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The Best Peripherals For Your Gaming Setup
As Gaming PCs are becoming more popular day-by-day, people are starting to invest a fair chunk in building their setups. If a user has invested a majority of his time configuring his/her PC, chances are that he/she might have overlooked an aspect which holds a very important spot in a gaming setup. Peripherals are the basis of any complete setup, and choosing the best ones can be a little tricky. That is the exact reason why professional gamers spend so much time picking out the perfect peripherals for the most optimal experience.

With the evolution of gaming, a lot of brands have emerged which aim to provide catered products as per the consumer base. For instance, streamers may require more flashy and aesthetic peripherals than regular gamers, who might end up focusing more on specifications of the same. The same may also depend on the game in concern. For example, if you play more FPS games than MOBAs, keyboards and mice with fewer add-on keys are perfect for you. Similarly, while playing MOBAs, macro keys and buttons come in handy.

Let’s have a look at some best-in-class gaming peripherals, ranging from keyboards to mice and gaming headphones as well.

Gaming Keyboards

A lot of people pay more attention to gaming mice rather than the keyboard, but it is important to note that both the peripherals complement each other equally. Since a keyboard can be used for more than one task (for instance, typing and gaming), it makes sense to focus on the keyboard as well. And since membrane keyboards have given way to mechanical keyboards, it would be more viable to get a good mechanical keyboard that serves your purpose.

Listed below are 2 keyboards that offer nearly everything you need in a mechanical gaming keyboard:

Corsair K95 RGB Platinum

The K95 Platinum is a keyboard that has a plethora of features, which is apparent from its huge size. Keeping in mind that it will occupy its fair share of space in your desk, the K95 RGB Platinum delivers on all fronts. The keyboard has MX Brown switches, which don’t produce as much sound as Cherry MX Blue switches, so the keyboard doesn’t create a huge racquet when you decide to type on it. In terms of functionality, the K95 has a metallic volume wheel, dedicated media controls and above all, class-leading RGB integration, using which you can easily sync it with other peripherals. A detachable wrist rest ensures maximum wrist comfort while playing. Moreover, users can swap the WASD keys with a set of textured keycaps that come bundled with the keyboard.

Click here to buy the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Keyboard

HyperX Alloy Elite

If you are on a bit of a budget, the HyperX Alloy Elite is a perfect package. While not as “beautiful” as the Corsair K95, the Alloy Elite packs all the necessary set of features required in a good mechanical gaming keyboard. Customers can choose from Cherry MX Brown, Blue and Red keys on the keyboard. Albeit it doesn’t have a set of dedicated Macro keys, it is priced much lower than the K95 keyboard. Also, the keyboard features just a single Red backlit version for the base model. Similar to the K95 RGB Platinum, it is bundled with an extra set of silver keycaps for the WASD keys as well as 4 number keys. N-key rollover ensures that all the key presses will be registered without any errors.

Click here to buy the HyperX Alloy Elite Mechanical Keyboard

Gaming Mice

As mentioned previously, a good gaming mouse always complements the keyboard. This means that the first preference while choosing a gaming mouse is that it should fit the hand’s native grip. There are a total of three general grips: The first is the palm grip, in which the user grips the mouse with his complete hand and rests his/her palm on the rear section of the device. The second grip is the Claw Grip, where the person’s fingertips are almost perpendicular to the mouse click buttons. The last grip is named as the “finger grip” because the fingers rest flat on the mouse click buttons themselves.

Listed below are the two of the best gaming mice available right now.

Logitech G502

Logitech’s own prized baby, the G502 looks like a hybrid of the Logitech MX518 and G500. Packing one of the best native 16,000 CPI sensors in the market, the G502 weighs at about 121 grams with all its weights removed (the mouse comes bundled with extra weights). The mouse is best for palm grip users and has a premium build quality that makes it a pleasure to use. A notable feature of the mouse is the fact that the scroll wheel of the same can be switched between a notched spinning mode and a free spinning mode.

Click here to buy the Logitech G502

Razer Deathadder Elite

Razer Deathadder is a mouse that needs no introduction to gamers. The first generation of the Razer DeathAdder was unveiled in 2006. Since then, the mouse has undergone significant improvements, and almost 10 years later, the Deathadder Elite was launched by the company. The mouse is an all-round performer, and it uses a 16,000 CPI sensor, which is developed by Pixart in collaboration with Logitech. The sensor claims to provide 99.4% resolution accuracy, which means that the mouse delivers best-in-class tracking.

