It has a larger battery and screen compared to the Galaxy S24.

Samsung’s Plus is the most overlooked mid-range model in the Galaxy S lineup. For most people, the Galaxy S24+ is simply a Galaxy S24 with a bigger display and battery. Most people will spend more and opt for the better Galaxy S24 Ultra. But the Galaxy S24+ is so much more. Sure, it has almost the same specs as the Galaxy S24, but bigger is better, and that’s what I realized after using the Galaxy S24+ for about a week.

Should you consider the Galaxy S24+ instead of the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Ultra? Find out below.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Price in India

The Galaxy S24+ is pricey! It is available in two versions in India – the 12GB + 256GB option priced at Rs 99,999 and the 12GB + 512GB version at Rs 1,09,999 .

The Galaxy S24+ supports 45W fast charging, but no charger is included.

In terms of colour options, the Galaxy S24+ is available in Cobalt Violet and Onyx Black, while online buyers can also get the phone in exclusive finishes like Sapphire Blue and Jade Green. We received the Cobalt Violet option with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage.

Inside the box you’ll find the phone, documentation, a SIM eject tool, and a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ 5G Review: Design

Design-wise, it’s basically a larger version of the Galaxy S24, or the Galaxy S23/Galaxy S22. The design hasn’t changed in years, but the materials are better and stronger. Compared to the Galaxy S23+, the new Galaxy S24+ has a stronger Armor 2 aluminum frame. Despite the larger footprint compared to the standard Galaxy S24, if you have larger hands, this phone can be held comfortably in one hand. It weighs 197 grams, but is 7.7mm thick, almost the same as the Galaxy S24. The phone feels premium and can withstand impacts (not tested).

The Galaxy S24+ features an Armor 2 aluminum frame.

The front features slim display bezels that are uniform throughout, even slimmer than last year’s. At the top are slits for the speaker/earpiece and an in-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. The Galaxy S24+ has the same Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection and IP68 rating as its smaller sibling. At the back, there’s the familiar triple-camera system, with each camera housed in a separate metal ring. The LED flash is next to the three vertically-aligned sensors, but is positioned lower than on the Galaxy S23+.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Specs and Software

In terms of specifications, the only difference between the Galaxy S24+ and the Galaxy S24 is the larger battery. It’s powered by a 4nm Exynos 2400 SoC with an Xclipse 940 GPU, up to 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB on the Galaxy S23+), and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. There’s no expandable storage on the phone. For communications, you get tri-band Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3 LE, a USB Type-C 3.2 port, and the usual GPS satellite support.

Samsung’s ultrasonic fingerprint reader is also reliable, and I honestly think more smartphone brands should adopt this technology instead of optical sensors. It’s faster and more accurate, and I’ve never had any issues with it.

Samsung has promised to provide software updates for the Galaxy S24+ for seven years.

The Galaxy S24+ comes with a 4,900mAh battery, much larger than the 4,000mAh cell in the Galaxy S24 and slightly larger than the 4,700mAh unit in the older Galaxy S23+, but the phone still only supports 45W fast charging and 15W wireless charging, which is the same as last year.

What’s different this year is the promised software support. Samsung now offers seven years of Android OS and security updates. The Galaxy S24+ runs Android 14-based One UI 6.1 out of the box. It also gets the new Galaxy AI suite of features, which you can read more about in our Galaxy S24 review.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Performance

Talking about performance, the Exynos 2400 SoC in the Galaxy S24+ offers flagship performance in all scenarios. Looking at the benchmark numbers, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Galaxy SoC is better, but you won’t notice the difference in everyday use or gaming. We ran some tests on the Galaxy S24+ and its scores were almost the same as the Galaxy S24. In AnTuTu, the phone scored 1,457,608 points, and in Geekbench, it had a single-core score of 1987 and a multi-core score of 6137. The AnTuTu score was slightly lower than that of the Galaxy S24, but the Geekbench score was higher. This is probably due to the larger area for cooling in the Plus model. The results were similar in GFXbench as well.

The Galaxy S24+ display has a peak brightness of 2,600 nits.

Now, let’s talk about the display, where you’ll find the changes. The Galaxy S24+ comes with a 6.7-inch display, which is slightly larger compared to last year’s Galaxy S23+ (6.6 inches). The display also has slimmer bezels and is now a brighter LTPO AMOLED 2x panel with 2,600 nits peak brightness and QHD+ resolution. It still offers a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is bright enough and easy to read even outdoors.

The phone comes with a hybrid dual speaker setup that delivers loud volume and decent bass, and the call quality is also excellent.

Gaming on the Galaxy S24+ is a similar experience to gaming on the smaller S24. All games run at maximum settings and there is no noticeable lag. What you do notice is heat. During extended gaming sessions, the phone gets a little warm. We also noticed that the phone heats up quickly when running benchmark tests.

My phone gets hot while charging or playing games.

Talking about the battery performance, the phone lasted for 19 hours and 17 minutes in the HD loop test with the screen resolution set to QHD+. High resolution screens drain the battery, but you can extend the battery life by lowering the resolution. With normal usage, the phone easily lasted more than a day. But with heavy usage, it needed to be charged at the end of the day. With a 45W+ charger and a higher rated cable, the phone takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to charge. The phone comes with a 3A rated cable that only supports 25W fast charging. We used a 125W charger for the charging tests.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S24+ features the same camera setup as the smaller Galaxy S24 we’ve already reviewed: a 50-megapixel main rear camera with OIS, a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle unit with a 120-degree FoV. For selfies, it has a 12-megapixel sensor with autofocus support.

The Galaxy S24+ can take great photos even in daylight.

To be honest, there is no difference in the photo and video performance of these two smartphones. However, compared to last year’s Galaxy S23+, there is slightly less saturation and more contrast. Ultra-wide shots are good, but the lack of autofocus results in blurry shots, especially in low light. Night shots from the main camera are good in low light. Below are some sample shots to gauge the camera performance.

Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Verdict

Before making a final decision, let’s talk about the alternatives. The OnePlus 12 (Review) is a great choice with a larger screen, slightly better camera, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, a bigger battery, and faster charging. It’s also cheaper than the Galaxy S24+. The Google Pixel 8 Pro (Review) offers better stills camera performance, added AI features, and an equal or better software experience. Again, the Pixel 8 Pro is also cheaper and has a better telephoto camera. You could also switch to the iPhone 15 Plus . It doesn’t have a telephoto camera, but it has better battery life and performance. Finally, you could try the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It has better performance, a similar display size, S Pen support, a bigger battery, and a better camera. You could probably get the phone for about the same price as the Galaxy S24+.

As mentioned at the beginning, the Galaxy Plus is often ignored by consumers because it only has a larger screen and battery compared to the smaller S. That may have been the case for the past few years, but the Galaxy S24+ changes things. It offers a better and brighter display, improved build quality, 12GB RAM as standard, and 7 years of software updates. It’s closer to the Galaxy S24 Ultra in terms of specifications, so it’s the better buy if you’re looking to save money, aren’t particularly interested in the better camera that the Ultra offers, and want a bigger display and battery.

The post Samsung Galaxy S24+ Review: Bigger is Better appeared first on Review Products.

Xiaomi’s Redmi 13C 5G offers 5G connectivity at an affordable price, but leaves out a lot.

Xiaomi’s Redmi 13C aims to offer a solid 5G experience combined with an attractive design and good battery life. Moreover, it also comes with a large display, which makes it a good choice for content consumption. The design is not only stylish but also dust- and splash-proof. Indeed, the Redmi 13C 5G seems like the perfect starter phone for those upgrading from an entry-level smartphone with a focus on battery life. Or for those buying their first smartphone after years of using a feature phone. With this criteria in mind, let’s see if the Redmi 13C 5G meets the basic smartphone requirements of such users.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Price in India

The Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G price in India starts at Rs 10,499. For this price, you get 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This is essentially the entry-level hardware for a smooth software experience and running apps. But it’s nice to have 128GB of base storage, which should be enough to meet most app requirements of smartphone buyers in this price range. The phone also comes in a more future-proof 6GB RAM model, attractively priced at Rs 11,999.

