Apple is slated to release the iPhone 16 in Fall 2024, with substantial advancements such as design modifications, an upgraded display, faster CPUs, improved cameras, and a longer battery life. 

While Apple is still enjoying the popularity of the iPhone 15, which was released only a few months ago, tech aficionados are already impatient to see what comes next. Rumours and leaks about the next-generation iPhone 16 are everywhere, hinting at potential enhancements and specs for the next new-generation iPhones. As usual, Apple is likely to reveal new iPhones in the fall of 2024, with considerable enhancements and more power.

According to multiple rumors and leaks, this year’s iPhones may have AI technologies built into iOS 18, as well as significant camera enhancements and other advances. 

Here are some of the most significant rumored changes we may anticipate with the latest generation iPhones:

Design: One of the most rumored improvements to the iPhone 16 series is its design. According to leaked prototypes, Apple may abandon the triangle camera structure found in earlier generations and instead go for a vertical dual-camera system akin to the iPhone X. This update is said to cater to spatial video recording, which might match with Apple’s drive toward augmented and virtual reality technology. Furthermore, the addition of a new Capture button is anticipated to improve camera capability, while the Action Button, which was originally debuted in iPhone 15 Pro variations, is expected to become a common feature across all models.

Processor and Connectivity: The widely anticipated A17 CPU might power the iPhone 16 series, with versions like as the A17 Pro for premium models. These processors are intended to improve thermal management and battery technologies, assuring peak performance and efficiency with the next-generation iPhones. Furthermore, there are claims of advances in 5G connection, with the incorporation of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem processor likely to result in better speeds and more consistent performance. The adoption of Wi-Fi 7 technology improves connection, ensuring that customers have smooth surfing experiences.

Camera and Battery Life: Renders of forthcoming iPhones may excite mobile photographers. Photography aficionados should be enthused about the rumored changes to the iPhone 16 Pro models. These improvements include a 48MP ultrawide lens and a 5x optical zoom tetraprism camera, which seek to provide unrivaled picture quality and flexibility. Meanwhile, a new stacked battery architecture is expected to boost battery life by providing quicker charging rates and longer use times, ensuring users remain charged throughout the day.

Despite the introduction of the OnePlus 11 in February, speculations regarding the prospective OnePlus 12 are circulating, including a supposed toned-down variation named the OnePlus 12R. This gadget is scheduled to be released in China in December or early January 2024, followed by a worldwide release, including India. Based on leaks, here’s a look at the future OnePlus phones.

Even though the OnePlus 11 was just introduced in February, rumors regarding the OnePlus 12 are already circulating. According to a recent source, a OnePlus 12R, a scaled-down version of the OnePlus 12, is in the works. The phone is expected to debut in China in December or early January 2024, with a worldwide launch, including India, following soon thereafter. Here are the specifications of the forthcoming OnePlus phones, which are based on leaks.

ONEPLUS 12 AND ONEPLUS 12R FEATURES AND ESTIMATED PRICING

The OnePlus 12R is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which is also found in the OnePlus 11 5G. It might include a sizable 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which has been the normal memory option for premium OnePlus handsets. It’s believed to include a 5,500mAh battery with 100W fast charging, which is a deviation from the more usual 4,500mAh battery seen in many smartphones, but with quicker charging speeds. The increased battery size might add considerable weight and bulk to the phone.

The back camera module is expected to include a 50-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera for shooting. The OnePlus 12R 5G is said to include a 16-megapixel front camera for selfies.

The basic OnePlus 12 will, on the other hand, be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU, along with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The continued partnership between OnePlus and Hasselblad for photography improvements is set to continue, with the rear camera system consisting of a 50-megapixel main camera sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera. A 32-megapixel front-facing camera is included for selfies.

Both the OnePlus 12R and the OnePlus 12 are expected to have large batteries. The OnePlus 12 might include a 5,400mAh battery with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging capability.

