Samsung Galaxy S21 5G Review: Irresistibly Good Phone

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone is one of the three latest releases in the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. The others are the Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus and the top-range Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

All three are premium phones and come with top features such as top hardware for performance and long battery life to keep them going for longer. But with all the hype from the initial release, it’s not as premium as it seems.

To find out more, here is my review of the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone to consume before you decide to buy.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

 

Front and rear view of the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 5G | DISPLAY: 6.2-inch, Dynamic AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 1080 x 2400 pixels | PROCESSOR: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (5nm) – USA/China, or Exynos 2100 (5nm) – Global | OS: Android 11, OneUI 3.1 | STORAGE/MEMORY: 128GB/8GB or 256GB/8GB | CAMERA: Triple-lens main, 12MP (wide) + 64MP (telephoto) + 12MP (ultrawide), Single-lens selfie, 10MP (wide) | BATTERY: 4000 mAh | WEIGHT: 169 g | RATING: out of 5

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Overview

 

If there’s one thing to admire from first impressions, it’s the vibrant colors, the clear and sharp views on the screen, and the unique design.

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is a smartphone. The entry-level model in the S21 series.

Comparing it to the previous model, the Samsung Galaxy S20, the performance is better, there’s more choice of model types to choose from, more choices of bright and vibrant colors, and a brighter display.

Everything else from the camera features to the sound quality has not changed from the previous model. But there are setbacks to note. All will be revealed.

 

 

Display & Design

 

Let’s start with the display. The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone comes with a 6.2-inch screen that includes dynamic AMOLED technology, and a full HD 1080 x 2400 pixel screen resolution. 

Compared to the S20, the screen looks brighter but the screen resolution has been lowered from 1440p Full HD+ to 1080p Full HD. It’s not a major setback. The screen quality still looks great so you won’t really notice it.

Overall, the display looks awesome. Screen quality is great, good brightness and retains clear detailed views.       

 

Phantom Violet color model

 

The design of the Samsung S21 smartphone looks great. It comes with a unique two-tone color design, with a great set of colors to choose from. It comes with a Gorilla Glass front, a matte plastic back, and an aluminum frame.

The S21 comes with a rear elevated panel that houses the three-lens camera, and a teardrop selfie camera on the top part of the screen. The design looks great, but not really premium. You would expect premium materials used like stainless steel in the top iPhone range.

But it helps to drop the price, the matte plastic at the back helps you grip the phone and still comes with great durability features like dust and water resistance. Overall, awesome design. Great colors to choose from. Materials are not that premium, yet it looks good and maintains top durability.   

 

 

Performance

 

Performance is one of the main great features of the S21 smartphone. Under the hood is an 8-core processor. For the USA/China market you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, and for the rest, you get the Exynos 2100.

Interesting side notes: The processors are each powerful but the Snapdragon has been known to deliver slightly better performance. If you can, get the USA/China model.

With memory and storage, you get a choice between an 8GB RAM 128GB or an 8GB RAM 256GB model. Fortunately, there are fewer models to choose from. Another thing is there’s no micro SD slot to expand storage.  

Using the S21 is amazing. The Android 11 OS and the main user interface is fluid, smooth and responsive to touch. The two models available each has good hardware.

It’s not the greatest performer but it’s good enough to perform daily tasks and powerful enough to support gaming. 

   

 

Camera

 

Rearview of the Phantom Grey Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G includes a triple-lens primary camera. First is a 12MP (wide) sensor, next is a 64MP (telephoto) sensor, and then there’s the 12MP (ultrawide) sensor.

For video recordings, the S21 5G can produce up to 8K quality videos at 24fps (frames per second). There are options to record at 4K to up to 60fps, and Full HD videos at up to 240fps. 

On the screen, there’s a single-lens selfie camera that includes a 10MP (wide) sensor. The selfie cam can produce 4K quality videos at 60fps and Full HD videos at 30fps.  

Overall, the S21 comes with good camera features. It comes with similar features to the S20 and produces good-quality photos and videos. 

 

  

Other features

 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone comes with a large 4000mAh battery, that supports fast charging, wireless charging, and reverse charging. Similar features can be found in the previous S20 model. 

Thanks to the lower screen resolution, and a better processor, the battery life has improved from the S20. You are looking at up to 27 hours of battery on a single charge. Speaking of charging, there’s no charger adapter in the box.  But if you can get your hands on a 25W charger, then you can fast charge it from 0 – 100% in 70 minutes.

Otherwise, the S21 comes with a battery that has many hours of battery life to last a full day. It has similar battery features available in all top-tier smartphones, but no charger. 

 

 

Verdict

 

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is an awesome smartphone to have. Here is why I recommend it:

    • Smartphone performance is amazing
    • Design is unique, with great colors to choose from
    • Comes with standard durability features including resistance to water and dust
    • The screen looks and produces gorgeous views
    • The battery lasts long and charges quick

There are compromises here to not fully say it’s a premium product. Here’s why I don’t recommend it:

    • No charger in the box
    • No micro SD to expand the storage
    • No headphone jack
    • Material not premium
    • Low screen resolution
    • Mostly has the same features as Samsung S20

All the downgrades the S21 has may be a strategy to reduce the overall price. It still has most of the features of the S20 smartphone including the camera, screen size and technology, battery, sound speaker quality, and other features.

 

Rearview of the Phantom Violet Samsung Galaxy S21 5G

 

If you can compromise on the flaws, and have the budget for it, then I recommend you get the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G smartphone.

 

 

Closing Off

 

That’s it for me with this great, but not really premium, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. Now it’s up to you to decide if the Samsung S21 is the smartphone for you. But before that, you’re more than welcome to leave your comments, opinions, or even your own ratings below.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe until next time. Bye 🙂

 

Xiaomi Redmi 9C Review: A Vibrant and Great Value Smartphone

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Looking for an affordable smartphone that has great features? Then let me introduce to you the Xiaomi Redmi 9C smartphone.

It’s one of the most affordable smartphones released in 2020, with great features such as a stunning, large display, a big battery, and a great design. 

But is it a great value for money? Will it compete with other affordable smartphones? Let’s see in the Xiaomi Redmi 9C review.

 

Xiaomi Redmi 9C

 

Xiaomi Redmi 9S | DISPLAY: 6.53-inch IPS LCD, 720 x 1600  | CPU: MediaTek Helio G35 (12 nm) | STORAGE MEMORY: 32GB 2GB, 32GB 3GB, 64GB 3GB, 64GB 4GB | OS: Android 10, MIUI 12 | CAMERA: Triple-lens, 13MP (wide) + 5MP (macro) + 2MP (depth), single-lens selfie, 5MP (wide) | BATTERY: 5000 mAh | WEIGHT: 196 g | RATING: 3.8 out of 5

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Overview

 

 

What is this Xiaomi Redmi 9C, you ask? Well, it’s an affordable smartphone that was released in mid-2020. It comes with a large display with a single-lens dot camera on top, a rear-mounted triple camera, and a fingerprint scanner.

It’s powered by a  large battery that offers a long battery life, a standard processor, memory starting at 2GB up to 3GB of RAM, and range between 32GB and 64GB of storage (depending on the choice of model). All this in a matte design finish with a choice of three bright colors.

 

 

Display & Design

 

Starting with the display, the Redmi 9C includes a 6.53-inch display with IPS LCD technology, and 720 x 1600 screen resolution. The screen looks good overall. It has great colors, with clear and crisp views. Brightness is not all that great as it gets dim when you are outside.

Next is the design. The Redmi 9C comes with a matte finish that feels comfortable and helps to grip the phone. There are three colors available, which are Midnight Gray, Sunrise Orange, Twilight Blue. There’s no IP68 rating, meaning it’s not dust or waterproof.

 

Color Models of the Xiaomi Redmi 9C

 

Overall, even though it has low durability, and lacks adequate brightness for the outdoors, the Redmi 9C comes with a good design and a good display at its price range.

 

 

Performance

 

The performance is decent. The processor and memory work together well to achieve standard performance. It’s decent enough to perform standard phone functions, browse online, visit social media, and light gaming.

It’s run by a MediaTek processor, ranging from 2GB to 3GB of RAM, and storage ranging from 32GB to 64GB. They are rather small but there’s a micro SD slot to expand up to 500 GB storage.

The memory is pretty low as well, so if you tend to minimize apps, it fills up the memory. As it gets used, the overall performance of the phone starts to slow down.

The operating system is MIUI 12, based on Android 10. It runs the apps and overall phone functions well.

With the Xiaomi, Redmi 9C expects a decent performance smartphone. It’s powerful enough to run normally with adequate RAM and you have options to increase storage. Just don’t overload the memory when you minimize apps and you’ll be fine.

 

 

Camera

 

Next is the camera. The Xiaomi Redmi 9C includes a rear-mounted triple-lens camera and a single-lens selfie camera on top of the phone. At the back, we are looking at a 13MP wide camera, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor.

The overall pictures are decent. They come out in good detail and good colors during the day. The same goes for selfie photos but not as detailed. At night and in low-light areas, the pictures are not that great.

 

Front, back, and side view of the sunrise orange Xiaomi Redmi 9C

 

The Xiaomi Redmi 9C records 1080p videos in full HD quality. They come out detailed, with crisp and good colors. There’s no feature to stabilizer the video.    

With the Xiaomi Redmi 9C, the overall camera works well taking decent pictures and videos. Although it lacks top-class detail, a not-so-great night mode, and a video stabilizer, it’s expected for budget smartphones to not have these features.

 

 

Other Features

 

The Xiaomi Redmi 9C has other great and not-so-great features to mention.

Firstly, the phone comes with a large 5000 mAh battery. A battery this bigger offers up to two days of battery life. As this is a budget phone there’s no fast or wireless charging support here. 

Second, the phone comes with a fingerprint sensor at the back and face recognition to unlock the phone. They have a good response time as it unlocks quickly with no lags.

The third is the sound output. The Redmi 9C has a single stereo speaker at the bottom end of the phone. The sound is decent.

The sound from the loudspeaker works well and the music is passable. To hear richer sounds, there’s a headphone jack on top of the phone or connect it to Bluetooth speakers.

Overall, the Redmi 9C does have great features for a budget phone. The battery life is great, it unlocks fast, and the sound output is decent. This is a great phone for budget-conscious users. 

 

 

Verdict

 

Twilight blue Xiaomi Redmi 9C

 

The Redmi 9C has made a lot of compromises to keep the price low. Being that it’s a budget smartphone, these are expected and cater to satisfy a different market segment.

The large display comes with a lower than average screen resolution and low brightness. The design looks great and adapts to the latest color and trends, but with low durability. The storage options are smaller than average with low memory.  

But the positive and notable features increase the value of the Redmi 9C and is worth recommending. I say if you looking for an affordable smartphone that has a great battery life, takes decent pictures and videos, and other great features, then the Xiaomi Redmi 9C is for you. 

 

 

Recommendations

 

To summarize, here are the reasons to buy:

  • A large display
  • A large battery offers great battery life
  • Produces good quality photos and videos
  • Very affordable
  • Micro SD slot to expand storage
  • Includes headphone jack
  • Fast & responsive unlock functions
  • 4G/LTE connectivity

 

Here are the reasons not to buy:

  • No water or dust resistance
  • No 5G connectivity
  • Average quality display and performance
  • No fast & wireless charging support
  • Storage too small

 

This is a great phone for students looking for an affordable device. Recommended to those who also want to start video editing or recording, or photographers, but can’t afford a good digital camera. Recommended to those who are budget conscious and need a phone to perform simple tasks.

Not recommended for those looking for top features, and definitely not for tech savvies. A model to recommend is the 64GB 3GB model. If you can find it, get the 64GB 4GB model. It has decent storage to start you off and enough RAM to run. They are affordable and the best models of the Redmi 9C to choose from.

Another smartphone I recommend is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S. It’s a little more expensive but a better option if you want better at a low price. Check out more of these other affordable smartphones released in 2020.  

 

 

Last Word

 

The last thing to say is to thank you so much for checking out my review of the Xiaomi Redmi 9C. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them here below and I’ll get them back to you as soon as possible. 

That’s all from me. Keep well. Take care of yourself until next time.

 

New Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G Review: Great with Powerful Additions

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New Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G Review: Great with Powerful Additions

 

Introducing the bigger Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G. The top range model of the iPhone 12 series smartphones. This one promises a bigger screen, bigger battery, better performance, more features, more everything. The name really says it all. 

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is one of the top dogs of smartphones but is it great enough to stay there. There are other great top-rated smartphones competing for the same top spot with similar, if not better, features and qualities. Let’s see how great the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G is from this review. 

 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G

 

Image credit: newegg.com

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max | DISPLAY: 6.7-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 1284 x 2778 pixels  | CPU: Hexa-core, 5G, Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) | OS: iOS 14.1 | STORAGE/MEMORY: 128GB 6GB, 256GB 6GB, 512GB 6GB | CAMERA: Quad-lens, 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultra wide), 12MP (telephoto), 3D LiDAR depth scanner, Dual selfie, 12MP (wide), depth scanner | BATTERY: 3687 mAh | WEIGHT: 228 g | RATING: 4.6 out of 10

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Overview

 

 

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G is the top-tier model available in the Apple iPhone 12 series. Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, it comes with similar features but with the following improvements: (1) a larger screen, (2) a bigger battery, and (3) an improved quad-lens camera system. 

From the iPhone 12 Pro, it inherits the same hardware spec that offers fast performance, premium looks and design, and great durability. But it’s not a perfect smartphone. Let’s see more from the review below.     

 

 

Display & Design

 

The iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G includes a 6.7-inch display, with a Super retina XDR OLED technology, HDR10, and a full HD+ (1284 x 2778 pixels) screen resolution.

