Tag Archives: Smartphone Photography

nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version Review: A True Camera in Your Pocket

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PROS:


  • Distinctive, quirky design

  • True fullscreen design with invisible under-display camera

  • Unbeatable price tag for performance and battery size

  • Outstanding camera output

CONS:


  • Creamy selfies

  • Bulky and hefty chassis

  • No wireless charging

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version will delight smartphone shutterbugs with a powerful smartphone with a design that clearly marks its photography lineage.

It’s pretty obvious by now, but it probably still bears noting. Cameras have become one of the most important factors people consider when buying a smartphone. Even those who primarily use a phone for social media want great cameras that can show off their attempts at becoming Insta-famous. But more seasoned photographers look for things that go beyond things like AI retouching or dramatic filters, details that are often lost on most users. Back in late 2023, nubia launched the Z60 Ultra to scratch a very specific mobile photography itch, and less than a year later, it is launching a slightly beefed-up variant with an odd name, the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version. Can this model, based on a late 2023 smartphone, keep up with the latest roster of flagships, or has it fallen by the wayside? We put this quirky-looking phone through the wringer to bring you that answer.

Designer: nubia

Aesthetics

We’ve seen plenty of phone designs over the years, and some have left us scratching our heads. Some have, in an effort to look distinctive and unique, adopted designs that leave a lasting impression in a rather unfavorable way. Fortunately, the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version isn’t of that variety, and while it might look odd when viewed from its back, it has enough playfulness, charm, and balance that actually makes the composition look interesting.

The phone is a very blocky device that is almost like a throwback to the early days of the Sony Xperia. Flat edges and sharp corners are making a comeback anyway, so the nubia Z60 Ultra isn’t exactly an outlier. It is, however, chunkier and boxier than today’s phones, which does have usability consequences that we’ll get to in a bit. It gives the phone a handsome and sharp appearance, but it’s also an acquired taste.

The most notable aspect of its design, however, is the three cameras on its back. Where most manufacturers do their best to lump the cameras together, nubia actually gives each of them their own distinct design. The result? It’s almost as if each of the three cameras represents a different professional camera design, from DSLRs to point-and-shoot cameras. It’s like the whole ensemble, which takes up a good third of the phone’s back, is a wall that pays homage to the camera industry’s greatest designs, perhaps also symbolizing its aspiration to be part of that set.

The Leading Version comes in only two color options, each with its own distinct design. The Black model looks like it has a ribbed surface, but it’s purely an optical illusion. The back is still glass, just like on our Silver review unit which gives the impression of liquid silver rippling and swirling underneath. It effectively hides fingerprint smudges, though the smooth surface of the glass means very few leave their mark anyway.

We usually leave notes about the display in the hardware section of our reviews, but this screen is different. With an under-display camera, it delivers a true edge-to-edge full-screen visual that blows the mind. The bezels are thin enough to be negligible and the area that hides the camera on its forehead is nowhere to be seen. Because of its very boxy and flat design, the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition almost looks like a miniature flat-screen TV, and it definitely looks great at showing videos, pictures, and games.

Ergonomics

The nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition is a chunky box of metal and glass, and there’s no getting around that fact. It does pack quite a lot of hardware, including one of the largest battery capacities for a smartphone, but that doesn’t come without its costs. At 8.8mm thick and weighing 246g, it is definitely one of the heftiest and bulkiest handsets in recent years. To some extent, that might not be that big of an issue for its intended audience of mobile photographers who won’t be holding the phone up in the same position for long periods of time, at least not without a tripod or a gimbal.

It does have a few things that help improve its usability, though. The fingerprint scanner underneath the screen is placed a little bit higher where your thumb would naturally rest so you avoid having to readjust your grip and precariously hold it near the bottom edge. The power button and the action toggle also have textured surfaces that make them easier to feel and use without having to look at their location. All in all, the Z60 Ultra Leading Version isn’t the most comfortable thing to hold for a long time, but it’s not without its merits as well.

Performance

The phone’s odd name actually comes from the only real difference it has from the original nubia Z60 Ultra. That’s the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Leading Version, an overclocked variant of the flagship chip that everyone else is using. In a way, this is nubia’s response to Samsung’s own “for Galaxy” variant, which makes the same proposition. In other words, it takes an already powerful chipset and dials it up to 11, giving most tasks a boost, especially gaming.

