Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Review: Is it Better?

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

Are you looking to upgrade your older Surface Book 3 or your existing laptop? Do you want a simple but powerful laptop just for working purposes? Then look no further than the new, lightweight, and powerful Surface Laptop 4 from Microsoft. It aims to be better, with improved premium features, and also less expensive. But is it really the better option? Let’s find out from the review.   

 

 

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4

 

The main view of the Platinum Alcantara Surface Laptop 4

 

Click to see more!

 

Specifications

Display Screen: 13.5” PixelSense™ Display | Resolution: 2256 x 1504 (201 PPI) | Aspect ratio: 3:2 | Surface Pen* enabled | Touch: 10-point multi-touch

Screen: 15” PixelSense™ Display| Resolution: 2496 x 1664 (201 PPI) | Aspect ratio: 3:2 | Surface Pen* enabled | Touch: 10-point multi-touch
Memory 8GB, 16GB or 32GB LPDDR4x RAM
Processor 13.5”: Quad-Core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 processor or Quad-Core 11th Intel® Core™ i7-1185G7 processor or  AMD Ryzen™ 5 4680U Mobile Processor with Radeon™ Graphics (6 cores)

15”: Quad-Core 11th Intel® Core™ i7-1185G7 processor or AMD Ryzen™ 7 4980U Mobile Processor with Radeon™ Graphics (8 cores)
Graphics Quad-Core 11th Gen Intel® Core™: Intel® Iris® Xe  Graphics

AMD Ryzen™ Microsoft Surface® Edition: AMD Radeon™ Graphics
Storage Removable SSD options: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Battery 13.5” with AMD Ryzen™ processor: Up to 19 hours of battery life (moderate use)

15” with AMD Ryzen™ processor: Up to 17.5 hours of battery life (moderate use)

13.5” with Intel® Core™ processor: Up to 17 hours of battery life (moderate use)

15” with Intel® Core™ processor: Up to 16.5 hours of battery life (moderate use)
Connections/Input Ports 1 x USB-C | 1 x USB-A | 3.5 mm headphone jack | 1 x Surface Connect port | Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax compatible | Bluetooth® Wireless 5.0 technology
Operating System

Windows 10 Home
Other

Windows Hello face authentication camera (front-facing) | 720p HD f2.0 camera (front-facing) | Dual far-field Studio Mics | Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby Atmos® | Microsoft 365 Family 30-day trial | Ambient light sensor | QWERTY keyboard with backlight

 

Overview

 

 

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 arrives at an odd time when many people are forced to work from home thanks to the global pandemic. Ultrabooks have shone in the world of commuting, which means they’ve lost a bit of their luster.

Yet many people will undoubtedly adopt a more hybrid work model, dividing their work week between home and the office. As a result, having something that is both light and portable, as well as powerful and long-lasting, is key. At this point, the thin and powerful Surface Laptop 4 will truly shine.

The Surface Laptop 4 is thin and portable, yet powerful enough to handle most everyday tasks. It’s also a joy to use, thanks to the stunning PixelSense display and one of the most comfortable keyboards we’ve ever used.

It’s exactly the laptop we’d take to work, and the best part is that it is relatively inexpensive for what it’s worth. The entry-model 13-inch Surface Laptop 4 with a Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, starts at under US$800. 

And, because the Surface Laptop 4 is such a joy to use, the specs are almost incidental, especially if the majority of your work involves word processing and email. So if you need a laptop worthy of corporate life or just for business, that will ease your workload, the Surface Laptop 4 is the one to look out for, and it’s one of the main reasons why this is one of our favorite laptops right now.

 

 

What’s to Like

 

 

Comfortable keyboard & touchpad

Speaking of comfort, the Surface Laptop 4 has the best laptop keyboard we’ve ever used. Writing on this laptop is a breeze, and despite its ultra-thin chassis, it has plenty of travel. Even the keyboard on the MacBook Pro, which was our favorite laptop keyboard before trying this one, doesn’t compare. 

The keyboard’s deep travel is even more surprising when you realize the speakers are hidden beneath it. And the speakers are excellent and play music perfectly. Even bass-heavy tracks sound great. The bottom line, the Surface Laptop 4 has comfortable typing and good-quality sound.

 

Stunning touch screen

The display on the Surface Laptop 4 is also truly stunning. The 13.5-inch model we have has a PixelSense display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2,256 x 1,504, which is about right for the display size. This makes watching movies and videos on this laptop a little strange, as viewing 16:9 content results in two black bars. But when we’re working on this, we appreciate the extra vertical space, especially when writing.

 

Lightweight & portable

All the Surface Laptop 4 models are less than 2kg in weight, making it the perfect lightweight and portable companion for those who work on the go or travel a lot. Starting from the entry model, the 13.5-inch model weighs 1.3 kg (2.8 lbs) and the 15-inch model weighs 1,5 kg (3.4 lbs). That’s pretty light if ask me.

  

Good design with a wide choice of stunning colors

The Surface Laptop 4 comes in four unique colors: Platinum, Matte Black, Sandstone, and Ice Blue. We especially like the Ice Blue color because it comes with a metallic finish. The Microsoft logo also looks good on the lid. It’s reflective and catches the eye. 

The Alcantara lining on the keyboard of the Ice Blue and Platinum 13.5-inch models is a nice touch that makes resting your wrists on the laptop’s deck feel more comfortable. It’s a minor distinction, but one that we noticed every time we type on the all-metal laptop.

The fabric feels pleasant under my wrists but gets messy easily though the prospect of trying to remove a stain from it heightened my already significant aversion to eating or drinking while working.

 

Great performance

The Surface Laptop 4 we reviewed here is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 4680U processor, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD storage. So far, it can handle almost anything we threw at it. Even after loading it with dozens of Chrome tabs, listening to music on YouTube, and chatting on social media, the Surface Laptop 4 shows no signs of slowing down.

 

 

That is something that most laptops these days should be able to do, but what makes the Surface Laptop 4 so impressive is that it can do all of that while on battery power. If you’re looking for a super-portable laptop that can meet most of your needs, the Surface Laptop 4 is a good option.

 

Good battery life

Microsoft claims that the Surface Laptop 4 has a battery life of up to 19 hours, which would be enormous if true. Unfortunately, we discovered that it was closer to 11-13 hours. Yet when compared to the Surface Laptop 3, which only lasted 6 hours and 28 minutes, the Surface Laptop 4 is better off and lasts longer on a single charge. To me, that’s an improvement. Overall, great battery life, and is even better than the older model.

 

 

What’s Not to Like

 

 

Limited input ports

One of the most serious consequences of the thin size is the lack of ports. The Surface Connect port on the right, one USB-C, one USB-A, and a headphone jack are all you get here. We appreciate that the laptop still has a USB-A port, which is rare these days, but it doesn’t leave much room for expansion for those who don’t want to pay the extra money for a Surface Dock.

 

Not recommended for gaming

Although the Surface Laptop 4 has good hardware specs, it’s certainly not a gaming laptop. You can get away with casual gaming like indie games that are less demanding on graphics, and older games. And there is no discreet graphics GPU that can support AAA titles such as Cyberpunk or Call of Duty.  

 

 

 

Verdict

The Surface Laptop 4 is indeed better than the Surface Laptop 3 in many ways. It comes with a lighter body, a good hardware spec that contributes to overall great performance, looks great, good quality sound delivery, and comes with longer battery life. It indeed is a must-buy for those who are writers, work in corporate life, are freelancers, or just want a good-looking laptop.

That’s the more reason why I recommend the Surface Laptop 4. After that long review of the Surface Laptop 4, what are your thoughts? Are you looking for this type of laptop that’s relatively cheaper? Are you the one who likes the more powerful laptops? 

Please comment below. If you have questions also leave them below and ill get back to you. So what’s the next step for you? If you’re interested, click on the button above to find out more, and to buy if you so desire. 

If it’s not your ideal laptop, then click here to see our review of the Surface Laptop Go 2, or click here to check out some of the best budget laptops that are equally as good.      

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Review: Is Simple Really Worth Buying?

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Are you tired of buying an expensive smartphone yet you have no idea how to use its many complex features? Isn’t it better you get yourself a cheaper and simple-to-use smartphone? Let me show you the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, one of the newest and most affordable smartphones to come this year. But is it really worth your time? Let’s see more on this review. 

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

Front & back view of the Graphire Gray Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

Check it out here!

Phone Specs

Display  6.43″ AMOLED, 90Hz | 700 nits, 1000 nits (peak) | 1080x2400px screen resolution | 20:9 aspect ratio | 409ppi
Chip Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm), Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Adreno 610 GPU
Operating System (OS) Android 11, MIUI 13
Storage, RAM 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | UFS 2.2 | microSDXC (dedicated slot).
Rear Camera 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), 26mm, PDAF |  8 MP, f/2.2 (ultra-wide), 118-degree |  2 MP, f/2.4 (macro) | 2 MP, f/2.4 (depth) | 1080p@30fps video recording
Selfie Camera 13 MP, f/2.4, (wide) | 1080p@30fps video recording
Battery 5000mAh | Fast charging 33W, 100% in 60 min (advertised), Power Delivery 3.0, Quick Charge 3+
Misc Fingerprint reader (side-mounted) | Infrared port | 3.5mm jack | Virtual Proximity Sensor |  179g | plastic body | IP53, dust and splash protection
Released February 2022
Retail Price Click Here!

Reason to Buy

  • Stylish design & durable
  • Excellent AMOLED display
  • Great battery life
  • Power charger, headphone jack & microSD slot available
  • Acceptable quality main camera
  • Low price

Reason not to Buy

  • Limited video recording capabilities
  • Mediocre performance
  • Poor quality ultrawide camera & night mode
  • No 5G network capabilities
  • Limited features from MIUI 13

 

Overview

 

So what is this Xiaomi Redmi Note 11? It’s a budget-midrange smartphone that is part of the Redmi Note 11 series and is a predecessor to the Redmi Note 10. From first observation, it comes with a 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1080p screen resolution. At the back, there’s a 50MP quad-camera with four camera lenses and a back panel with a matte plastic finish.

Looking inside the Note 11, there’s a Snapdragon 680 4G processor with an Adreno GPU, RAM ranging from 4GB up to 6GB, storage ranging from 64GB to 128GB, and a large battery 5000mAh battery. The model starts from 64GB storage with 4GB RAM all the way up to the top 128GB storage with 6GB RAM. As you unbox, you will find a lot of things inside, that includes the following:

  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 smartphone
  • 33W charger
  • A transparent protective phone cover
  • A soft plastic screen protector
  • USB-C cable
  • Ejector pin
  • Quick user guide

It’s great that they include a phone charger and a protective phone cover.  

 

What We Like

 

Good design & durable

The design of the Redmi Note 11 is impressive. It doesn’t even look like a budget smartphone. It weighs less than 200g so it’s light to handle, the matte finish feels comfortable on the hand, and comes in an array of colors, such as Pearl White, Star Blue, and Graphite Gray. With durability, the Redmi Note 11 comes with a great build and tough glass protection but comes with an IP53 rating which means it’s dust and splash protection, not water-proof, not dust-proof. 