Pricing information is still scarce. OnePlus phones with the ‘R’ suffix are often less expensive than their regular-numbered equivalents. It would be interesting to watch how OnePlus positions and pricing the OnePlus 12R, particularly given its similarities to the OnePlus 11, which is a more costly smartphone that starts at Rs 56,999 and the OnePlus 11R starts at Rs 39,999. The business may opt to price these phones similarly or raise them by a few thousand rupees. We’ll have to wait a few months for answers on this.

The Vivo X100 Pro is said to have shown on Geekbench using a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.

The Vivo X100 series, which includes the Vivo X100, Vivo X100 Pro, and Vivo X100 Pro+, is likely to be released shortly. Vivo is yet to acknowledge the debut of new X series devices, however the Vivo X100 has been found with the model number V2309A on the AnTuTu testing platform. According to the listing, the Vivo X100 is powered by the yet-to-be-announced MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. Furthermore, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC-powered Vivo X100 Pro has supposedly appeared on the Geekbench testing site.

AnTuTu lists a Vivo phone with the model number V2309A. This is one of the model numbers that were discovered earlier this month on China’s Compulsory Certification (3C) website. The listing, believed to be for the Vivo X100, has an overall benchmark score of 2,249,858. The overall number of points includes a CPU score of 58,632 and a GPU score of 9,18,790. The new model has a MEM (memory) score of 4,74,036 points and a UX score of 3,38,400 points.

The Vivo X100 is said to include a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC with 16GB of LPDDR5T RAM, according to the database. It also mentions that the device comes with Android 14 and 1TB of UFS 4.0 internal storage.

A Vivo smartphone with the model number V2324A has also been discovered on the Geekbench website. The listing, which is thought to be for the Vivo X100 Pro, indicates that the smartphone runs Android 14. According to the benchmark listing, an octa-core processor codenamed ‘taro’ would power the phone. It depicts a primary CPU core with a maximum clock speed of 3.00GHz, three cores with a maximum clock speed of 2.50GHz, and four cores with a maximum speed of 1.79GHz. The inclusion of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor on the forthcoming Vivo X100 Pro is indicated by these CPU speeds.

There are 984 points for single-core testing and 3,293 points for multi-core testing on the list. According to the listing, the Vivo X100 Pro might have 11GB of RAM, which translates to 12GB on paper. The listing is from October 12th.

Previous rumors suggested that the Vivo X100 and Vivo X100 Pro will be equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. Because Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC is relatively outdated, Vivo may use the most recent processor in the forthcoming flagship. Vivo has yet to confirm the Vivo X100 series’ development. As a result, it is advised to take all of these data with a grain of salt.

Review Summary

Expert Rating★★8.0/10

Design ★★  8.5/10

Display ★★  8.0/10

Software ★★  7.0/10

Camera ★★  7.5/10

Performance ★★  8.0/10

Battery ★★  7.0/10

Pros

• Crease-less display
• Handy cover screen
• Smooth performance
• Versatile cameras

Cons

• Bloatware
• Lacks wireless charging
• Pricey

It’s a fantastic time to be in the market for a new foldable smartphone since the industry is finally seeing some activity and there’s some options. OnePlus has just entered the fight with a new book-style foldable, while manufacturers like Tecno and Motorola have also entered the fray. Unsurprisingly, Samsung maintains a solid position. OPPO seems to be doubling down, and only a few months after launching its first foldable in the nation in the shape of the Find N2 Flip (review), it’s bringing its sequel, the Find N3 Flip, to our shores. The foldable market seems to have reached a point where incumbents are attempting to polish their offers by adding features and improving on basic components in order to make their devices more appealing to prospective purchasers. The OPPO Find N3 Flip adheres to the same philosophy, but with a bevy of enhancements. Let’s take a look inside to discover what’s new this time.

VERDICT

The OPPO Find N3 Flip is an evolutionary improvement that expands on the benefits of its predecessor by adding essential features such as a telephoto camera and an alert slider. The UI does come with a lot of pre-installed applications, and there is no wireless charging, but the device performs well in terms of cover screen use, design, construction, display, cameras, and speed.