This is the biggest in the series and offers a stunning overall display, with rich and accurate colors, good brightness and contrast, and satisfying views of pictures and videos. The refresh rate is a standard 60Hz.

Not much more to say here. Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, the screen technology is the same but with a larger screen, and can handle more pixels. To conclude, the iPhone 12 Pro Max certainly is larger and includes excellent screen tech and views.

 

Graphite Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G

 

Next is the design. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is encased with a ceramic glass in front, a frosty-textured glass at the back, and a stainless steel frame. The glass is pretty strong and offers great durability from scratches and is shatterproof.

It also comes with an IP68 rating, meaning that it’s resistant to dust and water. You can even submerge it up to 6 meters underwater, and it will still work. The design is the same here as the iPhone 12 Pro as well as the durability feature.

Overall, the design looks good. It uses the same premium look and offers great durability as the iPhone 12 Pro.     

 

 

Performance

 

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G comes with a great hardware spec, which includes Apple’s own 6-core A14 Bionic chip. It’s the fastest performance chip right now and offers fast and smooth performance for daily use.

In terms of storage, the models range from 128GB to 256GB, and 512GB being the highest. They each come with 6GB of RAM that helps with multitasking.

The Apple GPU offers great performance for games. The gameplay is smooth and gaming graphics are well-detailed. Compared to the other great gaming phones, the iPhone 12 Pro Max isn’t a gaming phone, so don’t expect any GPU tweaking apps. But the hardware specs support games like PUBG and Fortnite.

The iOS 14 preinstalled works well with new improvements such as floating windows, improved widget management, and the overall smoother experience, thanks to the hardware.  

The hardware spec and the overall performance can also be experienced in the iPhone 12 Pro as well. Overall, the performance is insane, gaming is a blast, the new iOS performs great, and is an excellent phone for daily use.  

 

 

Camera

 

Quad camera of the Pacific Blue Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G

 

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G comes with a quad-lens camera that takes excellent photos and records stunning high-quality videos.

First, there’s the 12MP (wide) camera, which takes stunning pictures with rich and accurate colors, and great detail. It equally takes great pictures at night and in low light areas.

Second, is the 12MP (ultra-wide) camera. It takes the widest pictures possible, producing accurate and rich color pictures. The photos do lack some detail.

The third is the 12MP (telephoto) camera that helps with the 2.5x zoom feature. Equally the pictures are excellent, the zoom works well, producing well-detailed images.

The fourth camera is the ‘LiDAR sensor’ that helps the phone in a few ways: (1) it scans objects with a laser and shows it 3D in an augmented reality interface, (2) it helps to improve focus and accuracy when taking pictures and videos at night.

The dual selfie camera takes stunning pictures and videos as well. The cameras come with a 12MP wide camera and a depth sensor to help with ‘FaceID’ scanning. You can expect the same picture and video quality to the rear main wide camera.

In terms of videos, the iPhone 12 Pro Max can produce up to 4K quality videos capping at 60fps. It includes a video stabilizer to help keep videos rigid when recording.

The difference here compared to the iPhone 12 Pro is the improved telephoto 2.5x zoom feature. Everything else is the same. The image and video quality remain the same. But overall, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G comes with a quad-lens camera, that produces excellent pictures and records good high-quality videos.

 

 

Other Features

 

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G comes with other features to see and consider before purchase.

First, the audio output is excellent. Listening to the music from the smartphone, you can hear the rich sounds, good delivery of bass, and treble. Speakers are located at the bottom of the smartphone as well as the top section of the display.

The second is battery life. The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with a big 3687 mAh battery, the biggest in the iPhone 12 series. This offers you more battery life. Charging the phone with a 20W charger, you can get a full charge in an hour or a little less.

There’s no iPhone charger in the box. You will either need to buy one or use your existing iPhone charger. And yes, it does support wireless charging but is the charging method as it’s slower. 

 

Unboxing of the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G

 

The third is the security features. For those new to the iPhone series, there is the passcode then there’s the ‘FaceID’ unlock feature which quickly scans your face to unlock the iPhone. It’s one of the best features in for iPhone but will come with challenges.

Since we are wearing face masks, the FaceID function won’t work well with our face masks on. So to unlock your phone you’ll need to take off your mask or unlock using your passcode. No fingerprint sensor here.

Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with good features, but compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, it retains similar challenges as well. The bigger battery is a welcome feature but compared to other top smartphone brands, they have even more battery life at the same price. 

 

 

Verdict

 

Here are some points to note before reaching my final verdict. Firstly, the screen is bigger than the iPhone 12 Pro but maintains the same tech quality. It does look even better and that large-size screen is a welcome addition to the Pro Max model.

The issue is the 60Hz refresh rate. Other top brands include higher, between 90Hz or 120Hz, refresh rates, which offers better quality views and a smoother OS navigation experience. This is not a major issue. The screen does look great, but tech phone users would expect more from an iPhone. I guess we must make do with what we have.

The second is the battery. It’s much bigger, meaning more battery life, meaning more time to use to phone before it runs out of power. But compared to other smartphone brands, they range between 4500 to 5000 mAh on top-tier phones. Something to think about before considering a top-tier smartphone with the best battery life.

The third is the performance, the stunning phone design, the camera, and the other nice features. No problems with these but they are so much similar to the iPhone 12 Pro.

The only things improved are the battery, the camera, and the screen size of the phone. They are great additions but does anyone really need extra features. Depends on the market, I guess.

My final verdict, if you’re looking forward to getting the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, because of the extra additions, then so be it. But know that it’s going to cost you so much more money. If your budget says no, then get the iPhone 12 Pro instead of the previous iPhone 11 Pro Max, as it will be cheaper. 

 

 

Recommendations

 

I recommend you buy the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G, as it includes the following:

  • A large 6.7-inch display
  • A large 3687 mAh battery
  • Excellent quality 2.5x zoom feature
  • Fast & smooth performance
  • Takes excellent high-quality pictures & videos
  • Excellent audio output & durability
  • Premium looks, design & a great choice of colors

 

The Apple iPhone 12 series of smartphones

 

Though the iPhone 12 Pro Max is a great phone, there are reasons why you should not get it:

  • Very expensive
  • Same design features, performance, and camera as the iPhone 12 Pro
  • Over 200g weight
  • No iPhone charger & earphones in the box
  • No fingerprint scanner
  • FaceID unlock limitations

 

As I said before, the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max is cheaper now and worth the look if you seek an alternative. The iPhone 12 Pro is also on to consider as it has most of the features. 

Another one for the creatives like video producers, editors, and photographers. College students and budget phone users not recommended. iPhone fans and those who can afford it will enjoy using this phone.

 

 

Close Off

 

So what are your thoughts on this awesome Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G smartphone? Is it the best top tier smartphone? What do you like about it? Do you currently have one?

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them here below the review. I will respond to them as soon as I can. 

To see how good and similar the iPhone 12 Pro is, click here to check the review. 

Thank you for your attention thus far. I hope you enjoyed the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G review.

That’s all from me. Take care. 

Keep safe until next time.

 

New Apple iPhone 12 Pro Review: Powerful and Better

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New Apple iPhone 12 Pro Review: Powerful and Better

 

Introducing the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro smartphone. The next new top-range smartphone is the Apple iPhone 12 series. It promises more features, better performance, more everything.

With so many more top-rated smartphones out there, does it have the will, that special feature to fully compete and win the top spot in the smartphone market? Let’s take a look at this review of the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro.   

 

New Apple iPhone 12 Pro

 

(Image credit: newegg.com)

New Apple iPhone Pro | DISPLAY: 6.1-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 1170 x 2532 pixels | PROCESSOR: 6-core 5G Apple A14 Bionic (5nm) | STORAGE/MEMORY: 128GB 6GB, 256GB 6GB, 512GB 6GB | OS: iOS 14.1 | CAMERA: Triple camera, 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultra wide), 12MP (telephoto), dual-selfie, 12MP (wide), depth sensor | BATTERY: 2815mAh, supports fast & wireless charging | WEIGHT: 189g | RATING: 4.5 out of 5

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Overview

 

 

The new Apple iPhone 12 Pro is a top-range smartphone that comes with a new look design, great durability features, and a great hardware spec that delivers insanely fast smartphone performance. 

It also includes a quad-lens camera at the back and a dual-lens camera in front, that delivers stunning high-quality photos and videos.

The iPhone 12 Pro includes a battery that supports fast and wireless charging and a rich audio experience. To see what this smartphone has in more detail, let’s take a closer look.

   

 

Display & Design

 

With the display, the iPhone 12 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch screen with Super Retina XDR OLED technology, HDR10, 60Hz refresh rate, and HD+ (1170 x 2532) screen resolution.

It has the same screen technology and screen size as the iPhone 12 though, so expect the same great view quality with great detail, accurate colors, good contrasts, and brightness.

Many other top-range smartphones using higher refresh rates like 90Hz or 120Hz as it makes the overall navigation and scrolling smoother. The iPhone 12 Pro will be left behind in this instance as it sticks to 60Hz.     

Overall, the iPhone 12 Pro comes with a stunning display. Though the overall quality is the same as the new iPhone 12, I guess Apple sticks to what works best. 

In terms of design, the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro is made of a combination of ceramic glass and a stainless steel frame. The steel frame gives it that nice premium look and provides even more protection, better durability such as resistance to scratches, dust, and water. Perfect for the outdoors.

Not much more to say about the design either as it is the same as the iPhone 12, except that it uses an aluminum frame.

In short, the iPhone 12 Pro comes with better durability and looks better compared to the iPhone 12.  

 

 

Performance

 

Inside the iPhone 12, Pro is a 6-core 5G Apple A14 Bionic chip, which is currently the fastest performance chip.

With storage, the models start from 128GB with 6GB of memory, 256GB storage with 6GB memory, and the highest available is 512GB with 6GB of memory. So that’s three models to choose from.

No micro SD slot here to expand the memory, but there’s plenty of it to store in the iPhone 12 Pro.

As a side note, the iPhone 12 has the same performance chip but comes with 4GB memory in its three models. The higher memory just helps to manage multi-tasking. 

The performance here is impressive. The A14 chip really does the job here in delivering fast, smooth and responsive performance for daily use and gaming. Speaking of which, the Apple GPU works well to deliver great detailed graphics and smooth gameplay.

Next is the new iOS 14. It really works well with new features and improvements from older iOS. It merges well with the hardware, providing smooth navigation and scrolling for daily use.

Overall, the performance of the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro is amazing. It’s fast and fluid for daily use, great-looking iOS and gaming is a blast. Not that this is a gaming phone but it has the hardware for it.      

 

 

Camera

 

(Image credit: newegg.com)

 

Moving on to the camera, the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro comes with a quad-lens camera and a dual-lens camera in front.

One is a 12MP wide camera. Next is the 12MP ultra-wide camera. The third is the 12MP telephoto camera which helps mostly with the zoom function. The fourth is a 3D depth sensor.

There’s also a small 3D depth sensor called the ‘LiDAR scanner’ that helps with a lot of functions. 1) To scan objects and displays them in 3D augmented reality on the iPhone 12 Pro, and 2) It helps to improve focus and accuracy when taking pictures or videos at night.

Apart from that, the new main wide camera takes great realistic photos taking all the great detail, colors, and accuracy. It takes the best quality photos overall of the three, even in night mode.

The ultra-wide camera also works well, fitting as much detail into a wide image. It equally takes good pictures, creating realistic photos, great colors, and accuracy. The image detail is not ground-breaking but passable as average.

Telephoto photos come out great with great details and good color accuracy, especially with the 2x zoom functionality. They are just as realistic as the other two and works well.

The dual-lens selfie camera works equally as well taking great photo portraits and videos in great detail. Not much to say here as it has the function and features of the iPhone 12. 

The Apple iPhone 12 Pro can record 1080p and 4K high-quality videos and includes a great video stabilization function. 

The short, the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro has a much more improved camera system compared to the iPhone 12. It takes excellent photos and high-quality videos. Much of the features and functions are similar except for the added telephoto-lens camera.

 

 

Other Features

 

As with the other Apple iPhone 12 smartphones, the Pro is no different. 

The audio output is excellent. You can really hear the quality of the sound as it plays from your phone, along with the bass and treble. It’s one of the best features of the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro. No earphones in the box upon purchase.

The iPhone 12 Pro comes with a 2815 mAh battery, which is also included in the Apple iPhone 12. It supports fast and wireless charging. Compared to the Apple iPhone 11 Pro that comes with a 3046 mAh battery, the predecessor wins in terms of longer battery life, which is disappointing.

 

(image credit: newegg.com)

 

No charger is included in the box, just the smartphone, and the USB-C cable. If you get this smartphone, get a 20W charger as it can charge it from 0 to 59% in 30 minutes. Wireless charging is another option, using the ‘MagSafe’ feature on all iPhone 12 devices, but is slower at charging.

For security, the iPhone 12 Pro uses the standard FaceID and passcode to unlock. It works really well especially the FaceID as it unlocks the phone fast. Since we are wearing face masks thanks to the current pandemic, the FaceID function won’t work at all when it scans our faces with masks. 

Overall, the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro has similar features compared to the iPhone 12. Compared to the previous model, the battery life is shorter but the audio is excellent.

 

Verdict

 

Before I say my verdict, here are a few things to note. 1) The short battery life is disappointing. 2) The fact that we need to buy a charger for the iPhone 12 Pro is also a major shock. 3) The issue with the FaceID not working when we wear face masks. These are the major drawbacks of owning an iPhone 12, worse the iPhone 12 Pro.

The better iPhone here is the iPhone 11 Pro in terms of long battery life. The current model is shorter but there are reasons for that. The current 5G chip, although it promises fast connectivity and better upload or download speeds, it consumes more power off the battery. Luckily with the iPhone 12 Pro, you can switch to 4G/LTE, which uses less power, which increases battery life. But that does not really make up for the small battery. I’m sure Apple has its reasons.