 

Front, side & back view of the Star Blue Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

 

Gorgeous display

The 6.43-inch display is massive and looks superb thanks to the AMOLED screen technology. The crystal clear 1080 x 2400 screen resolution, the good brightness and vivid colors, and the 90Hz refresh rate all contribute to the stunning screen quality you can expect from the Redmi Note 11. Expect smooth scrolling between menus, a detailed view of colorful HD images, and equally detailed HD movies. No HDR support, but overall, the screen looks stunning.

 

Great battery life

The next thing we like is the battery life. You get a massive 5000mAh battery that can power up the phone the whole day on a single charge and even more hours on moderate use. The phone comes with a 33W charger that can charge up the phone from 0 to 100% in a little over an hour. It’s good that you get a charger on the purchase though, and the battery life is the least of your worries. No wireless charging but that’s expected when you get a budget phone.

   

Acceptable main camera

The smartphone comes with a quad-lens rear camera that is made up of a 50MP wide lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth lens. For those who like taking selfies, the phones come with a single 13MP wide lens that’s good enough for video calls and of course taking selfies. In terms of photo quality, they look good. Could be better but are acceptable. 

 

Low budget price

Since it’s a budget phone, expect to pay less than US$300 for the Redmi Note 11. That’s a great price if you ask me. If you click on the link now you can see it for yourself. 

 

What We Don’t Like

 

Limited network capabilities

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is only available with 4G network capabilities. This means no 5G network capabilities like other standard 5G budget smartphones of today.

 

Mediocre performance

There are so many reasons not to like the performance of the Redmi Note 11. Firstly, it comes with an older Snapdragon processor released in late 2021. It performs well but it comes with a number of limits, such as it only supports 1080p video recordings and supports 4G network capabilities. Next, the Adreno GPU is equally outdated, but it can run games. But the benchmark scores are not looking too good. So that says a lot about gaming performance.  

 

Back & side view of the Graphite Gray Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

 

No 4K video recording

One of the worse things with the Redmi Note 11 in the camera department is that you can only record 1080p videos. No 4K video recording feature here, thanks to the limiting features you get from the Snapdragon processor chip.  

 

Disappointing ultra-wide & night mode

As for the camera, the Redmi Note 11 takes acceptable photos during the day. Digital zoom also looks okay. However, it fails with the ultrawide camera and in low-light areas. Ultrawide photos don’t look very good as the photos show a loss of color and lacking detail. If you like taking photos, stick to taking them during the day using the main camera option.

 

Missing features from the MIUI 13 OS

If that’s not enough, the MIUI 13 OS is missing a few widgets that are not available in other current smartphones. The reason is that the OS is based on Android 11 which is also outdated. Let’s hope in the future there will be an update to fix the current OS issues.    

 

Verdict

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 is a budget smartphone. It’s well designed with good durability, has a great quality screen, good battery life, lots of accessories and features upon purchase, and comes at a good budget price. Unfortunately, the smartphone falls flat with the overall limits in performance, lacking in camera quality, limited video features, and network capabilities. 

It’s hard to recommend the Redmi Note 11 because it’s a budget smartphone and it does come with limitations. Another reason is that the cons outweigh the pros, which to me, the major con is the lack of performance, which is a shame. Should you buy it?

Bottom line, if you’re looking for a smartphone for limited or moderate use like making or taking calls, or web browsing and video streaming on Youtube or Netflix, then yes. I recommend you get the Redmi Note 11. But if you want a smartphone that has the latest specs and features, like a 5G network, and good software experience, and a good camera, then, No. I suggest you look elsewhere.   

Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts on Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 smartphone? How has your experience been thus far? Please comment below with answers or even more questions. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. And if you have a good feeling about this phone, don’t ignore it. Take advantage of the price on offer and purchase it now, by clicking here or clicking on the button on the top of the review. 

 

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Review: Is it Worth the Price?

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You must feel frustrated all the time when you work on your laptop, knowing that it will take you hours to finish typing a simple 1-page document. Don’t get me wrong. Budget laptops tend to perform well at first, but after a while, they tend to get slower and start to freeze most of the time, which affects the performance. If that’s your case, you are not alone. Let me introduce to you the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. It’s Microsoft’s budget-value laptop that can do everything you need without you paying so much. But is it really worth it? Let’s see from this review.

 

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

Introducing the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

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Laptop specs

Display 12.4” PixelSense™ Display | 1536 x 1024 (148 PPI) | Aspect ratio 3:2 | 10-point multi-touch screen
Processor Quad-core 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 Processor
Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Memory (RAM) 4GB, 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4x RAM
Storage Removable2 drive (SSD) options: 128GB, 256GB
Operating System (OS) Windows 11 Pro or Windows 10 Pro | Preloaded Microsoft 365 Apps| Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium, or Microsoft 365 Apps 1-month trial
Battery Life Up to 13.5 hours on moderate device usage
Input ports  1 x USB-C® | 1x USB-A | 3.5 mm headphone jack | 1 x Surface Connect port
Other Features 720 HD webcam (front-facing) | Dual far-field studio Mics | Omnisonic® Speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium | Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax compatible | Bluetooth® Wireless 5.1 technology | Ambient light sensor | 2.48 lbs (1,127 g) weight

Reason to Buy

  • Large and fast storage 
  • Good performance
  • Great battery life
  • Bright touch screen
  • Other great features

Reason not to Buy

  • High price
  • No backlit keyboard
  • Low memory from entry model
  • Limit input ports available

Overview

 

The new Surface Laptop Go 2 from Microsoft is a slim, lightweight, and touchscreen budget laptop that has been improved from its predecessor. It comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, storage options starting from 128GB to 256 GB, and memory options starting from 4GB up to 16GB of RAM.

On the outside, all models come with a 12.4-inch PixelSense touch screen, with slim display bezels, small keypad buttons, and a touchpad. All this is encased in a combination of an aluminum-plastic body that makes weighs 2,5 pounds (1,1 kg). In the box, you get the Surface Go 2 laptop with a 39W power supply.

   

What’s to Like

 

Large and fast storage

The entry model starts you off with a better, fast-loading solid-state drive with 128GB of storage rather than the 64GB from the older model. That’s awesome because it helps to provide faster loading of Windows and other apps installed in the system.  

 

The front and side view of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

 

Good performance

The best thing about the Surface Laptop Go 2 is that it comes with an upgraded 11th Gen Intel i5 processor. It’s not the best but it provides all the necessary power to perform fast and help you get the job done. I have not experienced any performance problems thus far here.

Between opening tabs, and minimizing apps, the performance remains constant which is a good thing. The Intel Iris graphics also performs well with light casual gaming and video editing. Keep it to the minimum. Open one or two apps, and you’ll have no performance issues.     

 

Great battery life

Another great thing is the battery life. Upon testing, the Surface Laptop Go 2 managed to go up to 15 hours on a single charge. That to me is really amazing. 

  

Bright touch display

As for the display, the Surface Laptop Go 2 comes with a 12.4-inch touch screen that displays vibrant colors and good brightness. The sad thing is that the screen resolution is 1536 x 1024, which means it’s not full HD, so it’s not as detailed. But the screen still looks good though and works well.  

 

Other great features

There are other great features you need to be aware of. Firstly, if you’re a freelancer or like working on the go, then this laptop is perfect for you. It’s really slim, lightweight and portable so you can carry it where ever you go. With the long battery life, you won’t need to carry a power supply with you.

Another feature is the sound quality of the laptop, which is not bad either. You won’t see any speaker grilles as they are hidden underneath the keypad, but the sound comes out clear, not great but good enough to hear. If you’re not satisfied with the sound, you can always insert headphones as the laptop does include a headphone jack.

 

Side view of the slim and lightweight Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

 

The next feature, for those who work remotely, the laptop comes with a 720p webcam from the previous model but comes with better contrast and color saturation. At least it’s better than the older model, and it also works well. 

Another great feature to mention is the system’s fan noise has been greatly reduced. On daily moderate use, the Surface Laptop Go 2 works quietly, even for daily tasks such as typing or browsing the internet. But it will start to roar if you decide to do a lot more multitasking.      

 

What’s not to Like

 

High budget price

The entry model starts at a price range between US$600 and US$700. That’s a high price for a budget laptop if you ask me. But with all the great features you’re getting, it’s worth it.   

 

No backlit keyboard

The fact that it does not have a backlit keypad is quite disappointing. You’re going to need to constantly work inside a well-lit room plus it would look even awesome. Yet budget laptops do come with compromises, and this is one of them. 

 

The front view of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

 

Low 4GB RAM Memory

If it’s better performance you’re looking for with a budget laptop, I suggest getting the 8GB RAM model. Yes, it will be more expensive but the laptop will perform better for you. So upon purchase, make sure that it’s the 8GB RAM Surface Laptop Go 2. 

 

Limit input ports available

If you’re looking for a budget laptop with many input ports, you won’t find it here. They may be few but you get the essential input ports here. If it’s not enough you can always get a USB hub that provides more input ports.   

 

Verdict

 

So, lemme ask this question once more, is the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 worth the price? In my opinion, I think it is worth it. Looking at what you are getting, you’re getting a great-performance laptop, with good storage and memory, great battery life, a good-looking HD touch screen, and good looks as well. Fact that it’s a budget laptop, there are going to be some compromises but in this instance, the good outweighs the bad. That’s why recommend this laptop to you. 

 

Back and side view of the white Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

 

If you’re a student, a freelancer, or just like working on the go, then this is the perfect laptop for you. It has all the performance, power, and everything you need to help you meet all your daily needs.

 

Click here to see the best budget laptops on offer right now! 

 

Now that you know a lot more about the Surface Laptop Go 2, what’s your take on this new laptop? Is it a laptop worth saving for? What other budget laptops are you looking to get? Please comment below with answers or even more questions. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

 

Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition Review: Is It Worth Buying?

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When I first heard of the Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition, I imagined a gaming phone with top hardware similar to other top gaming phones from top brands. But was blown away because of its great features, like great performance, battery life, and the amazing price of the phone. If you don’t believe me, then check out my review of the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition smartphone.  

 

Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition

All design colors from Shadow Black, Ice-Chop, Silver-Wing Gray and AMG F1

See Price Here!

Phone specs

Display 6.67 inches, OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio
Storage, Memory 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
Chip Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Octa-core (1×3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Adreno 730
Operating System Android 12, MIUI 13
Main Camera, Video 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73″, 0.8µm, PDAF | 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR
Selfie Camera, Video 20 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR
Battery Li-Po 4700 mAh, non-removable | Fast charging 120W, 100% in 17 min (advertised) | 
Other Features Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, color spectrum | Black, Gray, Blue, AMG | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE | 210 g (7.41 oz) | 
Release 2022, February 16
Retail Price Click Here!