DISPLAY AND DESIGN

The Find N3 Flip follows the same basic plan as its predecessor and other flip phones before adding enhancements and additions. The slim chassis folds flat without leaving an ugly gap in the center, and the body is softly curved at the back, giving it a premium, elegant feel. The huge, round camera module seems to be the most conspicuous design feature, apart from the massive cover screen. The camera module, which proudly bears Hasselblad branding in the center, is ringed by a metallic ring (called Cosmos Ring by OPPO), which gives it an industrial aspect and makes it stick out even more.

While the Find N3 Flip is available in Sleek Black, the Cream Gold variant I received for testing looks extremely nice with its iridescent sheen. The volume rocker and power button are on the right (when the flip is open), and a speaker, Type-C connector, and SIM tray are on the bottom. And there’s a new feature on the left in the shape of an alert slider. This is a helpful sliding key borrowed from OnePlus that allows you to easily choose between ring, vibration, and quiet modes without having to wake up the screen or open the flip.

The primary display is a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 1-120Hz, PWM dimming at 1,440Hz, HDR10+ compatibility, and a peak brightness of up to 1600 nits. It’s a gorgeous display, with plenty of brightness, brilliant colors, and smooth response. The degree to which OPPO has been able to minimize the crease is astonishing. The brand’s Flexion Hinge is prominent here, not only lowering the appearance of the crease but also allowing the gapless construction and increasing overall longevity.

In fact, OPPO claims that the Find N3 Flip is more durable than its predecessor and has a 25% increase in load-bearing strength. I can’t confirm that, but I’m willing to accept TUV Rheinland’s Reliable Folding certification, which claims the Find N3 Flip can endure 6,00,000 folds. If you fold your phone 100 times each day, it equates to almost 16 years of use. Even if Instagram users double that amount by 200 times every day, the use duration would be 8 years, which I believe is more than enough. To demonstrate my arithmetic skills, I will tell you that 400 folds each day will lower the use duration to 4 years, which is still more than the phone’s life. But then I’d probably have something to say about your phone use as well.

COVER SCREEN

The cover screen and its usefulness are critical components of a foldable smartphone, especially a flip-style foldable. This is where the OPPO Find N3 Flip really excels. The 3.26-inch AMOLED display has a peak brightness of 900 nits, a resolution of 720 x 382 pixels, and a 17:9 aspect ratio. Aside from your standard fast settings, alerts, and widgets, you can run full-fledged applications on the cover screen, and not only OPPO apps.

The cover screen can function as a tiny phone, allowing you to utilize programs like as Gmail, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others not only to see emails and messages, but also to react using a QWERTY keyboard. Google Maps may be utilized for navigation, while YouTube can be used to play your favorite videos. Although the QWERTY keyboard is cramped, one may get by without having to open the flip. Then there are the virtual pets you may play with, which have now evolved into 3D counterparts from 2D ones before.

The cover screen also contributes in providing the FlexForm mode, which is particularly handy from a camera standpoint in this scenario. You may activate cover screen preview to snap selfies with the main cameras, grab group photos with palm gestures, experiment with low angles, shoot video with the phone half-open and camcorder-style, and so on. And they’re all fairly handy.

CAMERAS

The Flip N3’s cameras are one of its main selling points, particularly because OPPO has included a telephoto sensor, making it the first flip phone with a triple camera arrangement. A 50 MP Sony IMX890 with f/1.8 and OIS is available, as is a 48MP Sony IMX581 with f/2.2 aperture and 114-degree FoV, and a 32MP IMX709 sensor with f/2 aperture that supports hybrid zooming up to 5X, which is believed to be ideal for portraiture. For fine-tuning HDR shots, OPPO uses computational photography, and its ProXDR function promises to give up to eight times greater dynamic range. The selfie camera on the inside screen is a 32 MP Sony IMX709 with an aperture of f/2.4.