Of the three, the 6GB RAM is the best value for money as it helps with basic multitasking and storing apps in memory. Finally, there is the 8GB RAM model with 256GB storage. This model is not costly at Rs 13,999, but in this price range, you will find more attractive and competitively priced options from Samsung and other brands.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Design

The Xiaomi 13C 5G has a sleek design with straight lines and flat sides. The back panel of the phone is made from polycarbonate, as is the frame and chassis. But it feels well-built and very sturdy.

The phone has a 6.74-inch display with a waterdrop notch on top for the selfie camera. Overall it has a modern look, but when the display is on, the waterdrop notch makes it look a bit dated.

The back panel of the Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5Gs has a flat mint green appearance from a distance.

Most premium devices have such large displays, but these panels also have thin black borders. As this is a budget smartphone, the Redmi 13C 5G does not have such a border. Therefore, the large panel and thick bezels make it a bit too large to handle with one hand. It is also heavy at 192 grams, but this is not unusual considering its size.

I’m not a fan of flashy back panels, but the Startrail Green finish (which is similar to the Startrail Silver finish) is a nice understated touch. Thin lines run from side to side on the back panel, giving it an animated look. These lines animate when light hits the phone at an angle. Otherwise, the phone looks like a mostly flat, monochromatic green finish. If you don’t like animated back panels, Starlight Black is a more understated option.

If you hold it near a bright light source, you’ll see lines running from side to side.

This modern, minimalist design also offers basic water and dust resistance, although Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed these ratings on its website so they’re not official, so we wouldn’t recommend submerging this phone in water or taking it out in the rain.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Specs and Software

The Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, which is also found in some budget smartphones at a slightly higher price point. This chipset is not performance-focused. It is not made for gaming, but it is efficient when running everyday apps and offers a stable 5G connection. It also supports a number of 5G bands (both NSA and SA), dual-band Wi-Fi for a decent data connection in the home, and Bluetooth 5.3, which is more than enough to connect to TWS earphones and other accessories. There is also support for the regular GPS navigation system, so you won’t have any problems using the Maps app for navigation. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery and comes with a 10W charger in the box. It also offers microSD card storage expansion up to 1TB for those who need extra space. Finally, there is a fingerprint reader for secure biometric authentication, which worked reliably during the testing phase of this review.

The Redmi 13C 5G comes preloaded with a large number of third-party apps and games.

What really disappoints me (even at this price point) is the sheer number of pre-installed apps. Moreover, there are a lot of duplicate apps, such as two web browsers (Chrome + Opera), two gallery apps (Gallery + Photos), and two file managers (File Manager + Google Files). You can uninstall and clean up the unnecessary apps, but for a first-time smartphone user, it can be confusing and overwhelming. Add to this several daily spam notifications from apps like GetApp, Game Center, Theme Store, and more, and your software experience will be ruined.

The phone runs MIUI 14, which is based on Android 13. It feels a bit outdated for a budget phone in 2024. The software experience is typical MIUI and a bit outdated, but upcoming HyperOS updates should improve this experience.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Performance

As for software performance, it worked very smoothly and without any issues on the 8GB RAM + 256GB model, and apps even stayed in memory, but we couldn’t say the same for the 4GB base model as we weren’t able to test it.

The 6.74-inch HD+ LCD display isn’t the sharpest we’ve seen at this price point. Performance is adequate and it shows the best colors in the standard display color scheme, but we did notice a yellowish tint to the bottom half of the panel when viewing indoors.

The Redmi 13C 5G’s LCD panel has a waterdrop notch on the top and thick bezels around the display.

Since this is an LCD panel, it cannot reproduce the deep blacks that an AMOLED display can, so you might find yourself squinting at the display when viewing content in dark scenes. Surprisingly, there are phones like the Samsung Galaxy M34 5G that offer AMOLED displays at this price point.

The Redmi 13C 5G’s display is bright enough indoors, but I found it lacking outdoors, especially in direct sunlight. Content looks dim and colors look a bit washed out. If you spend most of your time outdoors or in the field (rather than in the office), this might not be the phone for you.

Aside from making software animations and transitions look smooth, the 90Hz screen refresh rate doesn’t do much else with games running mostly at medium graphics settings, and while watching movies, this refresh rate is fixed at 60Hz and rarely drops to 30Hz.

We’re pleased that the phone supports Widevine L1, which means streaming content is displayed in full HD quality, with everything appearing sharp and clear. However, the single speaker, while clear enough, wasn’t loud enough and we often found ourselves cranking the volume all the way up, which also introduced noticeable distortion.

The Redmi 13C 5G’s bottom speaker isn’t loud enough for hands-free listening.

Battery life is pretty good, thanks to the power-efficient processor, HD+ display, and large battery. The phone will easily last a day and a half, and two days with normal usage. Though Xiaomi offers 18W wired charging, you only get a 10W charger in the box, which takes a very long time to charge this phone. The charger charges to 21% in 30 minutes, reaches 40% in an hour, and is fully charged in just 2 hours and 37 minutes. So, if you’re buying this phone, make sure you add the optional 18W charger to your shopping cart.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Camera

Photos taken in sunlight with the 50MP main camera don’t have much high-resolution detail or sharpness: Objects in any scene lack definition, making everything look a bit blurry, and the HDR system doesn’t have good control over bright and dark areas, so highlights in photos were often clipped.

The phone has two rear cameras, but only one of them is available to the user.

Shooting with 2x digital zoom makes the situation even worse, as most images look like paintings. Selfies taken with the 5MP camera are only passable in terms of overall quality, with portrait mode not showing the edges of the subject in the frame very well. Shooting in low light or using the dedicated night mode makes the situation even worse, as most images are unusable.

The second camera is only used to gather depth data for the main camera when using portrait mode, but edge detection isn’t very good here either, and the same goes for the overall quality of the image. This means that despite having dual cameras and a selfie camera, you can only really use one selfie camera and one rear camera.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G camera samples: Top: Main camera in daylight, Bottom: Main camera in low light (tap image to enlarge)

The Redmi 13C 5G can record videos at up to 1080p 30fps. The quality of these videos is about average, with decent dynamic range and saturated colors. There’s little detail, and the frame rate is choppy and there’s no stabilization, making panning look quite shaky.

Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: Verdict

In fact, Xiaomi has cut some costs with the Redmi 13C 5G, bringing 5G connectivity (often referred to as the “5G tax”) to a price of under Rs 11,000, which includes an extremely bloated and spammy software experience, poor camera performance (for a budget phone) and painfully slow charging.

At the same time, it ticks some boxes when it comes to style, content streaming (clearer video), battery life, and a smooth (but outdated) software experience. But it’s very hard to recommend it, especially when you consider the existence of phones like the Motorola Moto G34, which offers a smoother display, a cleaner software interface (updated to Android 14), stereo sound, and faster charging. That’s if you can ignore the average camera performance.

If you’re looking for better value and don’t mind spending Rs 13,999, the Samsung Galaxy M34 5G is a strong contender, with a much better and higher-resolution Full HD+ 120Hz AMOLED panel, updated software with OneUI 6.0 (Android 14), better camera options, and a 6,000mAh battery.

The post Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G Review: 5G on a Budget appeared first on Review Products.

The price of this phone in India starts at Rs 13,999.

As per schedule, Motorola launched a new G-series smartphone last month to enter the premium budget segment. I am talking about the Moto G64 5G, the successor to last year’s Moto G54. The new smartphone is the world’s first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC , but the design has barely changed and is only a marginal improvement over its predecessor.

Here are my thoughts on the Moto G64 5G after using the phone thoroughly for about two weeks: If you’re considering this as your next budget phone purchase, make sure you read this review.

Moto G64 5G Price in India

First, a quick word on pricing: The Moto G64 5G is currently available in India for Rs 13,999 for the 8GB + 128GB storage model and Rs 15,999 for the 12GB + 256GB model. Our review unit comes with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage.

The Moto G64 5G comes in three color options: Ice Lilac, Mint Green, and Pearl Blue. I received the Mint Green model.

The Moto G64 5G also comes with a case.

Motorola continues to be mindful of environmental issues and ships the Moto G64 in a plastic-free box, but inside the box is a plastic/silicone case. Besides the case, the box also contains the usual paperwork, a SIM ejector tool, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, and a 33W fast charging adapter.