It’s no wonder then that the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version would have some impressive numbers in benchmark tests, sometimes even scoring the highest. It can handle any task you through at it with aplomb, making short work of mobile games. That also means it won’t even break a sweat when handling image and video processing in real-time. However, your hands might sweat a bit as the phone did get a little too warm with graphics-intensive tasks like gaming.

One of the biggest reasons for the Z60 Ultra’s heft is also one of its biggest strengths, its 6,000 mAh battery. That is definitely one of the largest we’ve seen of late, discounting the 7-inch “phablets” of old. The long battery life will be critical for photographers who don’t want to miss a moment just because their battery died. The 80W charging speed also means you’ll only be away from the action for as long as 40 or so minutes, presuming you didn’t bring a power bank with you. Unfortunately, the phone doesn’t have wireless charging capabilities, which should already be a staple for an “ultra” phone like this.

Despite its Leading Version chip, the real centerpiece of the Z60 Ultra is its camera system, led by a 50MP Sony IMX906 1/1.56-inch sensor with OIS. That might not actually be that uncommon, but its most distinctive feature is the 35mm equivalent focal length. It’s a rare trait in smartphone cameras but is one of the most favored in traditional photography. In a way, nubia is positioning the phone as a camera lover’s choice, allowing budding photographers to level up their craft to more professional standards.

It doesn’t stop there either, because nubia pulls off something that still very few manufacturers dare to do: high-quality cameras all around. The ultra-wide shooter with an 18mm focal length carries a large 50MP 1/1.55-inch sensor with OIS, while the 80mm periscope telephoto gets an equally impressive 64MP sensor with 3.3x zoom, also with OIS. Yes, all three have optical image stabilization, and all three are capable of 4K video recording, though only the main camera can do 8K.

Suffice it to say, the images and videos that these cameras deliver are clear, sharp, vibrant, and detailed, no matter the lighting situation. There are a few hiccups here and there, but the overall performance is quite impressive. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of the 12MP front-facing under-display camera, which unsurprisingly comes out with pasty and washed-out images. Despite the advancements nubia achieved in making the camera invisible, it still needs work on matching the quality of regular “notch” cameras.

Sustainability

When talking about smartphone makers that have strong or concrete sustainability endeavors, nubia is often left unmentioned. It’s not an old player in this market, nor is it a small one, so it’s rather disappointing not to see more action coming from it on this front. Even the use of sustainable materials for the back cover isn’t one of its strong points, but we’re hoping the brand takes a turn for the better in the years ahead.

The nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is at least IP68-rated, which speaks well for its survivability and longevity. The same can’t be said for nubia’s guaranteed software support, though, which is just three years. That’s just one year over the old two-year standard, one that is becoming a liability to the brand rather than an asset.

Value

If it wasn’t clear yet, the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version is a premium flagship with a processor that runs circles around its rivals and a camera system designed to appeal to photographers at heart. And yet for all that it offers, it only asks for $649 for 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Yes, that’s $50 more than the starting price for the non-Leading Z60 Ultra, and some might question if the souped-up Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is actually worth that much. In the grand scheme of things, however, it’s still a very accessible price tag, especially when it offers just as much or even more than $1,000 devices.

Unfortunately, it won’t be easy to get your hands on one, because nubia’s global distribution channels aren’t that many. And even if you manage to import one, you still have to worry about carrier network support. There’s also that nagging question about the $50 increase for a Leading Version chip, which, truth be told, isn’t exactly a mind-blowing difference overall. That said, if you’re a mobile photographer that has access to nubia’s products and have the extra $50 to spare, you should definitely have this in your crosshair.

Verdict

It’s extremely tricky to balance power and design in smartphones because of the limited space you’re allowed. You can’t have a super-slim device and expect to have a large battery and powerful cameras at the same time. nubia’s solution is bold and creative: why bother with those limitations at all? Yes, the nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Edition is thick and heavy, but it still manages to balance performance and a distinctive design. It’s a smartphone that is unabashedly walking in the footsteps of traditional cameras, and it definitely has the chops to prove it.

The post nubia Z60 Ultra Leading Version Review: A True Camera in Your Pocket first appeared on Yanko Design.

Vivo V40 Pro Review: Prime Mobile Photography Arrives in a Sleek Package

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PROS:


  • Elegant and aesthetic design

  • Powerful quad 50MP camera system

  • Large 5,500mAh battery despite thin profile

  • IP68 rating

CONS:


  • No wireless charging

  • Telephoto camera only supports 2x optical zoom

  • Limited global availability

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Vivo V40 Pro builds on the brand's outstanding photography performance to deliver an even more powerful experience in a stylish design.

