around the 30 per cent mark left over. Here’s the thing though: battery anxiety is never an issue because when it comes to charging few phones compare to the OnePlus 9 Pro. 

If you use the included 65W wired charger, you can get the battery from dead to 100 per cent in just 28 minutes. That’s a full charge in less than half an hour, which is mind-boggling. Plug the phone in for 10 minutes and that’ll provide  enough to get you through a good few hours.

But there’s more: it charges fast wirelessly too. Using OnePlus’ latest Warp Charge Wireless stand (an optional extra, at your expense), you can get a full charge in 43 minutes. Of course, if it’s by your bed and you charge overnight you don’t need those speeds, but it can be programmed to go into bedtime mode which charges slower and, crucially, quieter. The fan it uses to keep itself cool during the faster charging speeds is shut off to allow you to get to sleep. 

The Warp Charge Wireless is so quick that we’d often just leave the 9 Pro off charge at night, then put it on the stand while getting ready in the morning. It’s a bit of a game-changer.

It’s worth noting that – even though it charges quickly – OnePlus has kept its battery optimisation features in play, which ensure the device’s battery isn’t harmed by such speedy refills. It learns your charging routine and does the first chunk of charging quickly, before leaving it and then finishing the charge right before you wake up in the morning – which is good for battery health and longevity over an extended period of time. 

Verdict

The OnePlus 9 Pro attemps to address the series’ historically biggest issue: the cameras. However, even with support from Hasselblad, it still doesn’t quite hit the mark in that regard. But the core of the phone impresses, with fast wireless charging a truly brilliant feature, and the display being top notch too.

While it’s possible to get great photos from the 9 Pro’s cameras, the imbalance of colour between the two main sensors – with photos often looking like they’ve come from two different phones – and the poor results from the telephoto zoom just don’t quite add up to what we’d expect. More hassle than Hasselblad, eh?

It’s also worth pointing out that the 9 Pro’s price has crept higher still, edging ever closer to the four-figure mark and, in so doing, sitting closer to other premium flagship competitors. That does mean it’s still more affordable than some of the other top tier phones out there, but it’s no longer the instant buy the series once was.

Overall, the OnePlus 9 Pro continues to deliver on the series’ well-established strengths. Its fast and fluid, has a cracking screen, mind-boggling impressive fast-charging, and all for a price that undercuts the established elite. But it continues the series’ ongoing weaknesses too, as those cameras still just aren’t class-leading.

Also consider

Oppo Find X3 Pro

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In a lot of ways, the Oppo is very similar to the 9 Pro, offering similar hardware in terms of screen, battery size, charging and processing power. Where it differs is with a more consistent camera experience and a more refined designed. 

  • Read our review

Samsung Galaxy S21+

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Pricing isn’t all that much between Samsung’s S21+ and OnePlus’ latest top tier phone. It may have a plastic back, but its performance is strong in all the important ways. The cameras are a tad disappointing however. 

  • Read our review

Writing by Cam Bunton.

oneplus-9-pro-vs-samsung-galaxy-s21-ultra:-what’s-the-difference?

OnePlus 9 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – OnePlus announced the OnePlus 9 and the 9 Pro during an event on 23 March. 

You can read how the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro compare to each other in our separate feature, but here we are looking at how the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro compare to the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra. 

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Design

  • OnePlus 9: 160 x 74.2 x 8.7mm, 192g
  • OnePlus 9 Pro: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm, 197g
  • S21: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 172g
  • S21+: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm, 202g
  • S21 Ultra: 165.1 x 75.6 x 8.9mm, 228g

The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro both have a punch hole camera in the top left corner, but the 9 has a flat display and a plastic frame, while the 9 Pro has a slightly curved display and a metal frame.

Both devices have a prominent rectangular camera housing in the top left corner of their glass rears, with two stand out lenses. The 9 has a third smaller lens, while the 9 Pro has two additional smaller lenses. Both devices feature Hasselblad branding.

The Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra all have a centralised punch hole camera at the top of their displays. The S21 and S21+ both have flat displays and plastic rears, while the S21 Ultra has a curved display and glass rear. All three Samsung devices have a metal frame. 

On the back, the S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra all have a rectangular camera housing that moulds into the frame, making for a slightly different design. There are three large lenses on all three devices, but the S21 Ultra has an additional fourth smaller lens.

The three Samsung devices are all IP68 water and dust resistant, but only the OnePlus 9 Pro is out of the two OnePlus devices. In terms of size, the Samsung Galaxy S21 is the smallest, followed by the OnePlus 9, S21+, OnePlus 9 Pro and the S21 Ultra is the largest.

Display

  • OnePlus 9: 6.55-inches, 2400 x 1080, 120Hz
  • OnePlus 9 Pro: 6.7-inches, 3216 x 1440, 1Hz-120Hz
  • S21: 6.2-inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 48-120Hz
  • S21+: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 48-120Hz
  • S21 Ultra: 6.8-inches, 3200 x 1440 pixels, 10-120Hz, S Pen

The OnePlus 9 has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution for a pixel density of 402ppi. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, though this isn’t adaptive, and it has an aspect ratio of 20:9. 

The OnePlus 9 Pro meanwhile, has a slightly larger 6.7-inch display with an AMOLED panel with LTPO. It offers a Quad HD+ resolution for a pixel density of 525ppi and an adaptive refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. Its aspect ratio is 20.1:9.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display, which makes it the smallest of the devices being compared in this feature. Like the OnePlus 9, it has a Full HD+ display, putting its pixel density at 424ppi. It has an adaptive refresh rate between 48Hz and 120Hz. 

The Galaxy S21+ has a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, like the OnePlus 9 Pro, but it has a Full HD+ resolution instead of a Quad HD+ resolution like the 9 Pro. This results in a pixel density of 393ppi, and like the S21, it has an adaptive refresh rate between 48Hz and 120Hz, so it doesn’t drop quite as low as the 9 Pro.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra meanwhile, has a 6.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a Quad HD+ resolution for a pixel density of 516ppi. It offers an adaptive refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, so still not as low as the 9 Pro, but it has support for Samsung’s S Pen stylus.

Hardware and specs

  • OnePlus 9: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, 8GB, 128GB/256GB, 4500mAh
  • OnePlus 9 Pro: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, 8GB/12GB, 128GB/256GB, 4500mAh
  • S21: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100, 8GB, 128/256GB, 4000mAh
  • S21+: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100, 8GB, 128/256GB, 4800mAh
  • S21 Ultra: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100, 12/16GB, 128/256/512GB, 5000mAh

Both the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, supported by 8GB or 12GB of RAM and with 128GB or 256GB of storage. Neither have microSD support for storage expansion. 

The two OnePlus devices both have a 4500mAh battery and both offer Warp Charge 65T fast charging. The OnePlus 9 has 15W wireless charging in Europe and North America, while the OnePlus 9 Pro has Warp Charge 50 Wireless, which is 50W wireless charging. 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 devices all run on either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset or the Exynos 2100, region dependent. The S21 and S21+ are available with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB of storage or 256GB. The S21 Ultra comes with 12GB or 16GB of RAM and in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage options. Like OnePlus, none of the Samsung devices have microSD support. 

The Galaxy S21 has the smallest battery of the five devices being compared in this feature with a 4000mAh cell. The S21+ has a 4500mAh battery and the S21 Ultra has a 5000mAh. All three devices support for fast charging and wireless charging.

The five devices being compared in this feature all have under-display fingerprint sensors. They are also all 5G capable.

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Camera

  • OnePlus 9: Triple (48MP + 50MP + 2MP), 16MP front camera
  • OnePlus 9 Pro: Quad rear (48MP + 50MP + 2MP + 8MP), 16MP front camera 
  • S21: Triple rear (12MP + 12MP + 64MP), 10MP front camera
  • S21+: Triple rear (12MP + 12MP + 64MP), 10MP front camera
  • S21 Ultra: Quad rear (108MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP), 40-megapixel front camera 

The OnePlus 9 has a triple rear camera made up of a 48-megapixel main camera with 1.12µm pixels and an aperture of f/1.8, a 50-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with an aperture of f/2.2 and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens.

The OnePlus 9 Pro has a quad rear camera that offers the same three lenses as the OnePlus 9 but adds a 8-megapixel telephoto lens with an aperture of f/2.4 and 1.0µm pixels. Both the OnePlus 9 and the 9 Pro have a 16-megapixel front camera and both offer the Hasselblad partnership.

The S21 and S21+ both have a triple rear camera, made up of a 12-megapixel main sensor with 1.8µm pixel size, f/1.8 aperture and optical stabilisation (OIS), a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with 1.4µm and f/2.2, and a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor with 0.8µm, f/2.0 and OIS. There’s a 10-megapixel, 1.22µm, f/2.2 front camera.

The Galaxy S21 Ultra meanwhile, has a quad rear camera made up of a 108-megapixel main sensor with 0.8µm pixels, f/1.8 aperture, OIS and laser autofocus, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor (1.4µm, f/2.2) and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses, one with 1.22µm, f/2.4 (3x optical) and the other with 1.22µm, f/4.9 (10x optical). It also has a 40-megapixel selfie camera.

The three Samsung devices offer 4K 60fps video capture from all the cameras, with 8K 24fps offered on the rear too. The OnePlus 9 offers 4K video at 60fps and 8K at 30fps, while the OnePlus 9 Pro offers 4K at 120fps and 8K at 30fps.

Price

  • OnePlus 9 series: From £629
  • Samsung Galaxy S21 series: From £769

The OnePlus 9 comes in Winter Mist, Arctic Sky and Astral Black colour options. It starts at £629 in the UK. 

The OnePlus 9 Pro comes in Morning Mist, Stellar Black and Pine Green and starts at £829.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 starts at £769 in the UK and €849 in Europe. It comes in four colour options: Phantom Grey, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink and Phantom White. The S21+ starts at £949 in the UK and €1049 in Europe. It comes in five colour options: Phantom Violet, Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Gold and Phantom Red. 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra starts at £1149 in the UK and €1249 in Europe. It comes in five colour options: Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Titanium, Phantom Navy and Phantom Brown.

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Conclusion

The OnePlus 9 is the cheapest of the five handsets being compared in this feature, followed by the Galaxy S21 and then the OnePlus 9 Pro. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is the most expensive by £200 in the UK so budget will likely come into play when choosing between these handsets.

The hardware between the OnePlus 9 series and the Samsung Galaxy S21 series is similar, though the OnePlus 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra both offer more RAM as an option, as well as more storage in the case of the S21 Ultra. The Ultra also has a slighty larger battery capacity than the others, while the 9, 9 Pro and S21+ are identical.

The camera make up differs across the models, but the S21 Ultra delivers excellent results in our experience, and the S21 and S21+ are good too, while we found the OnePlus 9 Pro to be good, but a little inconsistent during our review. 

Ultimately, the decision between these devices will come down to budget and which features are most important to you. If you want the best camera, then the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is probably your best bet, but if you want decent specs for a good price, OnePlus is on the money.

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

oneplus-9-vs-oneplus-8t-vs-oneplus-8-pro:-which-should-you-buy?

OnePlus 9 vs OnePlus 8T vs OnePlus 8 Pro: Which should you buy?

(Pocket-lint) – OnePlus announced the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro during an event in March. The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro succeed the OnePlus 8T that arrived in the latter half of 2020, as well as the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro from early 2020, but how do they compare?

