Tag Archives: Android

Realme 11 Pro+ 5G Review: A mid-range stunner

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PROS:


  • Luxurious design

  • Excellent battery life and fast charging

  • Impressive main camera

  • Slim and lightweight

CONS:


  • No official IP rating

  • Uncertain display durability

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With its stunning design, imaging capabilities, and powerful features, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G punches above its price bracket and is a great option for budget-conscious consumers.

The mid-range smartphone segment used to be filled by dull designs, subpar build quality, and sluggish performance. Gone are the days when budget-friendly vanilla smartphones would save you money but also leave you disappointed. Today, you can find plenty of mid-range smartphones that are nearly indistinguishable from top-of-the-line devices costing twice as much, offering a satisfying user experience without breaking the bank. While they may lack some standout features such as a big camera sensor or super sharp display, these smartphones strike a favorable balance between features and affordability.

The newest number series from Realme is one of the best-looking mid-range smartphones we’ve seen on the market so far. The Realme 11 Pro+ 5G offers more than just the looks, though, boasting a 200MP main camera, a 6.7-inch 120Hz refresh rate curved display, and a 5,000mAh battery, among other things. We took a close look at this fashionable mid-range phone to see what other boxes it checks and if it’s worth your hard-earned money.

Designer: Realme

Design

Designed in collaboration with Matteo Menotto, a former print and textile designer for Gucci, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G sets itself apart with its unparalleled style. Drawing inspiration from the streets of Milan at sunrise, Menotto designed the Realme 11 Pro+ with a circular camera module symbolizing the rising sun. The yellow and white vertical line running through the middle represents a road extending into the distance, according to the brand. The 3D woven texture vertical line is sealed with transparent plastic, and while it does not provide tactile satisfaction, adds a charming accent to the design of the device. The prominent circular camera module houses a 200MP main camera highlighted by a golden ring design. The main camera is accompanied by an ultrawide camera on its right, a macro camera on its left, and an LED flash on top of it.

The phone has a vegan leather material on its back with a lychee-like texture that delights the fingers, while the stitching in the middle and around the camera reminds you of luxury handbags or car interiors. These design elements are seamlessly integrated, evoking a sense of luxury and sophistication. The Realme 11 Pro+ is definitely one of the most striking mid-range phones I’ve ever come across to date.

In addition to the Sunrise Beige variant, the Realme 11 Pro+ also comes in Oasis Green and Astral Black color options. The Oasis Green variant maintains the same design as the Sunrise Beige, featuring the same distinctive elements but with a different color. On the other hand, the Astral Black variant shares only the circular camera module with the two other colorways, instead distinguishing itself in terms of overall appearance with a plain matte finish that has no vertical line running through the middle of the device, leaving a clean and unbroken surface.

Ergonomics

For a 6.7-inch smartphone, you’ll be surprised how thin and light the phone is, measuring just 8.7mm thick and weighing only 189g (or 8.2mm thick and 183g for the Astral Black variant). The phone manages to impress with its lightweight build, making it feel comfortable to hold in your hand.

The leather finish of the phone not only adds a touch of luxury but also provides a better grip, preventing the phone from easily slipping from your hand or sliding off of surfaces. Additionally, the textured back panel prevents smudges and fingerprints. You can snuggle 11 Pro+ nicely in your hand thanks to the vegan leather back and the slightly curved – 61 degrees to be precise – back panel and display.

The plastic frame has a glossy finish at the sides and accommodates the power button and volume button on the right side. In contrast, the top and bottom plastic frames have a matte finish. The top houses a speaker and a microphone while the bottom houses a speaker, microphone, USB-C port, and a dual-SIM tray.

The in-screen fingerprint scanner works flawlessly, delivering consistent and accurate performance. However, one aspect to note is its placement close to the bottom edge of the screen. While it effectively unlocks the phone, it occasionally requires you to adjust your grip afterward, which can become a somewhat bothersome experience over time.

Performance

Aside from its design, another standout feature of the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is the 200MP main camera, the highest megapixel count for the mid-range segment, that sits in the center of the circular camera module on the back. The phone boasts a triple-camera setup on its back and a single selfie camera at the front. The main 200MP camera features a Samsung ISOCELL HP3 with a 1/1.4” sensor size, 2.24um pixel size, a f/1.69 aperture, and OIS. Realme promises lossless 2x and 4x zoom, achieved by sensor cropping the massive 200MP main sensor. This enables you to shoot telephoto-like digital images. Accompanying the 200MP main camera is an 8MP ultrawide camera with f/2.2 aperture. Finally, a 2MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture makes up the device’s triple camera setup. On the front side, there is a 32MP selfie camera with f/2.45 aperture.

Full 200MP

By default, the main camera takes 12.5MP, 16:1 binned photos for enhanced quality. In daylight or under good lighting conditions, the Realme 11 Pro+ takes excellent photos at 1x magnification, capturing good details, contrast, and dynamic range. The colors are nicely saturated, occasionally resulting in slightly too vibrant for lighter greens, but not over-the-top at all.

12.5MP, 16:1 binned

The daylight 2x zoomed photos are great as well. Although the images taken with 4x zoom are not lossless, they capture a fair amount of details with a nice dynamic range. The main camera captures great low-light photos at 1x magnification. 2x photos, while not completely lossless, still offer enough sharpness and retain some detail with good dynamic range. When zoomed to 4x, the photos remain acceptable, although some noticeable noise may be present.

1x (AI Mode)

2x (AI Mode)

4x (AI Mode)

Ultrawide (AI Mode)

The 8MP ultrawide takes excellent images in good lighting conditions, while the low-light photos on ultrawide are satisfactory. For low-light images, there is a tendency to overexpose bright spots, and at times photos may appear somewhat undersaturated. However, overall, the results are still good. Macro photos taken with the 2MP camera are subpar, not capturing much detail. However, this will not be a dealbreaker for most people unless you have a specific interest in macro photography. The selfie camera takes good photos, but it has a tendency to render a slightly orange tone to the skin color.

1x Night Mode

2x Night Mode

4x Night Mode

Ultrawide Night Mode

You can choose HI-RES mode to shoot 200MP or 50MP photos. However, keep in mind this is achieved at the expense of loss in detail and dynamic range. There is street mode with different focal lengths. The street mode comes with a neat auto-zoom feature where you can tap on the subject that you want to zoom in on and it automatically adjusts the zoom level and try to achieve the best framing.