The issue with the charger is also something to note. Seeing the price of the iPhone 12 Pro, it’s an expensive phone. The fact now we must buy our own charger is a shock. Yes, I’m sure there are those of us who have older iPhones and still have their chargers but what if they don’t work anymore. You will still need to buy a charger.

The challenge with the FaceID feature is not one to stress. Yes, the unlock function is great and fast but now we must resort to enter our passcode, or take a risk and take off our face mask to unlock the phone. Not much to say here.

My final verdict, the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro is a great smartphone. It comes with an improved premium design, better durability, comes with a great camera that takes stunning photos and videos, good audio output, and top-rated hardware that guarantees fast performance. But it has a short battery life and limited accessories on purchase. 

If you a fan of Apple iPhone smartphones then this is for you. if you get a charger at home, you are safe. if you still have an iPhone 11 Pro keep it. Don’t get rid of it as it’s still a great smartphone to have. 

 

 

Recommendations

 

I recommend the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro because of the following reasons:

  • Stunning display
  • Premium look and design
  • Fastest 5G chip and performance
  • A great performance camera system
  • Rich audio output
  • 5G connectivity
  • Good additional features such as LiDAR scanner

 

Here are reasons why you should not get the iPhone:

  • No charger and earphones in the box
  • No microSD to expand the memory
  • Limits with unlock when face mask worn
  • Average battery life
  • Same hardware, design, & other features to the iPhone 12

 

Recommended by the true-loved fans of the iPhone series. Also for video editors, photographers, and creatives who want a smartphone to capture photos and record videos. Not really one for college students or budget users. 

 

Close-off

 

Thank you for reaching here thus far. I hope you found my review of the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro informative, thought-provoking, and casual.

So does more mean better? How do you feel about the charger not being available in the box?

If you have any questions, comments, or anything you want to say please add them here below the review. I will respond to them as soon as I can. To see how similar the iPhone 12 is to the iPhone 12 Pro, please click here to check the review. 

That’s it from me. Stay safe. Keep well until next time.

 

New Apple iPhone 12 Mini Review: Is It Worth Your Money?

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Introducing the smaller yet powerful New Apple iPhone 12 Mini. It’s the first entry-level model in the series and packs a punch. With so many other mid-range smartphones to choose from, is the phone worth your investment? Let’s dive right into the review of the new Apple iPhone 12 Mini. 

 

2020 New Apple iPhone 12 Mini

Apple iPhone 12 Mini | DISPLAY: 5.4-inch, Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 1080 x 2340 | PROCESSOR: Apple A14 Bionic (5nm), Hexa-core | OS: iOS 14.1 | STORAGE/MEMORY: 64GB 4GB, 128GB 4GB, 256GB 4GB | CAMERA: Dual-lens, 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultra-wide), Dual-lens selfie, 12MP (wide), depth sensor | BATTERY: 2227mAh, supports fast and wireless charging | WEIGHT: 135g | RATING: 4.25 out of 5

PRICE

 

 

Overview

The new Apple iPhone 12 mini is a much smaller smartphone device, with a smaller 5.4-inch screen, with a smaller battery but lighter in weight. But don’t be discouraged, as it comes with the same hardware spec as the new Apple iPhone 12. Click to see the review. Similarly, it comes with great durability, a dual-lens camera, and the new iOS 14 preinstalled. Overall, it’s a smaller, more compact version of the Apple iPhone 12. 

 

Display & Design

The iPhone 12 Mini comes in a new design, encased in a glass aluminum frame. The glass front comes with a special coating to prevent unwanted scratches from unforeseen accidents. It has an IP68 rating meaning that it’s dust and water-resistant. You can dive in with it for up to 6 meters underwater for 30 minutes, and it will still work. In short, the iPhone 12 Mini comes with good durability features and a new design.    

In terms of the display, the iPhone 12 Mini comes with a 5.4-inch display with Super Retina XDR OLED technology, and Full HD (1080 x 2340) screen resolution. As you start the smartphone and watch it load, you can really see how clear, sharp, and accurate the colors are. The pictures and movie clips look stunning on a small screen, with well-managed brightness and contrasts. Overall, the display is one of the best parts of the iPhone 12 Mini in the series. It may be smaller and of lower quality but manages to retain the stunning Full HD quality.

 

Performance

Before we get into the performance, let’s see underneath the hood. The Apple iPhone 12 Mini comes with Apple’s own A14 Bionic 5G processor (which is currently the fastest processor to date), and a choice model storage from 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Normally, there’s no micro SD to expand storage here. The performance here is impressive. The A14 processor really does the job of delivering fast, and responsive performance for daily use and for gaming.

Speaking of gaming, the GPU helps to produce detailed graphics and smooth gameplay. So if you’re a gamer, and have time to kill, look no further than the iPhone 12. Not that it’s a gaming phone, like the Asus ROG Gaming Phone 3, but it does have the hardware to support games, like Battlegrounds and Fortnite.

The new iOS 14 included is also a great addition. It’s fast, fluid, and responsive thanks to the hardware. I like how it responds to touch, and how smooth it moves effortlessly. It really is indescribable and worth you trying it out. To close off, the iPhone 12 Mini is an excellent smartphone because of its top-notch performance. It has a great hardware spec and performs well for daily use and gaming. It’s best that you give it a try to truly appreciate it.

 

Camera

The iPhone 12 Mini comes with a dual-lens camera at the back and a dual-lens in front. They each take excellent quality pictures and record 4K videos effortlessly. The main camera comes with a 12MP (wide) camera and a 12MP (ultra-wide) camera. The wide camera does a good job in taking incredible pictures, that are detail, producing accurate color and sharpness.

The ultra-wide does a good job as well but lacks some detail. It also does a great job at night but there will be traces of loss in detail especially in low-lit areas. The selfie camera works great, taking in much-needed detail, color, and sharpness, and produces stunning photos. 

Lastly, the iPhone 12 Mini is a great tool for recording videos. Do you want to record 4K videos at 60fps? the iPhone 12 does that. Do you want to record a full HD video at 120fps, the iPhone 12 does that too. All in all, the iPhone 12 Mini is another powerful smartphone with an excellent camera, takes incredible photos in high-quality, and high-quality video clips.

 

Other Features

Starting with the audio, the speakers produce incredible sound. The ringtones and music that play, are crisp, and clear. You can really hear the bass and treble. There are stereo speakers at the bottom of the phone and at the top section of the screen. It would be a good idea to listen to it to really hear the beats. On a negative note, no headphones are included in the box upon purchase.

The battery life of the iPhone 12 Mini is great but comes with trade-offs. One, since it’s 5G, so you can expect better connectivity, and faster uploads, and downloads, but uses a lot of battery power. Switching to 4G lower connectivity but increases the battery life. Two, the iPhone 12 Mini comes with a smaller 2227 mAh battery. It is a contributing factor to battery life.

Three, no iPhone charger in the box. If you get the iPhone 12 Mini, make sure you buy a charger too. The best you get is an Apple’s 20W charger, (which can boost battery charge up to 58% in 30 minutes), or you can a wireless charger, but is much slower in charging the phone.

The security of the iPhone 12 Mini is the standard FaceID and passcode unlock. But with us having to wear face masks due to the present COVID-19 pandemic, it does not work very well. The only alternative is the passcode unlock. No fingerprint sensor here.

Overall, the iPhone 12 Mini comes with a lot of additional features, but these mentioned are the main drawbacks. The battery life is average and has trade-offs, and the security features are limited, but the audio quality is great.

 

Verdict

So you are thinking of getting the new Apple iPhone Mini? It’s an impressive smartphone, you can count on that. But there are a few things to mention before I give my verdict. One, no charger nor headphones in the box. It’s disappointing that we need to purchase our own basic accessories especially the charger. Maybe they have their own reasons but these two items should at least be included in the box.

Second, the FaceID unlock does not work well with the fact that we have to wear face masks when we go out and about. But that’s not a problem as we can use our passcode to unlock. Though the FaceID feature is a much quicker way to unlock your phone. I guess for now there is no other way than to lower your face mask to use the FaceID to unlock the Apple iPhone 12 Mini.  

The battery of the iPhone 12 Mini is tiny, as there are budget smartphones out there that have bigger batteries, produce longer battery life, and are more affordable. Something to think about. My official verdict, the new Apple iPhone 12 Mini is a powerful smartphone. It may be more compact and comes with its compromises but it works well, has great performance, and best of all has the looks, color, and great features to play around with. If I was looking for an iPhone, then I would consider this one as an alternative, but I’d wait until the price drops or take my chances on an iPhone 11. 

 

Recommendations

The Apple iPhone 12 Mini is a smartphone  that I recommend for the following reasons:

  • Gorgeous Full HD display
  • Great durability features
  • Top-rated performance for daily use and gaming
  • New iOS that is really smooth and responsive 
  • Takes excellent day and night pictures
  • Record up to 4K videos @60fps
  • Good video stabilization
  • Rich audio quality

The iPhone 12 Mini is a great smartphone but not perfect. Here are things to consider before purchase. 

  • No iPhone charger and headphones in the box
  • No micro SD slot to expand storage
  • FaceID works but not with a face mask
  • Average battery life

The choice is on you now. If you want the iPhone 12 Mini then you need to get your own charger. If you are lucky, you can find one and use an older phone charger but if it’s not 20W, it’s going to charge slower. If you can get that at least, then you’re safe.

There are many retail outlets available to get a charger and good quality headphones, so don’t stress about it. Best for users who prefer a smartphone with top-range features and are willing to compromise. This is a cheaper alternative in the series, yet more expensive than other affordable smartphones. Click here to see more. So it’s a no-go zone for students or those who want a simple phone that does daily functions… unless you can afford it.

 

Close-Off

So what do you think? Is the new Apple iPhone 12 Mini worth your investment? If you do, then click on the link here to get yourself one. Overall, I thank you for reaching this far. If you have questions, and comments, please leave them here below. Let’s open up the floor and discuss what we like or dislike about the new Apple iPhone 12 Mini. That’s all from me for now. Stay safe. Keep well until next time.

 

New 2020 Apple iPhone 12 Review: Quick but not Furious

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Looking to buy the new iPhone 12? Welcome to the Apple iPhone 12 review. 

The Apple iPhone 12 series of smartphones have arrived. They grace us with their presence in a time of uncertainty, and pandemic proportions, but that won’t stop Apple.

Starting with the new Apple iPhone 12, it comes with a great design and an abundance of great features from its Apple iPhone predecessor.

It’s fast but not really furious as it comes with imperfections that are worth noting before you consider it for purchase. All that and more will be said as we go through the new 2020 Apple iPhone 12 review.

 

New 2020 Apple iPhone 12 Review

 

(Image credit: newegg.com)

New 2020 Apple iPhone 12 | DISPLAY: 6.1 inches, Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, HD+, 1170 x 2532 pixels | CPU: Hexa-core, Apple A14 Bionic (5 nm) | STORAGE/MEMORY: 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | BATTERY: 2815mAh, supports fast charging and wireless charging | CAMERA: Dual, 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), Dual selfie, 12MP (wide), depth sensor | WEIGHT: 164g | RATING: 4.5 out of 5

SEE PRICE ON NEWEGG

 

Overview

 

 

The New 2020 Apple iPhone 12 is a great smartphone. It comes with a completely new great look and design with four bright and stunning colors to choose from.

The screen has been improved to delivering gorgeous pictures, videos, and a great iOS experience. 

The phone comes with a dual-lens camera, that takes excellent pictures and videos both day and night.

It also comes with good battery life, great hardware to complement its top-rated performance for daily use, and offers a great gaming experience.

In the box, you get the Apple iPhone 12 smartphone, and a USB-C cable.

Overall, this is indeed a great smartphone but is it good enough to satisfy your needs? Let’s see it in more detail. 

   

 

Display & Design

 

The Apple iPhone 12 comes with a great new design, improved screen quality, and improved durability.

The iPhone 12 is made of a glass aluminum frame. It includes a special glass front that aims to reduce chances of scratches when accidents happen.

 

(Image Credit: newegg.com)

 

The phone comes with a large 6.1-inch display. The screen quality has improved thanks to the new Super Retina XDR OLED technology, with better full HD+ screen resolution, that delivers good contrasts, brightness, with great sharpness and color accuracy.

It comes with an IP68 rating which means it’s durable. It’s dust and water-resistant so it can survive up to 6 meters underwater for up to 30 minutes.

Overall, the design and display of the iPhone 12 is a great addition. It comes with good durability, a stunning display, and a great design.  

 

 

Performance

 

Before we get into the performance, let’s see underneath the hood. The Apple iPhone 12 comes with an A14 Bionic 5G processor (which is currently the fastest processor to date), and a choice model storage from 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage. Normally, there’s no micro SD slot to expand storage.

The performance here is impressive. The A14 processor really does the job of delivering fast, and responsive performance for daily use and for gaming.

Speaking of gaming, the GPU delivers great gaming graphics and smooth gameplay. So if you’re a gamer, and have time to kill, look no further than the iPhone 12. Not that it’s a gaming phone, like the Asus ROG Gaming Phone 3, but it does have the hardware to support games.

The new iOS 14 included is also a great addition. It’s fast, fluid, and responsive thanks to the hardware. I like how it responds to touch, and how smooth it moves effortlessly. It really is indescribable and worth you trying it out.

To close off, the iPhone 12 is an excellent smartphone because of its top-notch performance. The hardware spec is a great addition as it boosts performance for daily use and a great gaming device. It’s best that you give it a try to truly appreciate it.