Click here to buy the Razer Deathadder Elite

Headphones

Some of the best games available for PC are enjoyed in isolation. Although getting a good pair of speakers is necessary too, headphones enable you to cut-off from sounds around you and focus on the task at hand. Moreover, multiplayer games require acute sound sense, for hearing the sound of footsteps approaching can be a difference between winning and losing the game. Overall, it has been deduced that wired headphones provide better sound quality, but with technology evolving at an extremely fast pace, wireless headphones have become equally popular.

Given below are two performance-worthy gaming headphones.

Steelseries Arctis Pro w GameDAC

If you can shell out the money for it, the Steelseries Arctis Pro GameDAC provides the best audio quality available amongst a variety of headphones today. The headphones offer high quality lossless audio streaming feature with a 5Hz-40KHz frequency response range. The headphones sport a modern design, which male them perfect for regular usage as well. The highlight of this headset is the GameDAC, which comprises of the following components:
1. A Digital-to-analog converter
2. A preamplifier
3. A control centre to regulate volume levels
Moreover, aesthetics-wise, an RGB ring encasing the earcups gives the headphones an attractive look.

Click here to purchase the Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC

HyperX Cloud Alpha

Priced at less than half of the price of Steelseries Artics, the HyperX Cloud Alpha may not have a DAC module, but it is one of the best performers on the scene. Sporting no extra gimmicks, the HyperX Cloud Alpha are bass-rich, making them the perfect companions to both music and gaming. The headphones have 50mm dual chamber neodymium drivers, which accurately reproduce frequencies. The headphones provide a high amount of comfort over long periods of time and feature a decent microphone.

Click here to purchase the HyperX Cloud Alpha
April 10, 2019
The Lenovo Z6 Pro Will Be A Gaming Smartphone Hints Official Teaser

Lenovo will soon launch its latest flagship smartphone, the Z6 Pro which is touted to have top of the line specifications. For a long period of time, the company has been boasting about the features of the anticipated flagship. On the 10th of April, a post shared on Chinese social media website, Weibo confirmed that the upcoming device will be unveiled on the 23rd of April. A subsequent post shared on the same account revealed that the Z6 Pro is developed in collaboration with members of Legion brand.

Surprisingly, Legion is a lineup of laptop and desktop computers owned by Lenovo which primarily have a focus on gaming. Therefore, apart from being a traditional flagship, the Z6 Pro will also have certain elements which will allow it to be a worthy gaming smartphone. Unfortunately, the post does not reveal any gaming-centric features of the smartphone. However, going by the traits of other gaming handsets, the Z6 Pro is expected to have the following features:

Large Screen Display With A High Refresh Rate

Unquestionably, the display is one of the most important features of any smartphone. Certainly, the display of a gaming-centric smartphone should be bright and have a high refresh rate. Accordingly, the Z6 Pro is likely to have a vivid panel which uses OLED technology and has a high refresh rate in comparison to traditional smartphones.

Large Battery and Fast Charging

The battery is the power source of a smartphone and playing games on one can drain it at a rapid pace. Notably, batteries on modern handsets have a generous capacity, there is more to it than just capacity which is the rate of charging. Consequently, the Z6 Pro is likely to be powered by a large size battery which supports fast charging.

Gaming Oriented Accessories and Peripherals

Black Shark Gaming Phone

Although not yet confirmed, Lenovo might develop some gaming peripherals like a gamepad for the Z6 Pro. The plausibility of this turning into reality is considerably high as previously launch gaming smartphones like Blach Shark support such accessories.

Confirmed Features Of The Lenovo Z6 Pro

Also Read: Oppo Reno Smartphone With Snapdragon 855 SoC Launched

As previously mentioned Lenovo has confirmed some key features of the Z6 Pro. The forthcoming device will be the first Lenovo device to be kitted with the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is manufactured using 7 nm fabrication process. Another feature, that the anticipated smartphone will have is the Hyper Video feature. All not much details about this feature are currently available, the video shared by the company suggests some sort of slo mo video recording technology. All in all, the Z6 Pro seems to be a worthy flagship which will launch soon.

April 10, 2019
Canon Launches The EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR Camera

Amidst heavy rumours, Canon launched the new EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR on April 10, 2019. The company claims that the Rebel SL3 is its smallest and lightest DSLR so far. It offers almost similar specifications to the mirrorless EOS M50 but has some significant upgrades that give it an edge over its predecessors. Moreover, the DSLR is Canon’s first DSLR model to feature Dual Pixel Autofocus with eye detection during live-view shooting mode.

Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Features And Specifications

Weighing at 449 grams, the Rebel SL3 packs a DIGIC 8 Processor, along with a 3.0-inch touchscreen (that flips around for selfies or vlogging) and 4K video support. The camera features a 24.1 megapixel APS-C (Advanced Photo System Type-C) sensor, which is also used in Nikon and Sony DSLRs. Furthermore, the Rebel SL3 offers a 9AF point-optical system and spot focus feature, so that users can accurately select their subjects while capturing images.

The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 offers an on-sensor Dual-Pixel system, which may not be as efficient as the optical system, but still provides accurate eye-tracking Auto-Focus in 1080p videos considering the price of the budget DSLR camera. The SL3 also takes the spot for being the first Canon Rebel Series camera that can shoot in 4K resolution. A downside of the camera is the lack of sensor-based-in-body stabilization, which forces the Rebel SL3 to use Digital Image Stabilization. Moreover, the camera supports wireless image transfer via built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth across smartphones and tablets.

Photographers can utilize the Burst Shoot feature at a rate of 5fps. The DSLR has a native ISO range of up to 25,600 and an expanded ISO range of 51,200. In terms of the battery, Canon claims that the camera can shoot a total of 1,630 images on a single charge, and the number comes down to 350 shots with the Live View feature turned on. Talking of features, another nice addition to the camera feature list is the “smooth skin” mode, which enables the user to blur the background (similar to portrait mode in smartphones) without the presence of a fast lens.

Canon EOS Rebel SL3 Price And Availability

https://youtu.be/6Xoo8MclmOI

Also Read: Qualcomm Launches Three New Snapdragon Chipsets For Mobile Devices

The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 will be available by the end of April. The DSLR will be priced at US$ 599.99 (~ INR 41,500) for just the body, and US$ 749.99 (~ INR 51,900) for both the camera and the EF-S 18-55 f/4-5.6 IS lens. The camera is expected to go up against the Nikon D3500 and the Nikon D5300, which are priced at a lower point than the EOS Rebel SL3.

April 10, 2019
Research Claims Most Pixel And OnePlus Buyers Are Former Samsung Smartphone Owners

Google first launched its Pixel lineup of smartphones in the year 2016. The devices were targeted at the premium segment and were intended to lure the buyers of the Apple iPhones. Like the latter, Google handsets promised a clean, software experience with reliable hardware integration and optimisation. While the Pixel smartphones have reached their third iteration with the Pixel 3/3 XL last year, their original goal still seems far fetched. In a fresh report by known research organization Counterpoint, it is claimed the major Pixel and OnePlus smartphone buyers are former users of Samsung devices.

The Results Of The Research

The aforementioned research was conducted by Counterpoint in the US during Q4 of the year 2018. Smartphones that the study was administered on were the Pixel 3 duo and the OnePlus 6T. The results of the research showed almost 51 percent users of the aforementioned Pixel devices were former users of Samsung smartphones. On the other hand, around 37 percent of OnePlus 6T users are past users of Samsung devices. This was followed by former Apple smartphone users in both cases with an 18 and 16 percent share respectively. It is further followed by Motorola by a 14 percent stake in case of the Pixel; and LG by a 15 percent share in case of OnePlus.

Also read: Qualcomm Launches Three New Snapdragon Chipsets For Mobile Devices

Interestingly, both the Pixel and OnePlus smartphones represent a different price segment. While the former is priced at a premium, the latter is a more affordable flagship handset. The research notes that the aggressive marketing strategy adopted by Google and the affordability of OnePlus handsets is the major reason behind the above results. Samsung smartphones have also always been rated behind the above-mentioned devices in terms of software experience. Notably, the main competition of Google, as mentioned above is Apple, whose users still hold an 18 per cent share in terms of switching to a Pixel handset. Therefore, in the case of both the OEMs, the share of former Android users is more than 80 percent.

April 10, 2019

Oppo Reno Smartphone With Snapdragon 855 SoC Launched

Chinese smartphone maker, Oppo has finally launched its highly teased smartphone, the Oppo Reno in China. Surprisingly the company has launched two different variants which have a similar design but different features and price tag. The more affordable and less feature rich variant carries the ‘standard’ suffix while the high-end variant carries the ’10x Zoom’ suffix. One stand out feature that both the smartphones have is a shark fin style pop up camera. As the name suggests the selfie camera of the smartphone extends from the top side which is reminiscent of a shark fin. Except for price, the main differences between the two newly launched smartphones are battery capacity, screen size, processor and number of rear cameras.