Moto G64 5G Review: Design

As mentioned at the beginning, the new Moto G64 5G doesn’t have any major design changes compared to the Moto G54 5G. The only difference is that this year, the black color option is gone, with Motorola taking a colorful turn. The phone has a plastic frame with the power and volume buttons on the right edge, the SIM tray on the left edge, and a microphone on the top. The bottom frame houses the 3.5mm headphone port, USB Type-C port, second microphone, and speaker.

The plastic back panel has a glossy finish that reveals a pattern when light hits it. The top left corner of the back has the familiar rectangular camera module, which protrudes and causes the phone to wobble when laid flat on its back. The front now has a Gorilla Glass panel to protect the display, but there are still thick bezels all around, especially at the bottom. There’s a hole at the top to house the front camera.

The phone features hybrid dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

Overall, the Moto G64 5G feels similar to last year’s phone. It weighs 192g and is 8.9mm thick, roughly the same as the Moto G54. The phone is IP52 rated for dust and water resistance, but we don’t recommend exposing the phone to water or rain.

Moto G64 5G Review: Specs and Software

The Moto G64 5G is equipped with the world’s first MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC, a slight improvement over last year’s model. The chipset is paired with an IMG BXM-8-256 GPU, up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage that’s expandable via microSD card.

In terms of connectivity, the Moto G64 supports 14 5G bands with three carrier aggregation, dual SIM support with a hybrid SIM tray, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, GPS, A-GPS, LTEPP, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, NFC support, a 3.5mm headphone port, FM radio, and a USB Type-C (USB 2.0) port.

The Moto G64 5G comes with some bloatware, but you can uninstall it.

The phone comes with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner housed within the power/wake button, it’s a capacitive sensor and it worked flawlessly during the review period – we found it to be flawless and fast.

Like last year’s Moto G54 5G, the new phone comes with a 6,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.

Talking about the software, the Moto G64 5G comes with Android 14 based My UX. You get the latest software, but Motorola will only provide the Android 15 update on the phone. However, it will provide three years of security updates. In terms of features, the phone comes with Motorola features like Family Space 2.0, Moto Secure, Game Mode, and several Moto apps. You also get a lot of bloatware in the form of pre-installed apps, GamesHub, entertainment, and shopping apps. Luckily, most of the bloatware on the phone can be uninstalled.

Moto G64 5G Review: Performance

The Moto G64 5G is equipped with a slightly better MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC compared to its predecessor the Dimensity 7020. Motorola claims the phone has achieved a score of 500k+ on AnTuTu and in my testing it scored 4,94,364 points. On Geekbench, the phone scored 1012 points in the single-core CPU test and 2403 points in the multi-core test. Overall, the phone performed reasonably well in day-to-day usage and I hardly encountered any lag or stuttering while doing app launches, system animations etc. This is also thanks to the screen.

This Phone Supports Widevine L1

Motorola has equipped the G64 with a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display. The panel offers up to 120Hz refresh rate, Full HD+ resolution, 240Hz sampling rate, and HDR10 support. In terms of brightness, the display is rated at 560 nits peak brightness , which isn’t very high. Indoors, the display is bright enough without using maximum brightness, but outdoors it’s hard to read. The display has Natural and Saturated color modes and has good viewing angles, although colors appear washed out at certain angles.

The Moto G64 5G has a hybrid dual-speaker setup, with the earpiece acting as the second speaker. Audio quality is adequate, but it lacks bass and isn’t very loud. Call quality, on the other hand, is excellent. The phone has two microphones.

You can play most games and your phone won’t heat up too much.

Can I play graphic intensive games on the Moto G64 5G? Definitely, but not at full settings. I was able to play Asphalt 9 at very high graphics, but it gave me a warning that this mode is not supported on the phone. Casual games are fine though, I can play BGMI and Call of Duty at medium settings too.

In terms of heat management, Motorola has done a good job: the phone didn’t heat up while gaming, using apps like the camera, or even while charging.

The phone has a large 6,000mAh battery that can easily last for two days with normal usage. In our HD video loop test, the phone delivered about 16 hours of screen-on time. Even with heavy usage, the Moto G64 5G can last for about a day and a half. Despite supporting 33W fast charging, charging is slow. It took about an hour and 50 minutes to fully charge the battery from 0%.

Moto G64 5G Review: Camera

Now, let’s talk about the camera. The Moto G64 5G has a dual rear camera with a 50-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, quad pixel binning, and optical image stabilization. It also has an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with autofocus, macro mode, and a 118-degree field of view. For selfies, it has a 16-megapixel sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The phone has an easy-to-use camera app with several modes, including Pro and Night modes.

The 50MP main rear camera takes good photos even in daylight.

The main rear camera’s image quality is good in daylight. The colors are a bit oversaturated and you lose detail when you zoom in. The ultra-wide camera also takes good photos in good light, but there is inconsistency in the colors between the main and ultra-wide cameras. You’ll also notice less detail in the photos. The phone offers 2x digital zoom, which is basically a crop of the main sensor, and produces good images when the sun is out. The selfie camera also takes good images in daylight, but it’s not the sharpest and can be blurry at times.

In low light, enabling Night Mode on the main camera takes decent photos. Without Night Mode, photos are washed out with lots of noise and artifacts. The same goes for the ultra-wide camera, where even photos taken in Night Mode aren’t that great. Check out the samples below.

Video performance in sunlight is not bad, but not great either. Colors look oversaturated, panning is not smooth, and stabilization is also so-so. The phone can only shoot in 1080p resolution with a maximum frame rate of 60fps. Videos in low light lack detail and are noisy.

Moto G64 5G Review: Verdict

The Moto G64 5G has a lot of competition in this segment. The recently launched Realme P1 (Review) has a more powerful processor but only 8GB of RAM, no ultra-wide camera and a tiny 5,000mAh battery. There’s also the Redmi Note 13, Vivo T3x and Samsung Galaxy A15, all of which are around the same price but inferior in most ways to the Moto G64 5G. The Vivo T3x has a better processor and the same size battery, but falls behind in other key areas like camera and RAM.

If you’re looking for a budget phone with great battery life, a great display, and a decent camera, the Moto G64 5G is a great choice. You might not get the best gaming performance on this phone, but you can still play all your favorite games with lower graphics settings. Motorola has only slightly improved the specs on the Moto G64 5G, but it’s still an easy phone to recommend.

The post Moto G64 5G Review: Just Better Specs appeared first on Review Products.

HP Envy Move all-in-one desktop with Intel Core i5 processor.

When it comes to portable computing, everyone has their own preferences. For some, an 11-inch laptop might be the perfect size for carrying around, while for others, a laptop with an 18-inch display might be fine.

But what about a full desktop computer?

This year, HP has combined the best of both worlds, aiming to achieve the practicality of an all-in-one (AIO) computer and a laptop. It’s called the HP Envy Move All-in-One Portable Desktop PC, and it’s packed with interesting hardware choices and software features. This unique device, which can be described as an all-in-one (AIO), is designed for a specific group of users who want the power and ease of use of a desktop PC, but also the flexibility of portability. Traditional all-in-one PCs are compact, but they are still stationary and require a constant power connection. The Envy Move aims to change this by using a built-in battery and a simple solution that allows you to take it wherever you need it. But with laptops with foldable and dual displays already on the market, does a portable AIO PC make sense? Read on to find out more.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Price in India

is available in India in a single model in Shell White colour for Rs 1,24,999 . This model is powered by a 13th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with Intel UHD Graphics. It has 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe NVMe M.2 storage. The retail package includes the HP Envy Move, a 90W adapter, and a wireless Bluetooth keyboard with integrated touchpad.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Review: Design and Display

The HP Envy Move has a dual-tone design with textured polycarbonate and mesh fabric for the chassis. At the front, the speaker system is hidden under the mesh with a chrome HP logo. At the back of the desktop, there is a large HP logo engraved in chrome. Above it, there is a handle to lift the computer. The handle also has the same color scheme, but the hinge is made of leather, giving it a premium feel. On the right side of the desktop, there is the power port, HDMI 1.4b port, brightness adjustment button, and power key. On the left side, there is a USB Type-C port (10Gbps), a USB Type-A port (10Gbps), and volume controls. At the top, there is also a privacy shutter for the webcam. The entire machine weighs 4.1kg, which may not seem that heavy for a desktop machine, but it is quite heavy by laptop standards. During testing, we felt it was quite heavy to lift it by the handle.