 

 

Camera

 

The iPhone 12 comes with a dual-lens camera at the back and a dual-lens selfie camera. They each take excellent quality photos and record high-quality 4K videos.

The main camera comes with a 12MP (wide) camera and a 12MP (ultra-wide camera). The wide camera does a good job of taking incredible pictures. It really takes the detail such as color, clarity, and sharpness.

 

(Image credit: newegg.com)

 

The ultra-wide does a good job but does lack detail in some instances. It also does a great job at night but there will be traces of loss of detail especially in low light areas. The selfie camera works so well, taking in the much-needed detail. 

Lastly, the iPhone 12 is a great tool for recording videos. Do you want to record 4K videos at 60fps, the iPhone 12 does that. Do you want to record a full HD video at 120fps, the iPhone 12 does that too. 

All in all, the iPhone 12 is another powerful smartphone with an excellent camera, takes incredible photos, and high-quality videos.

 

 

Other Features

 

Starting with the audio, the sound is impressive. The ringtones and music that play, are crisp and clear. You can really hear the bass and treble. There are stereo speakers at the bottom of the phone and at the top section of the screen.

It would be a good idea to listen to it to really hear the beats. On a negative note, no headphones are included in the box upon purchase.

 

(Image credit: Walmart.com)

 

The battery life of the iPhone 12 is great but comes with trade-offs. Since it’s 5G, you can expect better connectivity, faster uploads, and downloads, but uses a lot of battery power. Switching to 4G does lower connectivity speed but increases battery life for up to 2 hours.

The iPhone 12 comes with a 2815 mAh battery which is smaller than other smartphone brands in a similar range. It is a contributing factor to the battery life.

No iPhone charger in the box. So it best you get Apple’s 20W charger, (which can boost battery charging up to 58% in 30 minutes), or a wireless charger.

The security of the iPhone 12 is the standard FaceID unlock. But with us having to wear face masks due to the present Covid-19 pandemic, it won’t work well. There is no fingerprint sensor either.

Overall, the iPhone 12 comes with more additional features, but these mentioned are the main drawbacks. The battery life may be solid but has its trade-offs, and there will be limits to the security features work but the audio quality is great.

 

 

Verdict

 

Apple iPhone 12 is one of the best smartphones to get this year. It was released in 2020, and it’s one of the fastest performance smartphones around. The price though is pretty high but you get what you pay for here. If you can afford this phone, get it now. You won’t be disappointed.

Except for the fact that you will need to buy your own iPhone charger. If you don’t access to an iStore then there are other retailers online that supply the charger. It really is disappointing though as it’s a necessary item to have. I mean how can they not provide a charger. I’m sure they have their reasons.

With the security feature, it’s best to take off your face mask to unlock the iPhone 12 using the FaceID feature, or just punch in the passcode. There’s no solution right now but we’ll see what the future holds. No fingerprint scanner feature.

My official verdict, if you get this phone you will experience challenges, but here are solutions to work with. One, purchase an iPhone charger. Two, take off your face mask to unlock your phone. And three, if needs be, purchase a USB dongle and headphones.

Those are the only drawbacks of the iPhone 12. Other than that the smartphone works really well. 

 

 

Recommendation

 

(Image credit: Newegg.com)

 

The iPhone 12 is one smartphone, I highly recommend for the following reasons:

  • Stunning HD+ display
  • Great durability features
  • Top-range performance for daily use and gaming
  • New iOS that is really smooth and responsive 
  • Takes excellent day and night pictures
  • Record up to 4K videos @60fps
  • Good video stabilization
  • Rich audio quality

 

The iPhone 12 is a great smartphone but not perfect. Here are things to consider before purchase. 

  • No iPhone charger and headphones in the box
  • No micro SD for expandable storage
  • FaceID works but not a face mask on
  • Battery life is good but could be better

 

The choice is on you now. If you want the iPhone 12 then you need to get your own charger and headphones. If you are lucky, you can use an older phone charger but it may not 20W.

If you can get that at least, then you are fine. There are many retail outlets to get good quality headphones, so not much stress there.

Best for users who prefer a smartphone with top-range features. This is an expensive phone, so it’s a no-go zone for students or those who want a simple phone that does daily functions… unless you can afford it. 

 

 

Close Off

 

That’s it from my side. These are just things that you should know before purchasing the New 2020 Apple iPhone 12.

Thanks for reading my Apple iPhone 12 review. I hope it helps you to make a better choice.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below. It’s really encouraging to see users responding positively to the review and helps me a great deal.

If you want to see more about what the smartphone has to offer, then click here to find out more and make a purchase if you’re considering it.

Thanks for reading this review. Stay safe. Take care of yourself. See you at the next review.

 

Get Yourself One of the Best Budget Smartphones of 2020

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Get Yourself One of the Best Budget Smartphones of 2020

 

Before the year 2020 is over, which was filled with turmoil thanks to the present epidemic, Let’s look at the best budget smartphones of 2020. If you’ve missed out because you have been hibernating, don’t worry because if you want an affordable smartphone, then you’re at the right place.

 

 

OnePlus Nord 5G

 

DISPLAY: 6.44 inches, fluid AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G (7 nm) | STORAGE, MEMORY: 64GB, 6GB RAM / 128GB, 8GB RAM / 256GB, 12GB RAM | OS: Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5.9 | CAMERA: Quad main camera, 48MP (wide), 8MP (ultrawide), 5MP (depth), 2MP (macro) | SELFIE: Double, 32MP (wide), 8MP (ultrawide) | BATTERY: 4115 mAh | WEIGHT: 184 g | RATING: 4.3 out of 5

PRICE ON WALMART

 

The OnePlus Nord is definitely the best budget smartphone of 2020 worth trying. First, it’s a cross between a mid-range and a top-range phone with a top performance processor, and a great choice of storage and memory models to optimize performance. 

Secondly, it’s 5G so expect great network coverage, with good upload or download speeds.   

Thirdly, not much to say about the design but it comes with great colors to choose from, a great quad camera, and fast-charging capabilities.  

It’s not as good as top-range smartphones as it will lack the features, but with the price on offer, it’s worth a try.

To find out more great features on this amazing smartphone, click to see my review of the OnePlus Nord.  

 

 

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S

 

DISPLAY: 6.67 inches, IPS LCD, HDR10, 1080 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | STORAGE, MEMORY: 64GB, 4GB RAM / 128GB, 6GB RAM | OS: Android 10, MIUI 12 | CAMERA: Quad main camera, 48MP (wide), 8MP (ultrawide), 5MP (macro), 2MP (depth) | SELFIE CAMERA: Single, 16MP (wide) | BATTERY: 5020 mAh | WEIGHT: 209 g | RATING: 4.0 out of 5

PRICE ON WALMART

 

If there’s one thing I can say about the Redmi Note 9S, it’s one of the most affordable smartphones you get right now. Another best budget smartphone of 2020. 

Here are the reasons why you must get this smartphone. Firstly, it comes with a simple design with curved edges and nice metallic color options to choose from. 

Secondly, it has a large flat screen that produces clear sharp images and a smooth responsive Android OS.

Next is the large 5000mAh battery that guarantees at most up to two long day’s worth of battery life. It comes with a fast charger to juice it up within an hour.

Lastly, the Redmi Note 9S comes with a quad-camera, that takes up to 48MP pictures, and records high quality in 4K.       

Overall, this is just a simple smartphone that comes with a little more features than you bargain for, and it’s one of the most affordable smartphones.

What more can you ask for? This is a great alternative smartphone that has made one of my top five picks best budget smartphones of 2020.    

To find out more about this amazing and affordable smartphone, click here to see the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S Review.  

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

DISPLAY: 6.5 inches, Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2400 pixels | CPU: Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 (7 nm+)| STORAGE, MEMORY: 128GB, 6GB RAM / 128GB, 8GB RAM / 256GB, 8GB RAM | OS: Android 10, One UI 2.5 | CAMERA: Triple main camera, 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide), 8MP (telephoto) | SELFIE CAMERA: Single, 32MP (wide) | BATTERY: 4500 mAh | WEIGHT: 190 g | RATING: 4.0 out of 5

PRICE ON WALMART

 

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is a great smartphone to also consider. It’s a special edition made for the fans of the Samsung Galaxy S20 series.

First. Great quality full HD display. Good design with several color model options. Great triple camera. Good battery life. 

Second. It’s a 5G smartphone, with a great performance processor together with a great choice of storage and memory options. 

Thirdly. Great durability especially water and dust resistance.

The smartphone may have a plastic aluminum frame and is a little more expensive, but it’s a great alternative if you lack the budget for the entry-level Samsung S20.    

To find out more about this amazing and affordable smartphone, click here to see the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Review.  

 

 

Huawei P30 Lite New Edition

 

DISPLAY: 6.15 inches, IPS LCD, 1080 x 2312 pixels | CPU: Kirin 710 (12 nm) | STORAGE, MEMORY: 256GB, 6GB RAM | OS: Android 9.0 (Pie), EMUI 9.1 | CAMERA: Triple main camera, 48MP (wide), 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (depth) | SELFIE CAMERA: Single, 32MP (wide) | BATTERY: 3340 mAh | WEIGHT: 152.9 g | RATING: 3.8 out of 5

PRICE ON WALMART

 

The New Edition Huawei P30 Lite is next on the list of best budget smartphones of 2020, as it surpasses it older P30 Lite with better features.

First off. Good quality full HD display. Good triple camera performance. Nice design colors.

Secondly. Good performance but only available in one model that features 256GB storage and 6GB memory.

Thirdly, this smartphone retains rights to Google services. So if you looking for an affordable Huawei smartphone that still uses Google services then this one’s for you.    

Even though it has a smaller battery and average performance processor, it falls between budget and mid-range. The smartphone comes at a good price and is worth checking out of you looking for a good budget alternative. 

To find out more about this amazing and affordable smartphone, click here to see my review of the Huawei P30 Lite New Edition smartphone.  

 

 

Apple iPhone 11

 

DISPLAY: 6.1 inches, Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 828 x 1792 pixels | CPU: Apple A13 Bionic (7 nm+) | STORAGE, MEMORY: 64GB, 4GB RAM / 128GB, 4GB RAM / 256GB, 4GB RAM | OS: iOS 13 | CAMERA: Dual main camera, 12MP (wide), 12MP (ultrawide) | SELFIE CAMERA: Dual, 12MP (wide) | BATTERY: 3340 mAh | WEIGHT: 194 g | RATING: 4.0 out of 5

PRICE ON WALMART

 

The last one of the best budget smartphones of 2020 to get, is the iPhone 11 from Apple. This one is the least long smartphone but don’t let that fool you. The iPhone 11 does pack some great features as well.

Firstly, it comes with a solid performance processor that guarantees superb overall iPhone performance. 

Second, the dual-camera feature helps the iPhone 11 to take great pictures and videos. 

And lastly, the long-lasting battery life guarantees you all-day power. 

To find out more about this amazing and affordable smartphone, click to see my review of the Apple iPhone 11.  

 

 

Lasting impressions

 

Each one of these best budget smartphones of 2020 comes with its own perks and mishaps, but they are generally five of the best budget smartphones of 2020. 

The OnePlus Nord is overall the best when it comes to tech features. I like the color, the clear and sharp display, and the overall performance of the phone. It is definitely one to recommend if you want a phone with a little more features but not as expensive as other top-range phones.

The Galaxy S20 FE is another I feel is the best smartphone of 2020. Yes, it’s a little more pricey. Yes, it’s made of plastic aluminum that is less premium than the top-range S20 smartphones, yet it comes with an excellent hardware spec and a great display. Another smartphone worth trying out if a top-range smartphone’s not your thing.

The most affordable but the best one to get on a tight budget is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S/Pro. Don’t be fooled by the price but it comes with some pretty need features. It definitely is one smartphone I recommend to those who really are on a tight budget yet want to experience what a top-budget phone can do. I highly recommend it.

The Huawei New Edition P30 Lite is also worth recommending. I like that it takes great pictures, has features to help save battery life, and is also a great and affordable alternative.

For Apple iPhone fans, the iPhone 11 is a great smartphone. It goes to show that great things do come in small packages, especially at that price. Although the iPhone 12 series has made its way into the last months of 2020, this smartphone could be a great alternative.        

 

 

Closing off…

 

Well, there you have it. My choice of five of the best budget smartphones in 2020 to get now and will serve you in the future to come. If you have any inputs, opinions, or just want to express a compliment, please leave them below. Any questions and I’ll get back to you soonest. 

Thanks for coming this far in my article. Have a great day. See you next time.  

 

Asus TUF Gaming Laptop FX505 Review: Impressive & Affordable

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Asus TUF Gaming Laptop FX505 Review: Impressive & Affordable

 

Over the years, the demand for top-range, powerful gaming laptops has dropped. Even if you finally get the money you’ve spent months saving up it, months later out comes a better gaming laptop at an even higher price.

So you need to ask yourself, was it really worth it?

Nowadays, gamers look for mid-range, even affordable alternatives. One of such to consider is the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505. Not only for gaming but for business owners, creative artists, developers, etc. Without further ado, here is my review of the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505.    

 

Asus TUF Gaming Laptop FX505

 

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch, Full HD LED, (1920 x 1080), 60Hz/120Hz | CPU: Intel Core i5-9300H/AMD Ryzen 7 3750H | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB/RTX 2060 8GB DDR6 | MEMORY: 4/8GB DDR4 | STORAGE: 512GB/1TB SSD | OS: Windows 10 Home | WEIGHT: 4.9 lbs (2.2 kg) | OTHER FEATURES: WiFi, Bluetooth, 720p webcam, HDMI, RGB Backlit keyboard | RATING: 4.1 out of 5

 

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Overview

 

 

The Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 is a budget laptop that is specially designed for people that like to play video games. Not that it’s meant for gamers, it can also be used as a normal laptop to help you with corporate work, run your business, type documents, browse online and video streaming.