Oppo Reno Design and Features

Both Oppo Reno smartphones, the standard variant and the 10x have an elegant design accrediting to their large screen display which is surrounded with ultra-thin bezels. The former has 6.4 inch AMOLED display while the latter has a 6.6 inch AMOLED display. The smartphones have an impressive screen to body ratio of 93.1% which they are able to attain due to the aforementioned shark fin styled selfie camera. The shark fin style extension house a 16 MP camera sensor and is operated electronically. Oppo claims that the popup selfie camera can easily last a lifecycle of 3,00,000 times. Therefore, users do not need to worry about its durability.

The Oppo Reno ’10x zoom’ variant is kitted with the Snapdragon 855 SoC while the ‘standard’ variant is kitted with Snapdragon 710 SoC. Chipsets on both the smartphone variants have worthy Octa-Core CPU which can perform intensive tasks smoothly. The more affordable variant is powered by a 3765 mAh battery while the premium variant is powered by a 4065 mAh battery. Notably, both the variants support Oppo’s proprietary VOOC 3.0 charging technology. VOOC 3.0 allows the device to be charged with a maximum power of 20 w which is equivalent to OnePlus’s dash charge.

The rear panel of both the Oppo Reno variant is made out of glass which houses the rear camera setup and the company branding. One key difference between the two devices is the number of rear-facing cameras. The ‘standard’ variant of the newly launched smartphone has 2 rear facing cameras while the ’10x zoom variant’ has an addition 13 MP periscopic camera which offers 10x lossless zoom capabilities. Except for the periscopic camera, both variants have a 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor, an 8 MP ultrawide sensor.

Both variants of the Oppo Reno run on ColosOS 6.0 which is based on top of Android 9 Pie. Connectivity options on both variants of the smartphone include Bluetooth 5.0, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, 4G VoLTE, NFC and a bottom mounted USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. Both the ‘standard’ and ’10x zoom’ variants of the Oppo Reno also have an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Price, Colours and Storage Options

Also Read: Huawei P30 Pro Smartphone With Periscope Camera Launched In India

Both the models of the Oppo Reno are available in four colour options which include Nebula Purple, Extreme Night Black, Peach and Sea Green. Both handsets are available in three storage variants for which the price is as follows:

Oppo Reno Standard Variant	Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Variant
6 GB + 128 GB – Chinese Yuan 2,999 (Rs 30,800)	6 GB + 128 GB – Chinese Yuan 3,999 (Rs 42,000)
6 GB + 256 GB – Chinese Yuan 3,299 (Rs 34,000)	6 GB + 256 GB – Chinese Yuan 4,499 (Rs 46,300)
8 GB + 256 GB – Chinese Yuan 3,599 (Rs 37,000)	8 GB + 256 GB – Chinese Yuan 4,799 (Rs 49,500)

April 10, 2019

Qualcomm Launches Three New Snapdragon Chipsets For Mobile Devices

On April 9 2019, American technology company Qualcomm added three new chipsets to its mobile SoC lineup which include the Snapdragon 665, Snapdragon 730 and the Snapdragon 730G. The ‘G’ suffix in the newly launched chipset stands for ‘Gaming’, which means that the Snapdragon 730G is intended for gaming smartphones. Overall, the company claims that the aforementioned chipsets will primarily focus on Artificial Intelligence, Camera and Gaming.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

The Snapdragon 665 chipset is the base model in the lineup unveiled on April 9, however, it has significant improvements over the Snapdragon 660. The new 11nm chipset comprises of an octa-core Kryo 260 CPU. Four cores of the aforementioned 8 cores are dedicated to performance, while the other cores enhance the efficiency of the device, the company claims. For graphics, the chipset packs an Adreno 610 GPU with the Vulkan 1.1 graphics driver. Furthermore, the chipset features Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Audio and Aqstic to improve the gaming experience of the user.

The company has included the Spectra 165 ISP, which integrates support for triple cameras and AI while capturing images. Also, the chipset enables features such as Hybrid autofocus, zero shutter lag and optical zoom, in addition to 48-megapixel image support. The SoC has the third-generation Qualcomm AI Engine, providing support for features such as 3D Face Unlock. Qualcomm claims that the chipset will deliver almost 2x faster AI device processing than the Snapdragon 660. Moreover, the SoC is enabled with Quick Charge 3.0 Fast Charge technology.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 and 730G

Qualcomm made it quite clear that the Snapdragon 665 will be targeted towards smartphones lying in the entry-level segment. For mid-range segment devices, the San-Diego company unveiled the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730, which is built on an 8nm process. Some features that were previously only present on Snapdragon’s 8xx series have been carried over to the Snapdragon 730. The SoC comprises of Kryo 470 octa-core CPU, which have a maximum clock speed of 2.2 GHz. Six cores are dedicated to regulating the power and efficiency of the smartphone, whereas the other two cores are dedicated solely to performance. The chipset has the Adreno 618 GPU, which is claimed by the company to provide a 25% performance boost over its predecessor.