We’ve put the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro up against the OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro to help you work out what the differences are and which you should buy.

  • OnePlus 9 vs Samsung Galaxy S21: What’s the difference?

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Design

  • 9: 160 x 74.2 x 8.7mm, 192g
  • 9 Pro: 163.2 x 73.6 x 8.7mm, 197g
  • 8/8T: 160 x 72.9 x 8mm, 180g / 160.7 x 74.1 x 8.4mm, 188g
  • 8 Pro: 165.3mm x 74.35mm x 8.5mm, 199g

All the OnePlus devices being compared in this feature have a punch hole camera in the top left of their displays.

The OnePlus 9, 8T and 8 all have flat displays and are water resistant, while the OnePlus 9 Pro and 8 Pro have curved displays and carry an official IP68 water and dust resistance rating.

On the back, the OnePlus 9, 9 Pro and 8T all have a rectangular camera housing in the top left corner, though the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro have two more prominent lenses within the housing compared to the 8T, making for a more interesting design. The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro have a slim rectangular housing in the centre of their rears.

In terms of materials, all of the OnePlus devices being compared here have a glass rear and they all have a metal frame, except for the OnePlus 9 that offers a plastic frame. The slimmest and lightest is the OnePlus 8, while the largest and heaviest is the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Display

  • 9: 6.55-inch, Full HD+, 120Hz
  • 9 Pro: 6.7-inch, Quad HD+, LTPO, 120Hz variable
  • 8/8T: 6.55-inch, Full HD+, AMOLED, 90Hz / 6.55-inch, Full HD+, AMOLED, 120Hz
  • 8 Pro: 6.7-inch, Quad HD+, AMOLED, 120Hz

The OnePlus 9, OnePlus 8T and OnePlus 8 all feature a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution, while the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro have a 6.7-inch display with a Quad HD+ resolution. 

All have AMOLED panels but the OnePlus 9 Pro has an AMOLED panel with LTPO that allows for a variable refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz. The OnePlus 9, 8T and 8 Pro all have a 120Hz refresh rate, while the OnePlus 8 has a 90Hz refresh rate.

As mentioned before, the OnePlus 9 Pro and 8 Pro have curved displays, while the OnePlus 9, 8T and 8 all have flat displays. All devices being compared here offer under-display fingerprint sensors.

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Hardware and specs

  • 9 Pro: SD888, 5G, 128/256GB storage, 8/12GB RAM, 4500mAh
  • 9: SD888, 5G, 128/256GB storage, 8/12GB RAM, 4500mAh
  • 8T: SD865, 5G, 128/256GB storage, 8/12GB RAM, 4500mAh
  • 8: SD865, 5G, 128/256GB storage, 8/12GB RAM, 4300mAh
  • 8 Pro: SD865, 5G, 128/256GB storage, 8/12GB RAM, 4510mAh

The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro both run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, while the OnePlus 8T, 8 and 8 Pro all run on the slightly older Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor. All five models are 5G enabled.

All five models also come in a choice of 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage and none offer microSD support for storage expansion.

The OnePlus 9 Pro, 9 and OnePlus 8T all have a 4500mAh battery capacity, while the OnePlus 8 Pro has an ever so slightly larger 4510mAh capacity. The OnePlus 8 is a little smaller at 4300mAh. 

The OnePlus 9 Pro, 9 and 8T all offer support for OnePlus Warp Charge 65, which is 65W wired charging, while the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro use Warp Charge 30T. There is no wireless charging on the OnePlus 8 or 8T, but there is on the 9, 9 Pro and 8 Pro. The 9 Pro supports 50W wireless charging though.

Camera

  • 9: Triple rear (48MP+50MP+2MP), 16MP front
  • 9 Pro: Quad rear (48MP+50MP+2MP+8MP), 16MP front
  • 8T: Quad rear (48MP+16MP+5MP+2MP), 16MP
  • 8: Triple rear (48MP+16MP+2MP), 16MP
  • 8 Pro: Quad rear (48MP+48MP+8MP+5MP), 16MP front

The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a quad rear camera, while the OnePlus 9 has at triple rear camera. Both have the Hasselblad partnership, which involves colour tuning and sensor calibration.

The OnePlus 9’s triple camera is made up of a 48-megapixel main camera with f/1.8 aperture, a 50-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with f/2.4 aperture and a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor.

The OnePlus 9 Pro also offers a 48-megapixel main sensor with f/1.8 aperture but it’s a custom Sony IMX789 sensor and it supports optical image stabilisation (OIS), while the 9 has a Sony IMX689 sensor and no OIS. A 50-megapixel ultra wide sensor is also on board the 9 Pro, along with a 2-megapixel monochrome sensor, but it also adds an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with f/2.4 aperture.

Meanwhile, the OnePlus 8T comes with a quad rear camera, comprised of a 48-megapixel main camera, 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 5-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel monochrome lens so there’s no telephoto lens for optical zoom on this model.

The OnePlus 8 Pro also has a quad camera, made up of a 48-megapixel main, 48-megapixel ultra-wide, 8-megapixel telephoto and 5-megapixel photochromatic sensor.

Lastly, the OnePlus 8 has a triple rear camera made up of a 48-megapixel main, 16-megapixel 116-degree ultra-wide sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. 

As you can see, all the camera make ups across these five models differ. It’s worth bearing in mind that more megapixels or more lenses doesn’t necessarily mean better so head to our full reviews for each device to find out how the camera performs on each model in our experience.

The OnePlus 9, 9 Pro, 8 Pro, 8 and 8T all have a 16-megapixel front camera.

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Conclusion

The OnePlus 9 Pro and 9 offer a faster processor, more capable cameras on paper and a more exciting design than the 2020 OnePlus models. The OnePlus 9 Pro also adds a variable refresh rate and faster wireless charging.

The OnePlus 8T and 8 Pro both have the same battery capacity as the 9 and 9 Pro though, as well as the same RAM and storage options. The 8 Pro also has waterproofing like the 9 Pro.

The decision between these devices is likely to come down to price, as well as what features are most important to you. If you want the latest design and features like a variable refresh rate then the 9 Pro is likely the one for you, but if you want to save some money, then it’s well worth considering the 9 or 8T. 

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

oneplus-9-initial-review:-two-steps-forward-one-step-back?

OnePlus 9 initial review: Two steps forward one step back?

(Pocket-lint) – It’s safe to say OnePlus has been on something of a journey over the past few years. It lifted itself out of that initial ‘plucky upstart’ role and started to become a real smartphone company. 

It’s gone from being a company that launched one or two new phones a year to launching six phones in 2020, with varying specs and at different price tiers. In 2021 that output glut looks set to continue – and it starts with the OnePlus 9.

Design

  • Dimensions: 160 x 74.2 x 8.7mm / Weight: 192 grams
  • Finish options: Winter Mist, Arctic Sky, Astral Black
  • 3D Corning Gorilla Glass back
  • Dual stereo speakers

Look at the camera housing and you’ll see an evolution of design when you compare the OnePlus 9 to its most recent predecessors: the OnePlus 8T and OnePlus 8. The 9’s two main cameras have very deliberate metallic ring around them, while the camera housing has been designed to colour-match the rest of the phone’s rear panel. 

It’s a classy and minimalist look, now with the addition of a Hasselblad logo. Because, yep, OnePlus is all about a camera partnership with this new series.

It’s in the rest of the build where we’ve seen OnePlus move backwards compared to its previous models though. The 9’s frame is made from a similar shiny plastic to what we first saw on the OnePlus Nord. Or, as OnePlus calls it: “fibreglass infused polymer”. Thankfully, the back is covered in Corning Gorilla Glass for protection.

It’s not the slimmest or lightest phone around either, certainly feeling thicker than previous models, but that’s almost certainly down to the move towards a flat screen. Rather than have those curved edges on both sides of the phone, it only has them on one side, so you lose that more sleek effect. Still, the OnePlus 9 feels noticeably chunkier than the 8T – another flat-screened model – which was thicker than the OnePlus 8 before it.

Of course, there are real benefits to having a flatter screen. There’s very little chance you’ll suffer from accidental touches, because it doesn’t curve around the edges, so that makes the phone a bit easier to use. 

Our own review unit is the Winter Mist model, which has a light purple colour, with the rear featuring a gradient refraction effect. That means the bottom part of the phone is really glossy and reflective, but the top is more frosted and gradients between these two finishes. We think some people will like it, but we prefer the softer fully frosted look of some of the blue Arctic Sky model. It’s also a bit of a fingerprint magnet, which diminishes the overall finish effect.

There are all the usual OnePlus buttons and ports though. That means the volume rocker is within easy reach on the left side, with the alert slider switch on the right near the power/sleep button. The dual nano SIM tray is on the bottom edge near the USB-C port and the bottom-firing loudspeaker – which joins with a speaker near the earpiece to form stereo sound that’s boosted by Dolby Atmos tech. 

Display

  • 6.55-inch AMOLED panel
    • Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels; 402ppi)
    • 120Hz refresh rate

OnePlus has focused on having lightweight and fast software for years. Its latest iteration of Oxygen OS is no different, and the display is primed and ready to take full advantage of that fluidity too.

Pocket-lint

The AMOLED screen on the front of the OnePlus 9 isn’t quite as sharp as that of the 9 Pro, but with a pixel density over 400 pixels-per-inch it should be sharp enough for most content you’d want to watch. 

What’s more, with a refresh rate peak of 120Hz, it can keep up with any fast frame-rate gaming. OnePlus says it has improved the colour accuracy and the automatic brightness adjustment too – the result of adding in two ambient light sensors, while the brightness has more than 8000 different levels to enable smoother adjustment. 

Like Apple’s True Tone, there’s a Comfort Tone feature that adjusts the colour temperature of the display to match your environment, which should be handy when reading ebooks on a white screen, making it seem a bit more like a paper surface.

Brightness itself shouldn’t be a problem either. With a peak of up to 1100nits and HDR10+ certification you should find a very attractive, vivid and bright panel. Of course, we need a bit more time to test it thoroughly, but all early indicators are good.

Hardware and performance

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 platform
  • 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 storage
  • 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 RAM
  • 4,500mAh battery capacity
  • Warp Charge 65W charging
  • 15W Qi wireless charging 

With a top OnePlus flagship you know one thing for certain: you’ll always get the latest, most powerful mobile processor. That means the Snapdragon 888 platform for the 9 series, along with suitably quick LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. 

What that means in daily use is that, not only will your apps and games load quickly, but any downloads and installs will be fast too. That’s helped further by 5G support, presuming you’re in an area with 5G coverage, for speedy and low-latency connectivity.

All this power needs cooling for efficiency. For the OnePlus 9 there’s something called the OnePlus Cool Play system. Essentially, the manufacturer has made the vapour chambers larger and added more layers of graphite and copper to dissipate heat when you’re powering your most demanding games. 

We’ve not yet experienced a OnePlus phone that under-delivers on speed and performance, so we don’t expect the OnePlus 9 will be any different. Our first few days of use have been pretty much plain sailing.

Regarding the battery and it’s really the charging that sells this phone. You may remember OnePlus saying in the past that it didn’t want to use wireless charging until it was as fast and convenient as its fast wired system. Well, for the non-Pro model in the OnePlus 9 family, it turns out it’s forgotten all about that. 