Reason to buy

  • Snappy gaming performance 
  • Unique design
  • Most affordable gaming smartphones
  • Large display with 120Hz
  • Large battery
  • Decent JBL-powered quad stereo speakers
  • Great heat management
  • Takes decent pictures

Reason to avoid

  • No water resistance
  • No MicroSD slot
  • No headphone jack
  • The highest storage available is 256GB

Overview

This is the Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition, the gaming smartphone that comes with a 6.67-inch OLED 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 64 MP triple camera lens, and a flashy design that makes it look unique and authentic. 

Under the hood, it includes a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, 8 or 12 GB of RAMset, 128 or 256GB of storage, and a large 4700mAh battery. All this runs on an MIUI 13 based on the Android 12 OS. In the box, you get the Redmi K50 GE smartphone, a USB-C cable, a 120W phone charger, a quick-start guide, and a plastic phone cover. 

 

What we like

Unique Design

The design is flashy but overall nice to look at. It looks unique with its two-color variants at the rear, especially the blue. If you’re looking for a more simple, casual color scream then the silver and back are more for you. It’s protected by a strong Gorilla Glass Victus in front, with a glass back, and encased with an aluminum frame.

Overall, the design looks great and caters to all who want either something flashy or a more casual look. The Redmi K50 GE is available in four flashy colors: Ice-Chop Blue, Silver-Wing Gray, Shadow Black, and a color called the “AMG F1”. 

 

Rear side view of the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition

 

Stunning Display

The display is large at 6.67 inches. It comes with an OLED Full HD screen resolution, good brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate. You can expect some stunning visuals in great detail, good color accuracy, and smooth performance as you glide your finger between menus.      

 

Fast Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition is a gaming phone after, so yes, it has to perform at its peak when it comes to gaming. And yes it does. The graphics look awesome here. The Adreno 730 GPU really shows off the graphics of games with clear, detailed, and great color accuracy. The gameplay is also fast and snappy thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. The phone does get hot after prolonged gaming sessions but is controlled by a cooling system 

 

Decent Camera

The overall camera takes decent pictures and videos. The main 64MP camera takes stunning photos taking great detail and color. The ultrawide camera looks okay but not as detailed as the main camera. Portraits come out great as well especially if you like taking selfies.  The K50 GE records up to 4K videos at 60fps, which looks great overall and the selfie as well takes great videos as well.

 

Battery Life

The Redmi K50 GE smartphone comes with a 4700mAh battery that supports fast charging. Included in the box is a 120W charger that can charge up the phone from 0 to 100% in less than 25 minutes. Now that’s fast charging compared to other brands. No worries about battery life because you 

 

Price

This top-performance gaming smartphone has all the specs of other top brands. The starting price of the Redmi K50 GE (8GB RAM, 128GB) ranges between US$500 and US$550. It’s quite expensive but not as high as other top-brand gaming smartphones. That’s great value, making it one of the least expensive gaming smartphones.  

 

Other Features

Other features to mention. First, the pop-up magnetic gaming trigger buttons sit on the right side of the phone. There’s a switch that makes the triggers pop up whenever you are ready for gaming. It’s no gaming smartphone if it doesn’t have those button triggers. Next are the JBL-powered stereo speakers that deliver good decent sound.  

 

What we don’t like

There is no headphone jack included, no microSD slot to expand storage, and no water resistance so it’s not a good idea to immerse it into water. The highest storage available is 256GB, so no 512GB or 1TB models. 

 

Verdict

At this great price, you get the awesome Xiaomi Redmi K50 Gaming Edition, with a good-looking display, fast and snappy performance for daily use and gaming, long battery life and takes good overall photos and videos. The design is a nice touch, but not everyone will find it appealing. And let’s not forget you get a 120W phone charger in the box.

 

Front view of the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition

 

Most smartphones nowadays don’t have the headphone jack and microSD slot, especially the top smartphones. But since the movement is Bluetooth-connected earphones and access to online cloud storage it’s not really a bad thing.

Yet overall, the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition is in line to be one of the best gaming smartphones ever released this year, and one I definitely recommend to all gamers who like to game on the go.   

 

Close-off

So if you are a gamer, and gaming is your thing, and don’t wanna spend too much more, then the Redmi K50 Gaming Edition is the gaming smartphone for you. Thank you for checking out my review of this awesome gaming smartphone. If you have any comments to add, or questions to ask, then leave them below and I will answer them as soon as possible. 

So you’ve seen the review and like what the Redmi K50 offers. Don’t waste any more time.  Click here or click the button on top to find out more, see what is on offer, and buy it if you so desire.   

 

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Review: Is It Really Worth Your Money?

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Have you wasted hundreds of dollars, or even euros on top flagship smartphones only to use not even half of their features? Do you want an affordable one that’s simple to use and costs you less? If so, welcome. You’ve come to the right place. Let me introduce to you the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G smartphone. It’s affordable, fast, and lasts days on a single charge. But is it worth your money? Let’s find out more about this smartphone from this review.

 

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Front & rear view of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Click for Price

 

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G Specs

Display 6.5″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 pixels
Processor Exynos 1280 (5nm), Mali-G68 GPU
Storage, RAM 128GB 4GB, 128GB 6GB, 128GB 8GB, 256GB 6GB, 256GB 8GB
Operating System Android 12, One UI 4.1
Main Camera, Video Quad sensor | 64MP, f/1.8 (wide) | 12MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | 5MP, f/2.4 (macro) | 5MP, f/2.4 (depth) | up to 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps
Selfie Camera, Video 32MP, f/2.2 (wide) | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | HDR
Battery Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable, fast charging at 25W
Other Specs Black, White, Blue, Peach Colors | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot and Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE | weighs 189 g / 6.67 oz / 0.42 pounds | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection 
Released 17 March 2022
Retail Price Click here!

Reason to Buy

  • Large 5000mAh battery
  • Fast & snappy performance
  • Good design with a great choice of colours
  • Delivers decent gaming graphics
  • Water & dust resistance
  • Good quality display
  • Expandable storage available
  • Takes good pictures & videos

Reason Not to Buy

  • Slow charging speed
  • No charger in the box
  • No headphone jack
  • Price quite high

 

 

Overview

So what is this so-called Samsung Galaxy A53 5G smartphone? Well, It’s a mid-range smartphone that comes with a gorgeous 6.5-inch touchscreen with a teardrop front-facing camera on top. On the back, it includes a quad-camera lens with a flash and a hard plastic back cover. All are encased in a hard plastic frame.

 

Rear view of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

 

Inside, the Galaxy A53 is the 8-core Exynos processor powered by a large 5000mAh battery. You can choose from the 128GB storage 4GB RAM model, up to the 256GB storage 8GB model. Did I mention you can expand storage using microSD? I guess not. Well, the A53 includes an optional microSD slot to increase your storage. So what do you inside the box? Well, you get the Galaxy A53 smartphone, the quick user guide, the ejector pin, and the USB-Type C charger cable. No charger.

  

What we like

Good Battery Setup

So the Galaxy A53 comes with a large 5000mAh battery that gives you a battery life of up to 4 days and 17 hours on moderate use on a single charge. That’s pretty good if you think about it.

 

Good Performance

The Galaxy A53 performs great overall. As you navigate and move between menus with your finger, it feels smooth and really snappy. Overall, the A53 performs well and is a good device for daily use. If you like to play mobile games then the A53 is also for you. The overall graphics and gameplay on 3D games look and feel decent for a quick gaming session.     

 

Display and Design

The Galaxy A53 comes with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1080 x 2400 pixels screen resolution. Overall, the display looks stunning. The screen delivers good quality HD images and videos in stunning detail, with vibrant colours, and good accuracy. In terms of the phone design, it looks good overall with a good choice of colours for you to choose from. The build material used is plastic but it’s very durable with the tough Gorilla glass in front, and the water/dust resistance.     

 

Other Features

The Galaxy A53 has other great features worth mentioning. Firstly, the smartphone has an IP67 rating meaning that it is water and dust-resistant. The last feature is the smartphone includes a MicroSD slot which means that you can expand your storage by inserting a nano SD card.    

 

Front and Back view of the Blue Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

 

Good camera 

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G smartphone comes with a 4-sensor main camera that includes:

  • 64MP (f/1.8) wide camera
  • 12MP (f/2.2) ultrawide camera
  • 5MP (f/2.4) macro camera
  • 5MP (f/2.4) depth camera

Overall, the photos from the main camera look decent. The detail is good, colours look bright, and vibrant, especially from taking day photos. Switch to the 64MP camera, and the photos look much finer and sharper.

For video recording, the Galaxy A53 delivers 1080p videos at 30 to 60 fps (frames per second), and 4K quality videos at 30 fps. The overall quality is good. The videos are in good detail, especially from 1080p videos at 60 fps. 

Do you like taking selfies? Good cos this phone comes with a 32MP (f/2.2) wide camera and videos up to 4K quality videos at 30 fps. As for the photos and videos, they look decent overall with good detail.

Although the camera produces great photos and videos, the zoom function is there but loses detail after 2x. And nighttime photos are lacking in detail. But I guess there are compromises if you decide to get a mid-range smartphone.

 

 

What we don’t like

Slower Battery Charge

The Galaxy A53 may have a large battery, a good battery life, and supports fast charging, but the charging speed isn’t that great. Charging the A53 smartphone, you are looking at a full charge, from zero to 100%, taking roughly 1 hour 30 minutes using a 25W charger. It’s not bad but compared to other charging speeds on other phones like let’s say a Galaxy S22 smartphone, on a 25W charger, it takes roughly 1 hour to fully charge. Maybe because it’s a mid-range smartphone. 

 

High Price

The Galaxy A53 comes with a price range between US$330 (R5000) and US$450 (R6999). That’s starting from the 4GB 128GB base model, which is still a good performer. But I recommend getting the 6GB 128GB model as it has good memory and there is always the option to increase storage with a microSD. If you want to consider alternatives because of the price, then try the Galaxy S20 FE or the Redmi Note 9S. They are much cheaper, have decent performance, and have great battery life as well.     

 

Front & side view of the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

 

No Phone Charger 

Nowadays it’s normal for Samsung to not offer a charger and headphones when you buy any Galaxy smartphone. Even iPhone does not as well, but you can use your older charge or purchase a new one. 

 

Verdict

So what can I say about the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G? Well, it’s a great mid-range smartphone overall. The design is flashy and stylish. The display produces great views. The camera takes great daytime photos and videos. The performance is solid and it has great battery life.I like that it comes with an expandable storage slot too. With these great features, it’s a smartphone worth recommending.

But let’s not forget. It’s a mid-range smartphone, so the phone will come with compromises. To me, the price may be high but it’s a fair price for what you are getting. If it’s expensive or above your budget, then consider looking at alternatives.

 

Front & rear view of the White Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

 

Is it worth your money? I most definitely think so. Is it the best mid-range smartphone ever? Nope. Not really. It does have good specs but not enough to be the best. If you want a simple yet trendy smartphone that can do most of what other top-range smartphones can do, then the Galaxy A53 is for you.       