1x

Macro

As for the video, you can shoot 4k 30fps stabilized video with the main camera. Dropping the resolution down to 1080p will let you take 60fps video. The ultrawide and selfie cameras, however, are limited to shooting 1080p 30fps videos. The Realme 11 Pro+ does offer a pleasant video shooting experience across the main and ultrawide camera for what you paid for.

The Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G chipset backed by 8GB or 12GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB of memory. RAM can be expanded an additional 4GB using the Dynamic RAM Expansion. It is quite capable of handling any tasks, including watching videos and light gaming. In terms of software, Realme 11 Pro+ boots Android 13 with Realme UI 4.0, which offer pretty solid customization options.

The mid-range smartphone features a 1080p 120Hz OLED display with HDR10+ capability and 950 nits local peak brightness. The flagship-grade display is smooth, vibrant, and bright enough to use under broad daylight. The stereo speakers of 11 Pro+ deliver good audio quality with a good amount of volume.

As for the battery and charging, the Realme 11 Pro+ houses a 5000mAh battery despite its slim body, and it comes with a 100W superVOOC charger. While it lacks wireless charging capabilities, its super-fast charging requires a mere 3 minutes to boost the phone’s battery up to 17%, and a full charge can be achieved in just 26 minutes. The battery life of the Realme 11 Pro+ is indeed impressive, and the phone can easily last a full day with moderate use.

Sustainability

The glass protecting the display from scratches and damages is what Realme calls double-reinforced glass. Realme does not provide any specific details regarding the durability of the double-reinforced glass, and we can only hope it is tough enough to safeguard the screen in the event of accidental drops on rough surfaces like concrete.

Another thing you have to be careful about with this sleek phone is that it comes with no official IP rating for water and dust resistance. So you want to be mindful of using the phone outside when it’s raining or at the beach.

While the vegan leather back is a nice touch, it barely steps away from the typical plastic materials used on this tier of smartphones. The plastic frame is also an unfortunate choice in terms of sustainability, though it does save up on the build costs that consumers eventually have to pay for. Unlike some of its higher-end models, the Realme 11 Pro+ doesn’t exactly make a conscious effort to be more eco-friendly, which is still something that mid-range phones like it have to grow out of.

Value

The Realme 11 Pro+ is currently available in China and India only. Its price ranges from roughly equivalent to 300 USD to 390 USD, depending on RAM and storage. Global availability doesn’t seem to be on the table, though that could still change in the near future.

While there are some great mid-range phones available on the market, the Realme 11 Pro+ has some unique features that could set it apart from the competition. With a remarkable 200MP main camera, a sizable battery, and 100W fast charging, this device undoubtedly offers exceptional value for its price. Its stylish design adds a significant bonus to its overall appeal, especially for people who want a smartphone with a personality right out of the box.

Verdict

The Realme 11 Pro+ definitely punches above its price bracket. Its stylish design, capable main camera, and excellent battery life make this mid-range phone a great choice for budget-conscious consumers. Sure, it doesn’t come with the fastest chipset, water and dust resistance rating, or wireless charging, but you cannot expect to have it all at this price point.

If you are looking for an affordable yet powerful smartphone with stunning design and imaging capabilities, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is a great option. With its remarkable features and competitive pricing, this smartphone offers excellent value for money. That is, if you can actually get your hands on one.

The post Realme 11 Pro+ 5G Review: A mid-range stunner first appeared on Yanko Design.

Onyx BOOX Palma is a mobile e-Reader that you can literally slide into your pocket

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E-Book readers have become more diversified in the past few years, but there seems to be a trend of making them a lot bigger than what people are used to. Of course, there are uses for tablet-sized devices, like the Onyx BOOX Tab Ultra and Tab Ultra C that we reviewed previously, but the power and productivity they offer comes at the price of some portability and convenience. In fact, some people might even consider the typical Kindle sizes of eReaders to already be too big, especially if they can’t fit inside small handbags or pouches. Trying to cast its net even wider, Onyx BOOX has come up with a solution for this group of readers, one that can easily fit in anywhere almost like a smartphone, without being an actual smartphone.

Designer: BOOX

Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat. The BOOX Palma may look like a smartphone and may sometimes even act like a smartphone, but it is not a smartphone. At least not in the traditional sense of smartphones. You can send messages or make calls but only through Internet services like social apps and instant messaging. The smartphone look-alike is completely bereft of cellular connectivity, so you’ll have to rely on Wi-Fi for any and all online activities. To some extent, you can consider the BOOX Palma as a phone-sized tablet, albeit one with an eye-friendly and battery-friendly E Ink screen.

That 6.13-inch E Ink touch screen bears a sharp 300 PPI density, which means you get crisp letters on all your reading materials. It’s an E Ink Carta 1200, though, so you won’t be seeing colors outside shades of gray and black; standard fair for an e-Reader. It has a water-repellent design on its back, which also gives it a distinct appearance and a better grip. If you’ve ever dreamed of a literal pocket e-book, the BOOX Palma fits the bill perfectly and then some.

Just like Onyx BOOX’s other devices, the device runs the brand’s own flavor of Android 11, and this one thankfully also supports Google Play Store. With an octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM, this means you can run plenty of your favorite apps on it, whether they’re for reading, browsing the web, or even social media. The usual e-Paper caveats apply, aside from the lack of color. Refresh rates are terribly slow compared to the LCDs and OLEDs of typical smartphones, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them for things other than reading, depending on your level of patience.

But what need would you have for an E Ink phone that isn’t a phone, especially when there are more “standard” devices from Onyx’s own fleet even? The brand is trying to sell the image of a new way of life, a distraction-free lifestyle with an eye-friendlier e-Paper device. You might be able to install almost any Android app you want, but the display technology puts limits on your use of them. It also forces you to disconnect while you read, at least when you’re not within range of a Wi-Fi access point. The Onyx BOOX Palma is an admittedly charming device with a unique proposition, but it remains to be seen if it will be worth its $279.99 price tag.