The regular OnePlus 9 does have wireless charging, but it’s not blindingly fast. Instead, it uses a fairly standard 15W Qi-compatible wireless charging. That means it’s nowhere near as quick as the new Warp Charge 65T wired charging capability which can keep those 65W speeds pumping for longer and give you a full charge in under 30 minutes. 

Cameras

  • Triple camera system with Hasselblad tuning:
    • Main: 48-megapixel, f/1.8 aperture, Sony IMX689 sensor
    • Ultra-wide: 50MP, f/2.2, SonyIMX766 sensor
    • Mono: 2MP
  • Front-facing camera: 16-megapixel
  • Video: 8K30p / 4K120p

OnePlus has listened to its critics over the past few years and says it’s finally delivering a flagship level camera experience. That’s thanks in part to its new collaboration with Hasselblad, to help tune the image processing to strict standards, ensuring your pictures should come out looking great. 

It’s not just that tuning that’s changed though. The regular OnePlus 9 features the same main camera sensor found in the OnePlus 8 Pro from 2020, and has the same sensor in the ultra-wide as found in the excellent (and more expensive) Oppo Find X3 Pro. 



Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today


By Chris Hall
·

The best smartphones you can currently buy, covering the best of iPhone and Samsung, and everything Android has to offer

Those two are joined by a low-res monochrome sensor for extra light detail, but that’s it. No macro lens or gimmicky chroma filter camera in sight this time.

What’s more, the video recording capability can reach the heights of 8K resolution at 30fps or – perhaps more impressively – can capture 4K up to 120fps, which should enable some fantastically sharp slow-motion video. 

Hasselblad’s partnership has led to some other more inconsequential features, like the orange colour of the shutter button, and a leaf shutter sound when you press it. However, where you’ll see the biggest influence is in the ‘Pro’ camera mode. 

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The user interface has been designed to look like one developed by Hasselblad for some of its cameras. This includes a focus peaking feature that will highlight in-focus areas in orange when you’re using the manual focus. 

First Impressions

The OnePlus 9 design may not have wowed us that much, but this company knows its users are all about getting the best performance out of every area of its phones.

So if cutting corners and adding in a plastic frame means being able to stick two flagship cameras on the back, add wireless charging, a capacious battery, and market-leading speed, then we think that’s a compromise worth making. 

We can’t quite get out of our heads that the OnePlus 9 is similar to the much cheaper Nord in some respects, and that might still be worth considering, but on the whole – from the spec conscious – this latest OnePlus looks like it will deliver an experience much closer to its Pro-labelled sibling this year. 

Also consider

Pocket-lint

OnePlus Nord

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If you’re all about price then the last-gen affordable OnePlus model is a sensible option.

  • Read our review

Writing by Cam Bunton.

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Lego announces its biggest and most detailed Space Shuttle set yet

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle launch, Lego is releasing a new Space Shuttle Discovery set in collaboration with NASA. Discovery was not the first shuttle to take flight — that would be Columbia, which likely stirs up too many sad feelings for a Lego set — but it was the shuttle that launched the Hubble Space Telescope, which is also included in the set.

Available April 1st for $200, the set has 2,354 pieces, including three newly designed pieces for the windscreen and payload bay. It also includes 108 drum lacquered silver pieces, the most of any Lego set yet.

At 1:70 scale, the assembled shuttle comes in at around 8.5 inches high, 21 inches long, and 13.5 inches wide. The set comes with two stands so you can display the shuttle and telescope separately or together, as though the telescope is emerging from the payload bay.

Space friends!
Image: Lego

This Discovery set is a big step up from previous Lego Space Shuttle sets like the Lego 10231 and 7470, not just in the number of pieces but in its overall sleekness and level of detail. The elevons on the wings can be tilted up and down by turning the middle engine, the leading edges of the wings have gray pieces representing the reinforced carbon-carbon of a real shuttle, and pulling up the flight deck reveals a mid-deck for tiny astronauts.

Look at those shiny doors.
Image: Lego

Considering I derived great joy as a child from my (in retrospect) very dinky “Space Shuttle with Satellite” Hess truck, I am fully convinced this set will cure my ever-present existential dread. Please join me in appreciating these detail shots while I set a calendar reminder for April 1st.

Plenty of seating for my journey to happiness.
Image: Lego

The Hubble’s aperture door, to block out the haters.
Image: Lego

Landing gear, for running over my agonies.
Image: Lego

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Poco X3 Pro review: Is bigger better?

(Pocket-lint) – The big ol’ beast upon which your eyes are affixed is the Poco X3 Pro: the Xiaomi offshoot’s sub-flagship device, here to tempt you with massive screen, massive battery, and not-so-massive price point.

Just a year after the Poco X2 launched, the X3 Pro isn’t exactly an unexpected surprise. But it does cut its own path: its the first device to feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor, which is all-powerful (basically an 855+ rebadged) but, crucially, drops any 5G modem – and, with that, any battery/cost implication that such connectivity could cause.

As such, the Poco X3 Pro is a fairly unique prospect. It’s not quite as flagship grade as the smaller Poco F3 – which was announced the same day, here’s how the two compare – but as 4G/LTE handsets on a big scale go, it’s got a lot of weight behind it (both figuratively and literally speaking).

Design & Display

  • Display: 6.67-inch DotDisplay panel, FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh, 450 nits
  • Finishes: Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze
  • Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4mm / Weight: 215g
  • Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
  • 3.5mm headphone jack

As you’ve no doubt already figured out by now: the Poco X3 Pro is a big and weighty phone – even more so than its spec sheet might have you think. No, 215g is hardly a lot when you’re weighing out pasta for dinner or something, but in a phone that you handle constantly it’s noticeably chonky. It’s far more than the Redmi Note 10 Pro, for example, which has almost exactly the same footprint.

Pocket-lint

The big scale comes, in part, from this Poco’s big screen. This 6.67-inch ‘DotDisplay’ panel is sourced from Samsung, complete with many of the current nice-to-haves in a phone – namely the 120Hz refresh rate to keep the visual experience smoother. The Full HD+ resolution – that’s 2400 x 1080 pixles – might not sound top of the line, but it’s really as much as you’ll need and doesn’t negatively affect fidelity.

Flip the phone around and the rear design has a kind-of retro look about it. Phone design moves on so rapidly year on year that, for whatever reason, the Poco X3 Pro just looks a bit ‘last year’. Maybe it’s the raised camera unit, housed within a black circle, that’s behind the times. The big look-at-me Poco logo emblazoned on the back is way bigger than necessary, too.

There are some nice touches though. A 3.5mm headphone jack is on board, if you’re still using wired headphones. And the side-mounted fingerprint scanner – which doubles-up as the power button – is well placed for rapid login. Or, by the wonders of face unlock, you can feed the X3 Pro your face and get a speedy unlock that way too.

Pocket-lint

In summary: the Poco X3 Pro is massive, in a kind of gawky way that’s not at the forefront of phone design. But then it’s also practical, if you’re looking for a large phone, thanks to that massive screen and massive battery combination. And, really, that’s the most important take-away factor.

Performance & Battery

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 platform, 6GB/8GB RAM
  • 5,160mAh battery, 33W charging
  • 4G/LTE only, no 5G

There’s been heaps of chat about 5G over the last few years. For good reason, too, as it enables super-fast connectivity with low-latency. Except, it doesn’t if you can’t get a 5G singal – which, in majority of places around the world, is often the case. Not to mention the elevated asking price of your monthly mobile subscription.

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The Poco X3 Pro bypasses any 5G problem by, well, shunning the connectivity entirely. That, it seems, is much the point of using the all-new Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor – there’s no X50/X55 series modem attached within the platform, thus no 5G. But 4G/LTE connectivity is perfectly good enough and, without the concern over elevated costs or battery consumption, we think it’ll be lapped up by many consumers.

Not to mention that the Snapdragon 860 is really rather powerful. It’s a lot like a rebaged Snapdragon 855+ from two years back – same eight cores, same clock speed (2.96GHz), same graphics chip – just minus the faster modem, as we said. In terms of performance, though, that means there’s little to nothing that’s going to bother this phone at all.

We’ve been living with the Poco X3 Pro as our own for a working week, digging into Zwift sessions (and Companion ones), playing South Park: Phone Destroyer, and generally milling about our suite of apps to browse, mail and watch videos. None of that has caused so much as a hiccup. It’s all a very smooth experience – often literally, thanks to the 120Hz display.

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Having this double-speed refresh rate here makes a lot of sense as a more powerful processor can handle decent frame-rates in a variety of situations, from the user interface and software through to a myriad of apps, including games. Some makers have pushed faster refresh screens but then not paired a quite good enough processor to always make good on that hardware – the cheaper Moto G30 being one such example – but the Poco always delivers.

Without throttling battery saver features enabled, we’ve been cutting through 30 per cent of battery every 10 hours. That includes some casual gaming. It’s no surprise, really, as the Poco X3 Pro houses a 5,160mAh battery – which is massive by any measure. But a 30-hours-plus innings per charge would be no bother, making this one of those phones that’s close to being a two-dayer unless you’re really hammering out heavyweight apps a lot of the time.

There are some caveats to all this though. That comes down to Xiaomi’s MIUI software, which has a lot of detail when it comes to battery handling. By default every app is set to ‘Battery Saver’ – so you’re likely going to need to manually move your key apps to ‘No Restrictions’ to ensure they continue to function better than not.

That said, the Poco X3 Pro still hits some walls. It’s persistently exhibited problems with notifications – much like we found with the Xiaomi Mi 11, albeit worse here – such as, for example, hour-long delays in WhatsApp notifications, plus delays with various other apps. In theory the software will learn which apps are most important to you – by volume and repetition of use – and permit those more access, but that’s not helped our overall experience.

Customisation can be a great thing, but it can also be a hindrance. We would rather MIUI was a just more gentle with its approach to limiting with apps. Why certain Xiaomi phones on the same software versions run fine – the Redmi Note 10 Pro being one example – but others do not, such as this Poco, is rather perplexing. Each has its own launcher, sure, but these ongoing notification issues are a needless irritation.

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Which is why this more laborious setup won’t be distracting those with a little more budget from buying into, say, a Google Pixel phone with stock Android software, or something like a Motorola handset instead (likely foregoing some power for the sake of user experience).

Cameras

  • Quad rear cameras:
    • Main: 48-megapixel, f/1.79 aperture, 1/2in sensor size
    • Wide-angle (119 degrees): 8MP, f/2.2
    • Macro: 2MP, f/2.4
    • Depth: 2MP, f/2.4
  • Front-facing camera:
    • 20-megapixels, f/2.2 aperture

Whereas many are now pushing 108-megapixel cameras as the norm, Poco is a little further down the ladder with the X3 Pro, instead opting for a 48-megapixel main sensor. This functions by using four pixels in one, to produce 12-megapixel results. Which are fairly decent quality overall, including in a mix of conditions, with a usable Night Mode too.

Pocket-lint

Move away from that main sensor, however, and the X3 Pro isn’t especially ‘pro’ in its sell. There’s an 8-megapixel wide-angle that, while useful, is of limited quality – as is typical at this level, really.

But it’s the pair of other cameras – both 2-megapixel sensors – to cover depth readings and macro close-ups that are throwaway. They’re of limited use, don’t need to be here, and are on board to up the count and lure you in with the “quad camera” pitch. Macro is so hidden that you’ll never know to use it, which is a good job as the results are poor.

Pocket-lint

: Main camera – Night ModeMain camera – Night Mode

Pare the X3 Pro’s camera spec down and it’s got a perfectly fine main lens, then, but that’s about as far as things go. It’s fairly typical of this level, though, so isn’t a surprise – but consider that “quad camera” claim as and oversell and your expectations may be met.



Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today


By Chris Hall
·

Verdict

The Poco X3 Pro is all about going big. It’s got a big screen, big battery, and its anticipated low price point should have big appeal.

In some regards, however, it’s a bit too big for its own boots. The software doesn’t quite connect in this format – we’ve had notification problems which irk – while the sheer physical size and weight mean other devices may hold added appeal.

But as a pitch there’s sense here: if you want a long-lasting phone, don’t mind the physical bulk, and don’t care for 5G, then the Poco X3 Pro will hit the mark for certain users in certain markets.

Also consider

Pocket-lint

Redmi Note 10 Pro

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Still a large size, but the Redmi is lighter weight, feeling more balanced and accomplished compared to the big slice that is Poco. The battery isn’t quite as epic, though, if that’s your main want – but we found the software here wasn’t as marred by notification issues (despite it still running MIUI).

  • Read our review

Writing by Mike Lowe.

apple-ipad-mini-5-vs-ipad-mini-4:-what’s-the-difference?

Apple iPad mini 5 vs iPad mini 4: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – After four years, the Apple iPad mini 4 was succeeded by the iPad mini 5 in March 2019.

The current iPad mini is a 7.9-inch tablet that offers the same design as its predecessors, but a major upgrade in terms of its capability.

This is how the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5 compare. What’s the same, what’s different and should you upgrade? 

iPad mini 4 vs iPad mini 5: Price

The iPad mini 4 cost £319 when it was still available. It is now discontinued, though you might find it through second-hand vendors and some resellers. 

The iPad mini 5 starts at $399 in the US or £399 in the UK for the 64GB model or £549 in the UK and $549 in the US for the 256GB model so it’s quite a bit more expensive than the iPad mini 4.

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What’s the same between the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5?

They might be several years apart, but there are a couple of similarities between the iPad mini 4 and its successor, the iPad mini 5.

Design

  • Touch ID
  • 203.2 x 134.8 x 6.1mm
  • Silver, Space Grey, Gold

The iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5 share the same design, as well as the same measurements. Both offer an aluminium body with curved edges and rounded corners and both come in Silver, Space Grey and Gold colour options.

On the front, the display features bezels at the top and the bottom and Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor is positioned at the bottom. Unlike the iPad Pro models, the iPad mini 5 does not get Face ID.

Display size and resolution

  • 7.9-inches
  • 2048 x 1536 resolution

Both the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5 have a 7.9-inch display with a 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution for a pixel density of 326ppi. The two devices also both opt for a Retina LED backlit IPS LCD screen.

Rear camera

  • 8MP, f/2.4
  • 1080p video

Both the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5 have an 8-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.4 aperture. They both have HDR for photos and they both offer 1080p video, but the iPad mini 5 does offer some improvements. 

Speakers

  • Stereo speakers

Both the iPad mini 5 and the iPad mini 4 offer stereo speakers, which are situated at the bottom on the device next to the Lightning port.

Battery

  • 10 hours

The iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5 have the same battery capabilities, promising up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video or listening to music. The iPad mini 5 performs better in the real world though, thanks to the upgraded processor over the mini 4.

Software

  • iOS 12

Both the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5 are capable of running the latest iOS build – iPadOS 14. The iPad mini 5 offers a couple of extra features though, and it is a smoother, faster experience too. 

What’s different between the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5?

They might look the same on the surface, but there are several differences beneath the hoods of the iPad mini 4 and iPad mini 5.

Processor

  • iPad mini 5: A12 Bionic chip
  • iPad mini 4: A8 chip

As you would expect, the iPad mini 5 updates the processing power of the iPad mini. It has the A12 Bionic chip under its hood, while the iPad mini 4 has the A8 processor so there are some big improvements in speed between the two mini models.

Storage capacities

  • iPad mini 5: 64GB/256GB
  • iPad mini 4: 16GB/32GB/64GB/128GB

The iPad mini 4 was originally available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage options. The iPad mini 5 launched in two models with a 64GB option and a 256GB option. None of the iPad mini models offer microSD support.

Front camera

  • iPad mini 5: 7MP, 1080p video
  • iPad mini 4: 1.2MP, 720 video

The iPad mini 5 has a 7-megapixel front FaceTime HD camera with an f/2.2 aperture. It is capable of recording 1080p video and it offers a Retina Flash and wide colour capture.

The iPad mini 4 meanwhile, has a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, offering 720p video. 

Display technology

  • iPad mini 5: Apple Pencil, True Tone
  • iPad mini 4: No Apple Pencil, no True Tone

The iPad mini 5 and mini 4 might share the same display size and resolution but the iPad mini 5 offers Apple Pencil support, which the iPad mini 4 does not. 

You’ll also find Apple’s True Tone technology on the iPad mini 5, along with a p3 wide colour gamut, neither of which the iPad mini 4 offers.

Conclusion

The Apple iPad mini 5 and mini 4 might look the same, but the iPad mini 5 offers several hardware upgrades.

For those with an iPad mini 4, you’ll likely notice quite a big difference in performance if you upgrade to the mini 5, along with a more capable front camera, Apple Pencil support and the option of more storage.

It’s an expensive upgrade though and all the differences are under the hood rather than on the surface, so some may find it hard to justify.

For those looking to choose between the iPad mini 4 and the iPad mini 5, the 5 is the one to go for if you have the budget. You might find the iPad mini 4 still around in some places, but remember the tech underneath is now several years old and it’s possible there will be a new iPad mini in the not too distant future.

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

samsung-galaxy-a52-5g-vs-galaxy-s20-fe:-what’s-the-difference?

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G vs Galaxy S20 FE: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – Samsung revealed the Galaxy A52 5G during an event in March, sitting below the Galaxy S21 range, but featuring some of its key specifications for less money – much like the Galaxy S20 FE also does.

How does the Galaxy A52 5G compare to the 2020 Galaxy S20 FE though? We’ve put their specs up against each other to help you work out which one might be the right one for you.

Design

  • Galaxy A52 5G: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm, 189g
  • Galaxy S20 FE 5G: 159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4mm, 190g

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy S20 FE 5G both offer flat displays with a centralised punch hole camera at the top and they also both offer plastic bodies rather than glass. 

Both have a rectangular camera housing in the top left at the back, though the Galaxy A52 5G has more prominent camera lenses compared to the Galaxy S20 FE, making for a more striking rear panel. 

In terms of physical size, the Galaxy A52 5G is virtually identical to the Galaxy S20 FE, and they weigh pretty much the same too. The Galaxy A52 5G is IP67 water and dust resistant, while the Galaxy S20 FE is IP68. 

Both the Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy S20 FE come in a range of bright colours. The A52 comes in blue, purple, black and white, while the S20 FE comes in blue, red, lavender, mint, white, orange.

Display

  • Galaxy A52 5G: 6.5-inch, Full HD+, 120Hz
  • Galaxy S20 FE: 6.5-inch, Full HD+, 120Hz, HDR

Both the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy S20 FE have a 6.5-inch display with a Full HD+ resolution that puts their pixel densities at 404ppi. 

They both offer flat displays – as we mentioned – and they both have a 120Hz refresh rate. They are also both Super AMOLED panels. 

The Galaxy A52 5G has a maximum brightness of 800nits but it doesn’t support HDR. The Galaxy S20 FE does support HDR10+ however.

Hardware and specs

  • Galaxy A52 5G: Qualcomm SD750G, 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, microSD, 4500mAh
  • Galaxy S20 FE: Qualcomm SD865, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, microSD, 4500mAh

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset, supported by 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. There is microSD support on board for storage expansion up to 1TB.

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G meanwhile, runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, supported by 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It too has microSD support for storage expansion.

Both the Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy S20 FE run on a 4500mAh battery. The Galaxy A52 5G has support for 25W fast charging, but it doesn’t offer wireless charging. The Galaxy S20 FE has support for 15W fast charging, along with wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Camera

  • Galaxy A52 5G: Quad rear, 32MP front
  • Galaxy S20 FE: Triple rear, 32MP front

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G comes with a quad rear camera. This is made up of a 64-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an aperture of f/1.8, along with a 12-megapixel ultra wide angle lens with f/2.2, a 5-megapixel depth lens with f/2.4 and a 5-megapixel macro lens with f/2.4. 

The Galaxy S20 FE has a triple rear camera. This is made up of 12-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture, OIS and 1.8µm pixels, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4, 1.0µm, OIS and 3x optical, and a 12-megapixel ultra wide lens with f/2.2 and 1.12µm pixels. 

On the front of the Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy S20 FE, there is a 32-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture.

Price

  • Galaxy A52 5G: £399
  • Galaxy S20 FE: £699

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G costs £399 in the UK and €429 in Europe.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G model costs £699 in the UK, making it quite a bit more expensive.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy S20 FE are very similar in terms of specifications. They both offer the same size and resolution display, 120Hz refresh rates, the same size battery, microSD support and 5G capabilities.

The Galaxy A52 5G offers a slightly more stand out design, more RAM and more storage as an option, but the Galaxy S20 FE offers better camera results in our experience, along with HDR support and wireless charging. 

For the difference in price, the Galaxy A52 5G is likely to be the winner for most, but it is also worth remembering that rumours have started circulating for the Galaxy S21 FE so it could be worth holding fire for a few more months to see what that device brings.

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

samsung-galaxy-a52-5g-vs-galaxy-s21:-what’s-the-difference?

Samsung Galaxy A52 5G vs Galaxy S21: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – Samsung announced three new Galaxy A devices during an event in March, sitting below the Galaxy S21 series in terms of cost, but borrowing some of its key features and specs, for nearly half the price.

You can read about how the Galaxy A52 5G, A52 and A72 compare to each other in our separate feature, but here we are focusing on how the Galaxy A52 5G compares to the flagship Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+.

Design

  • Galaxy A52 5G: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm, 189g
  • Galaxy S21: 151.7 x 71.2 x 7.9mm, 169g
  • Galaxy S21+: 161.5 x 75.6 x 7.8mm, 200g

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G has a flat display with a centralised punch hole camera at the top. On the rear, there is a rectangular camera housing with four lenses, three of which are more prominent. The camera housing is positioned in the top left corner as an island.

The A52 5G has a plastic rear, is IP67 water and dust resistant and it comes in four different colour options.

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ meanwhile, also both offer plastic rears and flat displays with a centralised punch hole camera at the top of the screen. They have a rectangular camera housing on the rear with three prominent lenses, but the housing is a different colour to the rear and wraps around into the frame of the devices, offering a slightly different look to the A52 5G. 

The Galaxy S21 comes in four colour options, while the Galaxy S21+ is available in five options. Both devices are IP68 rated for water and dust.

All three devices have under-screen fingerprint readers.

Display

  • Galaxy A52 5G: 6.5-inches, 2400 x 1800 pixels, 120Hz
  • Galaxy S21: 6.2-inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 48-120Hz
  • Galaxy S21+: 6.7-inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels, 48-120Hz

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 2400 x 1080 resolution, which delivers a pixel density of 405ppi. 

It offers a maximum brightness of 800nits and it comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, but it doesn’t support HDR.

The Galaxy S21 has a smaller 6.2-inch display, which also has a 2400 x 1080 resolution, resulting in a slightly sharper pixel density of 424ppi. The Galaxy S21+ has a larger 6.7-inch display, again with a 2400 x 1080 resolution, for a slightly softer pixel density of 393ppi. 