Wow. That was a lot, I know. But I hope you have a pretty good idea of the good and the not-so-good features, and things you can do with the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G smartphone. If you’ve decided to try this mid-range smartphone, why not click here or the button above to find out more, such as the price and purchase options? But before you do that, I would like to know your thoughts on the Galaxy A53, after reading the review. Is it worth your money? Do you like the features on offer? If you have any questions or views, please comment on the post below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Preview: New Surface Go

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Introducing the new Surface Laptop Go 2. The next Surface laptop from Microsoft. Due for release in mid-June 2022, here’s a quick preview of what to expect.

 

 

Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2

 

Preorder now!

Tech Specs

Display 12.4” PixelSense™ multi-touch screen | 1536 x 1024 (148 PPI) resolution | 3:2 aspect ratio | 330 nits max brightness
Memory 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4x RAM
Processor 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7
Storage 128GB or 256GB removable SSD 
Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Operating System Windows 11 Home
Input ports, connections 1 × USB-A | 1 x USB-C®  | 3.5 mm headphone jack | 1 × Surface Connect port | WiFi 6, 802.11ax compatible | Bluetooth® Wireless 5.1
Misc 720p HD f2.0 camera (front-facing) | Dual far-field Studio Mics | Omnisonic Speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium | Weighs 1.1g | Up to 13,5 hours battery life (as advertised)
Release date: 14 June 2022
Starting price: SG$999.00 / US$728.24 / ZAR11,246.76

 

 

Overview

Microsoft is releasing a new surface laptop called the Surface Laptop Go 2. From first impressions, it looks pretty, with a sleek platinum white finish, a 12.4-inch HD touch screen, and a stunning keyboard layout with a large mouse pad. In terms of the internal specs, the Surface Laptop Go 2 will include an 11th generation Intel Core i5 processor, with either a 4GB or 8GB of memory, internal storage of either 128GB or 256GB, and an Intel Iris Xe graphics processor. 

In terms of connectivity WiFi and Bluetooth is available, and input ports include a USB-C, USB-A, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a ‘Surface Connect’ port. A 720 HD webcam is available for meetings and video conferencing. The audio speakers are powered by ‘Dolby Audio’ which is situated at the base of the laptop underneath. 

What you get in the box is the following: 

  • Surface Laptop Go 2
  • 39W Power Supply
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Safety and warranty documents

 

 

Verdict

Starting at under US$1000 this is a laptop for those who work remotely. It’s lightweight and portable so you can move around with it at ease. The laptop looks stunning. The platinum finish makes it look elegant and professional. The touchscreen display looks good. It’s an HD display with a 1024p screen resolution yet the display quality looks impressive with clear and good color accuracy. 

 

The front view of the new Surface Laptop Go 2

 

In terms of performance, the Surface Laptop Go 2 includes an Intel Core i5 processor that expects to perform your daily tasks well. The memory or RAM available is sufficient enough as long as you don’t leave apps and documents on standby that will end up slowing the Surface laptop.

The 8GB of RAM is a better choice as it allows you to store more apps in memory. With internal storage, you get either 128GB or 256GB SSD, which is a fast-loading drive than HDD. For now, there’s no mention of getting bigger storage.

The Surface Laptop Go 2 is not a gaming laptop. The current specs don’t support popular commercial games because they need a higher grade of hardware spec. You can get away with light gaming apps. As advertised, the battery life of the Surface Laptop Go 2 will last up to 13,5 hours.

 

The rear and side view of the Surface Laptop Go 2.

 

For now, it will depend on testing the device to determine the actual battery life, but usually, portable laptops from Microsoft, especially Surface models, come with more than 7 hours of battery life. Input ports are not so many but there is the option of getting a USB Hub. The sound output may be adequate since they are situated underneath.

With the design, the hardware specs, the battery life, and other features, the Surface Laptop Go 2 overall looks to be a great laptop for daily tasks. The long battery life and the lightweight make it perfect for freelance and corporate individuals who like to be on the move.

The specs are similar to that of other budget laptops yet the price is quite high. To find out more or preorder the new Surface Laptop Go 2 click here or the button above. Thank you for checking out this preview. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

 

Sniper Elite 5 Review: Is it Really Worth Your Time?

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So when last did you play a sniper elite game? The last release was back in 2017 with Sniper Elite 4. Now this year we have Sniper Elite 5, the latest release of the sniper elite series in 2022. It promises to be fun, with more customization options and other gameplay features. Let’s see more from the review. 

 

Sniper Elite 5

Available on PC, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S/One

 

Click to see more!

 

Overview

 

 

You once again play Karl Fairburne, an elite sniper soldier who’s on a mission to uncover a top-secret project by the German Nazis called Operation Kraken. For those who are new to the series, it’s a third-person espionage/shooter where you use the environment such as load noises to kill your foes using your trusty sniper rifle.

There’s a lot waiting for you to experience in this game, which includes:

  • An expansive campaign using real-world locations
  • More realistic and better kills thanks to the trademark x-ray kill cam 
  • Ease of traversal from using zip lines, to shimming along ledges
  • Weapons customization at workbenches to upgrade weapons
  • Invade another player’s campaign or co-op in multiplayer mode

The overall story took me about 20 hours to complete, and even more if you replay the missions to uncover and unlock missed objectives and rewards. 

 

Get into cover shooting Nazis in Sniper Elite 5.

 

My favorite aspect of the game is the immense gameplay and overall graphics of the game. It’s fun to kill Nazis soldiers and see their bodies taking damage from the bullet passing through their heads, or rupturing their hearts or lungs or other body parts. Note the game is rated M for mature with a 17+, so it’s definitely not for kids. If you wanna see more, check out the gameplay clip. 

  

 

What We Like

 

Great gameplay

The best thing about Sniper Elite 5 is the gameplay, from the spectacular and gory sniper kill cams to the fluent movements of our sniper protagonist. The sniper kills look even more spectacular on the PS5. They are surprisingly detailed and fun to watch. If it’s too gory, you can easily disable it in the options menu.

He has abilities at his disposal, such as a Focus ability (much like Last of Us) where you can spot enemies through walls, and also find tools like crowbars, bolt cutters, and satchel bombs to use during missions. You can even upgrade your skills using a 3-tier skill and learn new abilities such as increased health, equip more items or increase in ammo slots, or even move quicker while crouched in Focus mode. 

Our protagonist, Fairburne, is more enjoyable to control since he is now more agile and daring than before. Despite the fact that every stalk through a heavily guarded area begins with a silent crouch-walk, once the noise level increases, you are now capable of moving quickly over low walls and through windows, gaining some distance with a zipline, climbing vines and rope netting, or sliding down slopes to break the line of sight and regroup for a counterattack.

The open-level design generally made it such that I was less of a sitting duck and more of a sniping Spider-Man, even if there were times when I was forced to shoot my way out with my back to the wall.

 

Hold your breath as you ready your aim and take a shot.

 

The real shooting experience is much the same as in Sniper Elite 4. To bring these Nazis to a bloody end, you may still use binoculars to identify your targets, modify generators to mute the sounds of your gunfire, and take advantage of natural dangers like exploding barrels. Additionally, Sniper Elite 5 contains more unsightly headshots thanks to the X-ray kill cam that looks shockingly more realistic.

Each stage’s distinct assassinations are significantly more memorable, even if they occur accidentally. Instead of killing a target with your sniper rifle, you can also release and drop a chandelier from the ceiling or dip poison into the target’s drink and watch him die from it.

Killing targets with these actions reward you with more weapon customization options when next you find a workbench. Nevertheless, I appreciated the chance to engage targets with my holstered weapon, and I wished each map included more than one of these distinctive targets.  

One disappointing thing to note is that objectives in one mission tend to be recycled into the next. I can’t remember how many times I had to lay satchel charges on AA guns, snap wires to knock down radio towers or flip similar sets of pressure valves to shut down several industrial facilities. Once I saw how identical all of Sniper Elite 5’s side objectives felt, I lost interest in completing them all. 

 

Good-looking graphics

The game graphics look good overall. From the grounds and extravagant interior of the ‘Chateau de Berengar’ mansion to the majestic cathedral atop a heavily guarded spy academy to the depths of the menacingly molten production areas of a Nazi war factory, Sniper Elite 5 is home to some truly expansive architecture that are each fascinating to explore.

There are certainly some amusingly lighthearted surprises to stumble across along the way, despite the nonstop killing and 2nd World War themes. I especially enjoyed pausing to hear and observe a group of Nazis struggling to learn how to speak like Americans — before I crept up to assassinate them.

 

New multiplayer features

I was able to try out both the new counter-op Axis Invasion game and the campaign co-op in multiplayer mode. Co-op synchronized kills are just as much fun as they were in Sniper Elite 4, but this time you and your teammate can work together a little better since you can exchange ammunition, medkits, and other mission-specific goodies like special room keys.

There is no doubt a compelling case to be made that playing Sniper Elite 5’s campaign in a two-player co-op is another great option.

 

Take down enemies undetected using either lethal or non-lethal kills.

 

The Axis invasion option, opened up new multiplayer options, such as playing as a Nazi sniper. Instead of using binoculars like the other player, the invading sniper may command other AI foes to temporarily increase their awareness by telling them to “look sharp.”

Although it would be convenient to be able to take a lift in one of the transport trucks that constantly roam around many of the maps rather than have to walk everywhere, based on the small taste I’ve had so far, I’m definitely eager to try out the mode more after launch. The sheer scale of Sniper Elite 5’s maps can make it difficult at times to track down your target.

 

 

What We Don’t Like

 

Minor game glitches

Sniper Elite 5 is a lot of fun. The gameplay is smooth and quick but it’s not a perfect game. There are minor glitches in the game such as enemy AI appearing stuck in walls, and stage objectives done but not being tracked. But these can be resolved with updates, as soon as you get your copy I recommend you download and install the latest update of the game.     

 

Get into the action and survive the fight in this action-packed Sniper Elite 5

 

Mediocre storyline

If you’re looking for a great storyline then you won’t find it here in Sniper Elite 5. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that the story is not engaging enough for players to really enjoy it (unless you like to see historical videos of the 2nd World War). The game cutscenes are satisfactory. The actions and voice acting are not groundbreaking but it’s there at least. Rather stick to enjoying the gameplay because that’s the main strength of Sniper Elite 5.

 

 

Verdict

 

Sniper Elite 5 feels like the series needs to start setting its sights a little higher and find ways to avoid repeating the same handful of objectives so frequently. The story isn’t really engaging and there are minor but noticeable glitches.

But with Fairburne’s upgrade in agility and abilities, improved gameplay and co-op, weapons customization options, and the Axis Invasion multiplayer mode, Sniper Elite 5 is a satisfying game that still holds 1st place for grossly killing Nazis from headshots down to their nether regions.

So what’s your opinion of this game? Is it worth picking up? Please leave your comments below, and if you have any questions then leave them below as well and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If the Sniper Elite 5 grabs your interest, then do yourself a favor, click the link here or the button above to learn more about it, and purchase it if you want.       