In addition to Qualcomm aptX Adaptive audio and Qualcomm Aqstic audio, the chipset has the Spectra 350 ISP, which features a dedicated Computer Vision ISP. This will enable the capture of 4K HDR videos in portrait mode, that can be further mingled with bokeh effects. The Snapdragon 730 SoC has an inbuilt X15 LTE modem which claims to provide downloads up to 800Mbps. The chipset is Wi-Fi 6 ready and features Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ technology.

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Pro With 6GB RAM To Go On Sale In India Starting Today

The Snapdragon 730G shares most of its features and specifications with the 730, but as mentioned before, the ‘G’ means that it has significant upgrades with regard to mobile gaming support. For instance, it features an overclocked version of the Adreno 618 GPU, providing a 15% graphic rendering boost over the Snapdragon 730. The company claims that the gaming-focused chipset can offer True HDR gaming, with more than 1 billion shades of colours. Other features include a “Jank-Reducer” (which reduces game-quality-drops by almost 90 percent during the game), Anti Cheating extensions and an integration to manage Wi-Fi Latency to provide lag-free gameplay experience. Furthermore, the chipset includes support for HD super-slow-motion video recording at 960 fps.

April 10, 2019
OnePlus 7 Pro Leaked In Images, Might Be The Company’s First 5G Smartphone

OnePlus is expected to launch its next flagship smartphone, allegedly called the OnePlus 7 in the following weeks. Late last year the company announced that a separate device from the one mentioned above will also be launched this year. This handset will support 5G connectivity, the next generation of mobile networks. While OnePlus showcased a demo of its 5G smartphone at the MWC in the month of February, there was no official information regarding its launch. Fresh leaks have emerged on Chinese social networking website Weibo which reveals the purported device, which will be called the OnePlus 7 Pro in its full glory.

OnePlus 7 Pro

The upcoming 5G smartphone, OnePlus 7 Pro will be an upgraded version of the OnePlus 7 in more ways than one. The leaked image exposes a few details about the device. Unlike the leaked images of the latter, the 5G variant of the handset will have a curved display that tapers towards the sides. Other than the said change, all the physical aspects of the smartphone remain same as the OnePlus 7. It is expected to have a pop up style selfie camera and a large screen display which will be surrounded by negligible bezels. The leaked image of the OnePlus 7 Pro exhibit a 6.67-inch Optic AMOLED display with FullHD+ resolution, unlike the 6.5-inch display expected in the OnePlus 7. Like the OnePlus 6T launched last year, it is also expected to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Also read: Redmi Note 7 Pro With 6GB RAM To Go On Sale In India Starting Today

The leak further reveals the OnePlus 7 Pro is kitted with the 7nm Snapdragon 855 SoC. The chipset consists of an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 640 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone will have a triple rear camera setup which is comprised of a 48MP sensor, combined with a 16MP and an 8MP sensor. For memory and storage, the device in the leak sports 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, but it may be available in more variants. While the leak seems convincing, it is advised to be taken with a grain of salt, as this is the first time the OnePlus 7 Pro has been leaked. The smartphone, along with the OnePlus 7 is expected to launch next month.

April 10, 2019
Redmi Note 7 Pro With 6GB RAM To Go On Sale In India Starting Today

Xiaomi has announced the Redmi Note 7 Pro with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage will go on sale starting today. The smartphone was launched alongside the Redmi Note 7 on February 28. It is the first smartphone phone that Redmi has launched in India after separating from its parent company Xiaomi. The device features a modern design and ambitious specifications with a lucrative price tag.

Redmi Note 7 Pro: Where To Buy?

Click here to buy the Redmi Note 7 Pro

The Redmi Note 7 Pro will be available at a price of Rs 16,999 for the version with 6GB RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. The smartphone will be available to order via flash sales on Flipkart and Mi.com from 12 noon on April 10. It will also be available offline from Mi Home outlets starting April 17.

Redmi Note 7 Pro: Specifications & Features

To recall, the Redmi Note 7 Pro is a budget offering from the company and features a modern design with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and the rear. The smartphone has a 6.3 inch LCD display with a small waterdrop notch up top. The display panel has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a resolution 2340 x 1080 px and pixel density of 409 ppi. There is a fingerprint scanner on the back of the device and it also supports face unlock technology.

