Poco has been on a roll in the budget end of the market lately and the Poco M3 is arguably the best entry-level phone out now. We’ve already published our written review and now we bring you the video breakdown.
The M3 packs quite the compelling spec list with a large 6.53 FHD+ display paired with a 48MP main cam and 6,000 mAh battery all packaged in a unique design for around $150/€150. It’s not the first time that Poco ventures into the entry-level segment but this time it’s striking strong.
You’re getting a device that would normally be priced in midrange category. Of course, bringing the price down required some corner-cutting like an LCD panel instead of an AMOLED one, no NFC nor ultrawide camera and an uninspiring (if still solid) chipset. All omissions we can live with at the end of the day when keeping the price tag in mind.
Due to circumstances that transpired over the past months, the new video is not on YouTube and we are instead publishing it on Facebook. You can read more about our uphill battle to reclaim our rightful YouTube channel ownership here alongside a video breakdown by Will.
LG has released details on the Mini panel LED, which will consist of 30. 000 small LEDs, can offer 2. 500 areas of micro dimming and with a contrast that can reach the value of 1, 000, 000: 1
by Roberto Colombo published on 29 December 2020 , at 15: 21 in the Audio Video channel Quantum dot LG
Mini LED is Micro LED are preparing to be the trending topics of the CES 2021 as regards the TV area. The news is that LG will also focus on Mini-LED technology for its range of televisions 2021, throwing a blow to the competitor Samsung, also adding one layer of Quantum Dot to its panels. The new line of LG TVs will be characterized by the name QNED Mini LED
LG QNED Mini LED at CES 2021
At the moment there is only an anticipation launched via a press release, so there are few details, especially regarding the quantum dot layer that will be inserted between the Mini LED backlight and the LCD panel, on which we will also find a NanoCell layer.
LG has however released details on the Mini LED panel, which will consist of 30. 000 small LEDs , able to offer 2. 500 micro dimming zones and with a contrast that can reach the value of 1, 000, 000: 1 .
“ LG QNED Mini LED is the new LCD TV to beat “so the trademark is presented to CES 2021, with a line-up on the new technology that will affect both 4K and 8K TVs, pushing up to the top of the range LG QNED TV 8K by 86 inch .
The new series will not declare the end of the OLED, but it demonstrates how the new technologies knocking on the door promise to make great steps forward to TV, overcoming some of the limitations of the current proposals. Appointment set for 11 January 2021, when LG officially unveils all new products for next year.
A stunning AMOLED panel helps the XtendTouch Pro stand out among the portable monitor competition. But a required power hub and a high retail price mean this screen will mostly appeal to professionals.
For
Astounding image quality and brightness
More versatile than competition
Touch controls work well
Against
Expensive, especially at retail price
Requires two cables and a power adapter to function
Could use a metal kickstand
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
As far as productivity-focused portable screens go, the OLED-powered XtendTouch Pro is by far the nicest we’ve seen yet. And compared to professional alternatives, it’s surprisingly affordable — if you grab it from Kickstarter preorder for its starting price of $699 (the company claims retail price will be $1,299). But unless you need the level of color and brightness, that’s still a high price compared to lesser LCD-based 1080p resolutions models — though those don’t look nearly as good.
The XtendTouch Pro also requires two cables and a USB charging hub to function, making it a lot less practically portable than models that work over a single USB-C cable. So while the panel in this screen looks astounding, it will likely make sense solely to professionals and well-off prosumers who don’t want to pay much more for larger OLED alternatives.
Portable monitors have for years been a good option for those looking for increased productivity while on the go. And some, like Lenovo’s ThinkVision M14t, also include touch. But most don’t get very bright and/or don’t deliver the rich color, detail and contrast that professional or prosumer image and video editors need.
Enter the XtendTouch Pro from capsicum-themed peripheral maker Pepper Jobs. It’s a portable 15.6-inch 4K AMOLED, (a type of OLED) monitor with touch control, over 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and a high rated peak brightness of 650 nits. It’s very portable at under 2 pounds and about 0.5-inch thick with its origami-like cover/stand.
Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro Specs
Panel Type / Backlight
AMOLED
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio
15.6 inches / 16:9
Max Resolution & Refresh Rate
3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz
Color Depth
8-bit
Response Time
1ms (typical)
Max Brightness
650 nits
Contrast Ratio
100,000:1 (static)
Power Consumption
30W (peak)
Ports
2x USB Type-C, Mini HDMI, OTG/USB-C, 3.5mm audio
Touch
10-point
Stylus
4,096 pressure levels
Dimensions
14 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches (377 x 224 x 10mm)
Weight
1.87 pounds (0.85kg)
Design of Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The eye-catching deep blacks and high brightness of the AMOLED panel in the XtendTouch Pro will likely be the main thing people notice about this monitor. Note that AMOLED is a variant of OLED developed by Samsung, with an additional active matrix (hence the AM) TFT film for faster, precise pixel control.
But many other aspects of the monitor’s exterior look much like other portable displays. At 14 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches and 1.87 pounds, it’s quite portable. But that statement discounts the necessity of two USB-C cables and an external power bank to deliver the stable power required to run the high-brightness screen and the touch layer — much more on this in the next section.
Bezels around the display are slim, save for the bottom lip, which is typically larger to house necessary components, as well as to lift the screen a bit more than 1 inch above your desk for more comfortable viewing.
There are more ports on the XtendTouch Pro than most portable displays. That’s in part due to the fact that you need a dedicated USB-C/Thunderbolt cable just for power — the company says the screen needs about 30W at peak brightness with the speakers turned up. But there’s some extra versatility provided here as well.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The right edge, near the bottom corner, houses one USB-C port for power, a second for data and a Mini HDMI port. Those with devices with a DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt capabilities will want to use the pair of USB-C ports. But for devices that lack this, you can still use the top USB-C plugged into the included powered hub, while using HDMI for video. This is handy for connecting to things like consoles or a Raspberry Pi. But if you connect this way via PC, note that you won’t be able to use the screen’s touch layer.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The XtendTouch Pro also has stereo speakers that fire out of either side of the device (when in landscape orientation). When I listened to the new “Seed EP2” from dirty electronic pioneers Portion Control, the speakers did a decent job of conveying the layered complexity of distorted sounds and samples, and volume was enough to fill my small office (once I realized you need to use the OSD and an on-screen slider to go up past the default 50% volume). But as you might guess about speakers shoved behind a screen in a chassis that’s just 0.4 inches thick, bass was pretty much non-existent. If you want that, use the headphone jack or plug in some external speakers.