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Review: Bigger & Better

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Thinking of getting yourself the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus smartphone? If you’re looking for more info before you buy, then you’ve come to the right place. It promises to be better than the Samsung S22 and older Samsung S21 Plus. Does it really meet up to your expectations? Let’s find out more from the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus review. 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

 

Front and rear view of the Phantom Black Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

Click Here

Specifications

Display 6.6 inches Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1750 nits (peak), 1080 x 2340 pixels
CPU, GPU Exynos 2200 (4 nm) CPU, Xclipse 920 GPU – Europe | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) CPU, Adreno 730 GPU – International 
RAM, Storage 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM
OS Android 12, One UI 4.1
Main Camera, Video 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS | 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″ 1.4µm, Super Steady video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Front Camera, Video 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Battery Li-Ion 4500 mAh, non-removable | Fast charging 45W | wireless charging 15W | Reverse wireless charging 4.5W
Other Build: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs + eSIM, dual stand-by) | Fingerprint (under the display, ultrasonic) | Colors: Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, Cream

Reason to Buy

  • Larger 6.6-inch screen
  • Larger 4500 mAh battery
  • Faster & better performance
  • Nice range of colors
  • Great camera features

Reason to Avoid

  • Pricey
  • Same design as the predecessor

 

Overview

 

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is the next entry into the S22 series of smartphones. It comes with a 6.6-inch Full-HD display, with 1080p screen resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Each S22 Plus either comes with 128GB 8GB or 256GB 8GB. It also includes a 50MP Triple-lens camera to take high-quality pictures and 8K videos, a large 4500 mAh battery, and a good collection of colours such as Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, and Green (more trendy color options when ordering online).

So what do you get in the box? You get the:

  • S22 Plus smartphone
  • Quick start user guide
  • USB Type-C cable
  • Ejector tool

Phone chargers are sold separately. 

 

 

What We Like

 

Gorgeous Display

Firstly, there’s the large 6.6-inch display with Full HD and a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes scrolling the S22 Plus menus smoother. The screen looks amazing. It has good color accuracy with crisp, and sharp images and clear HD videos. It really looks good, although the same screen tech as the S21 Plus but a little brighter.

 

Large Battery

Next, the phone is powered by a 4500 mAh battery that supports fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse charging. Upon testing, we have concluded that the phone’s battery life goes up to 4 days and 1 hour on moderate usage. Not bad for the S22 Plus.

 

All the colours available for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

 

Phone Colors

There’s a great range of colours to choose from when purchasing the S22 Plus. Even more of them are available on the Samsung website upon purchase. At retail colors are Phantom Black, White, Green, Pink Gold, and Green. The others are Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, and Cream which are online available for purchase on the Samsung website.

 

Fast Performance

The Samsung S22 range of smartphones is running the same processing 4nm chip, with European countries getting the Exynos 2200 with the Xclipse 920 GPU, and the rest of the world getting the Snapdragon 8 Gen chip with the Adreno 730 GPU. Compared to the S21 Plus, which includes a 5nm chip, the S22 Plus has a better, and faster chip which improves the overall performance.        

 

Triple Camera Upgrade

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus has a new camera setup with a 50 MP wide camera, a 12 MP ultrawide camera, and a 10 MP telephoto camera with 3 times optical zoom, which is an upgrade from the S21 Plus of 12 MP. Expect even more good quality pictures and videos here which upon testing the S22 Plus produces excellent high-quality pictures are video. 

 

 

What We Don’t Like

 

High Price

If you’re looking to buy this phone expect to pay a lot of money for it. The S22 Plus starts at the price range of between US$749 – US$1000. That’s a steep price. So start saving up some money now or get the Samsung S22 or the Samsung S21 Plus. Check out my reviews. 

 

The back and side view of the Pink Gold Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

 

Phone Design

The S22 Plus uses the same design as the older S21 Plus, which still looks good. The different new colors also add to the flare as well but in the end, there’s no big change in the design department. If the design is more your thing then rather look at the new S22 Ultra, which has a whole new design in the S22 series.  

 

 

Verdict

 

Phantom Black Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus

 

In many ways, the Samsung S22 Plus is a great phone. Compared to the S22, it comes with a bigger display, and a bigger battery that delivers longer battery life, and better performance. Making it the upgraded and more powerful Samsung S22.

Compared to the older Samsung S21 Plus, the S22 Plus takes the cake thanks to the upgraded camera features and the overall better smartphone performance. Everything else leaves us consumers asking questions.   

Let me explain. The S21 Plus has a bigger screen which is not really an issue (as it produces the same high-quality display), and it also has a bigger 4800 mAh battery, which means it has more battery life. For this sake, I would recommend you get or keep your existing S21 Plus. For the performance and the camera features, I recommend you get the new S22 Plus. It all depends on what works for you. Not to forget to mention how expensive it is now.  

If the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus is not your expected smartphone of choice, then look at and consider these great alternatives: iPhone 13 Pro; Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus; and the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE. But if this is most definitely your smartphone of choice, click here to find out how to purchase it

Thank you for checking out my review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus. If you have any questions or wish to add comments, then scroll down below and leave them here below. I will try my hardest to answer your queries as soon as possible. All the best to you. Keep well and stay safe until next time.  

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Phone Review: The Faster Galaxy S21

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Nowadays we all wonder if it’s a good idea to change our smartphones every single year, as newer and better ones are released with better specs every time. But if consistency is more to your liking, and also sticking to your preferences, then switching from the Galaxy S21 to the new Samsung Galaxy S22 phone is a great idea.  

Why do you ask? Well, the Galaxy S22 promises to deliver better performance, a better camera, and a better display than its predecessor. The thing is there are usually slight improvements which one begins to question if it’s worth the buy or not. To answer that, let’s look at the review of the Samsung Galaxy S22. 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S22

Front and back view of the green Samsung Galaxy S22 phone

 

Specs

Display 6.1 inches, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak), 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio
CPU & GPU CPU: Octa-core; Exynos 2200 (4 nm) – EUR; Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) – International; GPU: Xclipse 920 – EUR; Adreno 730 – International
RAM & Storage 8GB 128GB; 8GB 256GB
OS Android 12, One UI 4.1
Main Camera Triple sensor, 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.94″, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55″ 1.4µm, Super Steady video
Front Camera 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24″, 1.22µm, Dual Pixel PDAF
Video 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Battery Li-Ion 3700 mAh, non-removable, fast charging 25W, USB Power Delivery 3.0, fast wireless charging 15W, reverse wireless charging 4.5W
Colors Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green, (Graphite, Sky Blue, Violet, and Cream available online purchase)
Misc Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame; Single or Dual Nano Sim; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins); weighs 168g

(Source: GSMArena.com)

Click to see more!

 

Reason to Buy

  • Fast performance
  • Comes in really nice colors
  • Good quality display
  • Great camera experience with photos & videos
  • Good durability

Reason to Avoid

  • Smaller display
  • Short battery life
  • No microSD, headphone jack & charger
  • Same design as the S21

 

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S22 phone is the new entry-level model in the S22 series, which consists of two other models: Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra. The phone comes with a 6.1-inch display, with a 10MP teardrop camera at the top, and a 3-camera sensor at the back. It also includes a strong glass front and back with an aluminium frame. The design of the Galaxy S22 is taken from the Galaxy S21, which still looks awesome. Great colors too.  

Inside it comes with the latest and fastest Snapdragon or Exynos processor (depending on whichever region in the world you’re in), with 8GB of RAM, storage starting from 128GB up to 256GB, and a 3700mAh battery. What you get inside the box is the Galaxy S22 5G smartphone, a quick start guide, an ejection pin, and a USB Type-C data cable. No earphones. No charger. 

 

 

What’s to Like

 

The colors available with the Samsung Galaxy S22 phone

 

There’s so much to like about the new Samsung Galaxy S22 phone. Firstly. It’s fast. What I mean is, that it comes with a fast processing chip. Not only can it handle normal daily phone functions but also smooth scrolling between menus and website browsing.

Secondly. It comes with durable features such as a stronger glass front and back, water and dust resistance, and a strong aluminium frame. Next is the design. Sure the design is not the wow factor with entry models these days but the choice of colours, namely Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold, and Phantom Black makes the phone look good. I prefer the Phantom Black. 

Next is the camera. There are some improvements for you to note: 1) a 50MP wide camera; 2) enhanced picture quality for nighttime; 3) 3x optical zoom, and 4) video recordings at up to 8K quality. The S22 produces great pictures overall with excellent detail and lively colors. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S22 comes with great new features from the fast processor, to enhanced durability, to the camera features. 

 

 

What’s not to Like

 

Front and rear view of phantom black Samsung Galaxy S22 phone

 

The Samsung S22 comes with a smaller 6.1-inch display. Some of you may not like that, but the specs and technology are pretty much no different from the Samsung S21. So expect a similar quality display that delivers stunning views.  

The S22 comes with a smaller 3700mAh battery. Normally, you would expect a shorter battery life, and that would normally be the case. Yet still, you get a decent amount of battery life (up to 3,5 days on moderate usage). The problem is that other phones provide a bigger battery that offers even more battery life.

Lastly, there’s no drastic change in the design from the previous Galaxy S21. It looks the same. So if you’re expecting a drastic design, it’s not here. Luckily the colors make the phone look good. 

Overall, if the smaller battery, the smaller screen, and the design don’t appeal to you then try the older Galaxy S21 or the newer and improved Galaxy S22 Plus. Yet the Galaxy S22 is still a solid smartphone.   

 

 

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S22 phone is indeed the updated version of the Galaxy S21. The new features and improvements are there but are not groundbreaking, and innovative. I would say that Samsung is sticking to what works for this market segment, and maintaining consistency, which is a challenge in the consumer electronics market.

The only major thing worth noting is the drop in battery size to 3700mAh. The others are just minor faults that are easily overcome thanks to the overall phone’s quality features. That’s why I don’t recommend the Galaxy S22 for its battery life.

But everything else is still intact. I’m talking about the fast performance, the good camera features, and the excellent quality display. All these contribute to the overall improvements of the new Samsung Galaxy S22 phone. That’s why I recommend it.

Looking for great alternatives? Check out my reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S21, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Fan Edition, the iPhone 13, or the iPhone 12.  So what’s left for me to say is, that if you are looking for the latest and fast-performance entry-level smartphone, then look no further than the Samsung Galaxy S22. If you have any questions or comments then leave them here below at the bottom. I will respond to you as soon as I can. If everything else, click here to find out more and how you can get this amazing Samsung Galaxy S22 phone.

 

Top-Rated Budget Laptops to Buy Now

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So your budget is tight but you need a laptop due to natural or unforeseen circumstances. I know, it happens to all of us. But don’t fret. There are not only better but cheaper alternatives for you to look at. Without wasting any more time here are top-rated budget laptops you can choose and buy right now. Before we get there here are a couple of things you need to look out for when choosing a budget laptop.

 

What to Look Out For

 

First, get a budget laptop with a 10 or 15-inch screen. It must be between Full-HD (recommended) or an HD (least) screen resolution. They look good with great visuals and clear sharp images. Also, make sure that it’s 1366 x 768 (HD) or 1920 x 1080 (Full HD).