Both the Galaxy S21 and S21+ have a maximum brightness of 1300nits, support HDR10+ and come with an adaptive refresh rate of 48Hz to 120Hz.

Hardware and specs

  • Galaxy A52 5G: Qualcomm SD750G, 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, microSD, 4500mAh
  • Galaxy S21: Qualcomm SD888 or Exynos 2100, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 4000mAh
  • Galaxy S21+: Qualcomm SD888 or Exynos 2100, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 4800mAh

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, supported by 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. It offers microSD support for storage expansion up to 1TB – something the S21 series doesn’t offer.

There’s a 4500mAh battery capacity under the hood, which supports 25W fast charging but there is no wireless charging or reverse wireless charging on board. 

The Galaxy S21 and S21+ both run on either the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, or the Exynos 2100, depending on the region. There is 8GB of RAM support and storage options of 128GB and 256GB but neither supports microSD, as mentioned. 

The Galaxy S21 has a 4000mAh battery, while the Galaxy S21+ has a 4800mAh battery. Both support fast wired and wireless charging.

All three models being compared in this feature are 5G enabled.

Camera

  • Galaxy A52 5G: Quad rear (main, ultra wide, depth, macro), 32MP front
  • Galaxy S21/21+: Triple rear (main, ultra wide, telephoto), 10MP front

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G comes with a quad rear camera. This is made up of a 64-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an aperture of f/1.8, along with a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens with a f/2.2 aperture, a 5-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and a 5-megapixel macro sensor with an f/2.4 aperture.

On the front, there’s a 32-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture.

The S21 and S21+ both have a triple rear camera, made up of a 12-megapixel main sensor with 1.8µm pixel size, f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with 1.4µm and f/2.2, and a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor with 0.8µm, f/2.0 and OIS. 

There’s a 10-megapixel, 1.22µm, f/2.2 front camera.

Price

  • Galaxy A52 5G: £399/€429
  • Galaxy S21: £769/€849
  • Galaxy S21+: £949/€1049

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G will cost £399 in the UK and €429 in Europe. 

The Galaxy S21 starts at £769 in the UK and €849 in Europe.

The Galaxy S21+ starts at £949 in the UK and €1049 in Europe.

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Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is almost half the price of the Galaxy S21, and less than half the price of the S21+. 

It doesn’t have an adaptive refresh rate, a telephoto lens for optical zoom, the top-of-the-range processor, HDR support or wireless charging, but that’s pretty much all it misses out on compared to the more expensive S21 and S21+ in terms of specs.

The A52 5G still offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a display size in the middle of the S21 and S21+, 5G capabilities, a larger battery capacity than the S21 and it has microSD support, which the S21 and S21+ do not offer. Its camera isn’t as good as the S21 however so bear that in mind.

For the money, it is well worth considering the A52 5G over the two flagship models though, depending on what features matter to you most. 

Writing by Britta O’Boyle. Editing by Chris Hall.

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Samsung Galaxy A52 5G vs A72: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – Samsung announced the sub-flagship Galaxy A52 5G, Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 smartphones at an event in March, all of which sit below the company’s flagship S21 series, but offer a few of its great features and some of its design traits.

We’ve covered off how the Galaxy A52 5G compares to the Galaxy S21 in a separate feature, but here we are looking at how the Galaxy A52 devices and A72 compare to each other to help you work out which Samsung Galaxy A device could be right for you.

Design

  • A52 5G: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm, 189g
  • A52: 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm, 189g
  • A72: 165 x 77.4 x 8.4mm, 203g

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, Galaxy A52 and the A72 all share a very similar design. The Galaxy A72 is the larger and heavier of the three devices, but it also offers a larger display.

All three offer a centralised punch hole camera at the top of their screens, they all have a rectangular camera housing on the rear with a quad camera offering three large lenses and one smaller lens and they all come in the same four colour options.

All three devices are also IP67 water and dust resistant and they all feature flat displays and under-screen fingerprint readers.

Display

  • A52 5G: 6.5-inch, Super AMOLED, Full HD+, 120Hz, 800nits
  • A52: 6.5-inch, Super AMOLED, Full HD+, 90Hz, 800nits
  • A72: 6.7-inch, Super AMOLED, Full HD+, 90Hz, 800nits

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G comes with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution. It’s Samsung’s Infinity-O display and it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, like the Galaxy S21 series, though it isn’t adaptive.

The Galaxy A52 LTE model has the same size and resolution display as the 5G model but it has a 90Hz refresh rate instead. Both the 4G and 5G models have a maximum brightness of 800nits.

The Galaxy A72 meanwhile, has a slightly larger 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display, which is also Samsung’s Infinity-O display like the A52 models. It also offers a Full HD+ resolution, 800nits maximum brightness and a 90Hz refresh rate like the standard A52 model.

Hardware and specs

  • A52 5G: Qualcomm SD750G, 5G, 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 4500mAh
  • A52: Qualcomm SD720G, LTE, 4/6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 4500mAh
  • A72: Qualcomm SD720G, LTE, 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 5000mAh

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, while the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 both run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset. The Galaxy A52 5G is 5G-enabled, as you might have guessed, while the A52 and A72 are both LTE.

Both the Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy A72 come in a choice of 6GB or 8GB of RAM with 128GB or 256GB storage. The Galaxy A52 has a choice of 4GB, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, with storage options of 128GB and 256GB. All three devices have microSD support for storage expansion up to 1TB.

In terms of battery capacity, the Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy A52 4G have a 4500mAh battery, while the Galaxy A72 has a slightly larger 5000mAh capacity. All three devices have stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.

There’s no wireless charging on board any of the models.

Camera

  • A52 5G: Quad rear (64MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 5MP depth + 5MP macro), 32MP front
  • A52: Quad rear (64MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 5MP depth + 5MP macro), 32MP front
  • A72: Quad rear (64MP main + 12MP ultra wide + 8MP telephoto + 5MP macro), 32MP front

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G, A52 and Galaxy A72 all come with a quad rear cameras but their compositions differ.

The Galaxy A52 5G and Galaxy A52 both have a 64-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, a 5-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture and a 5-megapixel macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture.

The Galaxy A72 meanwhile, has the same 64-megapixel main camera, along with the same 12-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor and the same 5-megapixel macro lens. It swaps the depth sensor for an 8-megapixel telephoto lens though, offering 3x optical zoom, OIS and an aperture of f/2.4. 

All three devices have the same 32-megapixel front camera with an aperture of f/2.2.

Price

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G will cost £399 in the UK and €429 in Europe. The Galaxy A52 LTE model won’t come to the UK but will cost €349 in Europe. 

The Samsung Galaxy A72 is slightly more expensive, costing £419 in the UK and €449 in Europe.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy A72 is the most expensive of the three devices being compared in this feature, offering the largest display, largest battery and a telephoto lens for 3x optical zoom.

It misses out on a slightly more advanced processor compared to the A52 5G, 5G capabilities and the 120Hz refresh rate display though, while the A52 5G trades the telephoto lens of the A72 for a depth sensor. 

Meanwhile, the standard A52 – which won’t come to the UK – is a mix between the A52 5G and the A72, offering the same camera, display, design and battery as the A52 5G, but with the LTE capabilities, 90Hz refresh rate display (albeit smaller) and processor as the A72. 

The decision between these devices will therefore likely come down to which features matter to you most. Do you want a fast refresh rate and 5G? Then the A52 5G is the one for you. If you want a big display, big battery and optical zoom capabilities, but you’re happy to lose 5G and the faster refresh rate display, you’ll want to pay the £20 extra for the A72.

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

oppo-find-x3-pro-review:-standout-for-all-the-right-reasons

Oppo Find X3 Pro review: Standout for all the right reasons

(Pocket-lint) – Oppo is on the move, gaining popularity in its home market where it’s even overtaken Huawei. But it’s not just gaining at home: it’s now undoubtedly a top contender in the world of smartphones, make it the most likely challenger to Apple and Samsung’s dominance. 

Oppo’s latest effort, the Find X3 Pro, is seeking to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro Max, offering a big and premium flagship experience that, as we’ve found, is stunning in almost every way.

Distinctive design

  • Glass and metal design; curved glass around rear camera enclosure
  • Dimensions: 163.6 x 74.0 x 8.26mm / Weight: 193g
  • IP68 water and dust resistance

For the past few years we’ve seen smartphone makers all use the same tired design and – for 2021 so far – thankfully we’re seeing some new takes. Samsung kicked things off with its odd, but purposeful, camera hump in the S21 series – the one that wrapped around the edge of the phone to form a more deliberate part of the design. 

Now the Find X3 Pro delivers what we think is an even more refined finish. Rather than have a separate unit for the camera, Oppo made the camera protrusion part of the same piece of glass as the rest of the phone’s back, forming this completely seamless curve. The company says it took 2000 attempts to get this right, and nearly gave up on the idea, but the effect is really unique.

The result is a lot more subtle and refined than just having a rectangle sticking out of the back fo the phone. It’s also unique, unlike anything else currently on the market. It’s really lovely to look at – and far better looking than the odd digital renders that leaked ahead of the phone’s launch – although the camera arrangement definitely has some iPhone-like vibes. 

The rest of the Find X3 Pro’s back is one smooth surface with gradual curves towards the edges, while this blue model features a lovely frosted soft glass finish that’s really nice to the touch. The branding is minimal too, giving this phone a look and feel that’s highly polished and befitting of its high price tag. 

It’s slimmer than its predecessor, the Oppo Find X2 Pro, too. In fact, it’s a more than a 1mm thinner than the vegan leather model of old and noticeably lighter too – although there’s no denying the Find X3 Pro is still quite a large phone. It doesn’t have the bulk or weight of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra though. 

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It’s skinny bezels all the way around on the front and nothing cuts into that display panel except for a small selfie camera punched into the top corner.

Aligning itself slightly with recent trends, the curves around the edges of the display are less extreme than we’ve seen in the past, but are very much still there. It seems the trend of ‘waterfall displays’ died before it began. Unsurprising, really, given how easy it is to perform accidental touches on those things. 

Another positive is that Oppo has built in some stereo speakers, so if the phone is close enough to your face, you get that left and right channel effect while watching movies and listening to music. The loudspeaker at the bottom is definitely the louder of the two, however, and can be quite easy to cover with a hand by accident – especially during landscape gaming – leaving you with quite a quiet left channel only. 

Brilliant display

  • 6.7-inch AMOLED panel, QHD+ resolution (3216 x 1440 pixels)
  • 120Hz refresh rate (with adaptive frame rate)
  • 1300 nits peak brightness
  • ColorOS 11 (based on Android 11)

Oppo has made something of a name for itself by putting fantastic screens on its phones this past couple of years. For 2021, that’s no different. With a high-resolution and fast refresh rate panel – with adaptive refresh up to 120Hz – the Find X3 Pro delivers on that sharp and smooth experience.

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As if that wasn’t enough, it can display up to a billion colours, is HDR10+ compatible, and has a peak brightness of 1300 nits. The display spec sheet is enough to make any tech nerd’s mouth water.

But it’s not just read it and imagine stuff, it’s great in reality too. It’s bright, it’s sharp, it’s dynamic, and the colours are rich. It’s set to FHD+ resolution by default, but it’s easy enough to change to QHD within the settings and get the full effect of its sharpness (inevitably minus some battery life). 