Over on the left side is a small rocker wheel/button used to bring up the on-screen display (OSD), a headphone jack and a USB-C On-The-Go (OTG) port for connecting the display to a smartphone or tablet. The monitor even comes with a picture-in-picture mode, so you can display a secondary signal in a small window in a corner of the screen. Given the small size of the resulting image on a display that’s only 15.6 inches diagonal, we suspect this feature will have minimal appeal for most.
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Overall, build quality feels quite solid, as we’d expect given the price. Aside from the glass front, the shell is made of solid-feeling metal. And there’s even a pair of small screw holes on the back for mounting the monitor to a 75mm VESA arm or stand. That’s something we haven’t seen in a portable monitor before and a nod to professionals who may want to use this screen in a more permanent setup.
Accessories for Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro
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The XtendTouch Pro ships with far more accessories than most portable monitors. In some ways, that’s a good thing, but it’s also partially out of necessity. As noted earlier, the monitor needs two cables to work, one of which needs to be plugged into a dedicated power source. The company shipped our unit with a 100W charger for this purpose, which also lets you handily power a few more USB devices at the same time. A company rep told us that there will be another option with a smaller 60W charger that also comes with plugs for multiple countries.
The latter option will likely appeal more to those who travel (whenever we get to a point where we can safely travel again). But knowing that you need to plug into an external power adapter and bring along two cables to plug in your external monitor means the XtendTouch Pro is less travel-friendly and more cumbersome to set up than many portable monitors that can get all the juice they need from a single USB-C cable. But then those options don’t deliver anywhere near the color, brightness and contrast of this AMOLED panel — and most don’t include touch support.
Touch and Pen Support on Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Speaking of touch, the monitor also ships with a premium-feeling pen-like stylus with 4,096 pressure sensitivity layers, powered by a single AAAA battery. It worked well in my limited use (I’m no artist), though as with most styli I’ve tested over the years, there’s noticeable lag when you’re writing or drawing at any speed.
Touch controls worked much as you would expect with a touchscreen laptop. But the thin folding stand cover also isn’t sturdy enough for input with the pen or much more than light taps and swipes. So Pepper Jobs also includes a second metal stand that lets you adjust the screen’s tilt and, to some extent, height. This stand is far-better suited to use with the stylus and general use at a desk because it lifts the screen up as much as 3 inches off the surface for better line of sight. But it’s bulky and weighted at the bottom (to aid stability), which makes it less travel-friendly, though it does fold flat.
Aside from the stand, the cover, the USB Power Delivery power hub, a small stand for the power hub and the stylus, the company includes a few cables and a USB-C to USB-A adapter in the box. All of this is appreciated but will weigh you down if you plan on traveling with it. And final shipping models may ship with a slightly different set of accessories. So make sure you know what’s included before buying (or preordering on Kickstarter).
Image Quality of Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
As you might expect given its AMOLED origins, many aspects of the image quality on the XtendTouch Pro are unrivaled, at least compared to most portable and budget monitors. I watched various 4K resolution videos of Scotland on YouTube (as I await the ability to safely travel there again). And the mixing shades of green, brown and gray looking over the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye were just as endless, complex and vivid on the AMOLED screen as I remember from hiking there in person. Looking at some of my own photos of the nearby Storr in the mist, the deep black of the Jurassic-era cliff faces, ripped down and exposed by the largest landslide in Britain, brought back a sense of timeless foreboding that I hadn’t felt since I last stood there myself, near-stupefied by the magnitude of everything around me.
The glossiness of a touchscreen can often cause viewing angle and reflection issues, as we saw with the ThinkVision M14t. But not so here. Thanks to a combination of the high contrast of AMOLED, (which is lit on a per-pixel basis, leading to the deepest of blacks) and high brightness (Pepper Jobs claims 440 average nits, with a peak of 650) means the image looks great from any angle and lighting condition. I have three 4K displays of various types that I use for testing and photo editing. But even the 49-inch Sony TV that I use as my primary productivity display couldn’t compete anecdotally on image quality, despite being a nice VA panel with some better brightness specs.
Again, OLED looks better than pretty much any kind of LCD display because the pixels provide their own light, rather than relying on any kind zone or edge backlighting. That said, for long-term use, my eyes prefer the (much) larger Sony TV than a 15.6-inch display.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
XtendTouch Pro surpasses any other portable or budget monitor that we’ve looked at recently, with a brightness at default settings of nearly 423 nits, a little shy of the rated 440 average. You should see higher peak brightness if viewing HDR content, but I never felt like I was wanting for more brightness with this screen, even when working in direct sunlight.
According to our colorimeter, the XtendTouch Pro is also easily the most colorful display of the portable monitors we’ve looked at lately, delivering nearly 175% of the sRGB space and 117.8% of the more-demanding DCI-P3. Nothing else we’ve tested in this class comes close, making this a great panel for media editing.
Color Gamut Accuracy of Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro
For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Our saturation sweep of the DCI-P3 color space turned in a Delta E (dE) result of 3.68, which isn’t good for a monitor aimed at content creators. But the version of the XtendTouch Pro that Pepper Jobs sent us was just an engineering sample ,and early on a company rep told us that professional profiles and firmware were still being worked on.
So given the unfinished nature of this aspect of the screen, we didn’t continue with detailed color, grayscale and gamma testing. Those primarily interested in this aspect of the screen will have to wait for tests from a finalized version of the display. Of course, professionals with calibration tools may also be able to get more accuracy that way, though we hope Pepper Jobs delivers solid accuracy out of the box with its final shipping display.
Settings and OSD on Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro
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One of the nice things about having a touch screen display is when the on-screen display (OSD) is also touch-enabled, as it is with the Xtend Touch Pro. Rather than having to navigate every setting and slider with the jog wheel button on the left side, you mostly just press that to bring up the OSD and switch between screens. Adjusting sliders and selecting options and sub-menus is handled by tapping things that pop up in the lower-right corner of the display.
Most of what’s available in the OSD is expected and self-explanatory. But as noted earlier, to go past the monitor’s default 50% volume on the speakers, you need to open the OSD and tap and slide up the volume meter here. I just set it at 100% then used Windows to adjust the volume further. For those using other devices or operating systems, however, having the volume in the OSD might make more sense.
Bottom Line
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Given that similar portable OLED options, like Asus’ larger 21-inch ProArt PQ22UC OLED monitor cost thousands of dollars, the Pepper Jobs XtendTouch Pro is arguably a bargain for professionals and prosumers who need a colorful second display for working on the go or in small spaces. That’s especially true if you pick it up via Kickstarter for $699 rather than the eventual suggested retail price of $1,299. The good news is that the company estimates Kickstarter orders to ship in January 2021, so you won’t likely have long to wait. Just know that you’ll need to carry around a power hub and extra cables to get the screen working.