Next is the RAM or Random Access Memory. It pretty much means how many apps it can handle when you open up or leave apps on standby until it starts to lag or freeze. The least is 4GB of RAM, which each of these laptops below is included. 

Thirdly, is the storage. HDD is the least option. It’s slow loading but drops the laptop price. Whereas, there’s also SSD. It loads apps faster but makes the laptop more expensive. Also, the least storage to look out for is 64GB of storage that is available in Chromebooks or other normal laptops that goes up to 500GB of storage.  

The next is the operating system. Chromebooks come with Chrome OS and normal laptops come with Windows 10 or 11. They both work fine so either one is efficient as long as you have access to a good network to access apps for your work.

Then lastly another thing to look out for is battery life, will it last you a good 8 hours or more? Does it have input ports such as a headphone jack, one or more USB ports, and/or an HDMI port? Does it have a 720p HD webcam for meetings?  

I know these are a lot but it’s essential to look out for these things. Depending on what you are looking for in a budget laptop, if you take these things into consideration, you will have no problems with these laptops. With that said, hhere are the top-rated budget laptops recommended for you.

 

 

Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook

 

Front & side view of the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook

 

13.3″ Full HD Touchscreen | Qualcomm Snapdragon SC7180 | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 256GB SSD | Chrome OS | Wifi | 1080p webcam | 15 hours of battery life (as advertised)

SEE PRICE

 

Let’s start with the Duet 5 Chromebook. This is a 2-in-1 laptop-tablet, that comes with a 13.3-inch Full HD touch display, 4GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. And since it’s a Chromebook, it comes with Chrome OS. In terms of battery life you are looking at up to 15 hours (as advertised). That’s a lot on a single charge. The thing I like about this budget laptop is that it comes with a lot of extras. Such as a 1080p webcam, a detachable keypad, good portability, good battery life, and a rear 8MP camera for taking pictures. See anything better at this price? Definitely a good recommendation for students, freelancers on the go, and corporates.    

 

 

Microsoft Surface Go 3

 

Front & side view of the Microsoft Surface Go 3

 

10.5″ Pixel Sense Touch Display | Intel Pentium Gold 6500Y | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 64GB eMMC | Windows 11 | 11 hours battery life

SEE PRICE

 

Next is the Surface Go 3 from Microsoft. This is another 2-in-1 laptop-tablet that includes a 10.5-inch Full HD touch display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage, and comes with Windows 10 OS. With battery life, you are looking at 11 hours as advertised. Some things to note: it’s usually more expensive, comes with a smaller screen, less storage, and the keypad is sold separately, but it’s portable and has good battery life. Perfect for freelancers on the go.  

 

 

2020 HP Chromebook x360

 

Front view of the HP Chromebook x360

 

14″ Touchscreen | Intel Celeron N4020 | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 64GB HDD | Chrome OS | 13 hours battery life | WiFi | 720p webcam

SEE PRICE

 

Next is the HP Chromebook x360. This one comes with a 14-inch HD display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of HDD storage, and a Chrome OS. With battery life, you are looking at up to 13 hours as advertised. Either than the fact that it comes with small storage and its HDD so it loads apps slower, it also has a good-looking design with strong hinges for folding the display 360 degrees, a bigger display, and good battery life. Let’s not forget the affordable price. Perfect for students and freelancers on the go.        

 

 

Acer Aspire 5

 

Front view of the Acer Aspire 5

 

15.6″ Full HD Display | 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor | 4GB DDR4 RAM | 128GB NVMe SSD | WiFi 6 | Windows 10 Home (S Mode) | USB 3.2 Type-C, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 (1 Power-off Charging), USB 2.0, HDMI 2.0 with HDCP support, headphone/speaker/line-out jack, Ethernet | Up to 8 hours of battery life

SEE PRICE

 

Why is this one chosen as one of the top-rated budget laptops? Well, it comes with a 15-inch Full HD screen, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of SSD storage, Windows 10 Home, and a good number of input ports. The battery life you are looking at is up to 8 hours. This budget laptop I recommend because of its affordable price, good storage, and a good set of input ports. Compared to the others on the list it has the least battery life but what more can you ask for at this price? Perfect for students and corporate employees.    

 

 

Last Word

 

I know these are only a few laptops but these are the best options for you if you are on a limited budget. Choosing which to choose is up to you, and you will not go wrong with either of them. Thank you so much for coming this far. If you have any comments to say or questions to ask, check down here below and leave a comment. I will get back to you as soon as I’m able.

So what do you think of my choice of top-rated budget laptops? Is there one or two you feel should be on the list? What experience have you had with either one of them? If you need more information on these budget laptops click on the buttons above to review and the option to buy.  All the best to you in choosing your top-rated budget laptop. See you in the next article.

   

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022 Review: The Next Galaxy Note

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Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022 has finally arrived. With its hot new design and upgraded specs, it hopes to finish first place in the race against many other top-range smartphones. Speaking of other top-range smartphones, is better than its predecessor?  Is it really as great as we hope it to be? Before we can truly say that, let’s check out my review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

 

Front and back view of the green Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022

 

Click to See More!

 

Specifications

DISPLAY 6.8 inches, dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1440 x 3088 pixels
BUILD, WEIGHT, DIMENSIONS Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame | 229 g (8.04 oz) | 163.3 x 77.9 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
CPU & GPU Octa-core, Exynos 2200 (4 nm) – Europe, Qualcomm SM8450 / Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) – International |  Xclipse 920 GPU – Europe / Adreno 730 – International   
RAM & STORAGE 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM | 512GB 12GB RAM | 1TB 12GB RAM
OPERATING SYSTEM Android 12, One UI 4.1
MAIN CAMERA & VIDEO Quad camera | 108 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.33″, 0.8µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS | 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 10x optical zoom | 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 3x optical zoom | 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), Super Steady video | features LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama | up to 8K@24fps video, HDR10+
FRONT CAMERA & VIDEO Single-camera | 40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) | features Dual video call, Auto-HDR | up to 4K@30/60fps video
BATTERY Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable | Fast charging 45W | Fast wireless charging 15W | Reverse wireless charging 4.5W
MISC COLORS – Phantom Black, White, Burgundy, Green, Graphite, Red, Sky Blue | CONNECTIVITY – Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Bluetooth 5.2 | USB Type-C 3.2, USB On-The-Go | features IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | features Stylus, 2.8ms latency (Bluetooth integration) | Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (2 Nano-SIMs + eSIM, dual stand-by)

(Source: gsmarena.com)

Reason to Buy

  • Note 20 successor
  • Stunning design
  • Includes S Pen
  • Battery life is pretty good
  • Great camera features with great zoom
  • Great looking display 
  • Fast performance

Reason to Avoid

  • A tall 6.8-inch smartphone that may not fit in your pocket
  • Expensive
  • Slower fast charge
  • Less battery life than predecessor

 

Overview

 

 

I’m surprised that Samsung didn’t call this new top-tier smartphone a Note S22 (or something similar) because it definitely looks like one. I’m sure they have their reasons, but I guess they like the name ‘Ultra’, so they sticking to it. This is the top-range smartphone in the Galaxy S22 series. This one also comes with most of the top features and specs, just like the Galaxy S21 Ultra did last year in the S21 series.

On the outside, you will see a 6.8-inch display, with a single teardrop 40MP camera. At the back, there’s the 108MP main camera with four lenses to take pictures and videos. The exterior is covered in a tough glass covering back and front and encased in an aluminum frame. There’s also a new slot at the bottom section of the phone where you can pull out the S Pen. Pretty neat.  

Under the hood, is an 8-core 5G processor from Exynos or Snapdragon (region depending), a range choice of 8GB or 12GB of memory, and a range choice of 128GB to 1TB of storage. What you get in the box is the S22 Ultra smartphone, the S Pen stylus, a USB-Type C data cable, and an ejection pin. No brick charger plug and no earphones. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022 has some good specs that rival the other top-range smartphones in the market today. but what makes it tick? What do we like about this phone?      

 

 

What’s to Like

 

  • Stunning design
  • Includes S Pen
  • Battery life is pretty good
  • Great camera features with great zoom functionality
  • Great looking display 
  • Fast performance

 

Green, white, phantom black, and red Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022

 

We like the design of the S22 Ultra, even though it looks and feels like Samsung’s previous Note models. I guess you can say this is the new ‘Note S22’. It comes with round edges on the side, giving it a more premium look. It’s covered with tough glass and a strong aluminum frame exterior to improve durability. The phone includes 7 choices of colors to choose from. Overall. Great new design. Nice choice of colors. Great durability. 

Performance-wise, the S22 Ultra comes with the latest performance chips. As expected, the display moves seamlessly and smoother, with fast loading of apps, a fast load of web browsing, and an attractive user interface. From testing and benchmarking, the performance is fast, fluid, and smooth, which has become a  standard top-range feature for top-tier smartphones. 

Battery life is pretty good with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Upon testing, at moderate use, you’re looking at about 4 days and 12 hours before the battery runs flat. That’s pretty good battery life. Next is the display. So the S22 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inch screen, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1440p FHD+ screen resolution. You can’t help but be amazed.

The screen comes with good brightness, displaying detailed and sharp images and video, and good color accuracy. It makes it a joy to look at high-quality videos and images. Overall. Stunning display. In terms of the camera, the overall experience has been wonderful. During the day the pictures on a normal wide camera are detailed, with bright colors and great detail. The ultrawide images are good but there is some loss of detail.

The zoom function, however, is a great feature. you can zoom up to 3 times or even 10 times and the image quality still looks great. At low light, the camera takes stunning pictures with excellent detail. For video recording, the S22 Ultra can record up to 8K videos at 24fps. If you’re worried about storage then 4K videos are better off or FHD as they are even more smooth and more detailed. Overall. Impressive pictures and videos. 

    

What’s not to Like

 

  • A tall 6.8-inch smartphone that may not fit in your pocket
  • Slower fast charge
  • Less battery life than predecessor

The Samsung S22 Ultra comes with stunning features, but there are a few things that we must note about it. So here’s a list of what we don’t like about this phone. 

 

Front and side view of the sky-blue Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022

 

The S22 Ultra is a nice and tall phone. But it may be too large to fit in your pocket. If you like keeping it stored safely in your pocket, then this phone is not for you. Rather get a separate pouch to keep it safely stored on you. The battery life may be great with the S22 Ultra smartphone but the charging speed isn’t. With a 25W charger, in 30 minutes the phone is charged 61%, whereas with a 45W charger the phone is charged 60%. Not much difference there. It’s just disappointing that a 45W charger performs this way as we expected a faster charge speed than the 25W.

Sticking to the battery life, with the S22 Ultra you can get a good 4 days and 12 hours of battery life, whereas with the older S21 Ultra, on moderate use, you can get up to 4 days and 18 hours of battery life. You may be thinking it’s only a few hours difference but a few hours difference goes a long way.      