Cameras have become one of if not the most important aspects of a smartphone these days. Of course, the display is functionally the most critical component, but other than being large and crisp, people tend to gravitate to the best smartphone camera their money can buy. Unfortunately, the best ones are often reserved for the most expensive handsets as well, leaving the majority of consumers, especially the younger generation, dreaming of better days. Vivo’s V series of smartphones has always aimed to make smartphone photography more accessible, and last year’s Vivo V30 Pro definitely put more expensive devices on notice. Can the Vivo V40 Pro top that or has the brand already reached its peak? We take Vivo’s latest and greatest V series phone for a spin to find out.

Designer: Vivo

Aesthetics

Right off the bat, we can already say that Vivo has outdone itself with the design of the Vivo V40 Pro. Last year’s flagship was already a looker, but it suddenly feels a bit lacking compared to its younger sibling. You still have a sleek appearance, smooth curves, and a thin profile, but the real winner here is the camera design. That Vivo was able to fit three 50MP cameras in such a compact space is already a marvel, but the way it managed to make the design look appealing is a rare feat these days.

Vivo calls it a “Gemini Ring Design,” which is a fancy term for what looks like a curvy keyhole. Two of the three cameras are enclosed in a circle that sits on top of a pill-shaped elevation. Inside that is another oblong enclosure housing the third camera and the Aura Ring flash. There is a subtle beauty to the play of balance and asymmetry in this design, and it definitely gives the Vivo V40 Pro a unique visual character.

The company didn’t pull punches in the different colors and materials available for both the Vivo V40 and the V40 Pro, and all of them are beautiful in their own way. The Sunglow Peach colorway with its warm hues and dynamic magnetic ink is quite an eye-catcher, and our review unit’s Moonlight White with its pale blue streaks has a soothing and calming effect. Other than the camera bump and the small vivo branding at the bottom, there are no distractions on the back of the phone, allowing you to appreciate the beauty of these designs.

At only 7.58mm, the Vivo V40 Pro is already thin, and the curved edges of both the screen and the back panel make it look even thinner. This could be a divisive decision in 2024, though, with many seeing curved edges as a thing of the past. It definitely still has appeal and it perfectly matches the smoothness of the rest of the phone.

Ergonomics

The Vivo V40 Pro is not a small phone by any means so that thin profile helps offset the size of the device. It’s incredibly light as well at only 192g, especially considering what it packs inside, like a very generous battery. All in all, it’s difficult to hold it up for long periods of time, though the glass material on its back could prove to be slippery for some hands.

The debate around flat versus curved edges continues here as well. With part of the screen curving off to the sides, there’s always the possibility of accidental touches in those areas. There isn’t much surface area or sharp corners for your hand to grip either, and you might find yourself straining a bit just to hold the phone tight. It’s partly personal preference and partly the shape of your hand, but thankfully Vivo ships a protective case with the phone just in case.

Performance

It might not be part of Vivo’s top-tier X series, but the Vivo V40 Pro definitely packs quite a punch, starting with the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+, the chipmaker’s flagship silicon. It’s paired with up to 12GB of RAM, as was the case in our review unit, which can be boosted with another 12GB. That said, it takes some of that from the 512GB internal storage, which isn’t expandable like many phones these days. All in all, the Vivo V40 Pro performs like a champ for any use case, whether it’s social media, watching videos, or playing games. The latter is helped by an Ultra-Large VC Cooling System that keeps the phone running at a stable pace without throttling.

More impressive, however, is the 5,500mAh battery the phone crams inside its thin and light body. It’s definitely one of the largest capacities available in a phone that’s barely 7.6mm thick, allowing it to easily support all your shutterbug adventures. With an 80W charging speed, you can quickly top up to full in around 30 minutes, at least with the right charging brick. Unfortunately, Vivo hasn’t yet decided to put wireless charging on its V series phones, but maybe that will change next year.

The real stars of the show, however, are the cameras, all of them with 50MP sensors. Yes, that includes the selfie camera with a Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor and a wide 92-degree field of view for those “wefies” or “groufies.” If that sounds familiar, then you might have heard of the Vivo V30 Pro last year. In fact, in almost all but one case, it’s nearly the exact same set of 50MP cameras, like the 50MP Sony IMX816 telephoto shooter and the 50MP Samsung JN1 119-degree ultra-wide camera.