But even at the $699 price, the Xtend Touch Pro is too pricey to find much favor outside the creative realm. And we were unable to test final color accuracy, which is a key consideration, even for enthusiast photographers who want to make sure what’s on the screen is an accurate representation of reality.
If you just want an extra screen for productivity, there are lots of alternatives that, while they don’t look as good or get as bright, will let you bang out documents or sort spreadsheets for hundreds less. And while the 1ms rated response time means this screen should suffice for gaming, those spending anything close to this much on a portable monitor for gaming will likely be after a screen that can output more than this panel’s 60 Hz refresh rate. For those users, there’s the Asus ROG Strix XG17AHPE, which does 240 Hz, is larger at 17.3 inches and sells for about $500.
vivo is expected to launch the X60 series today, but it’s also continuing work on its host of mid-rangers. The latest phone we hear of is called vivo Y31s 5G and appeared on China Telecom’s website with all its specs and photos. It is a more affordable version of the vivo Y52s 5G with downgrades in the chipset and main camera departments.
vivo Y31s listed at China Telecom
The vivo Y31s 5G has a Snapdragon 690 chipset and a single memory tier – 6/128 GB. The screen has a 6.58” diagonal and much like on the Y52s is of the LCD variety.
vivo Y31s 5G
The dual setup on the back sees the Y52’s 48MP sensor reaplaced with a more basic 13MP one, while a 2MP secondary snapper is mostly serving decorative purposes. At the front an 8MP camera is sitting inside a waterdrop notch.
The vivo Y31s 5G is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging over a USB-C port. It also sports a 3.5mm audio jack.
The phone is expected to start selling on December 31 at which point we’ll learn if the listed price of CNY1,798 (about $270) is real or just a placeholder.
by Mattia Speroni, published on 28 December 2020, at 19: 31
?? The new Leica CL2 could see the light during the next year with several technical innovations (and a price increase) compared to the previous model launched at the end of 2017. The details have emerged in a recent rumor.??
Leica CL2 may be coming in the course del 2021, thus replacing the previous model (Leica CL) launched in November 2017. As in the past we will still be faced with a mirrorless camera with sensor in APS-C , the whole thing should be “seasoned” with the usual Leica quality.
Leica CL2 with sensor from 26 Sony MPixel?
The official technical specifications have not yet been released and therefore we have to rely on rumors coming from the Web. According to what reported, the new Leica CL2 should have a new sensor from 26 MPixel backlit and probably of Sony origin.
Still according to rumors, this new model will also have a new exterior design even if it is not yet clear how it will evolve. Good news on the weather resistance front considering that the camera body will be “weather sealed” . This will allow you to use this camera without too many worries, considering that it is a “travel”
model .
There will then be a joystick for managing the controls and a electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a resolution of 3.6 million points with OLED panel: a leap forward compared to the LCD 2, 36 million points of the previous Leica CL. Another novelty is the optical stabilization integrated into the camera body (IBIS) which will make up for one of the shortcomings of the model to the benefit of the user. The launch is scheduled for April 2021 with an estimated price of 2700 dollars . This means that the new Leica CL2 could cost more than the current version, but with different technical news (IBIS, EVF OLED, construction).
LG might be the company that’s most synonymous with OLED TVs, but tonight it’s announcing what to expect from its LCD-based sets in 2021. Like other manufacturers including TCL have already done (and Samsung is expected to soon join in on), LG is adopting Mini LED technology for its premium LCD 8K and 4K TVs coming next year.
LG says Mini LED allows for “a giant leap forward in LCD TV picture quality.” The best LCD TVs today have what’s called “full-array local dimming,” where LEDs — in some cases hundreds of them — serve as the backlighting behind the screen. These can be controlled in zones, and each zone can be dimmed as appropriate for dark scenes, which helps improve black levels and contrast.
Mini LED changes up the strategy a bit by using much smaller LEDs (but way more of them) for greater contrast than TVs that might top out at a couple hundred dimming zones.
In LG’s case, the company says its new backlight “comprises up to almost 30,000 tiny LEDs that produce incredible peak brightness and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 when paired with up to 2,500 dimming zones and advanced local dimming zones.” The end result is better contrast, more dynamic HDR, and improved color accuracy over the company’s prior LCD sets. Like all of LG’s 2020 flagships, refresh rates of up to 120Hz are supported.
LG has branded these upper-end LCD TVs as “QNED,” with the Q referring to quantum dot color and the N presumably standing for LG’s “NanoCell” branding. It comes off a little awkward — especially since TV shoppers will have to contend with a mix of OLED, QLED, and QNED TVs when at their local Best Buy.
The closest comparison for LG’s QNED TVs would be something like TCL’s 8 Series, which contains 25,000 LEDs in around 1,000 control zones. (LG says the QNED will come in sizes up to 86 inches, which is the one I’m guessing those earlier numbers come from.) TCL’s 6 Series also uses Mini LED, though the total number is much lower than the pricey 8 Series.
Shrinking the LEDs allows TV makers to use many more of them for greater contrast and better blacks.Image: TCL
But as the leading OLED TV brand, LG is being careful to underline that OLED is still where the absolute best picture can be had — even with all these advancements on the LCD side. 2020 saw Vizio enter the OLED TV field and try to undercut LG on price, but LG isn’t about to easily give up its position at the top. (Sony also makes high-end OLEDs; all three companies use panels from LG Display.)
Last, don’t make the mistake of mixing up Mini LED with MicroLED. Think of Mini LED as another evolution of LCD TVs, whereas MicroLED is a more radical upgrade that removes the backlight from the equation altogether (just like OLED) and combines millions of self-emissive LEDs that only light up when they’re needed. MicroLED TVs are still outrageously expensive, and while we won’t know pricing for LG’s QNED TVs for a few more months, it should be much less eye-popping.
(Pocket-lint) – Amazon churns out Fire tablets at a great pace; available three sizes, with regular updates, the Fire HD tablet has been a constant of technology for a few years.
The offering hasn’t changed hugely over recent years, with minor tweaks defining the different versions, rather than the bigger steps you’ll find on premium tablets like the Apple iPad.
So is the Fire HD 8 worthy of your interest?