When not in storage or transport, the HP Envy Move uses rotating kickstand legs that stay in place only when placed on a table. These legs are also made of polycarbonate, so the desktop feels stable and doesn’t wobble when placed on a table. This is a good thing, as HP expects users to move this 4kg PC around the house while exercising or when the kids are using it.

Talking about the display, the HP Envy Move comes with a 23.8-inch QHD touchscreen IPS panel with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. HP claims a peak brightness of 300 nits, but we found it quite low when using it in a bright room.

HP Envy Move Display HP Envy Move Display – Equipped with a touchscreen display

The screen becomes hard to read when a light source is pointing at it. I noticed this mainly while photographing the product for this review. The touchscreen is responsive and I had no issues with that, but the resolution feels a bit low considering the size of the display. Since the Envy Move is targeted at people who want an entertainment machine, I watched a few movies on the device and the color saturation levels were quite disappointing and the clarity was a bit low as well. The QHD display is fine for work and app usage, but when it comes to entertainment, it doesn’t quite hit the sweet spot as a sharper display would be nice.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Review: Keyboard, Speakers, Touchpad, Camera

The keyboard used has a built-in trackpad, which may be a bit awkward to use for users who buy a desktop and expect to use a mouse rather than a trackpad, but the trackpad is responsive, the keys are tactile, and it makes for a compact setup to carry from room to room.

The HP Envy Move is equipped with a 5W dual speaker system co-tuned with Bang and Olufsen. The audio quality is adequate for watching movies and listening to music, but don’t expect thumping bass when watching action movies or bass-heavy music.

HP Envy Move Speaker System HP Envy Move Speaker System

The speaker system is hidden under a mesh material.

As for the camera, the HP Envy Move uses a 5-megapixel webcam that supports Windows Hello and can also be used to take pictures. It uses some AI to reduce noise during video calls, but the video is still not clear enough. The camera is supported by dual microphones for better audio reception.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Review: Specs and Software

The HP Envy Move doesn’t offer much customization when it comes to core specs. The all-in-one desktop only comes with a 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD and 16GB LPDDR RAM (soldered in), with no upgrades beyond these. For the processor, the HP Envy Move comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 1335U with Intel UHD Graphics, again with no upgrades. This may be a bit limiting for end users, but seems fine for a basic home PC with a focus on multimedia and entertainment. The desktop runs off a power cord, but it does have a 6-cell 83Wh Li-ion battery that can be charged using a 90W adapter.

HP Envy Move Webcam HP Envy Move Webcam

Equipped with a physical switch that allows you to block the webcam at will.

The all-in-one can charge to 50 percent in 45 minutes, which is roughly in line with my testing results. In terms of wireless connectivity, the HP Envy Move comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Review: Performance and Gaming

This all-in-one can easily handle most productivity apps like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro for 1080p editing without much GFX. It does overheat while rendering and the fans are quite loud. As for benchmarks, we ran Geekbench and got a score of 1,602 for single-core and 3,975 for multi-core. This all-in-one does not support Cinebench R23. Although the HP Envy Move is not meant for gaming, we tried a few games. The performance was not very good. Forza Horizon 5 ran fine at around 60FPS at optimal settings, but as soon as we increased the settings, the frames dropped significantly. Casual games can run fine, but graphics-intensive games will struggle on this machine, so it is not ideal as a gaming machine.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Review: Battery Life

Although the HP Envy Move can run off a power cord, the built-in battery is especially useful during a power outage or when you need to move your desktop to another location without losing the current state of your PC. Despite the battery being the secondary power source on this machine, it can run for around four hours, which is very impressive.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Desktop Review: Verdict

Simply put, the HP Envy Move is better suited to home use than the office, and it has a battery backup so you can use it as a secondary display if you need to, which in theory makes it great for continuing to work or watch entertainment as you move from room to room.

The price of Rs 124,999 is a bit too high considering the hardware offered, and the heavy weight of 4kg is also an unavoidable fact. For entertainment on the go, a larger (but compact) tablet (Android or iPad) would be a better choice. As well as being much lighter, these are also cheaper and more power efficient, so will last much longer. If you need a compact work PC, there are larger laptops available too, such as Asus’ Zenbook Duo, which has a foldable display that is 19 inches wide (or tall), but is a bit more expensive (starting at Rs 159,990).

The HP Envy Move is still great if you want a compact all-in-one PC that you can carry around your house occasionally, as it’s not as lightweight as a laptop. It’s not a laptop replacement , and it’s certainly not a tablet replacement, meaning it will appeal to a very niche demographic, one that finds it the perfect sweet spot for work and productivity rather than entertainment.

HP Envy Move All-in-One Portable Desktop PC

• Price: Rs 1,24,999

Pros:

• Rugged construction
• The on-board battery is a nice addition
• The speaker system provides excellent sound output

Cons:

• The display could be brighter and not adjusted enough
• Not suitable for heavy-duty applications
• Basic Graphics Performance

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The Redmi Buds 5A comes with a traditional in-ear design and is available in three different ear tip size options.

The Redmi Buds 5A were launched in India alongside the Redmi Pad SE at Xiaomi’s “Smarter Living & More” launch event in April this year. The audio wearable comes with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Google Fast Pair support, an IPX4 rating, and a companion app. These truly wireless earbuds (TWS) are the cheapest wireless audio product the company has offered in India so far. After using them for about two weeks, I’ll tell you why this is a good choice if you’re on a budget and looking for an ANC TWS.

Redmi Buds 5A review: Design and Features

The Redmi Buds 5A features a traditional in-ear design and comes with three different ear tip size options. Inside the box, you get a pair of medium sized tips attached to the earbuds, as well as two pairs of silicone tips, small and large. Of these ear tips, the largest one fit me best. However, there is no charging cable included in the box. The only other item in the box is information/instructions.

Redmi Buds 5A Supports Google Fast Pair

The charging port is located at the bottom of the stem of the Redmi Buds 5A earphones, which does not come into direct contact with the skin, so there is no need to worry about metal allergies. The touch control area is located at the top of the stem.

The sleek and slim Redmi Buds 5A charging case has a “polished pebble” design, according to the company. Of course, it’s hard to mistake the oval case for cobblestones on a lakeside, but it’s small enough to stand up to the comparison, making it a convenient accessory to carry around. What makes it convenient to carry around is the weight, which is about 41.2g including two earbuds and the charging case. Each earbud weighs about 3.6g.

The Redmi Buds 5A charging case has a USB Type-C port at the bottom. A white light will be on next to the port when the case is charging and will turn off when fully charged. This light will also be on when the earbuds are powered on, i.e. when the case is open. When powered on, the earbuds will have two identical indicator white lights on the top.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Apps and Specs

The Redmi Buds 5A comes with support for the Xiaomi Earbuds application, but the control features are few and far between. Once you connect the earbuds to your smartphone, you’ll be prompted to download the app. Once the app has been successfully installed and the earbuds are recognised, you’ll see a very simple and straightforward layout. Under the image of the earbuds in their case, the battery level for the left and right earbuds is displayed separately, as well as the battery level for the charging case. This last option disappears as soon as you close the case after taking out the individual earbuds.

Controls for the Redmi Buds 5A as seen in the Xiaomi Earbuds Android App

One of the controls the application offers is the ability to select the ANC mode (Transparent, Noise Cancellation, ANC Off). Once selected, the particular mode will be marked in blue. Just below the ANC controls is the “Additional Settings” option, which reveals a tab with three more features: At the bottom of the screen is the “Remove Earbuds” option, which allows users to remove the controls for the Redmi Buds 5A earbuds from the app.

There is also a “Rename Earbuds” option, which allows you to change the name of your TWS earbuds as it is recognized by connected devices. The third option is a toggle to turn on/off the “Low Latency” mode. The low latency mode is said to provide users with a smoother gaming and video watching experience, but we’ll discuss its effectiveness later.