Compared to a normal budget laptop, it has a top-class hardware spec and unique features in the design. 

 

 

Display

 

Here are good points to say about the display. Firstly, it’s a 15-inch with thin bezels on each side of the screen.

Second, it supports full HD with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 and runs at 60Hz.

Thirdly, the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 displays images pretty well. It has nice viewing angles, good colour accuracy, good management of brightness and contrasts.

Overall, it’s a normal display that tops 1080p, running at 60fps. No touchscreen here, but if it had that feature it would cost so much more.

 

Design

 

 

The Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 is made of a black plastic matte finish with the Asus logo center placed behind the display.

The 720p webcam is placed on the top section of the display. Next are the backlit RGB keyboard and a touchpad.

Input ports include: 1x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.2, 1x USB 2.0, ethernet port, and headphone jack. WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity also available.

The design is not that breathtaking as the Alienware gaming laptop but it’s different from a normal clamshell laptop. You really notice the difference from the round corners to the matte finish texture.

The RGB backlit keyboard livens the laptop. It really glows bright, especially in low-lit areas.

Overall, the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 is well designed. It does have a few finishing touches here and there, but not something to really go ‘WOW’ about. It works well and makes it look good at its price.

 

 

Performance

 

For normal everyday tasks, the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 performs pretty well, thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 processor, and 8GB of memory. The SSD contributes as well as it helps to lower load times of Windows, software and other apps stored. 

The Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU is not only good for gaming but also helps to optimize the display as well.

Speaking of gaming, RTX 2060 is a better performance option than the GTX 1650. PC games run smoother with better-detailed graphics.

Overall, the entry-level model is a preferable option for those looking to do everyday tasks with little consideration for gaming. If you consider the latter, then expect a better performance gaming laptop but will cost relatively more thanks to the 2060 RTX.   

 

 

Other Features

 

With the battery life, the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 is pretty short. It’s so short, you are looking at up to 2 hours of battery life, which is really not that good. This can be due to prolonged gaming sessions as it uses so much of your battery. It’s best that you keep it plugged in during gaming sessions.

The Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 comes with a ‘dual-fan system’ that helps to keep it cool.  It does make a noise but it’s tolerable. Wearing headphones is a good way not to hear it.

 

 

Impressions

 

The Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505 is good but not the best gaming laptop to have. There are a number of good gaming laptops available at this price range, and all have a few things in common.

First, you can play all PC games but at medium or low graphic settings. The graphics will not look as good, but the gameplay will be better.

Secondly, they are made of plastic. It’s not really a bad thing, but it’s something note.

Thirdly, if you can get the same model gaming laptop with a better GPU, then it’s worth considering. It will improve gaming performance overall.

With that being said, the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505, is one of the more affordable gaming laptops to buy, but (with my recommendation), make sure that it has storage space at least 512GB, that the hard drive is an SSD, 8GB or higher of system memory is good enough, and the GPU is at least an Nvidia GTX 1650. I prefer the Nvidia RTX 2060 as it’s a better-performing GPU.  

To sum up, I’m happy with the performance, and the features of the Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505. It may be lacking in some areas, but remember this is a budget gaming laptop. Compromises are expected.

This is a great starter for those who want to experience a gaming laptop, and what better way to experience that with an affordable Asus TUF gaming laptop FX505. Click here to see the price.     

 

 

Should you buy it?

 

 

Yes!

If you are looking for an affordable gaming laptop. If you are focused on light casual gaming and the ability to handle everyday tasks, then the entry model with the 1650 GTX GPU is the better option. But if you want a more gaming laptop then the 2060 RTX with 16GB memory is the better option.  

 

Yes!

If you want a great performance laptop that can help you with corporate or business tasks. It’s an affordable option but there are even more affordable laptops (like Chromebooks to consider). They won’t have the same specs as this one.

 

No!

If you want more hours of battery life, then you won’t find it here. Most gaming laptops nowadays have the same problem even top range gaming laptops. 

 

Close-off

 

It’s been a pleasure to do the Asus TUF Gaming Laptop FX505 Review. Thank you for coming this far. If you have comments, praises, or questions, please leave them below.

To see more affordable laptops, click here. 

That’s all from me today. Keep safe. Take care until next time.

 

PlayStation 5 Console Review: The Greatest Best-Selling Console

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New PlayStation 5 Console Review: The Greatest Best-Selling Console

 

The long-awaited new PlayStation 5 console is finally released. Sony’s most loved gaming device comes to us with a totally different design (both console and the ‘DualSense’ controller), a promise of faster loading of games, better graphic performance, and other amazing features.

Its biggest console rival, the Xbox Series X, was also released this year. So, unless you’re a fan of either one, it’s going to be a challenge to pick which one to go for. For now, let’s focus on this review of the new Playstation 5 console.       

 

New PlayStation 5 Console

 

(Image credit: BestBuy.com)

 

CPU: AMD Zen 2 with 8 cores at 3.5GHz | GPU: Custom AMD RDNA 2 | MEMORY: 16GB GDDR6, bandwidth – 448GB/s | STORAGE: Custom 825GB SSD, usable storage – 667.2GB | EXPANDABLE STORAGE: NVMe SSD slot | EXTERNAL STORAGE: USB HDD support (PS4 games only) | OPTICAL DRIVE: 4K UHD Blu-ray drive | WEIGHT: 4.5kg | DIMENSIONS: 39 x 10.4 x 26cm | RATING: 4.5 out of 5

ORDER NOW AT WALMART

 

Overview

 

 

For those who don’t know, the new PlayStation 5 console is a new gaming device that is used to play 3D video games on an HD/4K television set. It comes with a DualSense controller that lets you control the video game or the user interface onscreen.

There are two types: the Standard Edition (available for $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95) with a 4K Blu-Ray disc slot, and the Digital Edition (available for $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95) without the disc slot. The latter is more for those who prefer downloading PlayStation games from the PSN online. 

From the previous PS4, the new PlayStation 5 console comes with an abundance of improvements. Firstly, faster load times of games thanks to the fast SSD storage.

Secondly, the robust graphics processing unit (GPU) helps to improve graphics overall in gaming, using higher frame rates such as 60fps or 120fps on 4K/UHD TVs, and ray tracing technology to add more detail and realism.

Thirdly is the gorgeous design of the PS5 and the DualSense controller. And lastly, the great features of the new PS5 controller, that include adaptive triggers and a built-in microphone.

The new PlayStation 5 console is an amazing gaming device. With a great design and amazing features, it’s making its name as one of the best gaming devices to come out of 2020. Still not convinced? Let’s find out more about this review. 

   

 

Design

 

(Image credit: Walmart.com)

 

The new PlayStation 5 console is enormous. Its height is 39 cm (15.4″) tall and weighs 4,5 kg. Good luck finding a TV wall unit that it can fit it standing up. It looks awesome standing horizontally than it laying vertically. 

The PS5 comes as a two-tone black and white colour, with the majority colour being white. One likeable feature of the design is the blue lighting effect, that operates similar to the PS4. 

With input ports, in front, there is a USB-A and a USB-C port. A little to the bottom right side in front is the 4K Blu-Ray slot,  At the back are two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1, Ethernet port and a power port.

That’s it on the design. It’s different. It literally stands out from the crowd of other consoles because of its height and its design colours. The DualSense controller has completely been redesigned as well and pretty much stands out as well and maybe the most innovative controller.   

       

Performance: Gaming & Graphics

The main purpose of a gaming console is to play video games with a TV set. If that purpose is achieved, then the gaming console is worth the investment.

That’s precisely what the new PlayStation 5 console does, but it does much much more.

 

Graphics

Playing games on a 4K/UHD TV is amazing. The graphics are stunning. The gameplay is really smooth, with barely any lag or delay at 60fps/120fps.

All thanks to the impressive hardware spec, that includes a custom AMD RDNS 2 graphics processing unit (GPU) that delivers 4K resolution at up to 120fps, an octa-core AMD Zen 2 processor, 16GB of system memory and the super-fast SSD storage hard drive.

Speaking of the SSD, you can only use 660+GB of instead out of the 825GB. There is the option of expanding storage by either installing another SSD or an external hard drive but those options will be unlocked from an update released later on.

If you still have your full HD TV don’t worry because the PS5 is compatible, but it will not look as gorgeous. So, if you can get yourself a 4K/UHD TV. 

 

(Image credit: PlayStation.com)

 

Gaming

 There are many games to look forward to at launch. There’s even a free game preinstalled in the PS5 so that you can test out the capabilities of the new DualSense controller. It’s a fun game, has good graphics, and best of all, it’s free with PS5.

The new user interface has been improved with new screens, gorgeous menus and other features. One new feature is the so-called cards system in the Control Center, where you use them to control your gaming activities, install single or multiplayer modes of certain games, see trophies and achievements, and much more. There’s a lot more to experience.

The backward compatibility feature is available but has limited functions. You can play all your PS4 games or PS3 games on your PS5, but you need to download them. Those you have purchased on PSN, you can download them into your PS5 and play them at your leisure. Sadly, right now you cannot insert PS4 or PS3 games to play. 

Overall, graphics look outstanding, PS5 games are available to buy. However, you need to download PS4 and other titles. That’s the backwards compatibility for you.

 

Accessories

 

(Image credit: PlayStation.com)

 

With the new Playstation 5 console, comes Sony’s new DualSense controller. It comes in two colour white and black. It features the original controller layout with the addition of the adaptive trigger L2 and R2 buttons.

either than the adaptive trigger buttons and the new design, there are more features on know. Firstly, it has the same lighting effect as the console. Second, there’s a microphone included in the controller.

Third, the internal battery delivers up to 12 hours of battery life for the controller, compared to the 8 hours of battery life for the PS4 DualShock controller.

Other accessories available for the new PlayStation 5 console include the: 

    • HD Camera
    • Media remote control
    • Pulse 3D wireless headset
    • DualSense charging station  

Overall, the new PlayStation 5 console has lots more instore either than the gaming console and controller.     

 

Impressions

I have mixed impressions about the new Playstation 5 console. Firstly, I love the new look and the unique design. It’s stunning, looks awesome standing up and its really tall, but it’s quite heavy.

Secondly, the PS5 has a good collection of games available at launch and a free game preinstalled call Astro Playroom. Great video games like Demon Souls Remake, Spiderman: Miles Morales, Assassins Creed Valhalla, Call of Duty Cold War, and many more, are available to purchase now.

The third feature is the amazing features of the PS5. The ability to play video games on a UHD TV at up to 120 frames per second, the fast loading time of games, the stunning graphics and gameplay, it leaves much to be desired.

The problem is the backwards compatibility feature. Yes, it’s available but very limited. You can play most PS4 and some PS3 games on the PS5, but you need to download them or activate them from the retail disc.

The next factor is the hardware. Thanks to that, the gaming performance looks great and gameplay and smooth. Storage is a problem as there are many factors to consider. 

 

(Image credit: Walmart.com)

 

Firstly, the 825GB is smaller than the 1TB from the Xbox Series X. Secondly, you only get 667+GB storage to install games and other entertainment apps.

Thirdly, there is the option to expand storage using an SSD hard drive slot but needs to be physically installed into the console. Upon launch, that option is locked until Sony releases an update.

Another option is the use of an external SSD/HDD hard drive but you won’t be able to install PS5 games, only older games. 

The new DualSense controller looks amazing and works pretty well. The adaptive triggers are a great new feature.

To describe it, imagine playing a first-person shooter, and you firing a gun. As you fire, the controller vibrates as you press on the adaptive trigger, almost like you firing a live machine gun. The battery life is longer too than the previous DualShock 4, which is a great improvement. 

 

 

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you want to play the best games on a 4K/Ultra HD TV, then get a PS5. If you don’t have one, the PS5 can support a Full HD TV but will play games at 60fps running on 1080p.

Yes. If you want to experience the new capabilities of the DualSense, get the PS5. There are many new features to try out especially the adaptive trigger functions.

Yes, If you want to experience the many features such as fast loading times, the new and improved user interface, gaming on a 4K TV, and the overall new entertainment experience.

No. If you expect to play previous PlayStation 4 games or older, it’s best to stick to your older PS4 console. Rather get the Xbox Series X to fully appreciate backward compatibility but only for Xbox games.

No. The PS5 does not support Dolby 4K Atmos or Vision. That is if you have a 4K Dolby home entertainment system.

To sum up, the new PlayStation 5 console is a gaming masterpiece. It’s an outstanding gaming console but one cannot really say it’s a perfect gaming console. You may like it or hate but if it plays video games as great as it does then it’s a win.

If you have the money and find stock available, then get the new Playstation 5 console. Alternatively, if you are not happy with the PS5, then check out the review of the Xbox Series X, or you can click here to order the new PlayStation 5 console now whilst stock is available. 

 

 

Closing Off

Thank you for reading through my review of the new Playstation 5 console. If you have any questions or comments, please scroll below and leave your comments, praises, criticism, and whatever you want to say.

I really enjoy reviewing this product and hope you will support my website by clicking on the link and purchase the product.

That’s all I have for now. Please stay safe until next time.   

 

 

Xbox Series X review: Amazingly Powerful Next-Gen Console

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Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X

(Image credit: Microsoft)

 

“The new Xbox Series X gaming console is indeed one of the best next-gen gaming platforms today”

 

The Xbox Series X, the next-gen console from Microsoft, is finally here. Released in mid-November 2020, the Xbox Series X console comes with a unique design, a powerful hardware specs similar to a powerful gaming PC, delivering stunning graphics and smooth gameplay. Sony has also released its new PS5 console which comes with a promise of better features and a better gaming experience. Will the new Xbox console live up to the user’s expectations? Let’s go straight to the Xbox Series X review. 