There is a wide range of shooting modes available, including my personal favorite, XPAN. This takes broad photographs that work well for landscapes and cityscapes, and can make any subject appear fairly dramatic depending on how you frame it, with its monochrome option proving particularly beneficial in some situations. Overall, the Find N3 Flip takes excellent photos in a variety of situations, with the extra telephoto sensor making the configuration considerably more adaptable than previously. Images have a decent amount of contrast and dynamic range. The N3 Flip excels at portraiture and bokeh in general. Low-light shots are a little soft, but they’re still fairly nice overall. The selfie camera performs its job, but the greatest thing is that you can capture selfies with the main camera’s capabilities, and they look really decent, particularly if there’s enough ambient light available.

BATTERY, SOFTWARE, AND PERFORMANCE

The flagship 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9200 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage ensure that the N3 Flip can handle even the most demanding workloads. It’s a smooth ride all the way, whether you’re using standard programs like email, social apps, instant messaging, and so on, or heavier ones. Benchmarks reveal that the N3 Flip can maintain 70 percent of its peak performance when running 50 threads for half an hour, which is rather remarkable given its tiny profile. There is also very little heating.

On the software front, ColorOS 13 runs on top of Android 13, providing the typical slew of applications with a plethora of customization possibilities. This is one area where the N3 Flip might be improved, since it comes with a slew of pre-installed applications, some of which continually popping up alerts that clog the notification panel.

The 4,300mAh battery is standard for a tiny flip phone, and as you would guess, it won’t last long if you use it often. However, for light to medium use, it may last a day, and unless you depend on the cover display to get things done throughout the day, you may need the charger by late evening. The bundle includes an 80W SuperVOOC charger, although the phone only supports 44W. It just takes around an hour to charge the phone from 0 to 100%.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The OPPO Find N3 Flip isn’t cheap at Rs 94,999, but it is a luxury flagship, and a foldable one at that, so the price isn’t much of a surprise. The nearest competitor is, of course, the Samsung Galaxy Flip5, a solid rival with excellent cameras and a robust software environment. It performs well in software and even has an IP68 certification and wireless charging. However, it falls short in other areas, like charging rates and cover screen usability. The Find N3 Flip is an evolutionary advance over its predecessor, which isn’t surprising, but it does come with some useful extras that sweeten the bargain, such as a telephoto camera and an alert slider. The software might need some work, and the absence of wireless charging is evident, particularly at this price range. The device, on the other hand, excels in critical areas such as cover screen use, performance, and cameras, with its build quality and hinge longevity contributing to its attractiveness. If you’re searching for a sleek and quality flip phone, you should examine your alternatives, but you’d be remiss if you didn’t give this item a full once-over before making a decision.

Samsung’s recent update hints at how AI will be integrated into the cameras of its Galaxy phones.

The One UI 6 upgrade from Samsung will deliver a slew of new photography functions to Galaxy phones, some of which will be driven by AI.

The upgrade, which is based on Google’s larger Android 14 software, is claimed to have started rolling out in some European nations and will arrive in the United States in the coming weeks. As recent announcements from Google and Qualcomm have revealed, AI is starting to play a greater role in smartphones.

When it comes to some camera-related features in One UI 6, Samsung looks to be stealing a leaf from Apple and Google. For example, AI Image Clipping allows Galaxy users to snip certain things out of images and transform them into stickers that can be put on other photos. Apple offers a function similar to this in its just released iOS 17 iPhone update. A GIF included in Samsung’s press release also shows the sticker being scaled after being copied onto another picture, which is similar to Google’s Magic Editor application for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Samsung is also expanding on its Galaxy Enhance-X app, which already has more photo-editing capabilities such as the ability to improve older photographs, akin to Google’s Photo Unblur. With One UI 6, that app will get new features such as Sky Guide, which utilizes artificial intelligence to identify constellations and stars after photographing the night sky.

You’ll also be able to use Samsung’s Single Take function in Enhance-X to previously taken films and photos with motion. Single Take is a camera option on Samsung phones that allows you to record many photographs in various styles at the same time by touching the shutter button once. Using Single Take, it seems that your phone will be able to extract the finest stills and clips from existing photographs in Enhance-X. Other software capabilities include the ability to correct blurriness in photographs caused by a dirty camera lens and to convert standard films into slow motion recordings by producing extra frames.