We don’t find that it over-eggs the contrast too much either, so while blacks are really deep and dark, they don’t cause the screen to feature that overly contrasty or ‘black crush’ look we sometimes found with the Find X2 Pro or OnePlus 8. 

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Oppo’s ColorOS software is great in a lot of ways too. As Android skins go, it’s worked itself into the position of being one of the cleanest, most fluid and attractive options out there. It doesn’t go crazy with colourful icons and trasitions like Samsung’s One UI, and has attractive rounded corners on the notification bubbles.

It’s come a very long way since it was effectively just a clone of Apple’s iOS back in the day – before Oppo’s launch in Europe (well, relaunch). There are some quirks though. Mainly around notifications. 

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of consistency in how notifications are handled. For instance, we could have a little icon showing we have a notification on the always-on display, but then there’s nothing displaying on the Lock Screen. Or there coule be a little red dot on the app icon, but nothing showing up in the status bar or notification shade when we dropped it down.

The lock screen’s inconsistency was particularly unusual. Even when we’d set notifications to wake up the phone we’d see the notification light up the lock screen, but upon picking up the phone to check again, the notification would vanish – despite being unread and still showing as an icon on the always-on display. 

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All of these quirks were despite having set notifications to have the ability to show everywhere (status bar/app icon/lock screen), and despite setting our most-used apps to ignore any battery optimisations that might push them to background status or send them to sleep. 

Still, there’s some other fun and good points to ColorOS, such as the Relax app to help you get to sleep at night by playing some calming ambient noise. And we like the customisation options available for the interface and the always-on display.

Performance & battery life

  • Snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB RAM
  • 256GB storage, no microSD expansion
  • 4,500mAh battery capacity

    • 65W Super VOOC 2.0 flash charging
    • 30W Air VOOC wireless charging
  • 5G connectivity

As far as pure power goes, the Find X3 Pro is up there with the best of them, featuring the top-end for 2021 Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series. Here that means the Snapdragon 888 with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

Load up your favourite games and the phone handles them without breaking a sweat, keeping up with fast animations and transitions. It doesn’t stutter or lag anywhere, so it really doesn’t matter what you try to do with it, it’ll handle it just fine. It didn’t even get particularly warm, even after a 30 minute gaming session. 

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Battery management is similarly efficient. We struggled to drain the full battery in a single day, even at a weekend with three hours of gaming and then some camera testing we still finished the day with 30 per cent left over.

On quiter days with only a little dabbling with news sites, maybe an hour of gaming and some social media, we could easily finish the day with more than 50 per cent left at bed time. So we have no doubt this could easily be a two-day phone for light to moderate users.

Then when the battery does eventually empty, it has Oppo’s trademark flash charging technology in both wired and wireless forms. With the wired adapter, it can full refill in under 40 minutes. With the proprietary AirVOOC tech – which OnePlus also uses in its Wireless Warp Charge stand – you can fill it up pretty quickly with the wireless charger too. 

Under the microscope

  • 3-megapixel ‘Micro lens’

Where to start with the camera. Let’s go with the gimmick bit first. Because, actually, it’s rather fun. 

In its quad camera system, the Find X3 Pro has a so-called ‘Micro lens’. This gives you the effect of zooming in up to 60x and has its own little LED light ring around it. That’s an essential addition because it’s for shooting really, really close-up shots, allowing you to see detail you just can’t with the naked eye. 

Launch the microscope mode in the camera and a curtain goes from being just about able to see a weave pattern to being able to see the individual threads and weaves in the construction. It’s a similar effect with a weaved nylon watch strap or a clothbound book. Hold it to a screen and you’ll see the sub pixels in the panel. It’s pretty cool. 

Yes, it’s a gimmick – and with a low 3-megapixel resolution – so it’s not particularly sharp, but it is fun and definitely adds a different edge to your photography. 

It also takes some concentration and very steady hands. Holding the camera 1-3mm away from a subject is hard enough without the extreme magnification also making every tiny hand movement or shake exagerated. 

It has a macro mode too, which thankfully isn’t handled by this low-resolution sensor. It instead uses the same sensor as the ultra-wide camera – which we’ll come to later.

What that means for photos – examples of which you can see in the gallery above – is that your images retain colour, detail and a natural blur that you generally don’t get with a seperate, low-resolution macro camera. It can get you great results, although its automatic activation can take a little while to get used to. 

With the camera set to its default 1x mode it’ll automatically switch to macro mode as soon as you get close to a subject. Sounds great, except it switches to the ultra-wide lens – and because that’s in a physically different position you have to then adjust and re-frame.

Our only real criticism here is that sometimes with the macro mode the background blur causes edges to appear to have a outline glow, which is kind of odd. 

Flagship cameras

  • Main: 50-megapixel, f/1.7 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), optical image stabilisation (OIS)
  • Zoom (2x optical): 13MP, f/3.0, PDAF, OIS
  • Ultra-wide: 50MP, f/2.2, PDAF

As for the other cameras, it’s pretty much all good here. Pictures have detail and a lot of vibrancy and life, especially when shooting in daylight. One of the best things is that both the ultra-wide and primary camera use exactly the same 50-megapixel sensor. 

That means – since they make use of the same image processing tech too – that the balance of colour, dynamic range and detail between the two is pretty much identical. It helps photos taken from those two camera appear consistent, which isn’t the case on a lot of other phones. 

The phone cameras seem to handle harsh lighting conditions pretty well too, balancing out highlights and shadows nicely. It’s a really reliable system. 

One thing we did notice – in both daylight and night modes – is that the camera produces quite a warm colour balance. We like the look, but it isn’t necessarily the neutral and clean finish some will like. Saying that, there is a ‘Pro’ mode which will let you adjust all manner of settings, including the white balance. 

There’s also a telephoto zoom camera with 2x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom, and up to 20x digital zoom, giving you that extra range you might want to shoot subjects further away. 

Images from this camera don’t have that same quality look of the two primary cameras, but they hold up well – up to about 5x anyway. Zoom beyond that and the detail falls off quite rapidly. At 20x the picture looks quite ropey, with details somewhat jagged and blurry.

With night mode activated the phone performs well in low-light conditions too. To our surprise we found that both the primary and ultra-wide cameras perform well in night mode, drawing in a lot of light. Although, with its wider aperture, the primary is noticeably better.

We took the Find X3 Pro out to compare with the iPhone 12 and Google Pixel 5 at night and found that its images were warmer than the other two. It doesn’t seem as heavy-handed with contrast and highlights like the iPhone, but isn’t quite as realistic looking as the Pixel in our view.

Night mode doesn’t just apply to photos either. Tapping an AI enhancing button boosts the video performance at night too. This does effect the optical stabilisation a little negatively, but results in some pretty colour and hyper-realistic scenery, but it’s impressive to see the difference in really low-light situations. 



Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today


By Chris Hall
·

Verdict

When it comes to display, battery life and overall speed, the Oppo Find X3 Pro is undoubtedly one of the best flagships on the market right now – and will likely remain a strong choice throughout 2021. 

While the camera does have a habit of warming up pictures’ colour balance and sometimes making them a bit oversaturated, the whole system is immensely versatile and gets great results, regardless of lighting conditions. 

The only other negative relates to quirks with notifications from the ColorOS software. Otherwise it’s hard to find much fault with Oppo’s top-tier flagship.

While Oppo might not be a familiar name to everyone, the Find X3 Pro is so fantastic in nearly every way that it’ll put the brand name on the map. It simply stands out from the crowd for all the right reasons.

Also consider

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Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 

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Oppo is competiting with the big names, and Samsung’s latest ultra-premium device has a lot going for it. The screen is fab and it has a super camera system. Oh, and that Phantom Black colour is stunning too.

  • Read our review
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iPhone 12 Pro Max 

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It’s Apple’s latest all-singing all-dancing flagship and offers many of the same hardware features. It’s a very polished experience all-round if you’re not up for Google’s Android OS.

  • Read our review

Writing by Cam Bunton.

oppo-find-x3-pro-vs-find-x3-neo-vs-find-x3-lite-5g:-what’s-the-difference?

Oppo Find X3 Pro vs Find X3 Neo vs Find X3 Lite 5G: What’s the difference?

(Pocket-lint) – Oppo announced its 2021 smartphone Find X3 series with three models to choose from: Find X3 Pro 5G, Find X3 Neo 5G and the Find X3 Lite 5G.

We’ve compared the specs of all three models to help you figure out what’s different, what’s the same and which model is the right Find for you. See what we did there. 

Design

  • X3 Pro: 163.6 x 74 x 8.26mm, 193g
  • X3 Neo: 159.9 x 72.5 x 7.99mm, 184g
  • X3 Lite: 159.1 x 73.4 x 7.9mm, 172/180g (colour dependant)

The Find X3 series differs quite a lot in terms of design. The Find X3 Pro is the most striking of the three devices, featuring a square rear camera housing on a smooth bump, offering something different from the norm. 

There’s a curved display on the front with a punch hole camera in the top left corner and overall, it’s a solid, premium looking device. It’s also IP68 rated and the only one of the three Find X3 devices to offer water and dust resistance.

The Find X3 Neo is next in the range in terms of price but it shares a similar design to the Find X3 Lite, with both offering a rectangular rear camera housing with three prominent lenses. The Neo has an additional fourth smaller square lens within the housing, while the Lite has an additional circular smaller lens.

They differ slightly from the front too. The Neo has a curved display like the X3 Pro, while the Lite has a flat display. Both come with a punch hole front camera like the X3 Pro though. 

Display

  • X3 Pro: 6.7-inch, 3216 x 1440 (525ppi), 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300nits
  • X3 Neo: 6.55-inch, 2400 x 1080 (402ppi), 90Hz, HDR10+, 1100nits
  • X3 Lite: 6.4-inches, 2400 x 1080 (410ppi), 90Hz, 750nits

The Oppo Find X3 Pro has a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a Quad HD+ resolution, offering a pixel density of 525ppi. It’s said to have a 1 billion colour display though, which the Neo and Lite don’t offer. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, support for HDR 10+ and a maximum brightness of 1300nits.

The Find X3 Neo has a slightly smaller display than the Find X3 Pro at 6.55-inches, and while it sticks with OLED, it drops the resolution to Full HD+ instead of Quad HD+, offering a pixel density of 402ppi. It also has a 90Hz refresh rate instead of 120Hz, and drops the peak brightness to 1100nits, though it still supports HDR10+.

The Find X3 Lite meanwhile, has the smallest display of the three Find X3 devices at 6.4-inches. The OLED panel has a Full HD+ resolution like the Neo, though a slightly higher pixel density because of the size reduction at 410ppi. It too opts for a 90Hz refresh rate but doesn’t offer HDR10+ support and its peak brightness is 750nits.

Camera

  • X3 Pro: 50MP wide angle, 50MP ultra wide, 13MP telephoto, 3MP Microlens
  • X3 Neo: 50MP wide angle, 16MP ultra wide, 13MP telephoto, 2MP Macro
  • X3 Lite: 64MP main, 8MP ultra wide, 2MP Macro, 2MP Mono
  • All: 32MP front camera

All three of the Oppo Find X3 devices have a quad rear camera, but they are all made up of different lenses. 

The flagship X3 Pro has a 50-megapixel wide angle camera with an aperture of f/1.8, optical image stabilisation and PDAF. There’s also a 50-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with an aperture of f/2.2 and PDAF, as well as a 13-megapixel telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture, 5x hybrid zoom and 20x optical zoom. The fourth lens is a 3-megapixel Microlens with an f/3.0 aperture and fixed focus.