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The most sustainable smartphone is coming to the US with a very big catch

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Finally recognizing the important role they play in saving the environment, smartphone manufacturers have started to implement steps to minimize their adverse effects on the planet. But even before “sustainability” started trending in the smartphone industry, there was one startup that dared to get the ball rolling and discussions started on how sustainable smartphones ought to be made. Since 2013, Fairphone has been putting out easy-to-repair handsets, though its limited availability has made it a deal-breaker for many interested buyers. That narrative is changing a bit with the arrival of the Fairphone 4 in the US, but it comes with a very big caveat that can be just as much a deal-breaker anyway.

Designer: Fairphone, Murena

When it comes to sustainable and eco-friendly smartphones, it’s hard to deny that the Fairphone is the cream of the crop. Although it’s practically impossible for now to have a 100% sustainable phone, the Fairphone still checks the most boxes compared to any other brand. It uses recycled materials where possible and ensures they are all ethically can responsibly sourced. It has a system in place for the proper disposal of completely dead devices, but it also delays that inevitable fate by making it easy for owners to repair their own phones with replacement parts they officially sell. The latter is a practice that is thankfully now getting traction even among the likes of Apple, Google, and Samsung, though with more limited components and heart-stopping tedious processes.

The biggest problem with the Fairphone (aside from its slightly outdated specs) is its availability, limited primarily to the European region unless you’re willing to take the extra steps and risk importing one. That is changing now that the Fairphone 4 is being made available in the US, one of the largest smartphone markets. Fairphone isn’t the one selling it directly, though, and has partnered with another company named Murena not only to distribute the phone but also to put the latter’s own version of Android on it named /e/ OS.

Therein lies what might be the biggest determining factor for those who want to buy the Fairphone 4 in the US. /e/ OS is billed as a privacy-focused mobile platform, which practically means it doesn’t ship with Google apps and services. Instead, it provides its own app store, replacements for Google services, and the like. It might be possible to install Google Play Store after the fact (“sideload”), but the process might also be more involved than what consumers would be willing to put up with.

In short, the Fairphone 4 now being sold in the US is both sustainable and very private, and you can’t easily separate the two. It might be fine for those who do espouse both ideals equally, but others who simply want the most sustainable “regular” Android phone might have to continue looking elsewhere.

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Onyx BOOX Tab Mini C brings a colored E-Ink reader wrapped in a fun little package

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e-Book readers have definitely come a long way. Not only are they now capable of stylus pen input, some even come bearing a swath of colors, limited as they may be. This has opened the doors to many new use cases, from reading magazines in color to a bit of creative digital painting to even watching a few short videos. Most of these colored E-Ink screens, however, come in large sizes and solid yet heavy bodies. They pack plenty of power but come at the expense of some convenience and comfort. While there will definitely be a place for these devices, some might prefer a more leisurely reading experience that they can bring with them anywhere, which is where the new Onyx BOOX Tab Mini C comes in, bringing that same splash of color in a more compact size.

Designer: Onyx

In our recent review, we found the Onyx BOOX Tab Ultra C to be quite the heavyweight in more ways than one. It definitely had plenty of features, putting it squarely in the Android tablet market, but it came at a literal cost and with a hefty size. As its name suggests, the BOOX Tab Mini C cuts down on some of that, offering a more accessible alternative that doesn’t cut too many corners.

It’s the same E-Ink Kaleido 3 screen technology, which ultimately means sharper black and white texts alongside clearer colored images, except now it’s on a 7.8-inch device. In addition to the smaller size, the weight has nearly been halved as well, making it easier on your arms. Onyx also tweaked the general design a bit, curving the back towards the edges for a more comfortable grip. In other words, it’s meant to be a joy to hold in your hand, even for long periods of time.

That doesn’t mean that the BOOX Tab Mini C is skimping on the power, though. It still has an octa-core processor with 4GB of RAM, and the 64GB of storage is often more than enough for eBooks or even PDFs. Like its older and bigger sibling, it runs Android with Google Play Store installed, which means you’ll have access to almost any mobile app you want or need. And, yes, you can write on it with Onyx’s stylus, though you might have to buy it in a bundle or separately.

The Onyx BOOX Tab Mini C’s smaller size might make it more portable and less cumbersome to hold, but it also makes it less ideal for certain kinds of electronic documents. It fills in a need but hardly replaces the Onyx BOOX Tab Ultra C, especially when it comes to the latter’s productivity chops. At $450, it does make Kaleido 3 technology a bit more affordable, getting more people interested in coming to the Onyx fold.

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Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Review: Delightful Heavyweight

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PROS:


  • Currently the best of class colored E Ink display

  • Google Play Store pre-installed

  • Elegant, minimalist design

  • Decent performance and battery life

CONS:


  • Too heavy for holding with one hand for a long time

  • Expensive

  • Optional keyboard cover is a dirt magnet

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

A handsome device with a gorgeous eye-friendly screen, the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C pushes the envelope of what E Ink devices are capable of, making it worth its price and weight.

E Ink devices have long grown past the simplistic and often unattractive slabs of plastic they can shove inside purses and bags, though there are definitely still plenty of those around. Even Amazon has added the ability for readers to also be curators and creators, adding the all-powerful pen to at least one of its Kindles. Other manufacturers, however, have really pushed the envelope of what these eye-friendly gadgets are capable of, blurring the boundary between simple eBook readers and multi-functional tablets. Onyx is one of the most prolific brands in this space, and its recent Boox Tab Ultra, which we reviewed last year, redefines this device category. Now it has taken that to the next level by adding a splash of pastel colors to the Boox Tab Ultra C, and we take it for a spin to see how much farther it has gone to break free of stereotypes and expectations.

Designer: Onyx

Aesthetics

From the very first moment you take it out of its box, you immediately sense that the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C is nothing like a typical eBook reader. There’s that heft you wouldn’t have expected from this class of device, especially since many of its kind are uninspiring pieces of plastic. More importantly, however, its visual design will strike you as something more refined and stylish, something you won’t be ashamed to bring out in a board meeting. Even compared to colorful tablets like the iPad Pro, the Boox Tab Ultra C can stand proud with its minimalist yet elegant design.