Apart from these AI-powered capabilities, the startup hopes to make camera use more comfortable. The update should enhance document scanning, and switching to a higher quality shooting setting in the camera app should be easier. If you often use camera settings, such as panoramic or portrait, you may save them straight to the home screen as widgets. In addition, Samsung is upgrading the layout of the editing tools in the camera app and adding undo and redo buttons for switching between modifications.
Samsung’s One UI 6 upgrade is just another indication that smartphone manufacturers are looking for new ways to integrate AI into existing and future devices. For years, AI has played a major part in smartphone capabilities such as speech recognition, language translation, and object detection in photographs. However, the success of ChatGPT has inspired increased interest in generative artificial intelligence, or AI that can generate material based on cues.

Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 smartphone processor is centered on AI use cases and applications. The AI-powered photo-editing tools on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are the most notable differences between them and last year’s Pixel 7 series. According to Bloomberg, Apple is also working on new AI capabilities for iOS 18. With One UI 6, we’re getting a glimpse of how Samsung will integrate AI into its Galaxy phones.

The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a slew of new capabilities owing to updated hardware and software. I’ll go over fifteen of my favorites in this list. Many of these will also operate on the iPhone 15, as well as certain earlier phones, as long as you have iOS 17. Some are old favorites; you simply have to be aware of them.

1. TO RECOGNIZE MUSIC, PRESS THE ACTION BUTTON (15 PRO/ 15 PRO MAX ONLY).

The iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button replaces the traditional mute button, and it can be used to turn on the flashlight, record a voice memo, and open the camera, among other things. However, you can also use it for Siri Shortcuts, which unlocks a plethora of useful features.

One feature that I found quite handy was Shazam integration: just pushing and holding the button to recognize music playing nearby. If you have Shazam installed, go to Settings > Action Button, then scroll down to shortcut and hit it. Now look for’recognize music,’ and you’ll see a Shazam button. When you press and hold it, it will display the Shazam music recognition image on your Dynamic Island and notify you when it has found the song. 

2. DRAG SEVERAL PROGRAMS INTO A FOLDER AT THE SAME TIME.

By touching and holding one app icon, dragging it, and then tapping on additional icons while holding it, you may quickly and effortlessly move a collection of applications into one folder. After you’ve selected all of the extra applications you wish to relocate, drag the collection into an existing folder and release it.

3. CHARGE ONLY UP TO 80%

One technique to maintain your battery healthy for a long time is to only charge it up to 80% capacity. This is now possible with an iOS option. To enable it, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging, and then choose Charging Optimisation on the following page. Choose the 80% limit from the drop-down menu.

4. MAKE RAIN NOISES BY PRESSING A BUTTON.

The ability to make background noises with a triple press of the side button is one feature of iOS. First, choose whatever sound you want it to make by going to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Vision and then Background Sounds. Now, touch ‘Sound’ and choose the sound you want from the list of possibilities.

Return to the Accessibility settings list and touch ‘Accessibility Shortcut’ to allow the ability to launch that sound using your iPhone’s side key. Select ‘Background Sounds’ from the selection, then triple-click the side key to hear your selected sound.

5. USE THE CAMERA TO CAPTURE TEXT AND TRANSLATE IT.

The camera has an automated detection function that detects when you direct it at text. When your phone detects text in the camera view, it will display a little symbol that looks like three lines in an outlined square. When you tap that icon, it will catch the text and offer you the choice to copy it, pick all of it, look it up, translate it, or share it. You may also drag to highlight a particular section of text and execute the same actions on the highlighted text.

6. THE SIMPLEST METHOD FOR CROPPING IMAGES

Rather of going through the picture editing tools and cropping that way, there’s a quick method to crop into your iPhone images. Simply go to Photos, open the image you want, then pinch to zoom until the corners of the screen meet. Once you’ve determined the size you want, just press ‘Crop’ in the upper right corner or tap and hold it to choose a specific ratio, then hit ‘Crop’ to set it to that ratio. When you’re satisfied, click done.