The Redmi Note 7 Pro runs on the 11nm Snapdragon 675 chipset. It consists of the Kryo 460 CPU with two Cortex A76 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and 6 Cortex A55 cores clocked at 1.7GHz. The CPU is paired with the Adreno 612 GPU. The smartphone is available in two variants, a 4GB+64GB variant and a 6GB+128GB model. It also has the Qualcomm Spectra 250L ISP (Image Signal Processor) for improving camera performance. The Redmi Note 7 Pro has Android 9 (Pie) out of the box, with Xiaomi’s own MIUI 10 on top. Reputably, the device also supports memory expansion up too 256 GB via a microSD card.

The Redmi Note 7 Pro features a dual camera module on the back of the smartphone, which comprises of a primary 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor and a secondary 5 MP depth sensor. Noteworthy, the Sony IMX586 sensor is found in higher-end devices like the Honor View 20. The camera also supports 4K recording at 30 fps. In terms of the front camera, it has a 13 MP front-facing sensor with AI integration.

Also read: AMD Announces 2nd Gen Mobile Processors For Entry Commercial Notebooks

The Redmi Note 7 Pro is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery which supports 18W Quick Charge 4.0, although the device ships with a 10W charger in the box. As mentioned before, the device has an IR blaster, similar to the one seen in previous iterations of the smartphone. Biometric security is limited to a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The smartphone is available in three colour options, Neptune Blue, Nebula Red and Space Black.

April 10, 2019
Huawei P30 Pro Smartphone With Periscope Camera Launched In India

At an event today, the second largest smartphone operator in the world, Huawei launched its flagship device, the P30 Pro in the Indian market. The handset was launched last month in Paris and has some industry-first features. The newly launched device succeeds the Huawei P20 Pro which was launched last year. Notably, the P series by the company is targeted towards photography enthusiasts.

Pricing & Availability

The Huawei P30 Pro is the most expensive smartphone from the company to be launched in India. It has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of inbuilt storage and is priced at Rs 71,990. Remarkably, the company is offering the Huawei Watch GT along with it for an extra Rs 2,000. Noteworthy, the aforementioned smart watch usually retails for a price of Rs 15,990. The smartphone will be available for purchase from the 15th of April via Amazon India online store and select offline retail outlets.

Huawei P30 Pro

To recall, the Huawei P30 Pro features a similar design to the Huawei P20 Pro. It has a significantly large 6.47 inch OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. Unlike the regular P30, the display edges are tapered to the sides, similar to the ones seen in the Mate 20 Pro. For safely and rapidly unlocking the handset, it has an in-display fingerprint scanner and support for face unlock technology.

The Huawei P30 Pro runs on the 7nm Kirin 980 chipset, which has an Octa-core CPU and the Mali G76 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone has a quad rear camera module comprising of an f/1.6 aperture equipped 40MP primary sensor, an f/2.2 aperture equipped 20MP ultra-wide sensor, a third f/3.4 aperture equipped 8MP periscopic telephoto lens with an f/3.4 aperture and a fourth ToF (Time of flight) sensor. The periscopic lens provides lossless 5x zoom capability, which is the highest amongst any smartphones right now. For selfies, it has a 32MP front camera housed in the notch up front.

Also read: Samsung May Launch Four Galaxy Note 10 Variants This Year

The P30 Pro is powered by a large 4,200 mAh battery, which supports Huawei’s 40W SuperCharge Wired Charging. The device also supports Reverse wireless charging. Moreover, it is IP68 dust and water resistant.

April 9, 2019

AMD Announces 2nd Gen Mobile Processors For Entry Commercial Notebooks

AMD, which has previously innovated new technologies in high-performance computing and graphics engineering technology, aims to ensure hassle-free incorporation of AMD systems in organizations. Consequently, AMD has announced its latest additions to its PRO mobile processor series, which claims to provide power-efficient performance, significantly bumped-up battery life and improved security detail. The new lineup is focussed towards enhancing the convenience for business users.

The new lineup includes 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen PRO Mobile Processors (with Radeon Vega GPU) and AMD Athlon PRO mobile processors with a similar VEGA GPU. The primary incorporation of these processors would include premium professional notebooks and everyday-usage notebooks. Also, the company is planning to introduce its new lineup in the upcoming HP and Lenovo notebooks, which will make their way into the market in the second quarter this year. Updates for the same are expected to be released later in the year 2019.

The 12nm mobile processors claim to increase productivity and deliver best-in-class performance. Also, the company states that the AMD Ryzen PRO 3000 series processors offer up to 16% more multi-threader processor performance than other similar processors in the market. Further claims include up to 12 hours of office usage, 14% faster content creation and best-in-grade security features.