The E Ink Kaleido 3 screen that sets this device apart from both eReaders and regular tablets sits flush with the bezel, allowing the protective glass to be one continuous and flat surface that leaves no obstruction for your finger or your pen. In line with modern mobile design trends, the sides are completely flat, with only the corners curving where the edges meet. The back is equally flat, save for a rare 16MP “document scanner” camera sticking out in a corner.

Camera Output

Branding is minimal and unobtrusive, with only the “BOOX” name on the “spine” and the back of the device. There is an unusual strip of matte plastic with decals on that same side, giving the tablet a bit of personality while also providing a better grip. Otherwise, most of the Boox Tab Ultra C’s body is made from sturdy and aesthetic aluminum, another point of departure from regular eReaders.

Onyx ships the device with a Pen 2 Pro that matches its color and build quality. This aluminum stylus magnetically latches onto one edge of the Boox Tab Ultra C, so you won’t have to fumble with a separate holder or sheath. The barrel is mostly round, save for the flat edge that sticks to the tablet and also prevents the pen from rolling off a flat table. The ridged cap of the pen is, unfortunately, only for show. It functions as an eraser in the built-in Notes app, but you can’t twist or turn this part, despite what its design suggests.

Onyx sells an optional magnetic keyboard case that really drives home the fact that the Boox Tab Ultra C leans more toward the tablet side of the fence. The keyboard connects to the tablet via Pogo pins, so you won’t have to worry about flaky Bluetooth or dead batteries. The cover is supposedly made with artificial leather, but it feels more like rubbery silicone than any premium material. It doesn’t attract fingerprints as advertised, but it’s a dirt and dust magnet instead, making that “feature” moot.

Ergonomics

The first thing you’ll notice when you lift the Boox Tab Ultra C from its box is that it is substantially heavy. At 480g (1.06 lbs), it is probably one of if not the heaviest E Ink reading devices you can get your hands on, at least within the same 10-inch size category. Part of that is due to the use of more durable but also heavier aluminum, and part of it is simply due to the amount of hardware inside. More on that in a bit.

What this means, however, is that the Boox Tab Ultra C is uncomfortable to hold unsupported with one hand for a long period of time. Some might even already feel some strain for just a few minutes, let alone half an hour of continuous reading. Admittedly, leisurely reading books isn’t the core purpose of this device anyway. Instead, it’s a device that brings together the power and flexibility of an Android tablet with the comfort and longevity of an E Ink screen, making it more of a productivity tool than a mere eBook reader. It is, in a way, closer to an iPad Pro or a Galaxy Tab S8 in function and closer in weight class as well.

The Pen 2 Pro that Onyx ships in the box is light and well-balanced, making it a great tool for writing and sketching. The flat edge of the barrel is a natural resting spot for the fingers, adding to the pen’s grip. There are no buttons to be wary of, though that also means there is no additional functionality available. The top of the pen only works as an eraser, at least in apps that can recognize it as such.

The Boox Magnetic Keyboard Cover adds protection to the tablet, but at 408g (0.9 lbs), it also doubles the tablet’s overall weight. It’s definitely something you’ll want to take off if you’re not using the keyboard or carrying the Boox Tab Ultra C around. Thankfully, the magnets align the tablet and the cover perfectly, so you won’t lose too much time putting it on again. Like almost all keyboard covers of its kind, there’s only one viewing angle, which isn’t exactly the best ergonomic position. For typing on the go and away from your desk, it’s practically the only feasible position anyway.

Performance

It may have an E Ink screen on top, but the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C is an Android tablet at its very heart. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 with 4GB of RAM and a generous 128GB of expandable internal storage, it is the equivalent of a mid-range Android tablet, at least from two or so years ago. It’s no racehorse, of course, but it’s definitely the most powerful chipset to grace an E Ink device. This is especially important since the Boox Tab Ultra C comes with Google Play Store pre-installed, which means you have access to all the Android apps you can ever want.

Thanks to this potent combination, the Boox Tab Ultra C is possibly the most capable E Ink tablet in the market to date. Onyx’s custom UI is snappy and responsive, and apps launch quickly and perform quite decently. Those coming from regular tablets might point out the small pauses when using apps, but this is more due to the ePaper panel refreshing its contents rather than sluggishness on the tablet’s part. Those used to regular eReaders will definitely come off impressed by the device’s smooth performance.

The tablet comes with a 6,300 mAh battery, which is definitely plenty for an E Ink device. That said, the tablet’s actual uptime is going to be shorter than your typical eReader if you tend to use more apps outside of basic reading and note-taking. With access to so many apps, you might be tempted to run wild, especially since the device is more than capable of supporting those. The stereo speakers are plenty loud, for example, and the Ultrafast refresh mode even makes YouTube usable. You can even play some games if you’re up to some grainy graphics and plenty of ghosting.

The Boox Tab Ultra C’s killer feature is, of course, its 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 E Ink screen, the current king when it comes to colored ePaper displays in the consumer market. When displaying Black and White content, the screen boasts a high 300dpi pixel density. With color, the density dips to 150dpi, which is actually still higher than previous colored E Ink technologies. What this means is that content will always be sharp and crisp, whether colored or grayscale. Of course, not all content is the same, so Onyx provides controls that let you mix settings to your tastes. With warm and cool brightness settings, you can also tweak the display to your comfort, ensuring that you don’t lose the eye-friendly benefits of E Ink even with all the color and power the device offers.

Sustainability

Onyx deserves props for choosing aluminum over plastic for the Boox Tab Ultra C’s body, even if its other models haven’t made the switch yet. Its packaging is also simple and compact, though it still has the customary plastic wrappings and sections. Onyx doesn’t ship a charger with the device, though it comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable for charging and data transfer purposes. Unfortunately, this is the bare minimum effort that consumer electronics companies are supposed to make, and we’re hoping that Onyx will differentiate itself further with a stronger sustainability commitment soon.

The slight upside is that Onyx’s devices are made to last, both in hardware and especially in software. People don’t switch eBook readers as often as, say, phones and tablets, and the Boox Tab Ultra C is no different. This particular tablet has just enough power to carry it for years, which is also how long Onyx usually pushes out software updates. For its purpose and design, you won’t be going after the most resource-intensive apps anyway, so you’re unlikely to chase after new specs and features for a long while.