However, the ANC and latency modes on the Redmi Buds 5A are accessible through simple touch controls, so the app isn’t important to me – some people may find it easier to control these features through the app, so it’s not completely redundant.

The Redmi Buds 5A features 12mm dynamic drivers, up to 25dB ANC, IPX4 rating for splash-proof earbuds, AI-assisted Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC), support for Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity. The earbuds only support the SBC codec and in this review, we will discuss how it impacts the user’s hearing experience.

The Redmi Buds 5A is said to offer up to 30 hours of battery life.

Redmi Buds 5A Review: Performance and Battery Life

Budget ANC-enabled TWS earphones are known for convenience. In a nutshell, that’s what Redmi Buds 5A offers. ANC for under Rs 1,500. Easy to carry and lasts all day. They’re made for casual use and convenience, and in these categories, they live up to expectations. Perfect when you want to drown out traffic noise or light noises and immerse yourself in your favorite podcast or music.

Touch controls on the Redmi Buds 5A are straightforward: double tap to play/pause or answer a call, triple tap to reject/end a call or change tracks. Users can switch between ANC modes by pressing and holding each for two seconds, while changing latency modes requires long pressing the touch zone on both earbuds simultaneously for 1.5 seconds. The lack of single-tap controls reduces the chance of accidentally entering commands when adjusting the fit of the earbuds or for long hair.

Considering the price, I don’t expect any soaring in terms of sound quality. When I played Stealers Wheel’s Stuck in the Middle With You on the Redmi Buds 5A, I didn’t expect to hear the details of the arrangement. I didn’t. It was what I expected. The bass-heavy sound still provided a good enough experience to enjoy the song. However, if you turn up the volume to 60-70 percent, it sounds muffled. Hozier’s Too Sweet, with more guitar and piano, at 50 percent, offers the same hidden overture. If you like the “lo-fi, Hozier playing in another room while you study” vibe, you’re in luck.

But at 70 to 80 percent volume, most tracks start to distort noticeably — not ideal, but not catastrophic.

Take the Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon,” for example, and the slightly muffled bass sound does little to drown out Ray Davies’ lament about unfair tax rates. It even makes songs like Fall Out Boy’s “Immortals” and Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” feel lighter and more fun than the honking and screeching of city traffic.

The Redmi Buds 5A only supports the SBC Bluetooth codec, which compromises sound quality a bit. It provides a stable connection but degrades sound processing. It also doesn’t support the AAC codec, which is preferred by most iOS smartphones and tablets.

Even with 60ms latency, I still felt a fair amount of lag on the Redmi Buds 5A in games like Battlegrounds Mobile India, which is not unexpected – even with the low latency mode switched on it didn’t make much of a difference, however the latency was not noticeable during online or offline video playback, proving once again that it’s best suited only for casual use.

Redmi Buds 5A does not come with a charging cable

With ANC off, the Redmi Buds 5A earbuds are said to offer up to five hours of battery life on a single charge and up to 30 hours of total playback time with the storage case. With just the earbuds, ANC off and at 50 percent volume, I was able to listen for around five hours. For reference, that’s the first four episodes of Heeramandi, or four and a half episodes of The 8 Show.

However, turning on ANC drains the Redmi Buds 5A’s battery significantly faster. Using just the earbuds with ANC on only got me about three hours of use, even with the volume set to 50%. A 10-minute quick charge gave me another hour or so of use out of the earbuds at a similar volume and noise cancellation setting.

The Redmi Buds 5A charging case houses a 4.40mAh battery, while each earbud has a 34mAh battery. It takes about an hour and a half to fully charge the case using a 67W Redmi adapter and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable. It takes about 45 minutes to charge the earbuds from 0 to 100 in the case.

Finally, on the subject of phone calls. The AI-powered ENC on the Redmi Buds 5A does a good job of suppressing alleyway noise in residential areas, but not on busy roadsides. When you use these earbuds for calls, the microphone is as clear as the surrounding sounds. If you hate the idea of yelling your completely wrong ETA to your punctual and impatient friends in public, avoid using these earbuds for calls. Instead, get hands-on with your phone. But with a stable connection, the voice you hear on the other end of a call using these TWS wearables is clear enough, if characteristically muffled.

The charging point for the Redmi Buds 5A is located at the bottom of the stem.

Redmi Buds 5A: Verdict

If you are on a very tight budget and looking for a pair of ANC-enabled TWS earphones, then the Redmi Buds 5A at Rs 1,499 is a good choice. At this price, these earphones are perfect for everyday use. They don’t promise anything that they can’t deliver on. There is a clear lack of sound detail compared to mid-range TWS products or those with higher specs. But the power and bass these earphones offer make them worth the price. The lack of a charging cable in the box is not something to be concerned about as you can easily charge them using any old USB Type-C cable. Even a 60ms delay is barely noticeable if you’re not using them primarily for heavy mobile gaming.

However, if you have a bit more room in your budget, you could consider the Noise Buds Venus TWS Earphones (Review), which are currently priced at Rs 1,699 in India and offer slightly better noise cancellation, lower latency, and longer battery life. For Rs 400 more than the Redmi Buds 5A, you can also get the Honor Choice Earbuds X5 TWS Earphones (Review), which were launched in India earlier this year and are IP54-rated for dust and water resistance, as well as equalizer controls in the accompanying app.

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Nothing Ear and Ear (a) come with ChatGPT integration, but is it worth it? Here’s our review.

Nothing has come a long way since the early days of the Ear 1. In a very short space of time, the company has churned out some decent products, starting with TWS and moving on to phones and wireless audio products. 2024 is already looking exciting for Nothing, and I recently got my hands on the Nothing Ear and Nothing Ear (a), a brand new set of TWS from Carl Pei’s London-based venture. Of note, Nothing’s third-generation TWS has been launched, showing no signs of iteration whatsoever. This is confusing and interesting at the same time. For me, who has been following Nothing closely since its early days , it’s confusing because their naming convention has always not been very good. However, by the second generation, I and other users had pretty much got the hang of it, but the third generation saw the company do away with it altogether. The Nothing Ear is the successor to the Ear 2, which was launched last year. The bonus here is the Nothing Ear (a), a new affordable TWS offering from the company that features a signature transparent design packed with features.

Pricing is Rs 11,999 for the Nothing Ear and Rs 7,999 for the Ear (a), the company’s new sub-Rs 10,000 offering in its TWS lineup, and I’ve been using both the products for calls, conferencing, streaming and music to see if they’re worth it.

Blank ear to ear(a): Design and function

Both the Ear and Ear (a) feature Nothing’s signature transparent design, which makes them eye-catching even after all these years. The best part is that the Ear still stands out thanks to its transparent design. Case in point, people around us asked us about the design multiple times during the review. But what confused us the most was that we couldn’t tell the Ear from Ear 2 (review) when we placed them on the table. Indeed, they are exactly the same if you don’t look closely. As you would expect from Carl Pei’s ventures, there is a lot of attention paid to the small details, from the printed branding to other elements of the Ear.

 Though the company claims that the Ear’s case is pressure-resistant and scratch-resistant, our review unit did get scratched during daily use, which is the biggest weakness of Nothing Audio’s transparent designs. The Ear is available in white and black color options.

Like previous generation TWS, Ear also supports gesture control. For example, pinch once to play or pause a song or answer or end a call, pinch twice to skip forward or reject a call, and pinch three times to go back to the previous song. Pinch and hold to switch between ANC and transparency modes. The best thing about Ear is that you can tune the gesture control to your liking using the accompanying app. The Ear case is lightweight at less than 52 grams , and each earbud weighs less than 5 grams.

The Ear’s high-quality Bluetooth codec support has an impressive list, including AAC, SBC, LHDC 5.0, and LDAC. However, iPhones (and some Android devices) still support the AAC (and SBC) codec, which meant that higher bitrate streaming wasn’t possible, so we had to test the Ear with an Android phone. For the uninitiated, LHDC offers the best streaming quality at up to 1Mbps 24bit / 192KHz, while LDAC offers a lower data rate of up to 990kbps (24bit/ 96KHz). Most Android devices support LDAC, though.

Talking about the upgrades of Nothing Ear, the body is now IP54 rated and the case is now IP55 rated for water and dust resistance. Other features include in-ear detection, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, dual connectivity, Clear Voice technology with three microphones per earbud, LED charging status, support for low latency mode, and more.