7. MAKE A STICKER OUT OF ANY PICTURE.

iOS 17 includes the option to design unique stickers for use in iMessage. You can make them in the Messages app, but a better way is to make them in the Photos app.

Simply open your iPhone’s Photos app and choose a shot with a topic in the foreground. Now, hold down on the topic until you see the glowing lines indicating that it has been isolated from its backdrop. Simply choose ‘add sticker’ from the pop-up menu, select an effect, and you’re done.

8. DOWNLOAD APPLE MAPS FOR OFFLINE USE.

Apple Maps’ latest edition allows you to download certain locations for offline navigation. Open Maps, touch your small profile picture in the corner of the pop-up and pick ‘offline maps’. Now, touch ‘download new map,’ search for a place, pinch to zoom on the map to modify the size of the region, and then press ‘Download’.

9. LOOK FOR LAUNDRY CARE SYMBOLS.

With iOS 17, Visual Look Up becomes more smarter, recognizing more than just historical locations, plants, and animals. If you snap a picture of a laundry care label, for example, and then hit the Visual Look Up ‘i’ symbol with stars in the bottom toolbar under the image, then choose Visual Look Up from the pop-up menu, it will show you what the laundry care icons on that particular label imply.

10. MAKE A HIDDEN BUTTON OUT OF THE APPLE LOGO.

You may capture a screenshot or start another function by pressing the back of the phone near the Apple logo if the appropriate settings are enabled. Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Touch, followed by Back Tap. Now, choose a function from the list for the double tap; I picked Screenshot, but you may choose anything you like. You may add one more for a triple tap.

Samsung’s mobile portfolio includes novel foldables as well as high-end flagships such as the newly launched S23 Ultra. If you’re eager to try out a new Galaxy, Tech Publicist has the top Samsung phones of 2023 covered.

Samsung is perhaps the most well-known name in consumer electronics, with a product portfolio that includes everything from home appliances to mobile computing to software and services. Even when we go into its smartphone lines, there are almost too many possibilities to count. And now that the Galaxy S23 has been announced, there are even more reasons to consider an upgrade if you’re a Samsung fan.

Having said that, Tech Publicist has tested, evaluated, and compared the best and worst Samsung Galaxy smartphones throughout the years, including the value-driven A-series, the flagship S-series, and the Z-series’ shape-shifting foldables.

Look below for my top selections for 2023 – the phones I’d suggest from Samsung. If you want to learn more about the newest Galaxy S23 models, visit our Samsung Unpacked site.

1. GALAXY S23 ULTRA BY SAMSUNG

Pros

• The most comprehensive smartphone experience money can buy.
• A dependable quad-camera system
• The rivalry is led by 256GB of base storage.
• S Pen stylus included for better functionality

Cons

• For some, a phone, particularly one with a cover, might be cumbersome.
• Rapid charging is still limited to 45W.
• More expensive than the majority of Android phones

Further Information

Samsung Galaxy S23 Extreme technical specifications:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy
• Display: 6.8 inches, 3088 x 1440
• RAM/Storage Options: 12GB RAM with 256GB/512GB/1TB
• Rear Cameras: 200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 10x optical, 10MP 3x optical
• Front Camera: 12MP

The Galaxy S23 Ultra reigns supreme in the vast mathematics of the Samsung cosmos. It’s likely the most basic smartphone available on the market, let alone from Samsung, yet it takes the top position on our list.

The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display, a 5,000mAh battery that can last up to two days, a customized Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor to keep things running smoothly, and the venerable Samsung S Pen, which is ideal for taking notes, designing graphics, and even signing PDFs.

Being the latest and greatest also means that the S23 Ultra has the most recent developments in photography technology from Samsung, such as a 200-megapixel primary lens capable of producing the highest-resolution photographs we’ve seen on any Galaxy phone. If you’re like that, there’s also 8K video recording at 30 frames per second.