Value

As powerful and as impressive as the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C is, it’s probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, just as not everyone might be in the market for a regular tablet. Even those who have been dreaming of reading colorful comics and magazines ever since the earliest days of eBook readers might be on the fence about whether to grab this particular device or not.

While its A5-sized screen is great for reading magazines, PDFs, comics, and documents, it isn’t the most convenient thing to read on, especially if you consider its heft. The biggest deal breaker, however, is the $600 price tag attached to the device, making it one of the most expensive eReaders out there. And that’s not yet considering the $110 magnetic keyboard cover that turns the device into a convenient and eye-friendly productivity tool.

That’s not to say that there’s no market for the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C because it happens to be one of the company’s recent successes. You just have to approach it with the right frame of mind, not as a large colored eReader but as an Android tablet with a colored E Ink display. From that perspective, the device is actually on par with mid-range devices, at least those that truly offer notable functionality wrapped in a decent design. In that regard, the Boox Tab Ultra C checks all the right boxes, delivering unmatched value for its price.

Verdict

We have all become dependent on device screens, whether it’s the computer we use for work, the phone we use to connect with people, or the TVs we use to chill. As vibrant and as beautiful as those screens may be, they have an adverse effect on our health, especially our eyes. E Ink devices like eBook readers have long been hailed as the solution to that, but those have only benefited avid readers, at least until now.

The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C brings that same eye-saving technology to an Android tablet that will satisfy your reading craving and then some. Although its weight is no small matter, and its price is a bit on the expensive side, it easily pays for itself with all the things you can do on it that go beyond just consuming content. Whether you’re a huge comics buff, a budding artist, a novelist, or even a programmer, the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C has got you covered, and your eyes will definitely thank you for it.

The post Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Review: Delightful Heavyweight first appeared on Yanko Design.

TECNO PHANTOM V Fold Foldable Phone Review: When The Price is Right

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PROS:


  • Eye-catching and distinctive design

  • More usable outer Cover Screen

  • Great value for its price

  • Large and fast-charging battery

CONS:


  • Hinge doesn't support intermediate angles

  • Limited global availability

  • Missing features like HDR, IP rating, and wireless charging

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

A beautiful phone with shockingly good performance, the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold's aggressive pricing is enough to make you overlook its minor flaws.

You know that foldable phones have really hit mainstream when even relatively lesser-known brands start launching one. Although it has been serving markets like Africa for years now, TECNO has only recently started to spread its wings globally. This year, it made its most ambitious move yet, launching a phone in a market that is still considered niche and a luxury that few could afford. The TECNO PHANTOM V Fold, however, has a trump card that almost no other of its kind dares to use: a significantly lower price tag. But at what cost does that price cut come, and is it enough to give the PHANTOM V Fold the upper hand? We give the latest foldable phone a spin to find out.

Designer: TECNO

Aesthetics

The TECNO PHANTOM V Fold immediately stands out among its peers the moment you lay your eyes on it. Its large internal screen is nearly crease-free (we’ll get back to that later), and its external cover display is along normal aspect ratios in contrast to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4’s uncomfortably tall and narrow version. What really catches the eye, however, is the rear design, including the camera bump, which is thankfully more than just a pretty face.

Like a breath of fresh air amid the sparkling or frosted glass of most of today’s smartphones, foldables included, the PHANTOM V Fold adopts a textured back panel similar to faux leather but with a more fibrous appearance reminiscent of craft paper or felt. It’s plastic, yes, but recycled plastic, at least, making you feel good about it in more ways than one.

Although circular camera bumps are no longer unique, TECNO puts a rather interesting spin on it by having the main 50MP camera raised a bit higher and off to the side of the enclosure, visually counterbalanced by the other two circular lenses on the opposite side. It’s an asymmetrical design that quickly calls your attention in a pleasing way, and it might remind you of the moon or, for some Star Wars fans, a certain planet-sized planet-killing machine.

Thanks to the use of that now famed “water drop” hinge, the PHANTOM V Fold can boast of a flatter internal display and a tighter fold. That said, it’s not as invisible as the OPPO Find N2, especially at certain angles, and the fold isn’t completely flat either. It’s still a lot better than the Galaxy Z Fold 4, though, which is quite impressive for a first attempt compared to Samsung’s four generations.

Ergonomics

While the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold might be a joy to look at, you might be taken aback a bit when you finally hold it in your hand. At 299g, it is easily one of the heaviest foldable phones on the market, even among the “horizontal” foldable kind. Thankfully, the textured plastic back helps give it a bit of a grip, but it’s something you should take into account when trying to use the phone for long periods of time.

Unlike most foldables, the PHANTOM V Fold’s outer Cover Display curves down on the right side, similar to the curved edge displays of past flagship phones. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add much to the experience except for a slight visual flair. Some might even find it to be a drawback because of accidental triggers when part of the palm or finger brushes that sloped side. Fortunately, its wider aspect ratio makes it a lot more usable than the narrow and tall oddity of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but you would still prefer to use it with both hands anyway.

One of the neat tricks of foldable phones is to be able to use them in a half-folded state. It’s a novelty that only works if the apps support what some companies have branded as “Flex Mode,” and that’s sometimes the case with apps like YouTube or the camera. Unfortunately, none of that is possible with the PHANTOM V Fold because it can’t really stay still at any angle except completely opened or closed. It will stay open a bit at an angle but will eventually either open flat or close down. It’s not a deal-breaker considering the relatively small number of uses for Flex Mode, but it’s still a disappointing absence for a foldable.

Performance

Given its price tag, you might presume the PHANTOM V Fold to be the first mid-range foldable phone, and you’d be shocked that it isn’t the case. Granted, it’s not exactly the fastest or the best in class, but it’s far from being the last in the race. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, which can definitely pull its weight and handle almost anything you throw at it, including games. In terms of benchmarks, it’s on par with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which was the flagship chipset last year. In practice, you’d be hard-pressed to find something that will make it choke, especially with the 12GB of RAM that can be expanded up to 21GB.

The displays are nothing to scoff at either, both using AMOLED LTPO technology, which gives it a range of 10Hz to 120Hz refresh rates. Images are sharp and colors are vibrant, especially with the internal foldable panel’s higher pixel density. Neither are the brightest in the market, and the larger screen also takes a larger hit in brightness, but they’re usable enough even under bright sunlight. The display isn’t rated for any HDR support, which is quite a bummer in this day and age. Some streaming services might still attempt to play HDR content, though most likely through software processing.