What’s different this year is the new 50MP Sony IMX921 with a larger 1/1.56-inch sensor. That means it is able to take in more light information even in darker environments, improving its overall quality. In fact, the entire ensemble is actually commendable in their output, delivering super images bolstered by AI and computational photography. Of course, these cameras have optics tuned by ZEISS, so there’s little surprise there. And one can’t forget Vivo’s signature Aura Light that takes the regular flash and turns it into a mini ring light for softer and more natural lighting. Its most recent incarnation includes Electronic Control Technology that lets you adjust the brightness of the light depending on the distance of the subject.

In essence, the Vivo V40 Pro builds on the success of its predecessor and adds some extra value with upgraded specs and improved software. Unfortunately, it also carries over the flaws, most notably the short optical zoom range of the telephoto camera. It only goes as far as 2x zoom, but Vivo is heavily advertising what it calls “50x ZEISS Ultra HD Zoom,” which is a mouthful that really means software-assisted digital zoom.

Sustainability

Just like the Vivo V30 Pro last year, the brand is sadly silent on any of its efforts in using even a fraction of sustainable materials for this year’s V series flagship. It also hasn’t stopped shipping chargers in its boxes, which is unsurprising since it wants to make sure that its phones use the right 80W charger for the fastest speed they can support. We’re still holding out hope that Vivo will take the lead in this area soon.

That said, it does have some good news when it comes to keeping the Vivo V40 Pro away from the trash for as long as possible. It’s the first in the V series to reach an IP68 rating, ensuring that it’s protected from dust and water which can mean the end for many smartphones. It also advertises a “50-Month Smooth Experience” guarantee that basically says the phone can run for over four years without losing its fluidity and performance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t translate to having four years of updates, and Vivo has made no promises on that matter.

Value

It’s perfectly clear from our time with the Vivo V40 Pro that it delivers everything it promises on paper. The Quad 50MP Camera System it carries over from last year continues the tradition of excellent mobile photography, but this time with a larger 5,500mAh battery that better supports all those photo and video content creation. Even better, the phone comes in a sleek, slim, and light design that makes you feel like you’re holding an art object rather than a cold piece of technology.

In other words, the Vivo V40 Pro would have been perfect if not for the fact that some people might not even be able to get their hands on it. The $560 price tag it carries (converted from Indian figures) isn’t that heavy, but global availability is still undisclosed at the moment. Hopefully, it will fare better than the Vivo V30 Pro which didn’t get a wider distribution that would have spread the word of its amazing camera chops.

Verdict

Smartphones are getting more powerful and so are their cameras. But with this increase in technical performance, designers are often forced to make many compromises to fit all of them inside a product that should still fit our pockets. In that regard, the Vivo V40 Pro is quite a feat, cramming not only four 50MP cameras but a large 5,500mAh battery inside a body that’s as thin and as light as it can be. It’s a beautiful phone with impressive performance and an accessible price point, and it deserves to be made available to more markets this time.

The post Vivo V40 Pro Review: Prime Mobile Photography Arrives in a Sleek Package first appeared on Yanko Design.

SwitchLens Pro Camera System turns any Smartphone into a Photography Powerhouse

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Smartphone cameras have come a long way and have become quite capable tools in preserving memorable moments for posterity. There is, however, still a very good reason why they haven’t completely overthrown pro cameras. You can only squeeze so much hardware into a slim smartphone, and you can’t really have large lenses or even a lens mount bulging out from the back of the phone. There are admittedly a few accessories that try to bring some of that interchangeable lens experience but usually limit themselves to small lenses made just for smartphones. Bringing a true “pro camera” experience to mobile requires taking a few cues from pro cameras themselves, and that is exactly what the SwitchLens does to level up your mobile photography game.

Designer: sneaki design

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $329 ($130 off). Hurry, 33/450 left! Raised over $490,000.

SwitchLens is a complete pro camera system that not only takes the lessons learned from digital cameras but even the technologies employed there. In particular, it embraces the popular micro four thirds or MFT system that leverages large sensors and interchangeable lenses to create highly detailed and breathtaking shots. The large 20.75MP 1.33-inch CMOS sensor that SwitchLens uses is unmatched by even flagship phones, which means it can take in more light and record more details just with the hardware alone, no post-processing or AI touch-up required.