The X3 Neo has the same 50-megapixel wide angle camera as the X3 Pro and the same telephoto lens. These are paired with a 16-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture though, and a 2-megapixel Macro camera with f/2.4 aperture.

The X3 Lite meanwhile, has a 64-megapixel main camera with an aperture of f/1.7, an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with an aperture of f/2.2 and the same macro lens as the X2 Neo. Its fourth sensor is a 2-megapixel Mono camera with an aperture of f/2.4.

All three Find X3 devices have a 32-megapixel front camera with an aperture of f/2.4.

Hardware and specs

  • X3 Pro: Qualcomm SD888, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 4500mAh 
  • X3 Neo: Qualcomm SD865, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, 4500mAh 
  • X3 Lite: Qualcomm SD765G, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, 4300mAh 

The Oppo Find X3 Pro runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It’s Dual-SIM, with support for eSIM and it comes with a 4500mAh battery that supports 65W fast charging and 30W wireless charging.

The Find X3 Neo runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 platform, with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. It too is Dual-SIM, though doesn’t support eSIM, and it also comes with a 4500mAh battery with 65W fast charging. It doesn’t offer the 30W wireless charging support though.

The Find X3 Lite runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G platform, has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Like the Neo, it is Dual-SIM but doesn’t support eSIM and it comes with a 4300mAh battery, that also supports 65W fast charging.

The Pro and Neo both have dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, while the Lite offers Dolby Atmos but not dual stereo speakers. None of the Find X3 models have microSD for storage expansion. All three are 5G.

Price

All three models in the Find X3 series will be available in the UK from 14 April. 

The Oppo Find X3 Pro will start at £1099. The Oppo Find X3 Neo will start at £699. The Oppo Find X3 Lite will start at £379.

Conclusion

The Oppo Find X3 Pro offers a larger, brighter and sharper display with more colours, a more premium and different design, waterproofing, a more capable camera and more advanced hardware compared to the other two X3 models.

The X3 Neo makes a few compromises compared to the X3 Pro, but it is nearly half the price. It drops the display resolution and refresh rate, offers no waterproofing, drops to last year’s processor, doesn’t have support for eSIM or 30W wireless charging and changes up the camera specs slightly.

The X3 Lite meanwhile, makes a few more compromises on top of the Neo, but it is a third of the price of the Pro model, and almost half that of the Neo so the choice between the handsets will come down to what your budget allows and what features are most important to you.

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

asus’-new-rog-phone-5-ultimate-has-18gb-of-ram-and-a-rear-facing-oled-screen

Asus’ new ROG Phone 5 Ultimate has 18GB of RAM and a rear-facing OLED screen

Asus is going big with its latest gaming phones. The ROG Phone 5 lineup will start shipping this month across the globe, costing 799 euros (around $950) for the base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. Every configuration has a 6.78-inch FHD+ OLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 300Hz touch sampling rate. Also, the headphone jack has made a comeback after being absent from the ROG Phone 3, this time with a quad DAC in tow for hi-res audio. (In case you’re wondering where the ROG Phone 4 went, Asus skipped over the number four, like OnePlus did, due to its similarities with the word “death” in some Asian languages.)

The most notable changes from the last generation are exclusive to some even more expensive configurations, the ROG Phone 5 Pro and Ultimate (which I published a review of) that release in April for 1,199 euros (approximately $1,420) and in May for 1,299 euros (about $1,583), respectively. Both of these models have double the storage and more RAM (starting at 16GB in the Pro and going all the way up to 18GB in the Ultimate); come in limited edition colors; and have two additional ultrasonic touch sensors than the standard model, located near where your ring fingers might rest while holding the phone in landscape mode. You’ll also get a case and a clip-on AeroActive Cooler 5 fan attachment with purchase with either the Pro or Ultimate phone (which adds two more buttons attached to the fan.)

The new Asus gaming phones aren’t huge departures from their predecessors, though the hardware and software are more refined. I reviewed the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, and while it delivers on its promises to be a spec and feature juggernaut in some clever ways, paying $1,580 for it seems steep. Even the $950 base configuration isn’t what I’d consider affordable.

The Ultimate and Pro include “ROG Vision,” a feature that pushes premade or custom text or graphics to its rear-facing OLED screen. It’s a spin on Asus’ “Anime Matrix” effect used in the Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop, allowing you to personalize your phone if you want. The standard ROG Phone 5 simply has a backlit ROG logo, which some might find to be just enough pizazz.

I go into all of the features in the review. But if you’re just passing by and want to know all about the specs, I’ve attached a handy table just for you.

Asus ROG Phone 5 lineup specs

Comparison ROG Phone 5 Ultimate ROG Phone 5 Pro ROG Phone 5
Comparison ROG Phone 5 Ultimate ROG Phone 5 Pro ROG Phone 5
Colors Matte white Glossy black Phantom black or Storm white
Price 1,299 Euros (approx. $1,583) 1,199 Euros (approx. $1,420) Starts at 799 Euros (approx. $950)
Processor Snapdragon 888 * *
OS Android 11 with ROG UI * *
Display 6.78-inch 2448 x 1080 OLED with 144Hz refresh rate * *
RAM 18GB LPDDR5 16GB LPDDR5 8GB,12GB or 16GB LPDDR5
Storage 512GB UFS 3.1 * 256GB UFS 3.1
Extra touch sensors Yes * No
Rear-facing cameras 64-megapixel with F/1.8 aperture, 13-megapixel 125-degree ultra-wide with F/2.4 aperture, and a 5-megapixel macro lens with F/2.0 * *
Front-facing camera 24-megapixel with F/2.45 aperture * *
ROG Vision support Yes, monochromatic Yes, color No
Battery 6,000mAh * *
Included charger 65W * *
Dimensions 172.8 x 77.2 x 10.29 mm * *
Weight 238 grams * *
Connectivity LTE and sub-6GHz 5G on AT&T and T-Mobile, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 * *
Included accessories AeroActive Cooler 5, Aero case * No cooler included
* represents the same spec as the Ultimate

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

apple-iphone-11-vs-iphone-11-pro-vs-iphone-11-pro-max:-which-should-you-buy?

Apple iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro vs iPhone 11 Pro Max: Which should you buy?

(Pocket-lint) – Apple announced the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max in September 2019. They were then succeeded by the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max in September 2020.

If you’re in the market for a new iPhone but you don’t want the latest models, you’re in the right place. 

The iPhone 11 sits above the iPhone XR and is still available to buy from Apple alongside the iPhone 12 models. The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max took the place of the iPhone XS and XS Max, but while all are discontinued through Apple, you might be able to get hold of them elsewhere.

Here is how the three 2019 iPhones compare to help you work out which is the right one for you.

You can also read our separate features on how the iPhone 11 compares to the iPhone XR and how the iPhone 11 Pro models compare to the iPhone XS models.

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What’s the same across the iPhone 11 series?

  • Processor
  • No 3D Touch
  • Storage options
  • Software

The Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max all run on the same processor, like the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max.

For 2019, that processor was the A13 Bionic chip with a third-generation neural engine (it’s also in the iPhone SE (2020)). The three models also come in the same storage capacities – 64GB, 256GB and 512GB – none of which have microSD.

None of the devices have 3D Touch on board, with all opting for Haptic Touch like the iPhone XR and the iPhone 12 models, but all offer True Tone technology and a wide colour gamut. 

All three models also come with an improved front camera compared to their predecessors offering a 12-megapixel lens, next-generation Smart HDR for photos and Portrait Mode, as well as Portrait Lighting. 

Face ID is on board all three models (as you would expect) and it too was improved compared to older models with more angles supported. All models launched on iOS 13, but they would now support iOS 14, delivering the same user experience and the same new features.

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What’s different between the iPhone 11 series?

Whilst the three iPhone 11s share numerous similarities – including power, software and a similar (though not identical) design, there are a few differences to consider before you make your choice.

Camera capabilities

  • iPhone 11: Dual camera
  • iPhone 11 Pro: Triple camera
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max: Triple camera

One of the main differences between the iPhone 11 series is their camera capabilities. The iPhone 11 comes with a dual camera, while the iPhone 11 Pro models come with a triple rear camera. 

The iPhone 11 has dual 12-megapixel ultra-wide and wide cameras with the ultra-wide lens offering an aperture of f/2.4, while the wide lens has an aperture of f/1.8. The iPhone 11 Pro models have a triple 12-megapixel sensor setup, with the same two lenses as the iPhone 11, along with a telephoto lens offering an aperture of f/2.0. 

All models have Night Mode, Auto Adjustments, Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting with six effects and next-generation Smart HDR for photos. The Night Mode is very good, offering much better low light capabilities across all three devices.

The iPhone 11 has 2x optical zoom out, digital zoom up to 5x, while the iPhone 11 Pro models have 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out and 10x digital zoom. The optical zoom out refers to the ultra-wide-angle lens, allowing you to get more in the shot. Only the Pro models have 2x optical zoom in thanks to the third telephoto lens. The Pro models also have dual optical image stabilisation, while the iPhone 11 has standard optical image stabilisation.

  • Apple iPhone 11 Pro cameras explained: Why three and what does each do?

Display

  • iPhone 11: 6.1-inch, LCD, 1792 x 828, True Tone, Haptic Touch, 625nits
  • iPhone 11 Pro: 5.8-inch, OLED, HDR, 2436 x 1125, True Tone, Haptic Touch, 800nits
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max: 6.5-inch, OLED, HDR, 2688 x 1242, True Tone, Haptic Touch, 800nits

Display sizes differ between the three iPhone 11 models, as they did for 2018’s iPhone XR, XS and XS Max and resolutions differ too with the iPhone 11 offering a pixel density of 326ppi and the iPhone 11 Pro models offering pixel densities of 458ppi. The 11 Pro models are also brighter. You’ll notice this difference if you’re looking at the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models side-by-side but otherwise, the iPhone 11’s display will be more than sufficient for most users.

The iPhone 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch screen like the iPhone XS, the iPhone 11 has a 6.1-inch screen like the iPhone XR and the iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch display like the iPhone XS Max. 

The Pro models also have OLED displays like their predecessors, allowing for punchier colours and blacker blacks than the iPhone 11 and its LCD screen, but again, this is only really noticeable if you place the devices together. The Pro models do have HDR support though, which the iPhone 11 does not, meaning you’ll see less detail on the standard iPhone when watching HDR-compatible content.

All models have True Tone technology and Haptic Touch.  

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Physical footprint

  • iPhone 11 Pro: 144 x 71.4 x 8.1mm, 188g 
  • iPhone 11: 150.9 x 75.7 x 8.3mm, 194g
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max: 158 x 77.8 x 8.1mm, 226g

As with the display sizes, the physical footprint between the three 2019 iPhones differs.

The iPhone 11 Pro is the smallest and lightest, followed by the iPhone 11 and then the iPhone 11 Pro Max. With the frosted glass finished on the iPhone 11 Pro models though, the iPhone 11 Pro Max doesn’t look as big as the iPhone XS Max did. It’s an optical illusion of course, but for those that wanted the larger model but thought it looked to big in 2018, you might find yourself thinking differently here. 

The iPhone 11 is a great in-between device in terms of size though.

Design

  • iPhone 11: Dual camera, aluminium frame
  • iPhone 11 Pro models: Triple camera, stainless steel frame

While the design is similar across the three 2019 iPhones, with all offering a notch on the front at the top of the display, there are differences on the rears, as well as material choice.