The PHANTOM V Fold rightly has stereo speakers, with grilles located on opposite halves of the phone. The output is loud and serviceable but totally unremarkable in any aspect. You’d be better served by connecting wireless earphones, but the speakers will still do well enough when you really want to blast music out loud.

The theme of “decent but unremarkable” continues with the triple camera setup, led by a 50MP main shooter. Under bright light, shots are actually good with a fair amount of detail, though the colors look a bit washed and dull. The camera falters a bit at night unless you enable the dedicated Night Mode, at which point it actually comes out with impressive output. The 50MP 2x “telephoto” camera does reasonably well, though its zoom level can be considered to be the bare minimum. Jumping from 2x optical to 3x digital zoom immediately reveals a dive in quality. The 13MP ultra-wide is what you’d expect, though it thankfully still comes out with OK shots. None of the cameras advertise OIS, but the ultra-wide camera does have autofocus, which is actually a rarity.

Ultra-wide

Wide

2x Zoom

The internal front-facing camera uses a 13MP sensor and is easily outclassed by the 32MP selfie shooter on the outer display. Just like with most smartphones coming from the region, the PHANTOM V Fold applies aggressive “beautification” post-processing to the point of becoming a tad unrealistic. That’s especially true for Portrait Mode, which may misidentify people and start embellishing facial features and tones.

For its first-ever foldable phone, TECNO modified its custom Android experience with plenty of multi-window and multitasking features. Unfortunately, the HiOS 13 Fold user experience also comes with plenty of bloatware, some of which might be completely unfamiliar to most people. There are also some areas that feel rough around the edges, unoptimized, or even downright buggy. This is, fortunately, also the easiest part of the experience to fix, presuming TECNO puts in the work to push out updates quickly and regularly.

This entire experience runs on a 5,000mAh battery, which is admittedly one of, if not the largest for a foldable phone. Given its specs and its two 120Hz displays, however, the uptime practically evens out at the end of the day. The PHANTOM V Fold’s 45W charging speed isn’t exactly the fastest, but it’s almost twice what Samsung has to offer. There’s no wireless charging, though, but that’s also something that only the Galaxy Z Fold has anyway.

Sustainability

Just like any other smartphone these days, the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold doesn’t really score that high in this category. It deserves props for using recycled plastics for its back cover, but that’s a comparatively small part of the whole. The phone, however, takes the biggest hit when it comes to its longevity because it almost feels as if this phone isn’t built to last.

For example, there is no IP rating, not even an assurance beyond something along the lines of using a “splash-proof” coating. The hinge type might be at fault here, but anything that would give consumers some confidence is definitely welcome. Official IP certification definitely costs a lot, but given how fragile these foldable phones already are, it could be something buyers will be willing to pay for.

TECNO also doesn’t have a track record of software updates, at least not yet, and it’s only offering the barest of bare minimum for the PHANTOM V Fold, just two years, in this case. That can and will hopefully change now that the company is trying to play in the big leagues, where Google’s three-year commitment was almost laughed out of the room.

Value

If it hasn’t been apparent yet, the TECNO PHANTOM V Fold seems to have many of these small nitpicks and paper cuts, minor flaws that keep it from getting a perfect score. Granted, no phone is really perfect, even those from much bigger brands than TECNO, but are these drawbacks enough to ruin the overall value of this foldable phone? Fortunately, no.

When looking at the bigger picture, the PHANTOM V Fold offers what market watchers and fans have been asking for for years, an affordable foldable phone that doesn’t come in a clamshell form factor. The $1,100 price tag alone, which is nearly half that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, is enough to turn heads, but that figure doesn’t mean that the product isn’t up to snuff. It’s less about cutting corners and more about providing the best set of features for that cost. From that perspective, TECNO managed to pull off a miracle and might be the first one to really come out with a flagship foldable phone for the masses. Unfortunately, only those in India will be able to get their hands on this wonder device, at least for now.

Verdict

A lot of smartphone manufacturers are trying to make foldable phones more normal, but filling the market with such devices solves only one part of the problem. By now, many people are already aware of the benefits of such a device, and almost everyone definitely wants to have a larger screen to watch or play on. The only problem left is an affordable option that lowers the risk when buying a comparatively less durable phone.

The TECNO PHANTOM V Fold is the first to really take a step in that direction. In some ways, it is better than the standard that Samsung set, and in other ways, it is at least on par. It is far from being perfect, and there’s a laundry list of flaws to nitpick. In the grand scheme of things, however, the PHANTOM V Fold delivers a solid foldable phone experience that’s well worth the $1,100, presuming you can get your hands on one.

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ASUS ROG Phone 7 carries a simpler design that belies its power

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Gaming smartphones are a bit of an oddity in the mobile market. While all high-end phones are technically capable of running mobile games, these devices pull out all the stops to squeeze out everything they can from the hardware. Most of them also carry designs that are a bit over the top in order to appeal to gamers’ aesthetics and their love for glowing RGB lights. That, however, might have just been the youthful phase of this niche market. After six yearly iterations, it seems that ASUS’ Republic of Gamers brand, or ROG, has started to dial down its designs, pushing forward a ROG Phone 7 Series that hides over-the-top features behind a more moderate appearance.

Designer: ASUS

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 definitely has all the makings of a top-of-the-line gaming phone, starting with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, a large 6.78-inch FHD+ screen, and an extra generous 6,000mAh battery. Like other ROG phones before it, it has gaming-specific features as well, such as touch-sensitive AirTriggers on the phone’s frame as well as a second charging port so that you can keep the phone plugged in comfortably while gaming.

All that power will naturally generate a lot of heat, and this is one area that gaming phones tend to go to extremes to address. In the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate’s case, the extra cooling help comes from the new AeroActive Cooler 7 that latches onto the back of the phone. This accessory introduces a thermoelectric Peltier system to really drag down the temperatures when necessary. This external fan works in tandem with the ROG Phone 7’s AeroActive Portal, which is basically a set of air inlets that direct the cooler’s air onto the phone’s vapor chamber.