All of this is to suggest that, for the time being, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is our vote for the greatest Samsung phone overall. Who knows how revolutionary the company’s foldables will be this year, or what additional versions are in the works?

2. SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 4

Pros

• Creative engineering wonder
• Armor Aluminum material for a lighter and more streamlined phone
• Water resistance rating of IPX8
• Support for the S Pen
• Better software designed specifically for foldables

Cons

• S Pen buy and store separately 
• Still pricey, but excellent trade-in offers exist

Further Information

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
• Main display: 7.6 inches, 2176 x 1812 pixels
• Cover display: 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels
• RAM/Storage: 12GB RAM with internal storage options of 256GB/512GB/1TB
• Cameras: 12MP ultra-wide, 50MP wide angle, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP cover screen, 4MP under main display
• Battery: 4,400mAh

The 2020 Samsung Z Fold 2 established the standard for folding handsets that also function as tiny tablets. The Z Fold 3 improves on that phone by adding S Pen functionality and IPX8 water resistance, both of which Fold customers wanted. Samsung fulfilled customer demands once again with the Z Fold 4, improving the phone’s back cameras and compact factor.

While the cameras are not as brilliant as those on the S22 Ultra, the hardware is certainly better than any foldable before it. It also helps that the Z Fold 4 isn’t as big and hefty as its predecessors.

In addition to the additional back cameras, Samsung improved the under-display camera in the bigger Main Display to provide a more immersive viewing experience. In the background, there’s also Android 12L, Google’s software built for large-screen experiences.

3. SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FLIP 4

Pros

• Superior materials, fit, and finish
• Water resistance IPX8
• Main display with a high refresh rate
• Affordably priced foldable
• Folds into a pocket-friendly size

Cons

• No telephoto lens
• In comparison to bigger phones, the battery is quite unimpressive

Further Information

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 technical specifications: 

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
• Main display: 6.7 inches, 1080 x 2640 pixels
• Cover display: 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels
• RAM/Storage: 8GB RAM with internal storage choices of 128GB/256GB/512GB
• Cameras: Two rear 12MP, 10MP selfie
• Battery: 3,700mAh

Although the Z Fold 4 is still the greatest Samsung foldable, the Z Flip 4 is expected to sell the most and appeal to the most people. The clamshell handset is not only less costly than the Z Fold, but it is also more small and portable, with a more user-friendly learning curve.

Apart from the shape-shifting displays, the Z Flip 4 is pretty comparable to the conventional Samsung Galaxy S-series flagship, with a massive 6.7-inch AMOLED screen that’s clear and brilliant, up to 512GB of RAM for those high-resolution photos and movies, and a solid 3,700mAh battery powering everything.

Those who excel at social media and content production will like the Z Flip 4’s flexibility to flip between filming modes such as camcorder mode and flex mode. For even more customization, Samsung provides its Bespoke service, which allows you to change the colour of the Z Flip’s back plate, hinge, and edges.

The OnePlus 11R is a budget-friendly smartphone that may have outperformed its competitors in the sub-Rs 40,000 price category. 

However, it is also being questioned if the company has made any compromises to offer this much at such a low price. The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and comes with a 5,000mAh battery and a 100W SuperVOOC charger. 

The OnePlus 11R is the toned-down version of the flagship models, and its previous version, the OnePlus 10R, lacked some features. The review of the OnePlus 11R discusses whether the phone lives up to its promises and if OnePlus has cut any corners to keep its price low.

Review of the OnePlus 11R: Design and Display

The OnePlus 11R has a similar design to the OnePlus 11, with the only difference being the absence of the Hasselblad logo on the former. It has a sandstone-like matte finish on the back panel, which is available in Sonic Black and Galactic Silver. The phone is well-built and sturdy and can sustain drops on concrete. The circular camera module at the back seamlessly transitions into the phone’s plastic railings. The camera island protrudes prominently, but the curved edges make it comfortable to grip.