The iPhone 11 Pro models have a square camera housing with three camera lenses, while the iPhone 11 has a dual camera. All models have an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, but the Pro models can be submerged up to four-metres for 30 minutes, while the iPhone 11 can only be submerged up to two-metres for 30 minutes.

The Pro models also have a textured matte glass and stainless steel design, while the iPhone 11 is made form aluminium and standard glass. In the flesh, the Pro models are really beautiful, especially in the green and gold colour options. They look more premium than the iPhone 11 but this is something you will only notice when they are next to each other. Otherwise, the iPhone 11 is a lovely, solid device in its own right.

Battery capacities

  • iPhone 11: Up to 17-hours, wireless charging
  • iPhone 11 Pro: Up to 18-hours, wireless charging
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max: Up to 20-hours, wireless charging

Batteries were claimed to have improved for the 2019 iPhone models when they first launched, and while Apple doesn’t detail specific capacities, they did improve in our experience. The iPhone 11 is said to last up to 17 hours, while the iPhone 11 Pro is said to last up to 18 hours and the iPhone 11 Pro Max is said to last up to 20 hours.

We were really impressed with the battery life of 2019 devices though during our testing. Both the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max will see you through a day and evening without a problem in our experience.

All three models offer wireless charging but none have reverse wireless charging on board. All three models are also fast-charge capable, but only the Pro models come with 18W fast chargers in the box. 

Colour options

  • iPhone 11: 6 colours
  • iPhone 11 Pro models: 3 colours

Colour options vary between the standard iPhone 11 and the iPhone 11 Pro models.

The iPhone 11 was available in Purple, Yellow, Green, Black, White and Product(RED) when it first arrived. They were more muted than they were for the iPhone XR and lovely as a result.

The iPhone 11 Pro models were available in Midnight Green, Silver, Space Grey and Gold. The Midnight Green and Gold are fabulous and really stand out, especially with the matte rear.

  • iPhone 11 colours: All the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro colours available

Price

  • iPhone 11: From $699/£729
  • iPhone 11 Pro models: From $999/£1049

Pricing between the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models unsurprisingly differs. 

The iPhone 11 started at $699/£729 when it first launched, the iPhone Pro started at $999/£1049 and the iPhone Pro Max started at $1099/£1149. As mentioned, only the iPhone 11 is available through Apple now, and it is cheaper, but you might still find the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max at a good price elsewhere now they have been succeeded.

Conclusion

The Apple iPhone 11 is the cheaper option of the three 2019 iPhones and it’s great value. For many, it will be the one to buy from this trio of handsets.

The iPhone 11 Pro models offer some great features, specifically camera capabilities, design materials and better displays, but they are also particularly pricey compared to the standard iPhone 11.

The iPhone 11 offers more colours than the Pro models, even if it isn’t as premium in design, it sits in the middle in terms of size and while it misses out on a couple of features compared to the Pro models, such as optical zoom in terms of camera and a punchier display, it still offers a great camera with Night Mode and brilliant results.

Writing by Britta O’Boyle.

moto-g10-review:-no-longer-the-default-budget-choice?

Moto G10 review: No longer the default budget choice?

(Pocket-lint) – It seems kinda mad that we’ve arrived here, but the Moto G is now up to number 10. It’s no surprise though: as the G series is Motorola’s most successful range and it has consistently delivered great value, simple and reliable phones.

But for 2021, the numbering and naming system has changed – the lower the number, the lower down it sits in the ranks. Therefore the G10 is the entry-level affordable phone in a series that’s long looked a bit crowded.

That causes a bit of a self-administered issue for the Moto G10, however, as it’s no longer the default choice in the range. Why? Because for a little extra money the Moto G30 also exists. 

Design

  • Dimensions: 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2mm / Weight: 200g
  • Finishes: Aurora Gray, Iridescent Pearl
  • Rear positioned fingerprint scanner
  • Glass front, ribbed plastic back
  • 3.5mm headphone port
  • Single loudspeaker
  • microSD expansion

Moto G design has never been all that fancy or premium, which makes sense for a budget phone. Some corners need cutting to get it down to the right price. This generation Motorola has taken on something of an unusual finish with its ribbed back panel (it’s still better-looking than the G30’s odd colour choices though). 

That wave pattern you see isn’t just a visual thing, it has texture too. It’s a little weird to begin with, but the texture has its merits. It definitely makes it feel less likely to slip out of your hand, and you’ll never find it randomly slipping off a surface like a completely glossy glass back might. 

That’s not the only practical decision made here either. Unlike some more expensive phones, the Moto G10 is equipped with everything you could need. That means you get a 3.5mm headphone port at the top for plugging in your hands-free buds, or wired headphones.

There’s also a microSD card slot for expanding the storage. You might find that useful if you like to keep a physical copy of all your own media offline. And if you have have the 64GB phone, you may just find you fill up the internal storage quite quickly. 

So what else is there? Well, you’ll find three buttons up the right side. One is the usual power button, and there’s the volume rocker switch, but then curiously there’s also an additional button which – when pressed – will launch Google Assistant. Which is fine, but we can’t imagine it’s used by most people all that much. 

As for that fingerprint sensor on the back, usually we laud the appearance of physical scanners because they’re fast and reliable, but that’s not the case with this one. Most times it would take two or three goes before a successful scan, meaning it was often quicker just to type in the multi-digit PIN instead. 

The G10’s front is pretty standard too, with its relatively skinny bezel up the sides and the dewdrop-style notch at the top of the display, barely cutting into the available screen real-estate. And while there’s only one loud speaker, placed on the bottom edge, the speaker grille is long enough that we didn’t find it was all that easy to completely block, meaning you can hear it whether you hold the phone in portrait or landscape. 

Display

  • 6.5-inch IPS LCD display
  • 720 x 1600 resolution
  • 269 pixels per inch
  • 60Hz refresh rate
  • Android 11 

On to that display and – as with most affordable phones – this one uses a long aspect ratio HD+ resolution panel. That means, specifically, it’s IPS LCD and has 720 x 1600 pixels spread across that 6.5-inch diagonal.

Pocket-lint

Obviously that means it’s not super sharp, but it’s adequate for daily use and won’t leave you squinting. In fact, it’s pleasant enough when inside and watching movies, gaming and browsing the web. It’s not the most vivid panel around though – its dynamic range does suffer, but that’s almost to be expected from an LCD screen on a cheap smartphone such as this. 

The one place we did notice it struggle the most was outside in daylight. Trying to frame shots with the camera to shoot in sunlight was difficult. We could barely see what was on the screen, even with the brightness cranked right up. 

Performance and battery

  • Snapdragon 460 processor, 4GB RAM
  • 64GB or 128GB storage
  • 5000mAh battery

If what you’re after in a phone is really solid battery life, we’re happy to report the G10 delivers that – by the bucket load. Even in a phone with a high-end flagship processor and a top-of-the-line display, a 5,000mah capacity battery would be generous. So stick it in a phone with a low power chip and only a HD resolution panel, and you get one of the longest-lasting phones on the market. 

Pocket-lint

In testing we’d often get to the end of a second day and still have some juice left over, even after using it for testing the camera and playing a couple of hours of games each day. For most people we think this is a genuine two-day phone. You’ll never have to worry about it dying during the day if you’ve taken it off charge in the morning. It’s pretty epic. 

Moto also takes care of battery life long-term too. It has a couple of different tools in the battery settings designed to get the most out of the battery for as long as you own the phone. 

Optimised charging learns your usual charging pattern and then using that can predict when you need the battery to be fully charged. So if that is at 7am when your alarm goes off, it’ll charge all the way up to 80 percent, and hang there until it needs to charge the final 20 per cent, in time for you to wake up. 

There’s also overcharge protection. So if you’re a really light user and have a habit of  just leaving your phone plugged in costantly for days at a time, it will limit the charge to 80 per cent if your phone has been plugged in continuously for three days. 

Pocket-lint

Being 5,000mAh does mean charging times are a little slow, especially with the charging speeds maxing out at 10W. So it’s definitely one to plug in at night while you sleep. Thankfully, you’ll probably only have to do it once every other night. 

As for general performance, this is where the G10 slips up against its slightly more expensive sibling, the G30. The Snapdragon 400 series processor inside isn’t unusable by any means, but it does feel quite slow and laggy a lot of the time. Loading web pages, or backing up photos to Google Photos, seems to take longer than it should, while animations in the general interface appear quite stuttery.

In fact, Google Photos did – on a couple of occasions – just hang and crash, and then failed to upload our photos to the cloud. On a similar note, there were a couple of occasions where a chosen game would just freeze and crash too. It wasn’t just Google Photos getting up to these shenanigans.

The G30 just seems more reliable day-to-day in that regard, which is why we’d recommend that over this phone. It’s not that the G30 is super smooth and fast all the time, it just didn’t leave us hanging as much. Still, for most tasks, the G10 is fine, if unremarkable.



Best smartphones 2021 rated: The top mobile phones available to buy today


By Chris Hall
·

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As for software, that’s the usual Moto style of having an almost Google Android stock experience with a couple of added extras from Moto. That means all your default apps are Google’s, and you get fun gestures like swiping down on the fingerprint sensor to get your notifications, or a chopping motion to switch on the flashlight. 

Camera  

  • Quad camera system:
    • Main (26mm focal length): 48-megapixel, f/1.7 aperture, 0.8µm pixel size, phase-detection autofocus
    • Ultra-wide (13mm): 8MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm
    • Macro: 2MP, f/2.4
    • Depth: 2MP, f/2.4
  • 8-megapixel front camera

As for camera quality, the quad system is lead by a 48-megapixel primary camera, which is joined by an 8MP ultra-wide, and pair of low-resolution depth and macro sensors. 

Stick to the main sensor and you’ll be mostly fine. In good daylight pictures will be sharp, colourful and feature decent depth. It’s not flagship level, naturally, but it’s good enough for social media use. 

The ultra-wide is just ok. It often struggles to focus though, and often leaves colours looking unnatural, completely different to the main sensor.

The macro lens can be useful for close-ups at times, but results are not consistent, and being a low resolution sensor means details aren’t that great either. 

So the G10 is yet another case of a budget phone having more cameras than it knows what to do with. Ignore the depth, macro and wide-angle and you’ve got a solid main camera – but that’s hardly selling itself to the “quad camera” standard, is it?

Verdict

The G10 might be the first entry-level Moto G we don’t unequivocally recommend as an easy purchase. There’s nothing wrong with it, per se – indeed, the battery life, software and practical design make it more than good enough for most people – but there’s the Moto G30 to consider.

Our experience with the G30 was just better, especially when it comes down to daily performance, so if you can afford the little extra then we’d recommend opting for that one.

With all that said, the Moto G10 offers great battery life, so if you don’t need anything too taxing then it’s still a decent option considering its asking price.

Also consider

Pocket-lint

Moto G30

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If you have the ability to stump up a little more cash, the G30 is the more sensible choice in Moto’s new G-series range. It has a smoother overall experience and is still great value for money. 

  • Read the review
Pocket-lint

Redmi Note 10 Pro

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Few phones at this price point are as accomplished as the Redmi Note 10 Pro. It’s more expensive than the G10, but it’s more than worth it, if you can cope with inferior software.

  • Read the review

Writing by Cam Bunton. Editing by Mike Lowe.