Design and build
Dimensions: 202 x 137 x 9.7mm / Weight: 335g
Finish: Black, Plum, Twilight Blue, White colours
3.5mm headphone jack
Dolby Atmos speakers
Plastic build
The Amazon Fire HD 8 launched alongside an enhanced version of the same tablet – the Fire HD 8 Plus, which adds wireless charging to the mix. There’s little to set these two tablets apart, except that the regular model reviewed here also comes in a wider range of colours.
Pocket-lint
Amazon has changed the Fire HD 8’s design slightly in 2020, making the bezels equal on all sides and moving on from the slightly elongated look of the past. We certainly think it looks better in this new aspect.
The build stays the same, however, with Amazon sticking to plastics and eschewing premium materials. That’s understandable given the price, but there’s also an honesty to it: this isn’t trying to compete with much more expensive devices, it’s designed with practicality in mind instead.
The result is that you have a tablet that will take a little more abuse, wearing scratches and marks a little better, avoiding the cracks or dents that some other tablets will accrue through their life. It also has plenty of grip, with soft, curved edges. It’s easy to wipe clean too.
Pocket-lint
Amazon has changed the Fire HD 8’s design slightly in 2020, making the bezels equal on all sides and moving on from the slightly elongated look of the past. We certainly think it looks better in this new aspect.
For those who want to use the speakers, the Fire HD 8 is particularly well equipped. There are stereo speakers, carrying the Dolby Atmos label, that are actually very good for game and movies use, with appreciable volume and respectable solidity to their delivery. There’s Bluetooth too, for those who want to go wireless.
Display
8-inch LCD display, 16:10 aspect ratio
1280 x 800 resolution (189ppi)
We’ve always felt that the Fire HD 8 sits in the sweet spot of the Fire tablet range. It’s large enough to be immersive, small enough to be portable. While the size and resolution on the 8 – at 8 inches, as the name suggests – hasn’t changed, the latest models of this tablet have boosted the quality a little over older models.
Pocket-lint
The resolution is modest, claiming the HD tag (but only just), but lacking the ability to render finer detail that you would get from a larger phone or the iPad mini. But given the price, that’s not a great loss, because the performance is good enough on the Fire HD 8.
The real weaknesses are in peak brightness and viewing angles. Sit in bed looking straight-on at the screen and you’ll have a great experience, but watch at a slightly oblique angle next to a window drenched in summer sunshine and the experience doesn’t exactly pop.
It’s a little glossy and reflecting and will need a wipe to clean off fingerprints – especially when in the hands of children where it will undoubtedly get a little grubbier – but we’ve always found it to clean up easily enough.
Pocket-lint
The real consideration, however, is the content that you’re going to be viewing on this tablet. The Fire HD’s real strengths are casual games and content from streaming services like Amazon Video or Netflix – and you simply don’t need the extra detail that some rival devices are capable of offering, but which you’d rarely use to full effect.
Specs and performance
2.0GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM
32GB/64GB storage + microSD (to 1TB)
12 hours battery, 5 hours charging time
The core specs of the Fire HD 8 are essentially the same as those of the Fire HD 8 Plus. Although it sticks to 2GB of RAM while the step-up model offers 3GB of RAM – not that you’ll notice this in daily use.
Pocket-lint
There’s no escaping that compared to the latest phones – even the latest run of mid-range phones – the Fire HD 8 takes a more sedate approach to things. It’s not a hugely fast tablet and you can sometimes feel that in the user interface (UI) and the keyboard, but then you don’t use it the same way as you do a phone.
Well, you can, but it’s not advisable, because the limitations start to show if you’re trying to multi-task by switching apps, doing a lot of keyboard entry, and so on. Again, that underlines the Fire HD 8’s prime position as an entertainment tablet, rather than something you’ll be using to work on.
The Fire HD 8 comes in 32GB or 64GB options, but the ability to use a microSD card (up to 1TB) does expand the excitement here – as you can load up the tablet with movies or content when you’re on your travels so you’re no dependent on Wi-Fi. Downloads are supported by most of the major streaming services on the Fire tablet just as they would be on your phone.
The other thing that can make the Fire HD 8 feel a little slow is the display surface coating. It’s just not as slick as premium devices and you’ll find that results from finger movement is a little slower. That means it’s not quite so good for playing games – and it does offer some premium gaming titles from its store – but for casual gaming it’s just fine.
Pocket-lint
Missing out on the wireless charging, you’ll have to use the cable to charge. It takes about 5 hours to fully charge, but then you get a realistic 12 hours of use out of it – and the Fire tablet is also good for holding onto that charge when in standby. Without the constant background drain that some devices have, you can come back a week later and find the tablet is still charged and ready to go.
Amazon software
Fire OS
Alexa integration
Smart home control
Fire tablet devices run on Amazon’s own software. It’s Google Android-based, so will be familiar to such phone users, but is a fully customised experience, drawing applications from Amazon’s own store. The software itself is based around a series of home screens, serving up content from your Amazon account and giving you access to the content you get from Amazon Prime.
You don’t have to be a Prime subscriber to use the Fire HD 8, but it certainly helps, filling it with movies, TV, music and books. If you’re a regular Amazon user then you’ll find your content in place and ready to resume.
Pocket-lint
That’s on top of the ability to install a wide range of apps from the Appstore. There are many popular apps and services available, although you don’t get the full range of apps that you’ll get from the Apple App Store or Google Play. There tends to be lots of imitation apps, heavy ad-supported games and, in some cases, fake versions of popular apps. Just search for Call of Duty and you’ll find Call of Mobile, Call of Sniper, Call of Counter Strike and a whole lot more besides.
Most of the major streaming and entertainment services are supported, like Disney+, there’s Minecraft, PUBG Mobile and many more. The Fire tablet also supports Zoom, so it’s a cheap way to get talking – as well as supporting Alexa Calling.
But you can’t really escape the feeling that Amazon’s services offer the best experience on the Fire tablets. In recent years that’s increased, adding Alexa as a handsfree voice assistant on all the Fire tablets. We usually turn it off, but if you don’t have an Echo within earshot, your tablet will do the job for you.
Cyberpunk 2077 tested, Amazon Prime Video on Sky Q, and more – Pocket-lint Podcast 84
Pocket-lint
Amazon has also expanded on Alexa’s skills, offering a device control screen. This means you can swipe into your smart home controls from your Fire tablet and turn off the lights, change the heating, or interact with whatever else you have linked to Alexa (if you’ve got the relevant smart homep products, but of course). It’s really handy and a great admission that Alexa-powered households are a reality.
Verdict
Fire tablets have always been about value for money, which rings true for the Fire HD 8. It’s also a little cheaper than the Fire HD 8 Plus model, so we can see that it would be the popular choice for many.