The phone has a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772×1240 pixels, and the LTPO panel is reserved for the OnePlus 11, while the 11R uses the ADFR 2.0 panel. The display has a refresh rate that automatically adjusts to 40Hz, 45Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz based on daily habits. You can manually switch between 60Hz and 120Hz, and the overall experience with the display is smooth at 120Hz. The display has a brightness of 500 nits, reaching 1450 nits while watching HDR content. It has the Widevine L1 certification and supports HDR playback on Netflix out-of-the-box.

The colours on the display are punchy and vibrant, with deep blacks, and it has Vivid, Natural, and Pro modes. The curved display does not have any accidental touch issues. The phone has a stereo speaker setup with Dolby Atmos certification, producing balanced output with crisp details, and no crackles at full volume.

OnePlus 11R Review: Performance and Software

It seems that the phone is powered by a high-end Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and comes with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The phone performs well in day-to-day tasks and multi-tasking, and its in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock work flawlessly. The phone also passed your stress test without much fuss and scored well on benchmarks like AnTuTu and 3DMark’s Sling Shot Extreme. However, the phone’s gaming performance is not as impressive as other gaming-centric smartphones like the iQOO 9T. 

Overall, it seems like a powerful and well-performing smartphone with a good software experience.

Review of OnePlus 11R’s Battery and Charging

The OnePlus 11R comes with a 100W SuperVOOC charger, which is a step down from the 150W charger that was included with last year’s OnePlus 10R. However, the 100W charger is still an impressive wattage and is the same one used for the OnePlus 11, making users feel like they’re getting the top-of-the-line technology.

The phone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that offers excellent backup. With average usage, the phone lasted over seven hours of screen-on time. We used social media apps like Instagram and Twitter, watched videos on YouTube and Netflix, and did some light photography. Based on this usage pattern, the OnePlus 11R should easily last over a day with heavy usage.

OnePlus has emphasized the “Smart Battery Health Algorithm,” which significantly improves the phone’s lifespan, even after four years of use. The 100W charger takes about 10 minutes to charge up to 45%, and about 30 minutes to fully charge the battery from dead. Overall, the OnePlus 11R offers impressive battery life and fast charging.

OnePlus 11R Review: Cameras

The OnePlus 11R boasts a reliable camera setup that sticks to a tried and tested formula. It features a triple camera system, led by a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 sensor, as well as an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Additionally, the front-facing camera is a 16-megapixel shooter. The camera UI is user-friendly, with all essential settings and effects easily accessible. The Pro mode is also available for advanced users.

One of the standout features of the OnePlus 11R is its fast-focusing capabilities, which make capturing photos a breeze. The photos produced by the camera feature OnePlus’ signature color tuning, resulting in sharp and detailed images. The colors tend to lean towards the warmer side of the spectrum, sometimes giving the photos a “Breaking Bad” look. The post-processing emphasizes vibrant colors, particularly red. The images have good contrast, and they are capable of extracting a respectable amount of detail from shadows.

However, OnePlus’ color science can sometimes overdo skin tones, resulting in a slightly reddish hue on human subjects’ faces. The dynamic range of the photos is commendable, but tricky lighting situations can result in a halo effect around the subject’s head, a common issue seen in the OnePlus 11.

The ultra-wide-angle camera, with its lower resolution, doesn’t quite match the primary sensor and produces cooler photos with a noticeable loss of detail. However, the images are still usable, with minimal distortion.

On the other hand, the 2-megapixel macro camera is of limited use, though it does take acceptable photos in well-lit conditions.

OnePlus 11R Review: Verdict

The OnePlus 11R is an excellent value flagship, providing an impressive package for its price point. Although it does not have the same charger wattage as the OnePlus 10R, the 100W SuperVOOC charger is still quite impressive. The phone’s design is premium and looks similar to the OnePlus 11. The display is curved and paired with a stereo speaker setup, making it ideal for watching content. The primary camera performs well in most situations, and the battery life is exceptional. However, the exclusion of an IP rating and the average ultra-wide angle camera may be a dealbreaker for some users. Overall, the OnePlus 11R is an excellent choice for everyday users looking for value for money. In fact, it may offer more value for money than the OnePlus 11.