Meanwhile, Nothing Ear (a) is an all-new TWS priced under Rs 10,000 that also features an eye-catching and distinctive transparent design. The Ear (a) comes in three colors – yellow in addition to the usual black and white – marking the first time that Nothing’s audio products have a color other than black and white. The company shipped the yellow model for review and it’s definitely turning heads. As mentioned above, the Ear (a) is the bumblebee of TWS products. During the review, the Ear (a) received more inquiries due to its unique color choice compared to the Ear.

of the Ear (a ), which is slimmer and more compact than all Ear products released so far . Compared to the Ear, the Ear (a) has a clearer orientation and the opening of the case is easily identifiable. Like other Nothing products, the Ear (a) also pays close attention to details, such as the Ear’s metal hinges visible through the plastic transparent case.

The Nothing Ear (a)’s charging case doesn’t seem as sturdy as the Nothing Ear’s, which isn’t surprising, but while the yellow color does a good job of hiding scratches, the clear top case cover isn’t scratch-proof.

The feature set of the Ear (a) remains the same, including active noise cancellation up to 45dB. It also has an adaptive ANC algorithm, IP54 water and dust rating on the earbuds, and IPX2 on the charging case. It supports AAC, SBC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs. The company has dropped support for the LHDC audio codec, opting to offer it on the more expensive Ear, which is not a wrong decision considering the pricing of the Ear (a).

Pinch controls to skip tracks, toggle noise-cancelling modes, and adjust the volume are also supported, and the best part is that all of this can be customized through the Nothing X app.

Nothing’s companion app for audio products, X, is one of the best TWS apps I’ve reviewed in recent years. It’s feature-rich and puts you in control of precisely how you like your music experience. The feature set includes Advanced EQ with Profile Sharing, Bass Enhance, Control Customization, Find My Buds, Personal Sound Profiles, and Ear Tip Fit Test.

Nosing ear: Specifications

• Drivers: 11mm dynamic drivers
• Diaphragm: Ceramic
• Supported codecs: AAC, SBC, LHDC 5.0, LDAC
• ANC: Up to 45dB and Transparent Mode
• Weight: 4.62 grams (each bud), 51.9 grams (case)
• Battery: 46mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (case)
• Fast charging: yes (10 minutes of charging with ANC off gives 10 hours of charge)
• Companion App: Nothing X
• Bluetooth: Version 5.3
• Waterproof and dustproof: Earphones are IP54 and case is IP55 waterproof and dustproof
• Gesture control: Yes

Blank ear(a): Specification

• Drivers: 11mm dynamic drivers
• Diaphragm: PMI + TPU
• Supported codecs: AAC, SBC, LDAC
• ANC: Up to 45dB and Transparent Mode
• Weight: 4.8 grams (each bud), 39.6 grams (case)
• Battery: 46mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (case)
• Fast charging: yes (10 minutes of charging with ANC off gives 10 hours of charge)
• Companion App: Nothing X
• Bluetooth: Version 5.3
• Waterproof and dustproof: IP54 earphones and IPX2 case waterproof and dustproof
• Gesture control: Yes

Nothing but ear to ear (a) performance and battery life

Like the design of the Ear, most of the features are carried over from the previous model Ear (2), which is fine. Starting with gesture control, the Ear supports a lot of pinch controls that work perfectly. However, there was a slight delay in switching between ANC and transparency mode with pinch-and-hold gestures. Also, Nothing X is pretty much the same since Nothing Ear, which means Nothing has not changed the Nothing Ear app interface at all.

Useful features like In-Ear Detection, Low Latency Mode, High Quality Audio, Personal Sound Profile, Dual Connect, Eartip Fit Test, Find Earbuds, Firmware Update options are hidden under device settings. Hopefully Nothing can find a way to at least put the sound profiles somewhere accessible with a single tap. Personal Sound Profile is not available when LDAC mode is on, which defeats the purpose of creating custom profiles in TWS.

We’ve been seeing the same Nothing X app since the Ear (1) and there aren’t many changes between the Ear (Stick) and Ear (2). This is also the case with Nothing Ear, which is technically the fourth generation TWS product from the London-based company. However, this time around, a Bass Enhance feature has been added, which dynamically improves the impression of low frequencies in real time. The level can be chosen according to preference. For me, level 3 of Bass Enhance was perfect for all kinds of music. Then there are the other customization options we saw earlier on the Ear (2).

When it comes to actual audio performance, the Nothing Ear is near perfect. Simply put, it improves on the already decent Nothing Ear (2). When I listened to The Wilderness’ album “Explosions in the Sky,” I noticed the balance that the Ear TWS offered. The album’s tracks cover a good amount of frequency range to give me a good idea of how good the TWS’s sound quality is. Next, Grimes’ track Oblivion offered enough dynamic range to see how small and large dynamics are handled by the Nothing Ear, and it did not disappoint. I then moved on to a gritty electronic track, and there is no better choice than Pray for Me from Marvel’s Black Panther soundtrack. It has perfect bass, treble, dual vocals, and excellent treble, allowing me to test how well the TWS can handle all of this. Interestingly, the Nothing Ear handled all of this comfortably.

The company has upgraded the 11mm dynamic driver to use a ceramic diaphragm. Compared to the Ear (2), the highs and mids have been improved, and the bass is deeper. After using the Ear for a few hours, one thing is clear: the new TWS is ideal for bass lovers. However, the bass-heavy default settings didn’t suit me, so I’m enjoying customizing it to my liking. The ANC has also been slightly improved compared to the Ear (2).

The AirPods Pro (2nd gen) remain the benchmark for ANC, but it’s also worth noting that the AirPods Pro (2nd gen) are nearly twice the price.

A minor issue I faced was that the sound quality changed depending on the ANC mode. The company defines three noise cancellation modes depending on the actual scenario: High is “Subway/Plane”, Medium is “City/Cafe”, and Low is “Office/Indoor”. Nothing Ear provides good sound quality during calls for both the caller and the recipient. It also has an ear tip fit test that checks the amount of sound leakage detected and recommends the best fitting size.

There has also been an improvement in the battery department. The Earbuds can play music for up to 5 hours with ANC on, which increases slightly to 6 hours with ANC off . Using the charging case extends the battery life by a little over 4 hours. With the charging case and ANC, the battery life is supposed to be up to 24 hours, but in our hands, it lasted for 20 hours, which is great. They also support wireless charging up to 2.5W, which is a bonus. TWS also supports fast charging.

The Ear (a) falls a little behind the Ear when it comes to performance credentials. It offers a decent sound output for the price. Like other Nothing audio products, the Ear (a) is a little bassier out of the box, and even with the new Bass Enhancement feature, you can dynamically improve the impression of low frequencies in real time. You can play around with the sound settings in the Nothing X app. From songs by Imagine Dragons to AR Rahman, the Ear (a) handles everything comfortably and with ease. The ANC is excellent, softening the surrounding sounds while commuting on the subway or walking through a busy street. The best thing about the Ear (a) is the comfortable fit, which doesn’t tire you out even after long hours of wearing it. I used the Ear (a) at the airport and on the plane, and even though my commute was over 6 hours in total, I never got annoyed using the TWS.

Another area where the Ear (a) excels is call quality. Thanks to Nothing’s Clear Voice technology, voice during calls is crisp and clear. The TWS gets high marks for features like dual connectivity and low latency mode that make gaming sessions more enjoyable. It would have been nice if Nothing had added support for the LHDC codec to make this product more versatile. There’s also no wireless charging or personal sound profiles, but given the price, these absences aren’t surprising.

The company claims up to 5.5 hours of battery life with just the earbuds and up to 24.5 hours with the case, both with ANC on. In our review, we used the earbuds for 4 hours straight and still had 30% battery left. Of course, using the charging case will improve the overall output. Plus, there’s quick charge support that provides up to 10 hours of battery life with just 10 minutes of charging.