 

 

Verdict

 

Front and back view of the white Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022

 

All I can say is, well done Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is by far the best-looking, best-performing, and best features smartphone of 2022 so far. If this phone is the apple of your eye, or you plan to get it any time soon, then you’ve made a great choice. It would be nice to know there’s a 45W charger out there that outperforms the existing 25W charger in terms of charge speed. And the battery life difference between the S22 Ultra and the S21 Ultra may not seem much but it helps to have more. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a great smartphone to buy. I highly recommend it. Get it now, while stocks last.    

There are other great alternatives out there like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It’s last year’s model, but still the best. There’s also the older Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It’s 2 years older but a lot cheaper. Click on the links to check out my reviews. Thanks for checking out my review of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 2022. If you have questions, or you wish to leave a comment, please do so below. So if you like what you see, click here to check more, and experience one of the best smartphones of 2022.

 

Bandai Namco Elden Ring Review: Bigger, Fearsome, Better

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Introducing Bandai Namco Elden Ring, the biggest, most terrifying, but also one of the best video games ever created by FromSoftware. If you’re familiar with game titles such as Demon Souls, Bloodborne, and the Dark souls gaming franchise, you’ll have a better idea as to what you’re getting yourself into. A challenging but rewarding gaming experience.

For first-time players getting into the action RPG and souls genre, it’s a good idea for you to know what exactly what you’re getting yourself into. The developers from FromSoftware are known for making challenging video games, that test you mentally, and emotionally, and Elden Ring is no different. With that being said, I bring you my review of Elden Ring. 

 

 

Bandai Namco Elden Ring

 

Available on PS5, PS4, PC, and Xbox One / Series X

Get it at GameFly!

 

Reason to Buy

    • Open-world exploration to find dungeons, defeat foes & bosses
    • Awesome new gaming mechanics
    • Stunning graphic visuals with detailed environments & landscapes
    • Smooth & fluid gameplay with 80+ hours of gaming

Reason to Avoid

    • Challenging with no difficulty options
    • Occasional performance issues and bugs on PC version

 

 

Overview

 

 

You are Tarnished. You start off in a tomb after character creation and a beautiful intro cinematic. You encounter a mini-boss that kills you, then you wake up deep in a dungeon, where you go through a quick gaming tutorial then you fight another mini-boss. You win the fight.  You find a way out of the dungeon, then you finally see the vast world you need to explore.  What’s next is up to you. 

It’s an open-world, souls-genre, action RPG, where you explore this vast world, battling enemies,  and monsters, to get stronger. It comes with a deep storyline, with lots of dialogue, good cinematics, and new gaming mechanics. Those who have played previous gaming titles may spot similar gaming elements, like the same character animations, and the same character leveling system. But those are some of the many things that make FromSoftware such a great gaming developer. 

It promises plenty of hours of gameplay, lots of weapons and magic spells to find and defeat your foes, and a massive map to explore.     

 

Fight lesser foes and bosses to learn spells and get legendary weapons.

 

There’s also an online multiplayer mode, where you can invade other characters’ worlds to battle or join them to help them fight tough enemy bosses. Overall, it’s a tough action RPG. It includes great graphics, great gameplay, and long hours of gameplay, and comes with newer gaming mechanics which will come later on. 

 

 

What We Like

 

So what’s to like about this? Well, lots of things. Firstly, Elden Ring is available for next-gen consoles and PC.  From my playthrough, I was blown away by how good-looking the graphics were. From the detailed day-to-night sky to the detailed NPCs and enemy AI, the graphics look stunning with awesome visuals, detailed landscapes, and environments.

Next is the gameplay. I was amazed at how fluid and the smoothness of the gameplay were, especially the overall character, enemy, and other gaming animations. The music and sound effects are livelier than ever. It just made boss battles more epic. 

Then there are the new gaming mechanics that include:

  • Open-world to exploration using a magical mount
  • Crafting items on the go to help you in combat
  • More weapons, magic, and accessories to discover
  • More epic boss fights to beat & strengthen your character

 

Explore and encounter massive ground and flying beasts.

 

And lastly, the game will take you more than 80+ hours to complete. I’ve played for over 50 hours and am still nowhere close to the finish. There’s just so much to explore, so many enemies and bosses to defeat, and not to mention there are so many powerful items to find. If you like this type of game, then, believe me, you’ll enjoy every minute of Elden Ring. In short, this is one of the best looking, best gaming experiences I’ve ever had, and you’ll also as well. With all the good things of Elden Ring, there are things you must know.  

 

 

What We Don’t Like

 

Firstly, Elden Ring is a really hard game.  There are no other difficulty options.  Enemies can easily overpower and kill you if you’re not careful, and the game works on a limited stamina system. In other words, if your stamina bar is 0, you become vulnerable.  So going in there to fight guns blazing is not a good idea.  

  

Prepare for battle as you fight massive foes on your magical steed.

 

Next, there are performance issues and bugs on the PC version,  even if you have a 3080 RTX gaming PC. From my playthrough on PC, the frame rate drops often affecting the performance, glitches that got me stuck on rocks, and the enemies plus your mount appear invisible at times. I was not impressed.

However, the game runs well on consoles. From playing on the PS5, I experienced very minor issues but I had no problems with gaming performance and graphics. The bottom line is if you have a next-gen console, get the console version.

Unless stated otherwise like a patch for the PC to fix the performance and graphic issues, I suggest that you do not buy the PC version yet. The game is also hard but it’s a lot of fun. It’s really not a game for everyone but if you can handle it, then go for it.

 

     

Overall Verdict

 

Bandai Namco Elden Ring is a great game. It comes with a huge but beautifully detailed map to explore. It has challenging enemies, and hard bosses to defeat.  There are so many skills, magic abilities, weapons, and crafting materials to find, that are geared to strengthen your character. 

 

But I don’t recommend you play Elden Ring. 

 

It’s very challenging. It’s not for everyone. The enemies are brutal.  Your character will die a lot, and if you don’t watch yourself, you’ll end up frustrated, then you end up tossing and breaking your controller. 

 

Explore the massive lands of Lands Between and uncover its secrets.

 

But it’s all about finding good gear, finding and defeating lesser foes over and over again then leveling up to get stronger, and executing different tactics to defeat stronger foes. Then you’ll feel satisfied and more confident and want to take on stronger foes.  

 

And that’s why I recommend you play Elden Ring.  

 

There are plenty of helpful strategies, guides, and videos online that you can use. I’m no expert either and I make use of online guides to help me get through the game.  You can also seek help online by summoning other players to help you fight bosses.       

With that said, if you’re new to this gaming franchise and feel up to the challenge, then buy Elden Ring.  You’ll have a hard time playing this game, but once you get into it, you’ll yearn for more and more.    

If you like my review of Bandai Namco Elden Ring, please add your comments below. All that’s left for you to do is to click here, purchase or rent Elden Ring, and give it a try. That’s all from me. Stay safe until next time. 

 

Horizon Forbidden West Review – A masterpiece, almost

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To think that Horizon Zero Dawn was a great game, comes Horizon Forbidden West, the sequel to 2017’s epic PlayStation exclusive. Exclusive to the PlayStation, the game promises fans a good storyline, more hunting of new machines with better weapons and gadgets, and new gameplay features and mechanics. With the game finally released, let’s check out the review and see if it’s worth the play.

 

 

Horizon Forbidden West

 

Exclusive to PS5 and PS4

Click Here

 

Reasons to Buy

  • Great detailed graphics
  • Smooth gameplay in Performance mode
  • Well acted & deep storyline
  • More weapons & gadgets
  • Good character progression system

Reasons to Avoid

    • Minor glitches & bugs
    • Knowledge of the older game
    • More challenging overall

 

 

Overview

 

Game sequels are expected to be more story-driven with an engaging story, more fun and entertaining, bringing something new to the gaming title franchise, and in most cases continue to bring the things that made the previous title great to a whole new level. Horizon Forbidden West is that sequel that seeks to put you once again into the role of our warrior outcast, Aloy, who fights to save her land from an unknown enemy that threatens all life. 

 

Explore the world with a new glider gadget.

 

If you have played 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, then you will feel at home here. You begin your adventure searching for a solution to the growing crisis, meet up with familiar friends, and come across beasts both old and new. But then you start to level up and see the new skill tree pack with new skills and acquire new gadgets to help navigate the world or give you an edge in combat. 

For those new to the franchise, it’s a single-player open-world action game, where you play Aloy, a warrior who uses a bow-and-arrow and a spear as a weapon to fight against monster machines, explore the world, engage in missions and side quests to get stronger, and acquire weapons, armor, and gadgets. It’s a good idea to play the previous game, not that it’s a must but will get you into the swing of the game. 

 

 

What We Like

 

The great thing about this game is that there’re a lot of things to like about it. Firstly, it comes with a new leveling and character progression system.  You complete quests, you level up, you receive points to use to get new skills and abilities. 

There are six traits to choose from: hunter, trapper, warrior, survivor, infiltrator, and machine master. From here you can stick to one or two traits that can help you achieve your play style. Now that’s a great character progression system. 

 

Try out new weapons with new elements to combat new monsters.

 

The next thing is the gameplay. When I first started playing, the game seemed slow and clunky. I opened the menu and switch it to performance mode in the gameplay menu. Suddenly the gameplay was faster and smoother, yet the graphics were still good. Moral of the story. The gameplay in Performance Mode is better.   

Speaking of graphics, the third thing we liked is the graphics of the game. The game looks stunning. The monster machines are just so incredibly detailed. The NPCs are equally detailed. The environment such as the sky, the cliffs, and the mountains look absolutely gorgeous. So in the graphics department, the game takes the cake. 

Next are the new features in Horizon Forbidden West. There are a lot more weapons to use. There are more items to scavenge to use to craft items, upgrade weapons and armor.

There are even gadgets to find and use such as the glider to glide from high peaks, and a mouthpiece to help you navigate underwater. Bottom line: there are a lot of new items to find in Horizon Forbidden West.     

Then lastly, the storyline in Forbidden West is much improved from the previous game. The cut-scenes are more engaging, with more depth as you explore and uncover interesting things like new characters, and new enemies.

 

 

What We Don’t Like

 

With video games, as much as we want to believe, they’re not perfect.  As gorgeous as the graphics, smooth gameplay, and discovery of new things, there are glitches and bugs in the game. 

 

A new world to explore underwater filled with many dangers.

 

Luckily the day one patch fixes most of them, so when you get the game, I encourage you to download the update. The game does come with challenging elements such as harder monsters, bosses, and human enemies. There is the option to change the difficulty so it’s not much of a bad thing. Just know that, if you like a challenge, go for it. You do have the option to change the difficulty. 

 

 

Verdict

 

Guerrilla Games has done yet another great job with Horizon Forbidden West. The combat is challenging but thrilling and exciting. The character designs overall, from the NPCs to the mechanical monsters, look stunning. The open-world exploration and new gaming features make it one of the best games to play and to get.

But with minor but occasional glitches makes the game the one reason why it’s not rated top marks.  As time goes by, updates will be available to fix them, but with the day one update, the game should run smoothly with no issues overall. If you want one of the best games that really shows the power of the PS5, then Forbidden West is one of them. A game that really showcases the power of the PS5.