 

 

Overview

The Xbox Series X launched with impressive hardware, but some features felt missing at first. However, numerous updates have transformed the console for the better.

Initially, the lack of exclusive games and the familiar Xbox One interface made it a tough sell compared to the PS5 with its exciting exclusives. While the interface remained functional, it lacked the excitement of a fresh start.

Despite the initial shortcomings, exploring the Xbox Series X’s features reveals its true potential. A growing library of games showcases the hardware’s capabilities, with titles like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 demonstrating stunning visuals and performance.

 

(Image credit: Microsoft)

 

From a hardware perspective, the Xbox Series X has always been impressive. Lightning-fast, near-silent operation, and exceptional performance rivaling high-end PCs make it a fantastic value for its price. This translates to drastically reduced load times and improved visuals across a wide range of games, both new and old.

Quality-of-life features like Quick Resume and FPS Boost further enhance the gameplay experience. However, despite the raw power and new features, the Xbox Series X still lacks the same volume of must-have exclusives as the PS5 or Nintendo Switch.

Here’s where Xbox Game Pass comes in – a subscription service offering access to hundreds of games for a monthly fee. For those who enjoy trying new titles across various genres, it’s an incredible deal.

Even with a focus on older titles, many are optimized for the Xbox Series X hardware, providing a taste of next-gen gaming at a reduced cost.

Additionally, all first-party Microsoft games launch on Game Pass day one, including upcoming titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 thanks to the acquisition of Bethesda. With the potential addition of Activision Blizzard franchises like Call of Duty and Diablo, Game Pass offers an enticing library that’s only getting stronger.

If you’ve been considering joining the Xbox ecosystem, the Xbox Series X is the perfect entry point. It delivers an experience exceeding expectations for longtime Xbox fans, and with improved console availability, there’s no better time to grab Microsoft’s powerful flagship console.

Design

With the design of the gaming console, Microsoft has completely outdone itself. It comes standing upright like a PC desktop tower. There’s the option of laying it done, but it looks better standing up. 

It’s covered with a black matte finish with an inner greenish tint inside the top air vent. It weighs 4.45 kg (9.8 lbs) which is a little heavier than the Xbox One at 3.81 kg (8.4 lbs).

In front, the Xbox logo placed at the top left is the power button. The Blu-ray disc drive and eject button are placed on the bottom left. A USB 3.2 port and IR receiver are placed on the bottom right.

At the back are more cooling vents, along with an HDMI 2.1 port, two more USB 3.2 ports, a network port, a storage expansion slot and power input. The design of the new Xbox console is different from its predecessor.

The matte finish gives it a nice, sleek and modern look, has plenty of input ports and plenty of cooling vents to keep it cool during gaming sessions. It’s a welcome addition and conveys a new face of gaming.

 

Gaming & Graphics

With the graphics, the games look gorgeous. The gameplay runs smoothly, the graphics environment and model textures look amazing, and the ray tracing really makes the game look close to realistic.

Don’t get rid of your old games because the Xbox series X is backward compatible. You can play last-gen games from Xbox One, and some of them from Xbox 360. An update online is available to optimize older games to work on 4K TVs.

 

(Image credit: Microsoft)

 

Note, there are very few games exclusive to the new Xbox series X upon release.    

You can also make use of the “Quick Resume” feature. It lets you suspend multiple games while you play, and loads them fast to get you straight back into action. That is a great feature. 

Overall, the graphics look great. They are well-textured, thanks to the added ray tracing. There are fewer new games to get right upon the launch of the new console but I guess you can be busy playing Xbox One games or older.

 

Performance

The Xbox Series X packs serious muscle under the hood, with a powerful processor, custom graphics card, and a speedy SSD.

This translates to real-world benefits like:

  • Lightning-Fast Load Times: The SSD slashes load times compared to the Xbox One S. Games like Sea of Thieves load in just 35 seconds, down from a whopping 100 seconds on the previous generation.

  • Stunning 4K Resolution with High Frame Rates: The Xbox Series X targets 4K resolution at 60 frames per second for most games, delivering smooth visuals and minimal frame drops. Some titles even offer 120fps for an incredibly responsive experience, though this often comes at the expense of resolution.

  • HDR Support for Enhanced Contrast: Enjoy vibrant colors and deeper blacks with HDR compatibility. Calibrating HDR ensures optimal visuals for each game.

  • Backwards Compatible Games Look and Play Better: Even older Xbox One titles benefit from the Xbox Series X’s hardware. You’ll notice improved visuals, often including native HDR thanks to Microsoft’s implementation.

  • FPS Boost for Older Games: This feature unlocks higher frame rates for select Xbox One games, making them smoother and more responsive. Titles like Gears 5 multiplayer can now run at a silky-smooth 120fps in 4K.

  • Expandable Storage: The 1TB SSD provides ample space for many games, but it can fill up quickly. The Seagate Storage Expansion Card offers a convenient and fast way to add more storage, although it’s quite pricey. Alternatively, you can connect an external hard drive for storing Xbox One and backwards-compatible games, but these won’t play optimized Xbox Series X titles.

  • Flexible Game Installations: Install only the parts of a game you want to play. For example, download just the Doom Eternal multiplayer mode or campaign, not both. This is a great feature for managing storage space.

Overall, the Xbox Series X delivers exceptional performance and gorgeous visuals, making it a powerhouse for gamers who want the best possible experience. The combination of speed, stunning graphics, and features like FPS Boost make the Xbox Series X a compelling choice for next-generation gaming.

 

Beyond Gaming

The Xbox Series X goes beyond just playing games, offering a variety of features that enhance the overall entertainment experience.

  • Quick Resume: This innovative feature lets you suspend and resume multiple games almost instantly, eliminating long loading screens. You can seamlessly jump between games in seconds, picking up right where you left off.
  • Extensive Backward Compatibility: Play thousands of Xbox One, Xbox 360, and even original Xbox games on your Series X. These games often benefit from faster loading times and improved performance.
  • Seamless Cross-Gen Play: Xbox Smart Delivery ensures you always have access to the best version of a game, regardless of whether you’re playing on Xbox Series X or Xbox One. You can even pick up your progress on one console and continue on the other.
  • 4K Blu-ray Player and Streaming Apps: Enjoy your favorite movies and shows in stunning 4K resolution with the built-in Blu-ray player and a wide range of streaming services like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Apple TV Plus. The console also supports Dolby Vision for superior visuals on compatible TVs.
  • Advanced Audio Options: Experience immersive spatial sound with Dolby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X support (additional purchase required). These technologies create a realistic soundscape, letting you pinpoint the location of enemies and other audio cues in your games.
  • Improved Xbox App: The new mobile app offers more control over your Xbox experience. Manage storage, voice chat with friends, share gameplay clips, and even use your phone as a remote control.

Overall, the Xbox Series X is a versatile entertainment hub that caters to gamers and non-gamers alike. With its powerful hardware, innovative features, and access to a vast library of content, it offers a compelling reason to upgrade your home entertainment system.

 

Xbox Series X Controller

The Xbox Series X controller retains the familiar shape and button layout of its predecessor, but with some subtle improvements for a more comfortable and premium feel.

Here’s what’s new:

  • Matte Finish: The controller now sports a sleek matte finish that matches the console’s design. However, the black version shows scuffs and scratches easily. Other color options might be more resistant.
  • Textured Grips and Buttons: The revised pad has a grippy texture on the triggers, bumpers, and grips, making the controller feel more secure in your hands.
  • Reduced Bulk: The bumpers and triggers are slightly smaller and rounded, improving comfort, especially for users with smaller hands.
  • Share Button: Capture screenshots and short videos easily with the new Share button – a welcome improvement over the multiple button presses required on Xbox One.
  • Hybrid D-Pad: This new D-Pad combines the classic design with a disc shape, offering more control and comfort.

 

(Image credit: Microsoft)

 

Everything else you’re used to is still there, including the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port for charging, and familiar button layout.

The controller also boasts improvements in functionality:

  • Lower Latency: The controller feels more responsive, likely due to the lower latency and more stable frame rates.
  • Wireless Versatility: The controller can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to a variety of devices, including the Xbox One, iPhones, and Macs.
  • Battery Options: While it still uses AA batteries, you can invest in a rechargeable battery pack or connect it to the console via USB-C for wired play.

Overall, the Xbox Series X controller offers a familiar design with some key improvements for enhanced comfort, functionality, and a more premium feel.

 

Verdict

That’s it for my review of the Xbox series X. If you like the review please leave a comment below. So click on the button and get yourself this awesome console. Stay safe until next time 😀

Refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 Review

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Refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 Review

 

Nowadays, a refurbished laptop is a great alternative to go for because they are more affordable than the latest releases. One such laptop to look out for is the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 (also known as the Dell Precision 5510).

It was one of the best laptops ever released because of its stunning UHD display, genuine design, and fast system performance. Is it worth spending your hard-earned money? Will it match the performance of current generation laptops?

If you want to find out, here’s my review of the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 business laptop. 

 

Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510

 

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch touch UHD (3840 x 2160) | CPU: Intel Quad Core i7-6820HQ | GPU: Nvidia Quadro M1000M + Intel HD 530 Graphics | MEMORY: 16GB RAM | STORAGE: 512GB SSD | INPUT PORTS: HDMI, 2xUSB, SD card reader, Type-C port | OS: Win 10 Pro | OTHER FEATURES: Bluetooth, WiFi, HD Webcam,  | WEIGHT: 3.1 kg (6.9 lbs)

 

VIEW IN WALMART

 

 

Overview

 

The Dell Precision 5510 is a top-class, premium business laptop, that comes with premium features. It’s all bundled into an impressive aluminium build, that comes with a stunning 4K touch screen, and amazing performance overall.

This is an excellent business laptop, made for top business professionals, creative editors or artists, and for those who are looking to tackle complex tasks and projects.

 

 

Display

 

The 15.6-inch display is the most impressive in this model. It comes with really thin display bezels. The touch screen responds well to touch. The screen technology includes Ultra High Definition (UHD), with a 3820 x 2160 screen resolution.

In a nutshell, the display is gorgeous. The pictures look really sharp. The colours really pop out onscreen and look vibrant, and watching 4K movies or videos is amazing. This is the most outstanding feature of the laptop and is worth the look.

 

 

Design

 

The refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 is made of a combination of silver aluminium and black carbon fibre. The backlit keyboard looks good, types comfortably and the touchpad functions well. 

It does weigh a bit more than normal 15-inches but it’s slim. The webcam is located at the bottom section of the display, but it records good quality videos.

It comes with a good set of input options that includes: 1xHDMI, 1xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB Type C, headphone jack, and MicroSD card reader.  

Overall, the Precision 5510 comes with a great design-build. It’s made of premium materials, has a bit more weight than normal but slim, and comes with great features. 

 

 

Performance

 

Performance-wise, the Precision 5510 comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of system memory, and an Nvidia Quadro graphics card. Thanks to this hardware spec the performance is fast, scoring close to 3000 points on benchmark performance tests.  

 

 

Bear in mind, this is a business laptop, but it does support gaming as well. It does have the hardware specs for gaming development and for light, casual gaming sessions.

Overall, if performance is what you looking for, you got it here with the Precision 5510. It’s fast and supports gaming as well. Don’t expect similar performance as a gaming laptop. 

 

 

Battery Life

The battery life here is a short one. You are looking at a business laptop that lasts up to 4 hours of battery life.

Bear in mind, this laptop has a lot of features, which contributes to the short battery life. For example, the UHD display needs a lot of power to run effectively.

Overall, the Precision 5510 does have a short battery life. It’s best to keep it plugged in if you need to use it for long working sessions.

 

 

Other features

Other features to consider. Firstly, the audio speakers are placed on the bottom of the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 business laptop, contributing to the overall average quality sound.

Secondly, the webcam sits at the bottom section of the display, instead of being on top. It’s not a good idea as your hands will most likely be visible especially when you typing during a teleconference call. 

Lastly, the Precision 5510 manages to stay cool upon use. It does increase the temperature when using it for complex functions like streaming HD videos but after prolonged uses. 

Overall, these features are worth knowing so as to know what to expect upon purchase. 

 

 

Impressions & Verdict

 

 

The refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 is an awesome laptop. I really like the stunning pictures on the screen, the premium design and the fast performance of the system.

The keyboard looks great as well with the backlit and offers a comfortable typing experience. I highly recommend this laptop. 

Although the battery life is short, and the webcam is awkwardly placed, it’s still a great business laptop. Keeping it charged, and getting an external webcam (to place on top) can fix the issues. 

Because this is an older laptop (release in 2017), the price has gone done. In fact, if you go online right now, you can find the refurbished model, at a fair price.

So, if you want a business laptop, with a stunning UHD display, has a premium design features, and a great performance, then the Dell Precision 5510 is the laptop worth buying.

If you want a business laptop with long battery life, then it’s best to look elsewhere. Bear in mind, you’ll be compromising on a lot of top-class features it offers. 

 

 

Closing Off

Thank you for your interest and for reaching this far. This is my review of the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510.

Don’t forget to click here to find out the latest affordable price on the refurbished Dell Precision Mobile Workstation 5510 business laptop.

If this one’s not what you looking for, then click here to check out 2020’s best affordable laptops.

If you have comments, questions, or thoughts to share, you are welcome to share them here below. You can also present your own rating of the laptop reviewed. 

As always, stay safe, take care. See you again next time. 

 

Introducing the Best Budget Business Laptops of 2020

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Let’s face it. We all want the best laptop to do everything we want. Problem is that we cannot all afford them. They are so expensive and take months to save up for. Even if we do end up getting one, not all of us will use the nice premium features. Some of us just want a simple business laptop, that can handle everyday tasks and overall achieve our business goals. If you are one of such fellows, then here are five of the best budget laptops that have made good ratings this year. They offer good performance, cool features, at affordable prices.