It’s a great size for travel and if you don’t really want to do more than consume steaming video or play causal games, then it’s perfectly equipped. We’ve always favoured the Fire HD as a travel tablet for that very reason, with decent battery life and a solid enough build to be happily thrown in a bag.
It also makes a great tablet prospect for kids – an easy and affordable option for entertainment on longer journeys, with the convenience of a headphone socket and solid build.
OnePlus became a different company this year. It had been gradually opening up to a wider product line, first with the mid-season T-upgrade, then with the introduction of Pro models. However, in 2020 the door swung all the way open and through it walked not only a mid-ranger, but even an entry-level phone.
Winner: OnePlus 8 Pro
There was only one Pro model this year and it was enough – that there was nothing left to fix with a T Pro is a testament to how good the OnePlus 8 Pro is. And the company knew it, this is its most expensive product to date. The price is comparable with flagships from established brands and OnePlus rarely offers discounts.
That said, the 8 Pro is “worth a pretty penny” as we concluded in our review. That conclusion was reinforced in our long-term review. After months of use the phone’s premium build quality and excellent performance more than made up for its few shortcomings (it’s not perfect, but many of the flaws are shared with the rest of the flagship segment).
The OnePlus 8 Pro earned itself a spot in our flagship buyer’s guide and is currently one of the best camera phones that money can buy.
Loser: OnePlus 8
The OnePlus 8 launched alongside the Pro and the sibling rivalry was over on day 1 – the Pro was just so much better that the vanilla model felt out of place. It’s cheaper, yes, but OnePlus’ value-for-money rating is not what it once was so this is more a case of “you get what you pay for”.
Worse, the 8 failed to upstage the OnePlus 7T, which was on its way out and some retailers offered discounts. The 8 certainly isn’t a bad phone, in our review we found it to be an excellent performer in several categories. However, there is no shortage of good alternatives in its price range, it just felt like something was missing. Perhaps, a “T”.
Winner: OnePlus 8T
While OnePlus’ “murderous” mood is mostly a thing of the past, the OnePlus 8T did earn itself the title flagship killer in our buyer’s guide. OnePlus nailed the pricing – starting at €600, the OnePlus 8T was €100 cheaper than its sibling.
The phone was the first in the family to introduce 65W Warp Charge and Android 11 (among other things, OxygenOS 11 is the first to enable Always On Display on a OnePlus phone). It still shares much DNA with the vanilla 8, though the upgrades make it one of the best premium all-rounders.
Looking into next year, the OnePlus 9 launch is closing in. However, the story of how the 7T and 8T outshone their non-T siblings should serve as a warning. For now, the 8T is a great pick and what comes next may not be able to beat it.
Winner: OnePlus Nord
While certainly not as flashy as the 8T, the OnePlus Nord proved itself a excellent mid-ranger with a reasonable price tag in our review. After using it for a while for our long-term review, the Nord felt almost as good as the OnePlus 8. If not better, considering the cash you save. Comparisons to its sibling aside, the Nord is capable all-round phone.
OxygenOS is a good reason to pick a OnePlus phone over other brands. The company started padding out the formerly vanilla rendition of Android with some extra features, but we still hear more complaints about other Android skins than Oxygen.
The Nord is the company’s second ever mid-ranger, which is worth talking about for a minute. OnePlus isn’t big enough to push against market forces and the rising costs of flagship chipsets are perhaps the real reason “flagship killers” went the way of the dodo. So, a premium mid-ranger like the Nord is needed to fill the price segment vacated by the mainline phones.
Losers: OnePlus Nord N10 5G and Nord 100
While the 8 Pro and 8T are excellent phones, the Nord is the most important release for OnePlus this year. Perhaps not so much the phone itself but the new product line that it spawned.
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G broke the mold in more than one place – it went back to LCD, it also brought back the memory card slot and the 3.5 mm headphone jack. With its 600-series Snapdragon and plastic frame, the N10 doesn’t look glamorous even next to the original Nord.
Plus, its launch price was only €50 less, which wasn’t enough to make up for the deficit in features. In the interest in fairness, we should point out that the original Nord never launched in the US – and neither did much of the competition.
The N10 5G is available in the US where cheap 5G phones are few and far between. This could prove to be a local win, but we doubt it will have much success on the global stage.
Which is still more than we can say about the OnePlus Nord N100. After an unhappy response from fans, the company did enable a 90Hz mode, thus keeping its promise of only releasing phones with high refresh rate screens after the 7-series introduced Fluid AMOLED.
However, even at 90 Hz there’s no way to mask the display’s 720p+ resolution or Snapdragon 460’s uninspiring performance. Or the 13MP camera – sorry, this wasn’t meant to turn into a rant, but this phone is of no interest to the existing OnePlus user base. Who is it for then?
Loser: OnePlus’ brand image
The “Never Settle” slogan is short, catchy and central to OnePlus’ image. The 8 Pro and 8T certainly live up to that uncompromising attitude, but does the Nord? We think so, yes. Not everyone can afford the €200 premium to get an 8T instead, yet they still deserve the OxygenOS experience if they want it.
But software alone doesn’t feel like enough to save the Nord N duo. We can’t just brush them off as failures and move on, they are diluting the premium brand – Oppo and Realme already exist, there was no need for OnePlus to also get into budget phones.
Most fans are still happy with OxygenOS, though the “bloat” word is starting to appear in conversations. And the major updates are taking longer, something that isn’t helped by the company having to update six phones instead of two. The hardware of the Nord N-series is nothing spectacular in the price range either, there isn’t much of a hook to them.
Of course, these worries can prove to be unfounded – OnePlus can wow everyone with a series of high-quality releases in 2021. Or it could release half a dozen of bland N-series phones and become what it was born to fight, just another smartphone company.
This Raspberry Pi project may be the most retro cyberdeck project we’ve seen in all of 2020. Maker Rune Kyndal decided to spruce up an old HP95LX with the addition of a Raspberry Pi inside.
The project was born from Kyndal’s desire to create a usable palmtop capable of running a full Linux distro. The end result is this beautiful Raspberry Pi Zero-powered HP95LX device.
The original display had been replaced with a 4.3-inch LCD. It connects directly to the GPIO pins, has a resolution of 800 x 480 and supports capacitive touch. It has stereo audio output and uses a USB microphone. It’s fitted with a micro USB LiPO charger to recharge the lithium-polymer battery inside.
According to Kyndal, the keyboard membrane had to be reverse-engineered and uses a Teensy keyboard controller to act as a USB keyboard.