Also Read: Samsung May Launch Four Galaxy Note 10 Variants This Year

The detailed specifications of the complete lineup are listed below:

Product Model	Cores/ Threads	TDP	Boost/Base Freq.	Radeon Graphics	GPU Cores	Max GPU Freq.	L2+L3 Cache
AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 3700U	4C/8T	15W	4.0/2.3 GHz	Vega	10	1400 MHz	6MB
AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U	4C/8T	15W	3.7/2.1 GHz	Vega	8	1200 MHz	6MB
AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 3300U	4C/4T	15W	3.5/2.1 GHz	Vega	6	1200 MHz	6MB
AMD Athlon PRO 300U	2C/4T	15W	3.3/2.4 GHz	Vega	3	1000 MHz	5MB

April 9, 2019

Snapchat Releases A Rebuilt Android App Promising Faster Performance

Snapchat, a popular multimedia messaging platform has faced its fair share of problems previously. The Android version of its application has always been complained about not being on par with the performance of its iOS counterpart. While the app was fairly stable and easy to work with on the latter, the former faced a lot of lags and continuous slowdowns which resulted in a sub-par experience. The company has freshly announced a new, rebuilt version of its Android application which promises a more refined, lag-free user experience.

Snapchat’s New Android App

To @Android. Love, Snapchat. #SnapForAndroid pic.twitter.com/MGOFQYa9Cj
— Snapchat (@Snapchat) April 8, 2019

The new Snapchat app for Android OS is a complete overhaul of the platform. However, it doesn’t bring any drastic visual changes to the table but instead relies on fixing the problems it faced on the inside. Notably, the Android and iOS versions of the messaging platform were identical visually and feature little to no differences in terms of controls and usability. The issues that users faced, as mentioned above were mainly performance related, which Snapchat claims will be fixed with the new update, and bring it on par with the iOS version. Interestingly, previous issues with fixing the Android app according to the company was the diverse range of devices that the platform boasted of, with each running on different internals and sporting differently sized displays. This made optimisation difficult for each device.

Also Read: Best Fitness Trackers Available In India Under Rs. 3,000

Another issue that the users faced previously was the disparity between feature distributions. While the iOS app received new features including filters and menu options right as they were announced, it took weeks and sometimes even months until the said feature made its way to the green side. The company has said that in future, the Android version may even get features faster than its iOS counterpart. Previously, due to the aforementioned issues, users of Snapchat on Android were reported to switch to rival platforms like Instagram, which caused a substantial dent in the company’s revenue last year.

April 9, 2019
Best Fitness Trackers Available In India Under Rs. 3,000

Fitness has become an important factor for most people in today’s day and age. Because of this, the trend of fitness trackers has increased drastically over the past few years. If you’re in the market to buy a good smart wearable for tracking your fitness needs, the existing options can be daunting, to say the least. To make the choice easier, we have compiled a list of best fitness trackers that are available in India under the Rs. 3,000 price bracket.

Mi Band 3

Xiaomi is undoubtedly one of the most well-known brands when it is about affordable electronics. The Mi Band 3 is one of the best fitness trackers for the price. It has an 0.78-inch OLED touchscreen, a heart rate sensor and pedometer on board. Furthermore, the smart band has 5ATM water resistance, support notifications from a smartphone and has a claimed battery life of up to 20 days. With all the above features, the Mi Band 3 is available at a very competitive price, which makes it a very viable option.

Lenovo HW01

The Lenovo HW01 smart band is a great option for anyone looking for a good fitness wearable under Rs. 3,000. It has a heart rate sensor, step counter and an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. The smart band is for people who are looking for bare essentials and has a claimed battery life of 10 days on a single charge.

Noise ColorFit Pro

The ColorFit Pro is one of the best looking smart wearables in the price range. Retailing for just under Rs, 3,000, it has a 1.22 inch LCD display and the body is built out of metal. While having the looks of a traditional smartwatch, it has the features of a smart band too. These include a heart rate sensor, blood oxygen levels and a sleep tracker. The company claims a battery life of 3 days with normal usage. Furthermore, there is support for notifications and a remote camera button. With a plethora of features and bigger than usual display, the Noise Colorfit Pro is one of the best fitness trackers for the price.

Honor Band 4

Honor Band 4 is another great option for people looking to buy a fitness band under Rs. 3,000. It has a 0.95 inch AMOLED display which also supports touch input. Like many traditional wearables, it has a heart rate monitor, a sleep tracker and 5ATM rating for water resistance. The smart band also supports intense sports activity tracking. These include running, cycling, pool swim and training. With the swarm of features, Honor Band 4 is a great option for people who take fitness seriously.