 

 

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

DISPLAY: 10.1-inch FHD Touch (1920×1200) | CPU: 8-core, MediaTek P60T | GRAPHICS: ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU | MEMORY: 4GB RAM | STORAGE: 32GB/64GB/128GB | Battery: 7000mAh | OS: ChromeOS | WEIGHT: 0.99 lbs. (449 g) | OTHER: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2MP Webcam, 8MP Rear Camera | RATING: 3.9/5 

Walmart

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Available at an affordable price
  • Includes keypad
  • Decent webcam and rear camera
  • Great battery life
  • Lightweight 

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Average performance
  • Includes one USB port
  • No headphone jack nor microSD slot
  • No backlit & cramped keypad
  • Heavier with a keypad 

The Chromebook Duet from Lenovo is not really a business laptop, but rather a handy 2-in-1 laptop-tablet, catered for those who want a laptop-tablet package alternative. Yes, college students can get this one now and make great use of it straight away, as it also includes a free keypad upon purchase.

Starting at less than US$300, this 2-in-1 tablet includes an 8-core processor, 4GB of memory, storage model options from 32GB to 128GB, up to 14 hours of battery life, and weighs a pound. But it comes with compromises.

Firstly, performance is adequate but tends to slow down if you open up too many apps. Secondly, no headphone jack and a MicroSD slot to increase storage. Thirdly, it only comes with one USB slot. And lastly, the keys on the keypad are too narrow which means uncomfortable typing. 

Overall, the Chromebook Duet is just a budget 2-in-1 laptop. No premium features. Just a simple mobile device that can handle simple day-to-day tasks. With good battery life, and at an affordable price, check out the latest price on offer here.

 

 

Acer Chromebook 715

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch FHD Touch (1920×1080) | CPU: Intel Core i3-8130U | GRAPHICS: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU | MEMORY: 4GB RAM | STORAGE: 128GB eMMC | OS: ChromeOS | WEIGHT: 4.3 lbs (1.9 kg) | OTHER: WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam | RATING: 4.0/5

Walmart

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great premium look and design
  • Large keyboard & touchpad
  • Great battery life
  • Lightweight & affordable
  • Great performance for everyday use

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • No backlit keyboard 
  • No fingerprint sensor
  • Average quality webcam

The Acer Chromebook 715 may be in line to be one of the better Chromebooks to come out this year. The bigger display, premium looks, and great battery life make it a worthy contender. Compromises are minor here but you’ll quickly overlook them, and performs decently for every use. But is it worth your time and investment?

Let’s find out more. As I said, performance is decent here. Here’s why. Firstly, the Intel Core i3 processor, together with the 4GB memory, manages to keep the Chromebook working at its peak.

Secondly, the full HD livens up the 15-inch touch screen. Thirdly, you are looking at up to 16 hours of battery life. Enough for a good day’s work. The Chromebook comes with no backlit keyboard, no fingerprint scanner, and a standard-quality webcam. Common features for a budget laptop, yet it’s expected at its affordable price.  

Overall, the Acer Chromebook 715 has the makings of being one of the best budget business laptops, as it offers you great features at a budget price. If a cheap 15-inch Chromebook is what you look for, then here’s one for you. See the latest price here. 

 

 

Microsoft Surface Go 2

DISPLAY: 10.5-inch FHD+ multi-touch (1920×1280) | CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y/8th Gen Intel Core m3 | GRAPHICS: Intel UHD Graphics 615 | MEMORY: 4GB/8GB RAM | STORAGE: 64GB eMMC/128GB SSD | OS: Windows 10 Home | WEIGHT: Wi-Fi – 1.2 lbs. (544 g)/LTE – 1.22 lbs. (553 g) | OTHER: Bluetooth, 5MP webcam, 8MP Rear camera | RATING: 4.0/5

Microsoft

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Slim, lightweight & great quality design
  • Good audio output
  • Decent battery life
  • Comes with a kickstand
  • Great quality display
  • LTE model available

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Stylus pen and keypad sold separately
  • Entry model is under-powered
  • Better performance models are more expensive

In my review of the Surface Go 2, here was my overall impression: 

Surface Go 2 is great to use and has the potential to be a great 2-in-1 tablet. With a bigger display, reliable performance for everyday use and features, it’s a fun portable mobile device to use wherever you are.

Check out my full Surface Go 2 Review. My impressions remain unchanged. The Surface Go 2 from Microsoft is still one of the best budget business laptops to use for everyday tasks. It may have a smaller touch screen but supports higher resolutions than 1080p. It’s one of the best mobile devices to offer up to 6 hours of battery life.

The kickstand too is another great feature that lets you open it up at the rear, and place the Surface Go 2 on any flat surface. Performance is still decent for everyday tasks, but other budget laptops come with slightly better performance ratings. Storage from the entry-level model is too small for the apps and updates we use on a daily basis. 

Overall, if you want a simple, portable business laptop that has better screen quality and other cool features, then look no further than the Surface Go 2. I recommend getting the Surface Go 2 with 8GB memory and 128GB storage SSD, but that means getting a more expensive model.

 

 

Samsung Chromebook 4

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080) | CPU: Intel Celeron N4000 | GRAPHICS: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | MEMORY: 4GB/6GB RAM | STORAGE: 32GB/64GB eMMC | OS: ChromeOS | WEIGHT: 0.99 lbs. (449 g) | OTHER: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Webcam | RATING: 3.7/5

Walmart

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great battery life
  • Good look and design
  • Really affordable
  • Comfortable keyboard and touchpad
  • Great performance for everyday use
  • Slim and lightweight

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • No touch screen
  • No storage high than 64GB
  • Below average brightness
  • Mediocre audio performance
  • Comes with budget hardware specs

Another 15-inch Chromebook to look out for, is the Samsung Chromebook 4. Samsung brings you an entry-level Chromebook that comes at an affordable price, includes a 15-inch screen, good battery life and a premium design finish.

This 15-inch Chromebook comes with an entry-level Intel Celeron processor, with 4GB of memory, and 32GB of storage. The hardware specs are low but perform tasks well. It’s a great Chromebook for everyday use, comes with a comfortable keyboard layout, a responsive touchpad, and guarantees up to 10 hours of battery life.

The Chromebook does have its flaws. Firstly, the display has no touch function. Secondly, the bezels around the screen are pretty thick. And thirdly, the display is not that bright.

Suffice to say the Samsung Chromebook 4 offers you a great working laptop at an affordable price. The display is the major disappointing issue, which may cause others to look elsewhere. But it’s more of a normal laptop than a Chromebook. If you looking for a laptop that is affordable, functions as a laptop rather than a Chromebook, and works with everyday tasks, then the Samsung Chromebook 4 is for you. 

 

 

Asus VivoBook 15

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch FHD Touch (1920×1080) | CPU: Intel Core i3-1005G1 | GRAPHICS: Intel UHD Graphics | MEMORY: 8GB RAM | STORAGE: 128GB/256GB/512GB SSD | OS: Windows 10 Home | WEIGHT: 3.75 lbs (g) | OTHER: WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam, Backlit keyboard | RATING: 3.8/5

Walmart

 

REASONS TO BUY

  • Great overall look and design
  • Thin screen bezels
  • Good set of input slots

REASONS NOT TO BUY

  • Below average battery life
  • Below average processor performance
  • Display lacks brightness

The entry-model Asus VivoBook 15 comes with great design features, that include a thin-bezel display, good-looking keyboard layout, and touchpad. But suffers greatly as it lives up to the common cliche ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’.

The screen is dim. Battery life is less than average. The performance is adequate but not as good as average. But with an affordable price tag, you can rest assured that you get what you pay for. 

Here are reasons why you should buy it. Starting with the display, it’s a large 15.6-inch full HD touch screen, that shows clear, sharp images and good color accuracy. Secondly, the laptop comes with a little over 5 hours of battery life that is better than older budget laptops.

Next is the long list of input ports, which includes a USB Type-C, USB 2, USB 3, HDMI, audio jack, and a microSD reader. No Ethernet port but supports WiFi. In terms of performance, the VivoBook 15 does its job well but it’s rated lower than other budget laptops. The display is not a good feature as it comes with lower brightness, and the battery life is considered shorter than other budget laptops.

Overall, the Asus VivoBook looks like a solid contender in the design department but suffers from performance, battery life, and display. Keep in mind that this is a budget laptop, so there will always be compromises, but if you’re looking for a better business laptop, then it’s best to look elsewhere. 

 

 

Lasting Impressions

These best budget business laptops of 2020 may not be the most powerful laptops around. They may even lack the premium features included in top-range laptops, but with the limited hardware specs, features and performance, they are good laptops for simple everyday tasks.

My eye is on the Acer Chromebook 715. It has a stunning design, comes with good system performance, and high initial storage. It may have its flaws but is overlooked because of the good features it offers.

Another one is the Microsoft Surface Go 2. It comes with great features plus a higher screen resolution that offers a better quality picture. It’s sad that you must buy the extra accessories, and it’s a little more pricey than most, but the unique features make up for the price tag.

These are my recommendations. Check out the corresponding links that follow to find out more about them. Thank you for check out my post on the best budget laptops of 2020. If you have any comments, please share them below and check out the links within. It helps me out tremendously with no extra cost to you. Thanks again for your time. Take care of yourself. Stay safe until next time. 

 

2020 HP Spectre X360 15 Review: Gorgeous with short battery life

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The HP Spectre X360 15 is an updated flagship 2 in 1 laptop that improves from last year’s model. It comes with the latest technology, offering top quality features and a satisfying user experience. With so many other top brands, it will be a challenge for HP to compete for the top market spot due to the tough competition. Yet so far the 2020 HP Spectre x360 15 has proven to be one of the best looking, and best performance 2 in 1 laptop of 2020. Does it have the essence to win and stay on top of the game? Let’s find out from the review.        

 

HP Spectre X360 15 (2020)

DISPLAY: 15.6-inch, 4K, AMOLED, (3840 x 2160) | CPU: Intel i7-10750H | GPU: Nvidia GeForce MX330/GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q | MEMORY: 16GB RAM | STORAGE: 512GB SSD/1TB SSD | WEIGHT: 4.23 lbs (1.9 kg)

VIEW ON WALMART

 

 

Overview

Feast your eyes on the beautiful HP Spectre X360 15. This is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, that features all the common features of a 2-in-1 laptop. It comes packed with the latest tech that includes a 4K display, a 10th generation i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce GPU, plenty of storage and memory.  

 

Design

The HP Spectre X360 is a gem of a 2-in-1 laptop to hold. The mix between black and gold design brings the best in its beauty and innovation. First, the screen bezels are thin and almost non-existent, making the 4K 15-inch display look stunning. Second, the white backlit keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience. The mouse-pad offers great responsiveness and the audio speakers on top offer decent quality sound.

Thirdly, the dual golden hinges offer you easy switching from laptop to tablet. Lastly, it’s lightweight and super slim for easy portability. The input ports include an HDMI port, two USB-C, a USB, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. Overall, the design and outer features of the HP Spectre X360 is amazing. It comes with a great design, a great looking display, and offers easy portability and a premium experience.

 

Display

The HP Spectre X360 includes a 15-inch AMOLED display, sporting a 4K (3840 x 2160) screen resolution. The display comes with great colours, good brightness, and contrast, producing sharp and detailed images and videos. The thin bezels offer an amazing viewing experience, as we as a touch screen that responds well to finger gestures and smooth swipes. Overall, the display is a noticeable great part of the Spectre X360, offering a good viewing experience for all users.     

 

Performance

The 2-in-1 laptop performs well as expected like other top-range laptops. The 10th generation Intel i7 chip, together with the 16GB memory, excels in making sure that tasks are run smoothly without any lag or performance issues.

Gaming is an option too here. The NVidia GeForce GPU allows for light gaming. Older games work well as the hardware offers good graphics and performance, but not a good idea for top titles. This is no gaming laptop so if you do want to play hardware demanding games, then you would have to lower the graphics and screen settings. To close off, the HP Spectre offers great performance for everyday tasks and offers decent performance for gaming. 

 

Battery life

The battery life is not the best feature here. For light tasks and activities like web browsing, and normal everyday typing, the 2-in-1 can last for a good day’s work. Thanks to the 4K AMOLED touch screen, the top performance chipset, and the NVidia GPU using them consume more battery power leaving you with less than 3 hours of battery life. 

So if you looking for a powerful 2-in-1 laptop, the HP Spectre X360 has all the features you need. But if you going to maximize full use of it, make sure you carry the USB-C charger with you where ever you go.    

 

Sound

 The HP Spectre X360 comes with a ‘Bang & Olufsen’ speaker on the top section of the keyboard and dual speakers on each side of the laptop. The audio speakers are well-placed and produce decent sound, but loses it at max volume. It’s not loud enough and the bass quality is low, but overall, they are there and work well. Getting headphones may be a good idea.    

 

Verdict

The HP Spectre X360 is a powerful, good looking 2-in-1 laptop. It comes with top performance hardware, a great-looking touch screen that offers a stunning view experience, a unique design, and other premium features. It surely is a fantastic mobile device to use and is highly recommended. The battery life is a problem though. If you plan to install apps that demand so much of your system hardware, then you must always keep the adapter in hand, especially when you are out and about.     
 

 

Another thing to note is that the older 2019 model has a great battery life but with last year’s tech, which is still relevant today. It’s a good alternative worth considering. Either than that, there’s nothing more major to criticize the HP Spectre X360.