There are already plans underway for more upgrades, including the addition of a Raspberry Pi webcam. Check out the full project page on Hackaday and be sure to visit our list of Best Raspberry Pi Projects for more creations from the maker community.
The HX940B is difficult to work with but there’s a pleasing and natural performance in there for those who persevere
For
Bright, natural picture
Excellent motion processing
Vivid colours
Against
Tricky to calibrate
Weak blacks and viewing angles
Uninspiring sound
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is part of the leading line of Panasonic’s LCD TVs for 2020, and is therefore blessed with much of the company’s top TV tech. What’s more, such is Panasonic’s HDR agnosticism that it has the added bonus of both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, so you can be sure you’re viewing the best available format regardless of streaming service or disc.
Alongside the 2020 flagship HCX Pro Intelligent processor, the HX940 enjoys a faster (100Hz) screen refresh rate over its less thoroughbred LCD stablemates and the benefits of Panasonic’s Local Dimming Intelligent Pro technology. That should improve contrast control by adjusting the backlight and LCD shutters to mimic the operation of thousands of virtual local dimming zones.
This year’s fleet has also brought an update to the company’s proprietary TV OS. My Home Screen 5.0 promises Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, a suite of apps and some improved usability on previous models.
Build and features
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is a tidy and decent looking set. It’s around 45mm thick with a nice even rear that should make it easy to wall-mount. Those using the dual stands will appreciate the choice of two positions – one narrow for smaller furniture and a wider one that should help to accommodate a soundbar. You’ll need a surface of at least 330mm depth for it to sit upon.
Panasonic TX-65HX940B tech specs
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
Screen type LCD with edge LED backlight Resolution 4K Operating system My Home Screen 5.0
HDR formats HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Number of HDMIs 4 Number of USBs 3 Optical output Yes ARC/eARC ARC ALLM Yes VRR No 4K@120Hz No Dimensions (hwd) 145 x 84 x 4.5cm (without stand) Weight 28kg (without stand)
The inevitable black rectangle on the front is bordered by a perfectly tasteful bezel of approximately 5mm. Around the back, you’ll find all the ports you need, including four HDMI sockets, all of which support ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and one of which is ARC (Audio Return Channel) enabled. There are also two USB 2.0s, a USB 3.0, a headphone/subwoofer connector and an optical output. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled if you’d rather go wireless for audio in or out.
Panasonic’s own My Home Screen 5.0 is simple and easy to use from the outset. Hit the home key on the fully-featured remote control and there are just four main choices – Apps, Devices, Live TV and Main Menu. You can add shortcuts to your favourites, which is handy.
Apps-wise, there are a few significant gaps. There’s no access to Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV or Disney+, nor is there Now TV, BT Sport, Spotify or Tidal. It only takes a relatively small outlay on a media streamer to fix this, but it’s a shame that that’s necessary, particularly as it isn’t with most of the HX940B’s rivals.
Hit Live TV and you’ll head to the Freeview Play platform and tuner. It comes with a well-organised and usable EPG, all four of the UK catch-up services, plus a front page full of worthy content suggestions from the main terrestrial channels.
The Main Menu is where you find the picture, sound and other TV settings. As with previous incarnations of this OS, it’s a fairly long list with a few too many sub-menus. There’s also quite the host of modes and technologies to get your head around, although it’s good to see that Panasonic has taken the time to annotate them with explanations of what each one does.
Picture
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is capable of an impressive picture performance, but squeezing that quality out of it takes a fair bit of patience and time, and that will be a bit off-putting to some potential buyers.
The picture presets are there to help shorten the process, but even the best of those doesn’t deliver the full potential of this TV. Surprisingly, the Sport setting is the best of the compromises. This Panasonic is strong on subtlety but not the biggest on punch and the Sport preset lends a handy contrast kick as well as the best stab at an accurate colour balance.
But realising the set’s full potential involves selecting the Custom mode to make sure all of the numerous and, for many, overwhelming settings and options are accessible. Teasing out that extra level of goodness can feel a bit like trying to crack a safe, but the rewards are worthwhile.
The opening scenes of Baby Driver on 4K Blu-ray are a really exciting watch. This bright panel creates wonderful views of the gloriously sunny city streets as Baby waits in his vibrant red getaway car outside the bank. The stone of the buildings is clean and detailed, and this TV’s shading skills bring a realistic sense of depth and perspective to the picture. Shots such as this give an easy sense that you’ve got something good for your money.
Motion processing is also excellent when the car chase kicks in. Nothing is rendered with any noticeable judder as Baby throws the car screeching round corners, even when the action is fast and close to the camera. We’d recommend putting the Frame Interpolation to the minimum setting when in Sport. Custom mode offers more granular control of both blur and judder on scales of between 1-10. Around three should hit the spot, but it’s well worth experimenting.
Dark detail is strong too. The elevator scene after the first job has everyone dressed mostly in black. All the folds and creases of Griff’s leather jacket are clear and there’s a decent difference in texture between that and Baby’s suede top.
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
What’s missing, though, is proper black depth. This TV needs its brightness set high to deliver any sense of dynamism, but the trade-off is that the backlight bleeds through rather a lot. The effect is uniform, at least, but you get dark greys rather than genuine blacks.
Moving to SDR requires another adjustment of the TV’s settings, but the picture quality is there to be had if you work at it. Watching something fairly neutral, such as 22 Jump Street on Blu-ray, we get that same zesty and inviting image as before. The Spring Break scene at the climax of the film is an appealing kaleidoscope of bright beachwear on golden sand and, once the white balance has been tweaked, the HX940 just about nails it.
You’ll need to be careful when switching to Full HD source material with a slightly more stylised aesthetic though. The push for punch in the settings that this TV needs tends to accentuate the flaws. Transformers comes across more noisy than it should and you’ll need to pull back on the contrast for something easier on the eye. If you can get a handle on that, this set scales perfectly well from HD and SD. In fact, when watching BBC News in standard def, this TV’s skills with subtlety do it the biggest service. Colours and tones are produced with more realism here than most at this resolution.
But regardless of the quality of the incoming signal, you’ll only get the best if you’re sitting fairly square to the TV, as viewing angles are poor. One armchair round from a central sofa and the already grey blacks turn even lighter and colours quickly fade. The issue is equally pronounced on the vertical axis too, so bear this in mind if you’re planning to wall-mount.