So what are your opinions of Horizon Forbidden West? Is it better than the PS4 classic? How do you find the gameplay and the visuals? Leave your comments below, along with questions if you have any. That’s all from me. Stay safe and keep on gaming.

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G or Galaxy S21 5G: Which One’s Better

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It’s official.  The specs are set and the new Samsung Galaxy S22 5G smartphone is scheduled to be released, along with the other top-tier S22 models in the series. It’s currently in production, set for a release date early this year.  Those rocking the Galaxy S21 smartphones may be wondering if the new S22 smartphones are worth the purchase. This article here aims to bring to light the similarities and differences between them in hopes to see if the new Galaxy S22 is worth the buy.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G

US$799.99

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

US$675

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Network 5G / LTE / 3G / 2G 5G / LTE / 3G / 2G
Display 6.1-inch, Dynamic AMOLED, FHD+, 1080 x 2340, 120Hz 6.2-inch, Dynamic AMOLED, FHD+, 1080 x 2400, 120Hz
CPU Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4nm) (EUR) / Exynos 2200 (4nm) (International) Snapdragon 888 (5nm) (USA/China) / Exynos 2100 (5nm) (International)
Memory 8GB RAM 8GB RAM
Storage 128GB/256GB 128GB/256GB
OST Android 12, One UI 4.1 Android 11, One UI 3.1
Rear Camera Triple Camera,

50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide),

12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide),

10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto)

8K@24fps video recording

 Triple Camera,

12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide),

12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide),

64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto)

8K@24fps video recording
Front Camera 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)

4K@60fps video recording

 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide)

4K@60fps video recording
Colors Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, Green Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink
Battery 3700mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless 4000mAh, 25W wired, 15W wireless
Weight 167g 169g

 

Overview

 

Front and back view of the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G.

 

In early 2021, Samsung released the Galaxy S21 smartphone. This year, with a scheduled date of the end of February 2022, Samsung will release the next Samsung Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S21 came with some interesting specs, such as a large screen, a new smartphone design, fast performance, good battery life, and a good triple-lens camera that is able to take good pictures and videos.

The Galaxy S22, however, promises to beat the current S21, with even more interesting specs and features, such as a better camera, longer battery life, faster performance, etc. If you have a Galaxy S21 and feel you need to change, let this article help you decide if it’s worth changing to the newer Galaxy S22.  We’ll explore the main notable features and compare them to see which one is best for you.      

   

     

Display

 

With the display, there’s a difference in sizes.  The Samsung Galaxy S22 5G has a 6.1-inch Dynamic AMOLED screen, whereas the Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED. 

 

Front and Back views of the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

 

The Galaxy S21 has a taller display than the S22, but they both come with a similar 1080p screen, and similar screen technology, which means they both deliver good quality and detailed views. The Galaxy S22, however, comes with an adaptive refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, whereas the S21 comes with an adaptive refresh rate between 48Hz and 120Hz. 

What you need to understand here is that the S22 has smoother animations, and smoother scrolling, which also increases the S22’s battery life. The Galaxy S22 may be shorter in size but it also comes with a better adaptive refresh rate that helps to optimize the overall navigation and display quality.  

 

 

Design

 

If you compare the design of the Galaxy S21 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, you will notice that they are exactly the same.  Same camera positioning.  Same button positioning. 

 

Exclusive colors of the Samsung Galaxy S22 when you order online: Sky Blue, Cream, Violet, and Graphite.

 

The Galaxy S22, however, looks more refined and premium, as it comes with improved Gorilla Glass front and back protection to increase durability, whereas the Galaxy S21 comes with Gorilla Glass Front and plastic back. Then the S22 comes in exciting colors such as the standard Phantom Black, White, Pink Gold, and Green.  If you purchase the S22 online you get access to other more exotic colors such as Graphite, Cream, Sky Blue, and Violet. In short, Samsung Galaxy S22 5G comes with more choices of colors, has a more premium look, and comes with improved glass protection. 

 

 

Performance

 

Looking at the smartphone specs, both the Galaxy S22 and the S21 come with good performance chips, that can help to optimize the speed and performance of the smartphones. The S22, however, will include the latest processing chips upon release from Snapdragon and Exynos.  And if it includes a 4nm 8-core processing chip, then it means the S22 will be faster and perform better.  

 

The unique design of the Samsung Galaxy S21.

 

For now, we cannot say which one is the better performance smartphone just from specs.  Until the S22 is reviewed, tested and benchmark scores are taken, then we can compare and say which is the better-performance smartphone.        

 

 

Battery Life

 

With battery capacity, the Galaxy S21 comes with a 4000mAh, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G will include a 3700mAh battery pack. The Galaxy S21 comes with a larger battery pack that upon moderate use, can last up to 4 days on one charge. With the improved refresh rate on the S22, which can help preserve battery power, until the S22’s battery life is tested we cannot compare it yet until review. 

For now, the idea to include a smaller battery in the Galaxy S22 is not a good one because a smaller battery means shorter battery life.  Let’s hope that, upon review, there’ll be other features included in the S22 to help preserve even more battery life. 

 

 

Camera

 

The Triple camera layout.

 

The Galaxy S21 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G smartphones have the following similarities:

  • The rear triple-sensor camera  
  • The 12 MP ultrawide sensor at the rear
  • The main camera supports 8K video recording
  • The 10 MP wide sensor at the front camera
  • The front camera supports 4K video recording

 

The difference here is that the S22 comes with a 50 MP wide sensor camera, whereas the S21 comes with a 12 MP wide sensor camera. The S22 will come with a 10 MP sensor (will include 3x optical zoom), whereas the Galaxy S21 comes with a 64 MP (includes 3x hybrid zoom).      

The camera features are all well and good.  They are both capable of taking incredible pictures and videos that are clear, sharp, and detailed. The 3x optical zoom on the S22 will look better than the 3x hybrid zoom on the Galaxy S21 as the zoom quality will look better. 

For now, I can say we cannot really compare which one is better off unless we take pictures with either phone and compare picture quality.  But the S21 does do a good job of taking great pictures.  We hope the S22 can match it or even be better.  

 

 

Price

 

The standard choice of colors of the Samsung Galaxy S22, starting from Phantom White, Green, Pink Gold, and Phantom Black.

 

The starting price for the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G smartphone is US$799.  When the Galaxy S21 was released it was in the same price range, but make no mistake, upon release of the Galaxy S22, the S21’s price will drop.     

      

 

Verdict

 

The front and rear views of the Phantom White Samsung Galaxy S22.

 

From what we can see, the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G is the better choice of smartphone. From the specs, we expect it to be fast performing, with good camera features that capture detailed pictures and videos, and minor improvements in the design.  I also like the different colors available, especially the Phantom Black.  

Compared to the present Galaxy S21, the smartphone is taller and has a bigger battery, which means a bigger screen and longer battery life. Yes, they have a lot of similar features but right now it’s too early to say which one is the better smartphone for you.  But for now, my money right now is on the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G.  Because it will be cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G.

Thank you for checking out my article.  If you like my post or have questions or comments, please write them down and add them below. If you want to find out more about the Samsung Galaxy S21, then click here to see my review.  There’s also the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, which is also a great smartphone to see. Click here to see my full review. 

       

Dying Light 2: Stay Human Review

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Dying Light 2 Stay Human is one of the most hyped games in recent years.  With a story promising you more survival action, more ways to deal with zombies, more weapons, and crucial decision-making that can change the whole course of the game. Does this next game release live up to its promises?  Is this a worthy successor to Dying Light?  Let’s find out more from this review. 

 

 

Dying Light 2: Stay Human

 

Dying Light 2 Stay Human launches on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

 

Get it at GameFly!

 

Reason to Buy

  • Rich detailed open-world
  • Great gameplay & combat system
  • Lots of loot and XP to gain
  • Day and night sequence
  • Up to 80 hours of game time

Reason not to Buy

  • Co-op mode has many bugs & technical issues

 

Overview

 

 

You play Aiden, a pilgrim in a post-apocalyptic world.  You can run, jump from one building to another, climb, fight zombies and other threats. 

You start in a forest, then you end up in a massive city called Villador, where you do story missions, and side quests in hopes of finding a long-lost relative.

As you explore, you get access to:

    • Meet up with NPCs
    • Explore an open world with a day-and-night cycle
    • Fight enemy bandits, zombies, and other monstrosities 
    • Get access to melee weapons, and armor in the form of clothes
    • Craft materials to build bombs, accessories, health, and immunity items
    • XP to level up and a progression tree to learn new skills 

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is rated M for mature.  There’s gore as well so if you can stomach that, then you’re set.

 

 

What’s to Like

The detailed world with awesome graphics

As I played Dying light 2, I noticed how detailed the game world looks.  From the trees in the forest, the rocks on cliffs, to the city buildings and clouds in the sky. 

 

 

The graphics and texture of the game look great. even the NPCs of the game look good.  Overall, Dying Light 2 has some awesome graphics. 

 

Fast gameplay

The combat system looks quite brutal but is simple to execute.  You can slash or wound enemies with melee weapons such as axes. katanas, baseball bats, machetes, etc.

You can block, dodge, jump over enemies to attack other enemies, parry attacks, and execute finishing maneuvers. All this with a limited stamina gauge.  The performance mode works best with framerates up to 60fps. 

 

Explore a vast city with different environments.

 

In short, you will have so much fun with the combat in the game.  Great animations.  Your character executes great combat moves.  definitely one of the best reasons you must play Dying Light 2.

 

Long hours of game time

This game has tons of missions and even more side quests to keep you going.  On average you are looking at up to 80 hours of game time.       

 

 

What’s not to Like

Not-so-good storyline

The story is well-acted.  The characters are well-voiced and have some good action scenes and sequences. 

 

Challenging but scary enemies await.

 

The story though is the least good aspect of the game.  The main storyline is not very interesting.  The story decisions you make are not as impactful, and the character you play is not very interesting. So if you looking for a captivating story, you won’t find it here. 

 

Bugs & glitches

When you get Dying Light 2 Stay Human, make sure you download the update or patch, otherwise, you’ll be playing a game with a lot of glitches, bugs and game crashes.  After installing the update, the game is a lot better to play. 

 

Chase down enemies as you run and jump on rooftops.

 

There are some minor issues like the character getting stuck, but the game is still fun.  So before you play the game, download the update.  

 

Verdict

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is a great game. It has good graphics, a great combat system, a great leveling, and progression system, and long hours of gaming.  What more do you want from a zombie, open-world, action-adventure game?  

 

Choose your support factions wisely, or they become your enemies.

 

With the dull storyline and the occasional glitches, it won’t make it to the best game awards.  But it’s still fun to play.  So yes.  I do recommend you get Dying Light 2 Stay Human. That’s it for the Dying Light 2 Stay Human review. If you have any questions, comments, or opinions of the game, you can leave them here below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.  Stay Safe.