 

Recommendations

Buy the 2020 HP Spectre X360 15 as it offers: lightweight and portability, flexibility in switching from tablet to laptop, a great viewing experience, and great system performance. Don’t buy it because it has a low battery life and it’s expensive due to the high-quality features. If you need a powerful 2 in 1 with more battery life, then this is not for you. there are alternatives to consider, but not as good as this one.

 

Closing off

The 2020 HP Spectre x360 15 may have that essence to win, but staying on top will be a mission. It really is a powerful 2 in 1 laptop and aims to give competitors a tough time to catch up to its brilliance. If you still have no idea what 2 in 1 laptop is, click here. If you want to find out the latest prices for the HP Spectre, click here.

Thank you for checking out my review of the 2020 HP Spectre x360 15. If you have any questions, comments, and praises, you are welcome to leave them below. If it’s a question, I’ll make sure to answer it as soon as possible. Thanks again. Keep well. 

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Review: Powerful & Affordable

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There’s the S20, then the more powerful S20 plus, and the ever so powerful, the S20 Ultra. Now Samsung introduces bringing you to the next phone in the S20 series, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G. It got good specs. It has funky colours and a modern design. But is worth your money? Let’s check out the review.

 

 

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition/ Samsung Galaxy S20 Lite

DISPLAY: 6.5-inch Super AMOLED 120Hz (1080 x 2400) | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 | STORAGE/MEMORY: 128GB/6GB, 128GB/8GB, 256GB/8GB | OS: Android 10, One UI 2.5 | CAMERA: Triple rear camera, 12MP (wide), 8MP (telephoto), 12MP (ultra-wide); Single selfie camera, 32MP (wide) | BATTERY: 4,500mAh | WEIGHT: 190 g

CLICK TO SEE PRICE

 

 

Overview

 

 

The latest addition to the S20 series is a lower-priced smartphone, that offers few compromises yet still manages to maintain the S20 reputation. For starters, it’s powered by a Snapdragon 865 chip, that comes with a large 6.5-inch display, and a triple camera on the back. Internal you get the new Android 10 OneUI OS, with up to 256GB storage options, up to 8GB memory, and a 4500mAh battery that offers great life. Let’s see it in more detail.  

 

 

Display

 

The S20 FE comes with a 6.5-inch full HD, AMOLED display with 1080 x 2400 screen resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display looks great. The full AMOLED display shows great quality images and video with accurate and vibrant colours, and good use of contrast and brightness. Compared to the S20 series smartphones, the S20 FE comes with a lower quality display, and lower screen resolution, but has the same refresh rate.

 

 

Speaking of refresh rate, you can set it to either 60 or 120Hz. But not all apps support the higher refresh rate and tend to self adjust to the standard 60Hz. The fingerprint sensor is placed on the lower section of the display. It has a second delay to unlock than other mid-range phones, but it works well.      

Basically, it offers the same smooth, fast and responsive screen performance as the other S20 models, but the S20 FE is using the same standard display technology as other mid-range smartphones. 

 

Design

 

 

The S20 FE is built using a glass plastic aluminium frame, with a flat glass screen in front and a curved plastic at the back. Not exactly premium like the other S20 models but it’s expected at its current price. It weighs 190g, which is more than the Galaxy S20 but lighter than the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. It’s available in six beautiful colours – Cloud Navy, Cloud Lavender, Cloud Mint, Cloud Red, Cloud Orange, and Cloud White. 

The power button and volume button are placed on the right. The USB-type C input is at the bottom. Triple camera lens at the back, and a single selfie camera on the top centre of the screen. No headphone jack here. Overall, the design of the S20 FE is not really ground-breaking. The screen is flat, not curved like the other S20 models. It has a bit more weight and is made of cheaper material. Yet it comes in great colours and has a good durability rating.   

 

Performance

 

The S20 FE includes a 5G Snapdragon 865 chip with up to 8GB of system memory. It’s fitted with the same processor chip found in the S20 Ultra, offering premium phone performance that outperforms the S20 and S20 Plus smartphones. The S20 FE also performs well as a gaming device. Not as powerful as the Asus ROG smartphone but the gameplay and graphics are great overall. To sum up, if top-premium performance is what you looking for, this one has it.    

 

Camera

 

The camera package of the S20 FE consists of a triple-lens camera at the back, that includes a 12MP wide, 8MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide. On the screen is a single-lens camera with a 32MP wide. 

 

The camera main camera overall takes great pictures, taking in all the detail, and colours. Night pictures look good as well. The sharpness of detail and colours are amazing. The selfie camera performs equally, producing excellent pictures with good detail.  Ultra-wide images are acceptable but not as detailed as the main camera. Rather stick to using the wide sensor or if you can, there’s a Pro mode in the camera app for that professional finish.   

With video recording, you can record up to 4K quality videos at 60fps using the main camera. With ultra-wide, you can get full HD videos but at 30fps. 4K videos look acceptable but not as good as premium phones, but full HD videos look stunning. This is a mid-range smartphone after all so compromises are expected. Rather stick to recording full HD videos here as colour and detail are noticeably better than 4K. Overall, no problems with the camera here, except for the 4K video recording. It works well and takes detailed and colourful pictures and videos. 

 

Battery Life

 

The S20 FE is powered by a 4500mAh battery, the same battery power as the S20 Plus and the Note 20 Ultra. With this one, the battery is measured two-fold: 60Hz and 120Hz. With the 120Hz refresh rate, you get up to 14 hours of web browsing, under 15 hours of video play or streaming, and over 34 hours of talk time. At 60Hz, you get up to 15 hours of web browsing, and up to 18 hours of video play or streaming. In this case, less is better. 

The phone supports up to 25W of fast charging, wireless and reverse-charging. From purchase, the phone includes a 15W charger that takes longer to charge. Getting a 25W charger for the S20 FE will boost charge speed. From 0 to 50% is less than 30 minutes, and at full charge is just a little over an hour. 

Overall, the battery life is great. From both modes, the S20 FE offers long hours of battery and other charging options found in premium phones. It would be great if a 25W charger is included in the box, but if you can find one then you won’t have problems with fast charging.

 

Verdict

 

The S20 FE smartphone is definitely one for the fans. The design may not be as groundbreaking as top-premium models but the choice of colours, great durability, and overall look make it appear modern, fresh and trendy. The display is excellent. There’s sharp detail, accurate colours, good contrast and brightness. The smoothness and responsiveness really are thanks to the screen technology used and the hardware inside, giving a stunning overall screen. 

The battery life of the S20 FE is long, making it a very reliable smartphone. It’s disappointing that you get a 15W charger upon purchase, but if you can find a 25W charger then you will be sorted. It’s also surprising that you get wireless and reverse wireless charging on the S20 FE as other mid-range phones don’t have that feature. 

The performance is great. The hardware inside is the same as the S20 Ultra 5G. So if you want an alternative and affordable 5G Samsung smartphone, the S20 FE is the best choice. The camera works well taking great quality images and videos. The sound quality is acceptable. Overall, this may be one of the best mid-range smartphones to get in 2020.  

 

Recommendations

 

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is definitely one of the best choice midrange smartphones to get this year. I recommend it to Samsung fans, those looking for an affordable alternative, and those who don’t mind compromising on premium features.

 

Close Off

 

Let me take this opportunity to humbly thank you for reaching this far in my Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G review. If you have any questions or comments, personal preferences or impressions, smartphone or laptop review requests or words of encouragement, please leave them here below. I will get back to you soon as I can. Have a good one. Stay safe. Check you soon. Peace. 

OnePlus Nord 5G Review: The Affordable Premium Smartphone

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OnePlus Nord 5G Review: The Affordable Premium Smartphone

 

The year 2020 has produced some interesting times for us all, especially in the smartphone industry. There’s a rise to 5G smartphones, at affordable prices that offer most premium features found in top-range models. One such is the most talked-about smartphone, the OnePlus Nord, which offers the latest technology for us, consumers, to get our hands on.

The challenge is that it comes into a competitive industry, where it competes with big names that are racing for pole position. Yet the OnePlus brand is well on its way and with its 2020 midrange release, it hopes to finish first place.

So we ask, will the OnePlus Nord be enough to compete or even cross the finish line first? Let’s find out from the OnePlus Nord 5G review.

 

 

OnePlus Nord 5G

 

(Image credit: Walmart.com)

DISPLAY: 6.44-inch FHD AMOLED, 90Hz (1080 x 2400)  | CPU: Snapdragon 765G | STORAGE/MEMORY: 64GB/6GB RAM, 128GB/8GB RAM, 256GB/12GB RAM | OS: Oxygen OS 10.5, Android 10 | CAMERA:  Quad – 48MP (wide), 8MP (ultrawide), 5MP (depth), 2MP (macro) | Dual selfie – 32MP (wide), 8MP (ultrawide) | BATTERY: 4115mAh | WEIGHT: 184g

VIEW IN WALMART

 

 

Overview

 

The OnePlus Nord is a mid-range smartphone that offers 5G network connectivity, a 6.4-inch 90Hz screen, a quad main camera that includes a dual selfie camera on the display, and a 4115mAh battery that offers good battery life and supports fast charging. Let’s break it down and see more in detail. 

 

 

Design

 

The Nord comes with a standard smartphone design with a flat screen and is made of a glass plastic frame, with round edges, good glass protection, and comes in two colors: blue marble and gray onyx.

The screen comes with good glass protection and can handle accidental water splashes. No IP68 rating for this phone, meaning no water resistance, so it’s not a good idea to go diving in the water with it.

Overall, the design is not groundbreaking, yet simple and it works. It comes with a good range of trendy colors and has minor water resistance. 

 

 

Display

 

The Nord comes with a 6.4-inch full HD AMOLED flat screen with a 90Hz high refresh rate, 1080 x 2400 screen resolution, and supports HDR10+ technology.

These features offer the following: a smoother and responsive display; better brightness, contrasts, and accurate colors; and offers sharper images and videos.

The combination of these technologies offers overall better viewing quality. The screen may be a little small, yet it comes with great screen technology. Expect great views, and great responsiveness to touch on the Nord smartphone.   

 

(Image credit: Walmart.com)

 

Performance

 

The performance of the OnePlus Nord is amazing, thanks to the Snapdragon 765G 5G processor. The memory options available, starting from 6GB all the way up to 12GB, offers smoother scrolling with the Oxygen OS, fast loading of apps, a good casual gaming experience, and HD quality video viewing.

Overall, for this mid-range phone, you get premium performance at your fingertips. We recommend you get the 128GB/8GB RAM model so that you have more storage space, as this phone does not come with an expandable Micro SD slot.

 

 

Camera

 

The Nord comes with a 48MP quad-camera at the back and a 32MP dual camera in front.

The main camera takes excellent pictures. Bright, vibrant, and accurate colors contribute to the amazing detail. 

The ultra-wide mode is acceptable but could be better. The 2x zoom works well but shows signs of lost detail. Nighttime pictures are surprisingly good especially in areas with good lighting.

Selfies look great. The phone produces good detailed pictures with good sharpness, color accuracy, and vibrance.

Looking to produce 4K videos? The OnePlus Nord does just that. You can create up to 4K quality videos at 60fps (frames per second). If that’s not liking you can always switch to creating full HD quality videos, 1080p at 60fps.

Overall, the Nord has a great camera setup. It produces great pictures and videos in great detail in any setting. Don’t expect great ultra-wide pictures though, but everything else works well.

 

 

Battery Life

 

The Nord comes with a 4115mAh non-removable battery that supports fast charging. Speaking of which, thanks to the 30W charger included, you can charge it up from 0-60% in 30 minutes, and a little over an hour at 100% full charge. That’s not too bad.

With battery life, you can get up to 25 hours of talk time, 13 hours of internet browsing, and up to 18 hours of video viewing. The only drawback is that the phone does not support wireless charging, but it’s expected from a mid-range phone. 

Overall, the battery life on the OnePlus Nord is long and acceptable. It works well and can last you the whole day. Fast charging is a good feature as well and you can expect no less from a mid-ranger.

 

 

Verdict

 

The OnePlus Nord is indeed a great mid-range smartphone. Firstly, we like how smooth and sharp the screen looks and how responsive the Oxygen OS handles the phone functions.

Secondly, thanks to the high memory and 5G processor, the phone performs really well both for everyday use and for gaming.

Thirdly, we like that it supports fast charging and that it offers a long battery life. But a lot of other mid-range smartphones have similar functions so it really is an expected addition.

Then lastly, the design and display look great. The two colors available are trendy and give it that premium looks. The 90Hz OLED screen outperforms most other smartphones as it offers a smoother and more responsive display. A great and impressive feature. 

 

(Image credit: oneplus.com)

 

Most of these features you would expect from a high price flagship smartphone but the Nord phone does have its compromises. No Micro SD slot to increase storage. No headphone jack to plug your earphones. No LED notification light that tells you of new messages. No wireless charge, but it’s a common feature on top-range phones.

 

 

Recommendations

 

If you’re looking for a less expensive smartphone that comes with good premium features, takes great pictures, has good performance, and lasts you the whole day, then the OnePlus Nord is indeed the smartphone for you.

It’s for anyone looking for a cheaper or an alternative to a top-range phone, or anyone looking for a smartphone that does not have many premium features. Good for college students looking for a more powerful device or corporate personnel looking for a simple smartphone. 

There are many good mid-range smartphones out there to look out for that can deliver, but with the latest screen technology, 5G network capabilities, and solid performance, we recommend you get the OnePlus Nord. For more affordable mid-range smartphones, click here.

 

 

Closing Off

 

Thank you for checking out my OnePlus Nord 5G review. If you have any comments, questions, and feedback, you are more than welcome to post them here below.

One thing left for you to do now is to click here now and see for yourself the latest price offer for this powerful mid-range smartphone. Get it while stocks last.