ChatGPT integration in Nothing Ear and Ear (a)

ChatGPT from OpenAI needs no introduction, and Nothing’s announcement of the integration that all audio products have access to is a masterpiece. Luckily, I had access to the ChatGPT integration while writing this review. Thanks to this integration, all I can say is that ChatGPT is finally wireless. I was able to test the integration on my Nothing Ear and Ear (a). There is one big limitation, however: you need a Nothing Phone. Once your Nothing Phone and X App are updated to the latest firmware , you can install the ChatGPT app and sign in. Once all this is done, open the Nothing X App and you will be prompted to activate the ChatGPT integration.

To use ChatGPT wirelessly with Nothing TWS, pinch and hold the stem and you can ask ChatGPT anything that comes to mind. ChatGPT does not have access to location, so queries like “Take me home” or “Suggest a good place to eat” will not return any results until you add location to the voice prompt. For example, you need to say “Suggest a good restaurant for lunch around CP New Delhi” . This will return a large number of results. Compared to Google Assistant, ChatGPT is not yet up to date , so questions like “Which constituency will I vote in today for the 2024 general elections” returned very general answers. Of course, there is a lot of work to be done. Compared to many rivals, Nothing’s new TWS option offers a new experience, which to me is a great attempt to offer a unique suggestion. However, it is too early to compare ChatGPT with Google Assistant on TWS.

Ear to Ear(a): Verdict

Nothing has done a great job with its TWS portfolio, and the Ear is arguably the company’s best product to date. What Nothing is doing now is what Apple has been doing for years – essentially the same design, but with upgraded internals, be it their smartphones or the AirPods series. In the case of the Nothing Ear, the eye-catching transparent signature design helps. There are a lot of improvements internally (compared to the Ear 2), including ANC, sound, and battery life. At this price, the Nothing Ear ticks all the boxes and is future-proofed with ChatGPT integration.

The Nothing Ear (a) is a new affordable TWS from Nothing that comes with an amazing package. The distinctive transparent design is still rare on the market and is better than other TWS options in the same price range. The audio quality is great for the price, and the call quality is also excellent. The battery life is also decent. There are some drawbacks, such as the glossy charging is prone to scratches, no support for LHDC, and no wireless charging. If you are looking for the perfect TWS package, the Nothing Ear (a) offers great value for money.

If you’re looking for an option around the Rs 10,000 mark, the Sony WF-C700N (Review) are good choices alongside the Galaxy Buds FE. There’s also the OnePlus Buds 3 (Review) in this price range.

The post Nothing Ear and Ear (a) Review: Sleek, Impressive, Great Value appeared first on Review Products.

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is priced at Rs 5,999.

Amazon introduced the first Fire TV Stick in India in 2017. At the time, smart TVs were expensive, few brands manufactured them and the adoption of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms was relatively low. In such a market, a streaming device that could be plugged into any TV with an HDMI port to access streaming apps as well as games was a compelling proposition.

However, things have changed a lot in 2024. On the one hand, the number of OTT platforms has increased significantly, offering a wide range of exclusive content. On the other hand, smart TVs have become relatively cheaper, with many new brands entering the market and making it more accessible to the masses. According to the report “India Internet Report 2023” conducted by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar, a massive 707 million users are on OTT platforms in India. The total number of streaming platforms has also increased to 57, according to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

This situation would seem to make third-party streaming devices less useful, but then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K made its debut. Priced at Rs 5,999, it supports 4K resolution content (2160p) as well as HDR10+, Dolby Vision, etc. It also offers the entire Amazon Appstore library with over 12,000 apps.

Over the past two weeks, I have been using this streaming device to find out if what it has to offer is good enough in this era when it is competing not only with other streaming devices but also with the growing number of smart TVs that offer the same experience integrated into the television.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Design and Remote Control

The basic design of the original Fire TV Stick hasn’t seen many upgrades over the years, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K continues that tradition. It’s a matte black rectangular device (now with curved edges) with the Fire TV logo on top and an HDMI port on the front. If you can’t easily plug in the HDMI port, an HDMI extender gives you more flexibility.

New Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Remote

There is a Micro-USB port on the side for power. Depending on your TV, you may be able to power the device using the USB port if it provides enough power. My TV couldn’t do that, so the charger that came in the box came in handy and allowed me to power it by plugging it into a power outlet.

The remote control has also been slightly improved over the previous Fire Stick 4K released in 2019. It now has dedicated app buttons for Prime Video, Netflix, and Amazon Music. A fourth button gives you direct access to installed apps. A Live TV button and a dedicated Alexa button have replaced the previous voice control button. The functionality is the same, but Alexa feels much better.

In a previous review, Gadgets 360 noted that at best the virtual assistant would just pop up an app if the content you searched for wasn’t from Prime Video, but now it can show title cards for Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Jio Cinema, and YouTube (these are the apps I use a lot.) Other than that, the rest of the remote is standard.

When it comes to installation and usage, Fire TV is very easy to use. The installation process, including OS-based updates, took about 15 minutes. All you have to do is plug it into your TV, connect it to a power source, and follow the on-screen instructions. It’s a plug-and-forget device.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Interface

It runs on Fire OS, and the user interface isn’t too different from the standard Android TV experience. You get the same tile-based layout and horizontal scrolling interface showcasing your shows, movies, and apps. There’s a Home, Search, and Live TV section, along with an easily accessible App Library. The Settings icon is also conveniently located at the top, and the placement makes it easier to switch between since there’s no Settings button on the remote.

Amazon also has a great recommendation algorithm that suggests content across various OTT platforms, even if you don’t have them installed. It shows your recently watched shows, Netflix recommendations, free movies and TV shows, and categories by genre. However, being an Amazon product, the content is biased. For example, only Prime Video content is shown as 4K on the home screen. For other content, you have to click on the content tile to find out more.

You can jump directly to Prime Video content from the Featured section on the home screen, but other apps require a description screen first, and Prime Video takes up the top half of the page where recommended content is displayed.

However, I watch quite a few shows and movies on Prime Video, so I’ve never found it an inconvenience. The integration makes it easy to discover new content to watch and play it instantly. If you’re not a fan of the Prime Video library, you might be better off with the Mi TV Stick or the default Android TV/Google TV.

Overall, the interface is snappy, responsive, and extremely reliable even over extended periods of use. I rarely encountered any glitches or issues.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Performance

Now, let’s look at the performance. On paper, this is Amazon’s most powerful streaming device available in India. It supports up to Wi-Fi 6 (both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands) and Bluetooth 5.0. It also has HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos audio support to go with 4K Ultra-HD video quality support. The device comes with 8GB of inbuilt storage.

I’ve been using the device with my Redmi Fire TV for over two weeks now and am pleased with its solid performance. Whether I was watching an episode of Shogun, enjoying the comedy drama Laapataa Ladies, or binge-watching the anime Spy x Family, the video quality was crisp and bright, with easy distinction between light and dark areas. Even dark scenes were bright and comfortable to watch. To my surprise, the OS performance on the Fire TV Stick 4K was faster than the built-in Fire OS.

However, keep in mind that 4K video support requires a fast internet connection, and an unstable or slow connection may slow down the video stream. Additionally, the overall video quality will vary depending on the TV you’re using. Needless to say, a premium TV that supports 4K will offer better visuals than one that doesn’t.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: Review

As I said above, the goal of this review was to understand whether the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K really has enough features to be worth buying. After using it, my answer is yes.

Even in a world where smart TVs can be had for under Rs 15,000, not all are created equal. Some have poor memory and some offer sub-par OS experiences. With many people still using older, non-smart TVs, Amazon’s streaming device fills a gap in the need to replace trusty TV hardware due to software flaws.

The Fire TV Stick 4K is a solid performer in terms of OS interface, performance, and picture quality. But beyond that, what this device really offers is reliability. I’ve experienced glitches with my Redmi Smart TV and my parents’ Sony Bravia, but I’ve never experienced even minor issues with this device. From navigating between different apps to watching shows and movies, it was a seamless experience. In my opinion, a good streaming device should be something you don’t notice while watching TV, and the Fire TV Stick 4K delivered exactly that.

If you don’t own a smart TV, or you’re annoyed that yours is a few years old and starting to slow down, the Fire TV Stick might be a good way to extend the life of your TV without compromising your viewing experience.

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The Dreame L10s Ultra delivers a suction power of 5,300Pa.