Sound
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The best sound often adds a lot to the price of a TV, and external sound solutions are usually a far better option. Panasonic has decided to keep things on the economical side with the HX940 and fitted a standard two 10W speakers system to the rear. Users get some control over the precise flavour of that audio with Dolby Atmos, Bass Boost and Surround sound processing options, but the inescapable result is a presentation that’s clear but also thin.
Watching Baby Driver, there’s a lot to be said for that clarity. The excellent soundtrack is detailed and fairly rhythmic. You’ll never miss a word of the dialogue either. The trade-off is that music comes across a touch tinny and without much excitement.
The bigger problem is when it comes to the action sequences. This sound system barely delivers with the opening car chase of the film. There’s no weight or dynamism to get our blood pumping and that removes the feeling of jeopardy to the scene.
The precision keeps us very much in touch with the tyre screeches, the police sirens and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion soundtrack, but there’s a narrow feel to it all with little movement of the audio from left to right and not enough of a sense of separation to each sound within the stage.
After a while, all those bright sounds are quite hard to listen to. While clarity is king for TV sound, so viewers can easily follow dialogue, it doesn’t take many minutes with this Panasonic to begin craving a decent dose of welly and dynamics. Ultimately, we want a TV that delivers both, but at least some of each is preferable. This TV leans too far in a single direction.
Verdict
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is a good TV, but it isn’t a great one. The levels of dynamism, for both picture and sound, are shy of the very best at this price. The same goes for black depth and viewing angles, too, but there is a fundamental brightness and zestiness to the colour that make for an appealing and enjoyable natural performance.
The hard part is that unlocking all of that takes a fair bit of time and patience. If you’re looking for something that’s easy out of the box, then this isn’t the TV for you. Even if you do put the effort in, this Panasonic still can’t quite reach the heights of the Sony KD-65HX9005, which is a far more accomplished all-round performer and is currently available for less.
Lava continues its barrage in the entry-level market with the BeU handset. It packs a rose gold back with an unusual set of crystal decorations2 part of the camera cutout. Next to those, you find the 13MP primary camera and 2MP depth sensor alongside the LED flash and fingerprint reader.
The display comes in at 6.08-inches and sports a waterdrop notch for the 8MP selfie cam. It sports an HD+ resolution and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The Unisoc SC9863A chipset sits at the helm alongside 2GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which is further expandable via the microSD slot.
We have Android 10 Go Edition on the software front as well as a 4,060 mAh battery. Other notable specs include dual nano-SIM slots, a headphone jack and an FM radio receiver. The Lava BeU sells for INR 6,888 ($93) through Indian online and physical retailers.
Back in November, Xiaomi introduced its trio of Redmi Note 9 phones for the Chinese market headlined by the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G and it seems the device will make its way to India as the Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G on January 5.
A perfect start to the new year. #ThePerfect10
Guess what’s coming and 1⃣0⃣ lucky winners stand a chance to win #Mi goodies perfect for all you enthusiasts. A hint is in the video.
Leave your responses with #ThePerfect10.
05.01.21
Stay Tuned. Spread The Word. pic.twitter.com/PnD4xmZWt7
— Mi India #Mi10TSeries5G (@XiaomiIndia) December 22, 2020
Xiaomi India began teasing the device on Twitter and also setup a landing page on its official website where we see teasers for a 108MP main camera, high refresh rate screen and “latest” chipset which refers to the Snapdragon 750G platform. We also get a look at the side of the device, revealing the SIM tray on the left-hand-side and curved back which falls in line with the design of the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G.
Xiaomi Mi 10i 5G teasers
The key specs of the Note 9 Pro 5G include a 6.67-inch IPS LCD with 120Hz refresh rate, Samsung’s 1/1.52” ISOCELL HM2 108MP main sensor and a 4,820 mAh battery with 33W fast charging.
(Pocket-lint) – Air purifiers represent the perfect way to disarm allergens floating in the home, channeling air through a filter before re-circulating it to you in a vastly cleaner form.
A more advanced wave of ultraviolet air purifiers is moving things a step on, though, killing viruses and bacteria making their way through the system through UV light and germicidal irradiation.
Since there are many different ways to treat impurities in the air, modern purifiers will often come ready to fight with multiple systems, with just one of them being UV-C light. There are complex cleaning methods and a wide variance in design, so picking between them, and deciding just how much you value the cleanest air possible, is a tough task.
Thankfully, we’ll be detailing some top picks for a range of budgets to help you decide.
Our guide to the best UV air purifier
Germ Guardian
Germ Guardian 1000
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Germ Guardian’s air purifier is one of the most affordable ways to kill germs through the power of UV rays.
The 7-inch design requires power from the wall socket to function, able to rid your home of odors, bacteria, pet allergens, and cooking smells.
Germ Guardian claims the UV purifying technology is able to eliminate airborne viruses like influenza and staph, using Titanium Dioxide to help reduce volatile compounds. Just be aware the UB bulb will need to be replaced around once a year.
PureMate
PureMate 510
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It’s certainly not a design that fits every home – since it channels some serious early noughties speaker vibes – but PureMate’s 510 is one of the very best options to consider.
It comes with a HEPA filter to take care of airborne allergens, while the UV light, TiO2, active carbon filter, and negative ionizer all work together to take care of viruses, bacteria, and odors.
There are also five different speed settings to pick between, a timer, LCD display, and a filter replacement indicator to help give you complete control over your air purifying.
Eureka
Eureka NEA120 Purifier
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Eureka’s mid-level NEA120 is a great example of how you can kill most household impurities without breaking the bank.
Featuring a HEPA filter to combat allergens, a charcoal filter to tackle odors, and UV light combined with TiO2 to eradicate viruses and bacteria, it’s one of the best value-for-money picks available.
You’ll have to contend with the 26-inch height, which certainly won’t be for every home, but the three fan modes do make sure this is one purifier that can be very much seen and not heard.
HoMedics
HoMedics Air Purifier
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Teetering on the edge of mid-range air purifiers is HoMedics’ compact model, which fights the air in your home with three different methods.
The HEPA filter will clean out allergens, while the UV-C light and carbon filter will work to neutralize viruses, bacteria, and odor. And with three speeds, including a night mode for cleaning while you sleep, it can be placed pretty much anywhere in the home for 360-degree cleaning.
HoMedics also offers larger sizes of the same model, but this compact variation is perfect for those who value discretion and quiet purifying.
Germ Guardian
Germ Guardian 5-in-1 Air Purifier
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If Germ Guardian’s 1000 is one of the most affordable ways to purify the air in your home, its 5-in-1 device is one of the most effective.