Amusingly, that same AeroActive Cooler 7 accessory also brings a feature that’s unheard of on smartphones. The attachment houses a five-magnet super-linear subwoofer that complements the phone’s built-in stereo speakers, though that requires the cooler to be attached. Whether that makes a significant difference, especially when playing out in the open, remains to be heard.

Unlike its predecessors, the design of the ROG Phone 7, both the regular and the Ultimate models, are more low-key. The Ultimate still has that strip of LCD that lets you display symbols and icons as you wish, but the distinct lines that divide the back into separate areas are now gone. The non-Ultimate models have a distinct dual-tone color scheme, with the upper half of the phone using a translucent material. Compared to previous ROG Phones, this year’s generation looks a bit more minimalist, perhaps suggesting that the gaming smartphone market is finally coming of age.

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Onyx BOOX Tab X E-Ink Tablet Review: Bigger isn’t Always Better

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PROS:


  • Crisp and large screen is great for A4 and PDF documents

  • Impressive note-taking experience with tilt-sensitivity

  • Google Play Store comes pre-installed

CONS:


  • Large size makes it less portable

  • Black and White screen only

  • Very expensive

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Large and powerful, the Onyx BOOX Tab X shatters the stereotype of what an e-Reader should be but also raises questions of whether its market niche justifies its high price.

E-Ink readers like the Amazon Kindle started out as trivial devices to take the place of hundreds of paper books. There earliest ones didn’t even have great screens because they only needed to display text, thanks to the rarity of images in these documents. The market focused on simplicity, portability, and dirt-cheap prices, almost selling the devices at a loss and focusing on e-book sales or subscriptions instead. That market, however, has changed significantly in the past years, and e-Paper devices have become more diverse and more powerful, giving birth to devices that are less e-Readers and more tablets with E-Ink screens. The new Onyx BOOX Tab X is one of the largest and perhaps most powerful of this new generation, and we take it for a test drive to see if it’s a device that makes sense in the first place.

Designer: Onyx

Aesthetics

The earliest e-Book readers were uninspiring plastic devices that could almost fit inside a handbag, at least for bigger bag sizes. More recent models have stepped up their design game but have still stuck to the very basics. Some have played around with different materials or colors, while others have even dabbled in mixing up some elements a bit. At the end of the day, though, these modern e-Readers and E-Ink tablets still retain their predominantly minimalist look that probably won’t win any design awards yet.

The BOOX Tab X is no different, and it even supersizes all those aesthetic traits. It does use a magnesium alloy chassis that makes it lightweight yet durable while also giving it a more premium feel compared to plastic enclosures. There are barely any markings on the front and back of the device, save for the lone BOOX label on the “chin” of the tablet. The device definitely doesn’t look cheap, but it’s not something visually memorable either. It gets the job done and makes the unnecessary parts disappear into the background.

The device ships with Onyx’s latest stylus, which looks just as minimalist as the tablet. The shaft has a subtle hexagonal shape that prevents it from just rolling off flat surfaces and also provides a more ergonomic grip. The eraser at the top looks like a knob but has no other function than being an eraser. While the pen’s weight feels solid and comfortable, its build doesn’t exactly inspire that much confidence in quality and durability.

Ergonomics

There are e-Readers today that would be considered very large compared to regular Kindles and Nooks, but the Onyx BOOX Tab X definitely takes the cake as one of the extremely few giants standing at 13.3 inches. That immediately translates to a larger screen for reading books or writing notes, of course, but that doesn’t come without a price. That price comes not just in terms of financial cost but also in user comfort.

Although definitely lighter than an equivalent 13.3-inch Android tablet or iPad Pro, the BOOX Tab X is still a heavyweight compared to regular e-Book readers. It isn’t something that you’ll be holding up a lot to read documents, whether for work or for leisure, without supporting it with something like a stand or even your legs. It’s definitely doable for short periods of time, but any prolonged use could lead to strain or even injury. Of course, as a tablet, the BOOX Tab X is designed for a rather narrow range of use cases, most of which involve using it on a desk or table.

E-Ink panels have been the screens of choice for e-Book readers because they put less strain on the eyes compared to typical LCD and OLED displays. That remains true for the BOOX Tab X, which even increases the comfort level by letting the user choose how bright, warm, or cold they want the screen to be. LED lighting embedded in a gel layer that’s actually part of the display assembly makes sure that the lighting is diffused evenly across the screen, giving it a more comfortable glow. Your hands might get tired easily from holding up this large tablet, but your eyes will definitely continue enjoying the content on its screen.

Performance

The Onyx BOOX Tab X is really a large tablet first and an e-Reader second, and its specs make that fact clear. The device is powered by a 2GHz octa-core Qualcomm processor, similar to what you’d find in Android tablets, and has 6GB of RAM with 128GB of internal storage. That’s definitely more than your average Kindle, but all of that power is actually just sufficient for all the apps that it can run.

Like many of Onyx’s devices these days, this tablet runs on Android, specifically an older Android 11 version. It does come, however, with Google Play Store already ready for use rather than bending over backward to install Google apps. This means that you’ll have access to almost all the Android apps you’re familiar with, including some games, and you’re limit is really just the screen at this point.

Of course, that screen is a gem among E-Ink’s panels, with a large 13.3-inch size and a high resolution of 2200×1650 for a sharp 207dpi pixel density. That means that not only text but also images come out crisp and clear, making it a joy to use regardless of the content on-screen. Although there are color E-Ink panels already available, the BOOX Tab X is more traditional in using a black-and-white screen only. There are four different refresh speeds for the screen, from the slowest one with the best quality to an ultra-fast mode with the poorest quality. The latter makes watching videos and playing games possible on the device, though it won’t exactly be an enjoyable activity.

The BOOX Tab X is more than just an e-Reader, though. With the included Pen 2 Pro stylus and the built-in note-taking app, you can easily jot down notes or even draw a few sketches or diagrams with ease. With a nearly limitless pool of Android apps, you can also browse the Web, tap out emails, or type documents using a Bluetooth keyboard, turning the device into a more general-purpose productivity tablet than just a giant e-Reader.