Robot vacuums have started to gain popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to maintaining hygiene to curb the spread of bacteria and viruses, the introduction of work-from-home environments has forced us to keep our spaces clean and tidy at all times. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in home appliances has enabled major brands to equip robot vacuums with smarter sensors. These machines have become a necessity rather than a luxury, with notable features such as mapping capabilities, self-cleaning mechanisms, and cameras.

Xiaomi-backed Dreame, which makes a range of smart home devices, recently launched the Dreame L10s Ultra to cater to this competitive market. Priced at Rs 74,999 in India, the robot vacuum is auto-empty and auto-cleaning, and offers auto-dust collection, mopping, and drying support.

However, it is currently being discounted on Amazon for a much cheaper price (Rs 58,999), making it an even more appealing buy if you keep an eye on this e-commerce listing.

Is the Dreame L10s Ultra worth considering over the competition? Find out in this review.

What’s in the box

The retail box of the Dreame L10s Ultra is quite heavy, with the package weighing around 13 kg (the base station weighs 8.9 kg and the robot weighs 3.7 kg). Apart from the robot and the base station, the box contains two rotating mop pads, a bristle-free rubber brush, a filter cleaning brush, a power cord, a multi-surface floor cleaner, and a dust bag. The brand has bundled an extra dust bag with the device. Dreame claims that one dust bag can provide up to 60 days of cleaning, but you may need to purchase more later. It is priced at Rs 4,199 for four pieces and the new accessory set (roller brush, two side brushes, two filters, six mop pads, and two dust bags) costs Rs 7,990. Considering the overall price, it would have been nice to see a few more accessories included.

Dreame L10s Ultra review: Design

Setting up the Dreame L10s Ultra is easy. The mop pad connects to the built-in magnets, and the side brushes clip onto the bottom of the unit. Once you’ve filled and inserted the fresh water tank and cleaning agent, plug the base station into a power source. The device can be controlled remotely using the Dreamehome or Mi Home app, or you can connect it to Wi-Fi and access it with Alexa or Google Home.

Dreame L10s Ultra has a premium round design with a white finish and a front-facing camera for navigating around a room. The disk-shaped cleaning robot features a raised module on top for a built-in LIDAR for the navigation system. There are three buttons on the top – Spot Clean, Power (or Sweep) and Dock – that can be used to perform core functions without needing a phone. It has a flexible bumper and includes a Laser Distance Sensor (LDS), AI Vision Sensor and Line Laser Sensor, which recognize blocks that are in the way and display them on the map.

Dreame L10s Ultra Review: Setup, Mapping

In the first run, Dreame L10s Ultra uses its AI-powered RGB camera and 3D structured light to create a 3D map of your floor while finding obstacles. It detects walls, cupboards, and furniture on the floor and remembers different paths, bedrooms, living rooms, and dining areas. You can create multiple maps for a multi-storey home and set no-go zones from your phone via the paired app. The robot vacuum took about 5 minutes to map our 1200 sq. ft. apartment. In the first run, it considered part of the bedroom as the dining area, and still the mapping is amazingly accurate.

Dreame L10s Ultra features AI-enabled RGB camera and 3D structured light.

The pairing app for the Dearme L10s Ultra is packed with customization options. The app’s main screen displays the charging and cleaning status of the robot. You can schedule cleaning cycles and have it vacuum, mop, or both in specific rooms or zones. You can also create no-go zones for areas you don’t want it to clean. It can be sent to specific rooms to vacuum, mop, or do both at the same time. Users can set humidity levels and suction power, which can be adjusted accordingly for each area. Isn’t that smart?

The main screen of the Dreamehome app will show you the charging and cleaning status of your robot.

Dreame L10s Ultra Review: Cleaning and Performance

The best feature of Dreamebot L10s Ultra is the self-cleaning mop and auto-drain system. The robot automatically dries the mop and adds water and cleaning solution. The station automatically refills detergent and water, and provides the robot vacuum with liquid for the mopping function from a small tank. It comes with AI features and smart navigation to avoid collisions with walls and obstacles. To prevent children from touching the vacuum, enable the child lock by long pressing the Leave and Dry buttons on the base station. It also asks questions about your pets during setup to enhance cleaning and prevent possible pet accidents in the house while cleaning.

The on-board camera of the Dreame L10s Ultra keeps you updated on the status of your vacuum while you are away. We found this feature effective when it gets stuck on a rug or caught in the strap of a cloth bag. It also doubles as a security camera, which is useful especially for people who have pets. You need to set a 4-digit activation code to configure the built-in RGB camera. Two-way audio is provided so you can command it to vacuum while you are away for work. It cleans a 3-meter area in 2 minutes.

The AI sensor of Dreame L10s Ultra allows it to run on carpets. Compared to a normal roll vacuum, its 5,300Pa suction power and bristle-free rubber brush effectively picks up loose dust from small mats. It lifts the mop when it detects carpets or mats. There are multiple alternatives with higher suction power, but I felt this was enough to pick up general household dirt. Sometimes I change the suction power to remove debris from carpets. At this point the device becomes very noisy and I can still hear it from another room while I’m working. The big problem is that the vacuum is loud when set to the highest suction power. However, the station itself is quiet enough. The robot will talk loudly about what it is doing when it starts or returns from the dock for mopping or charging the battery. In addition, you can see the location of the robot on a map while cleaning. It’s easy to find it.

The Dreame L10s Ultra comes with a rubber brush instead of a bristle brush.

As someone with waist-length hair, I commend Dreame for opting for bristle-free rubber brushes, as they ideally prevent hair from getting tangled and clogging the brush. The side brushes do tend to get tangled, but I was able to remove them after a few passes, meaning they’re effective on pet hair. Automatically detects changes in floor type while driving: The robot recognized the textured ceramic tiles in the utility area as it drove along and adjusted its behavior accordingly.

Dreame L10s Ultra Review: Maintenance

The Dreame L10s Ultra’s base station water tank has a capacity of 2.5 liters, but the robot carries 80ml of water on board, so it won’t go to the base station too often during cleaning unless the battery gets low in the middle of cleaning. Once mopping is finished, the robot returns to the charging station, where the mop is automatically washed with cold water on the dock to remove odors. This may be less effective than using hot water. The dirt then reaches the base station’s dirty water tank, which can be removed manually. After cleaning, the mop is dried with hot air. Using Dualboost 2.0 technology, the device blows air into the robot’s dust box, which is then sucked into the station’s dust bag. This dirt is stored in the base station’s dust bag, which can be emptied manually when notified. Dreame claims that one bag can provide up to 60 days of cleaning, but it never filled up in two weeks of testing. Other maintenance includes opening and removing the brush tray to clean the dirt that has accumulated on the sides.

To charge, attach the Dreame L10s Ultra to the docking station. The app displays the remaining battery level, and the battery lasts up to 160 minutes without interrupting charging, enough to vacuum and mop an apartment’s 800 sq. ft. carpeted area (1,175 sq. ft.). Perfect for vacuuming and mopping in a room that’s not messy.

Dreame L10s Ultra review: Verdict

If you are looking for a fully automated robot vacuum mop and don’t mind the hassle of cleaning on our side, consider the Dreame L10s Ultra, which requires less manual maintenance. The automatic dust emptying feature adds a significant amount to the price, but it is justifiable given the features present even in the premium model (Dreame L20 Ultra). The vacuuming and mopping features are effective and the robot vacuum gives you the option to use it as a mobile surveillance camera. The robot is priced at Rs 74,999, but keep in mind that this robot comes with ongoing costs, such as replacing accessories and approved cleaning solutions. If the floors at your home are mainly carpeted, this is not a good choice. For those who live in large houses with different types of floors or owners who have animals that shed, it is worth considering. If you are able to do it on the price side, the L10s Ultra is one of the best options you can buy right now.

If you are on a budget, you can also check out affordable options from brands like Xiaomi and Eureka Forbes.

Dream L10s Ultra

• Price: 74,999
• Rating: 8/10

Pros:

• Effective vacuuming and mopping
• Automatic Ejection
• In-vehicle camera
• Smart Mapping
• User-friendly apps

Cons:

• expensive
• noisy
• No additional accessories available
• Lack of self-cleaning with hot water

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