Though it perhaps represents overkill for some, it comes with a wide range of cleaning methods. The HEPA filter tackles 99.97% of allergens, UV-C light traps viruses such as influenza and staph, titanium dioxide handles harsh organic compounds and an activated charcoal filter fights odors.
The sleep mode is also a great feature for those who want to clean the air during the night, with three speeds in total to choose between.
Bionaire
Bionaire BAP001 Air Purifier
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It’s not for those on a budget, but Bionaire’s 4-in-1 purifier is one of the top ways to rid the air in your home of unwanted bacteria and allergens.
While primarily managing allergens through the HEPA filter, it’s also able to tackle bacteria and viruses through the UV-C and TiO2 filtration, with five different speed settings and a timer function that can range anywhere up to eight hours.
For when the HEPA filter is also running close to the end, the onboard indicator will also let you know.
Pure Enrichment
Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier
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Pure Enrichment’s PureZone air purifier may not be the cheapest on the market, but the tech inside will give you peace of mind that the air is being thoroughly cleaned.
The company claims that the PureZone is able to clean the air from 99.97% of dust, pollen, smoke, and pet dander, and other odors using a three-stage purification process. First, the air hits the pre-filter before activating the carbon filter followed by the HEPA filter.
Throughout the process, the built-in UV-C light is able to inactivate germs that cause illnesses, too, with three fan speeds available to pick between.
Klarstein
Klarstein Vita Pure
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Klarstein’s Vita Pure gives you all the functionality of a top-tier purifier for a mid-level price, combining a number of cleaning methods into one package.
Using a pre-filter, HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, UV-C lamp, and ionizer, this is a perfect solution for those who want to rid the air of as many impurities as possible without giving up the earth.
There’s also a timer setting, different fan modes (for those who want a bit of a quieter run), and also an indicator for when the filter needs replacing.
Oion Technologies
Oion Technologies B-1000
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Another mid-level UV air purifier is available from Oion Technologies, which churns out cleaner air through its monolith design.
It features UV light, an electrostatic ionizer, carbon filtration, and ozone power that combine to remove airborne pollutants, allergens, and odors, with a quiet mode and night light for cleaning during your sleep.
Though it does manage to kill off most airborne impurities, it is fair to say that the B-1000 design won’t be for every home, too, and those looking for a device with a HEPA and TiO2 filtration will have to look elsewhere.
PureMate
PureMate 210
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Not every home or office is designed for chunky floor purifiers, which is where PureMate’s 210 comes in.
It won’t give you the same thoroughness of the company’s other offerings, but it’s enough for those who simply want UV-C light to filter the air.
This treatment should help destroy germs, bacteria, and viruses, with electrostatically-charged dust plates trapping pollutants in the process.
So, if you just want a simple, compact purifier to run during the day, this is a great consideration.
The Chinese giant OPPO presented in China its mid-range smartphone in its 5G version. There are many changes compared to his younger brother A 31 standard. Let’s find out which ones in the complete article
by Lorenzo Tirotta published 20 December 2020 , at 09: 31 in the Telephony channel Oppo
Today , OPPO presented its new smartphone of medium-low range A 53 5G . The device represents the 5G version of the already known OPPO A 53, launched on the market last September. If you think that this new version only adds the 5G module to the standard one, you are wrong . The new OPPO A 53 5G brings important improvements in almost all sectors, from the hardware one but also considering the software one.
MediaTek Dimensity 720: the chip ready for 5G
The processor mounted becomes the MediaTek Dimensity 720 , capable of supporting the 5G module, to the detriment of the less performing Snapdragon 460 used on A 53. The display has a good 6.5 inch LCD panel with resolution Full HD + , one update frequency to 90 Hz and even a maximum brightness of 480 nit. The 5G version of A 53 comes with 4/6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of external storage memory, not expandable.
The multimedia compartment is still made up of a triple camera , but it gains in quality. The main now sees the presence of a sensor from 16 MP with focal aperture of f / 2.2 followed by a lens for macro shots and a depth sensor of 2 MP . The selfie cam instead results from 8 MP and it is inserted inside a hole in the upper left of the screen, as has been fashionable lately. The device measures 162, 2 x 75 x 7.9 mm and weighs 175 g , supports Dual-SIM and works with Android 10 customized with ColorOS 7.2 .
Autonomy is probably the only characteristic that does not improve compared to A 53 . The battery of the 5G version has a capacity of 4. 040 mAh against 5. 00 0 mAh of the standard version. Finally OPPO A 53 5G continues to place a 3.5mm jack as well as a fingerprint sensor on the side of the frame instead of on the back like its predecessor.
Prices and availability
The phone was unveiled in China today at a price of CNY 1. 299, about 160 euro at the exchange rate. It will probably also be distributed for the European market, even if at the moment there is no news about it for our country.
Oppo just announced the first three of the Reno5 family, and it’s likely going to be a large family. How do we know? Well, there are a total of eight Reno4s in our database, and it’s one of them that we’ll be presenting to you today – the Reno4 Z 5G.
The most affordable of the 5G-enabled 4th-gen Renos, the Z 5G retails for €300 – that’s less than half the Reno4 Pro 5G’s official asking price and roughly two-thirds of the Reno4 5G’s price tag.
The Reno4 Z 5G is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 800 chipset instead of the Snapdragon 765Gs in the other two. Still, it’s not really grounds for concern – a close relative to that SoC, the 800U we got to see recently, performed admirably. Another moderately polarizing bit could be the 6.57-inch LCD. The OLED lovers might scoff at the choice of panel technology, but this one does come with a 120Hz refresh rate. Which brings us to the next point – a 4,000mAh battery with a 120Hz LCD? Sounds a little troubling, but we’ll see about that.
Three proper cameras and three sort-of cameras made their way to the Reno4 Z 5G. There’s a 48MP primary unit on the back, joined by an 8MP ultra-wide, and then you get a 2MP macro module and a 2MP unit for depth sensing. Another one of those is keeping company to the 16MP selfie camera in a pill-shaped cutout in the display’s top left corner.
For the 4 Z 5G, Oppo chose the usual Reno presentation – a teal sleeve holds the white cardboard box. The contents are fairly standard, too, though the 18W adapter is a bit on the lower end of the power spectrum – it’s certainly no 65W SuperVOOC 2.0. If you can put a positive spin on that, it would be that the USB-A-to-C cable isn’t proprietary, unlike on the higher-wattage systems.
Also included is a set of earbuds with a 3.5mm plug – the Reno4 Z 5G is nicely old-school in this respect, unlike the other 2 5G-capable Reno4s. You’ll find one more useful accessory in the bundle is a protective case, a transparent silicone one.
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