Sustainability

This large Onyx tablet makes use of a metal chassis, which is a marked improvement in both quality and sustainability compared to plastic devices. Other than that, however, there isn’t much going for the BOOX Tab X in terms of sustainability or even repairability. Packaging is still on the more traditional combination of cardboard and plastic, though Onyx definitely deserves kudos for an aesthetic design in that aspect.

Onyx is no longer a fledgling company, and it puts out new devices almost every quarter. This means that their overall carbon footprint is also rising every year, and sustainability can no longer be something it can put off for much longer. Hopefully, the company has become more aware of this growing trend in the industry and will have a clearer program for reducing its carbon emissions in the very near future.

Value

There is no denying that the Onyx BOOX Tab X is a powerful device that takes e-Readers and tablets to a whole new ballpark. The large screen makes reading all kinds of documents more comfortable, while the powerful specs and access to Google Play Store transform it into a multi-purpose portable computer. Whether it is going over work reports, reading magazines, taking lecture notes, or even playing games, the device is more than capable of handling whatever you throw at it that doesn’t require more than a few shades of gray.

The question, however, is whether there’s a place for such a device in the market. While everyone will probably appreciate a larger screen, that size also makes it a bit more tedious and inconvenient to carry around. Then there’s the steep $880 price tag attached to it that will most likely make anyone do a double-take. There might be a very niche use case for such a large e-Reader, but it’s still hard to justify the expense when the $600 BOOX Tab Ultra is almost just as powerful, comes with a more manageable 10.3-inch screen, and even has a camera on its back.

Verdict

There is really no turning back to the e-Readers of old. Even Amazon has started adopting more modern technologies, such as a stylus on the Kindle Scribe. While there will always be a market for smaller, simpler, and cheaper e-Book readers, the growing trend points to devices that are growing not only in power but also in size.

The Onyx BOOX Tab X perhaps represents the extreme of that trend, with a spacious 13.3-inch E-Ink Mobius Carta screen, powerful hardware, and Google Play compatibility right out of the box. To say that it’s a large Android tablet with an E-Ink screen wouldn’t be far off the mark, which, unfortunately, also makes the device a bit less appealing. There will probably be very few people who would absolutely need an E-Ink screen as large as these, and even fewer that could afford its cost. For those that do have a use for it and can afford it, the BOOX Tab X is definitely at the top of its class, but most people might find themselves gravitating toward smaller and more accessible models instead.

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Nintendo SNES-inspired handheld console runs Android 11 to let you play mobile games

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It looks like a SNES controller with a screen in the middle, but this right here is, in fact, the perfect platform for mobile gaming. With an ergonomic design that feels absolutely nostalgic to hold, and controllers on each side that let you navigate your games like you would on an Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch, the Anbernic RG353P retro handheld is a versatile gaming device that allows you to play both Android and Linux games. It’s got an operating system that’s both Android 11 and Linux-compatible, giving you the ability to play a vast library of Android-based games on it, along with support for emulators and apps that let you squeeze the most out of the device.

Designer: Anbernic

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There’s something truly comforting about the RG353P’s design. Sitting wonderfully in your adult palms the way a SNES controller would in the same teenage palms, the RG353P feels like a modern classic. It comes with the D-Pad and action buttons, as well as two joysticks, four shoulder buttons, and even two MicroSD card slots for expanding its 32GB internal storage to up to 512GB. It also offers 2.4/5G Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity, making it easy to connect to other devices.

Available in grey and translucent black versions, the Anbernic RG353P is a compact little device with a 3.5-inch IPS touchscreen (and a 640×480 resolution) that runs both Android 11 as well as Linux on its quad-core 64-bit RK3566 processor with built-in LPDDR4 2GB RAM for a pretty buttery-smooth experience. That’s also including the fact that the RG353P doesn’t have apps running in the background the way your phone does.

On the inside, a 3500mAh battery gives the RG353P a solid 6 hours of gaming time, allowing you to play all your favorite Android games or even popular GameBoy, PSP, SNES, NES, and Atari Lynx titles through emulators (with support for loads of other consoles). Built-in speakers offer high-quality sound, although there’s even a 3.5mm headphone jack for hooking a pair of earphones to the RG353P for that nostalgic backseat-gaming-while-parents-are-talking touch. Ah, the good old days!

Click Here to Buy Now

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Android gaming handheld is a throwback to the venerable Nintendo DS

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It seems to be the age of gaming handhelds once again. With the continued success of the Nintendo Switch, all sorts of portable gaming devices have popped up, ranging from PCs like the Steam Deck to dedicated Android gaming devices like the Logitech G Cloud and the new Razer Edge. Although they have actually been around far longer than these, more obscure handhelds have become more prominent because of this industry trend. Some require you to do the work of cobbling up the pieces together, while others sell a more finished product instead. The latter is the case for the latest device to hit the market, one that eschews the trending Switch form factor for something that gives a nod to Nintendo’s previous top-selling portable.

Designer: Retroid Pocket

The Nintendo DS had a very good run in the gaming market, replacing the iconic Game Boy with a portable machine that got on with the times. It featured a revolutionary (for that time) dual-screen clamshell design that truly felt like a new breed rather than a Game Boy just folded in half. Almost two decades later, that design has become antiquated, but it’s exactly that nostalgia that this look-alike is aiming for.

Granted, the Retroid Pocket Flip is more like a cross between the DS and the GBA SP, having a single screen only and with a more horizontal clamshell design. It almost has the best of both worlds, with a more conventional and more comfortable form factor and a wide screen that is more common with games today. Despite its old-fashioned looks, it does stick to modern gaming features, including the basic set of controls, such as both bumper and trigger buttons.

One advantage that a clamshell design has over something like the Nintendo Switch is that you can set the angle of the screen independently of your hands. You also automatically have a protective case for the device and don’t have to worry about the screen getting scratched and the controls snagging in your bag. The design also tends to be more compact, though it does get thicker compared to a flat handheld device.

That said, the Retroid Pocket Flip is pretty much an Android device, so you might have to debate whether having a dedicated gaming device separate from your phone is worth the cost. Not all Android games are also controller-friendly, and using the touch screen, in this case, is ironically more cumbersome. Still, if you’re an avid Android gamer that uses a controller most of the time, this charming throwback could be something worth adding to your collection.

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