Fastrack Reflex 2.0

Also read: Apple Watch Saves Another 23-Year Old’s Life

Fastrack is a known brand in making affordable products for the younger generation. The Reflex 2.0 is an example of the company’s efforts in the smart wearable segment. It features a display with a touch button which allows you to scroll between the different menus. For fitness tracking, there is support for step tracking and the band measures the calories burned. What’s more, the wearable has a battery life of up to 10 days on a single charge. The Fastrack Reflex 2.0 is thus one of the best options for people looking for a good smart band under Rs. 3,000.

April 8, 2019
Samsung May Launch Four Galaxy Note 10 Variants This Year

Samsung is known for launching more than one variants of its flagship smartphones over the years. However, the company doubled the number when it launched the Galaxy S10 lineup with a total of four smartphones, which included the Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10e. As per latest reports, the company is planning to replicate its strategy by releasing four different models of its upcoming Note 10 series, which will succeed the Galaxy Note 9.

Samsung’s New “Four Model” Strategy

As per reports, the lineup will feature at least one 5G smartphone. Moreover, the Korean technology company is planning to release a significantly cheap model of the Galaxy Note 10. It is apparent here that the company is rolling the same dice as it did with the Galaxy S10e. The device which was intended to be the base model in the lineup received exceedingly rave reviews. Note that the last time when Samsung released more than one variant for the Galaxy Note series was in 2014 when the company unveiled the Galaxy Note Edge alongside the Galaxy Note 4.

Reports also state that Samsung is modelling its strategy in order to create more impact on the smartphone market. Two of the four LTE variants of the Note 10 series are speculated to sport 6.28-inch and 6.75-inch displays with triple and quad camera setups respectively. The other two devices will carry over similar specs to the aforementioned devices, with the only notable addition being the 5G connectivity option.

Expected Availability And Features

Also Read: Oppo Patents Attractive Gaming Interface For Smartphones With Notch Display

The Galaxy Note 10 series is expected to offer significant improvements over the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 smartphone. For starters, the Note 10 is likely to have a bumped-up battery than its previous iteration owing to the inclusion of 5G as a network connectivity option. For an overall idea of specifications, the upcoming lineup can be placed beside the Galaxy S10 lineup of smartphones. However, it is probable that the Note 10 series may feature Samsung’s new innovative stylus which features an inbuilt optical camera. The Note 10 lineup is expected to hit the smartphone markets in Q3 of the year 2019.

April 8, 2019
Samsung Galaxy A70

Samsung Galaxy A70 is the latest entrant in the company’s ever-growing lineup of smartphones in the Galaxy A series. It features a massive 6.7 inch AMOLED display and a gradient ‘Glasstic’ back panel. Also, present on the device is an in display fingerprint scanner and triple rear cameras. It is targeted towards mid-range buyers with a focus on photography and design.

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April 8, 2019
Oppo Patents Attractive Gaming Interface For Smartphones With Notch Display

The popularity of mobile gaming has boomed a lot over the past few months, and some part of the credit goes to smartphone brands launching more budget-aggressive smartphones. Unfortunately, a lot of smartphones feature a notch, which hinders the gaming process on the device. For starters, the notch covers some important aspects of the HUD (Heads Up Display) which forms an integral part of the gaming interface. A great example is PUBG Mobile, where a big notch can cover up the inventory button in some devices. To get rid of such problems, Oppo has patented a stylish gaming interface for smartphones with a notch with interesting functionalities.

About Oppo’s Gaming Interface

Smartphones are evolving rapidly, and sure enough, many devices have the capability to run multiple applications at the same time. Higher battery capacities imply that multitasking is even more viable in such devices. More graphic-intensive games can be run on such devices, so Chinese Smartphone manufacturer Oppo has patented a gaming interface, which will allow users to launch certain apps during gaming on the device.

Known as the “Game Space”, the feature was first spotted in the Find X, and it brings up an aesthetically pleasing notification list on the left side of the screen while playing games. Using the control wheel, users can toggle the graphics acceleration mode while running graphics intensive games, record their gameplay, take a screenshot, activate Do Not Disturb and even send a Whatsapp message using the same.

About The Patent

As per reports, the patents were first applied for by Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications in 2018, and the Global Design Database of the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) published the aforementioned patents on April 2, 2019.

Also Read: Nubia Alpha Foldable Smartwatch Launched In China

A special feature of the interface is that it can be used with similar convenience in both the portrait and landscape mode. Users can swipe through the complete list available in the interface around the notch. Furthermore, it does not hinder the view of the game, which may prove to be quite helpful. The feature is expected to be available in future Reno smartphones, which are likely to launch in the month of April.

Additional images from the patent can be viewed by clicking here

April 8, 2019