And just like the MFT used in compact digital cameras, you can also swap out lenses to get the best shot out of a scene, whether that’s a 25mm f1.8 portrait lens for closeups or a 12mm f2.8 wide-angle lens for sweeping panoramic shots. What makes the SwitchLens system even more impressive is that it can actually support MFT lenses from Panasonic or Olympus that you might have lying around. You are no longer limited to what the manufacturer provides, and you are definitely not limited to tiny lenses that compromise on performance in return for their pretty sizes.

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Unlike other such accessories, SwitchLens is a powerful device that can function even when detached from the back of your phone. Using a stable and fast Wi-Fi connection, you can control SwitchLens remotely for more difficult shots, or magnetically stick it to the back of your iPhone or Android phone to recreate the experience of using a digital camera but with a much larger and clearer viewfinder. From selfies at extremely low angles to macro photography, SwitchLens gives you the flexibility to take a shot in the most comfortable and most convenient way.

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The pro camera experience doesn’t end there. SwitchLens’s Peaking Focus assistance feature easily marks out which objects are in focus with vibrant, eye-catching colors to ensure sharp and in-focus images every time. With support for microSD cards up to 1.5TB in capacity, you have nearly limitless room for taking thousands of RAW photos and recording 4K 30fps videos without filling up your phone storage. With the SwitchLens MFT modular camera system, your phone is no longer a stumbling block for a pro photography experience and becomes the launch pad for taking stunning photos and videos like a pro.

Click Here to Buy Now: $199 $329 ($130 off). Hurry, 33/450 left! Raised over $490,000.

The post SwitchLens Pro Camera System turns any Smartphone into a Photography Powerhouse first appeared on Yanko Design.

SANDMARC’s $335 Probe Lens takes ‘Shot on iPhone’ to a completely new level

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The probe lens, which became the talk of the photography town in 2018, is now going to become a staple of smartphone photography too. After seeing Shiftcam debut their probe lens for the smartphone (although it hasn’t officially been launched yet), SANDMARC has joined the ranks with its own probe lens for the iPhone. Priced at $349.99 along with the mounting case for your phone, SANDMARC’s Probe Lens promises to deliver a new perspective that gives you a tiny critter’s POV, making the world around you seem much larger than life!

Designer: SANDMARC

The lens measures an impressive 12 inches long, and comes with that signature probe-shaped design that lets you poke your camera into tiny spaces and capture things from a small PoV. Essentially, it builds itself on the aesthetic set by Laowa and Shiftcam after, and sports a wide DoF, a focus wheel, and LEDs on the front to let the lens gather as much light as possible (tiny lenses do require higher light capture because of their small design).

More importantly, this release from SANDMARC promises to change iPhones and smartphone photography as we know it. Humans are used to the human perspective, which is why we’re so enamored by drone footage. The Probe Lens brings yet another perspective to how we capture the world, and it’s going to be absolutely phenomenal to see what creators do with it.

At its $335 price tag (for just the lens), this isn’t something everyone can or even should buy. The Probe Lens is designed mainly for creatives, filmmakers, and nature documentary folks. The lens has a focal length of 16mm, a magnification of 2.1x, and the ability to focus on objects with stunning bokeh and also a wide FoV. You truly feel like you’ve been shrunk 100x and you’re now exploring the world in a new, tinier body. SANDMARC hasn’t specified whether this probe lens is waterproof (Shiftcam’s upcoming lens is), which means you may not be able to prod your lens into a glass of water, or a pond to observe wildlife inside. There is, however, a set of shadowless lights on the rim, for low-light photography, and a USB-C port that lets you charge your Probe Lens. The lens ships with a pouch, front and back lens caps, a charging cable, and even a mounting case for your iPhone (compatible with iPhone 14 and above).

The post SANDMARC’s $335 Probe Lens takes ‘Shot on iPhone’ to a completely new level first appeared on Yanko Design.

OPPO Find X7 Ultra Review: Inching Closer to Photography Perfection

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PROS:


  • Distinctive and stylish design with a nice touch of vegan leather

  • Impressive Quad Main Camera output

  • Bright and vibrant display

  • Excellent hardware performance across the board

CONS:


  • Available only in China

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With four nearly co-equal cameras packaged in a gorgeous design, the OPPO Find X7 Ultra makes real the prophesied smartphone that could rival professional cameras.

Photography has become an important part of the smartphone experience to the point that it could be considered one of the most critical deciding factors in a purchase. Companies have been working left and right to provide an excellent experience, but no matter how good the output is, they still can’t compare with the flexibility of a dedicated camera, especially mirrorless and DSLR cameras. You can only cram so much inside the thin body of a smartphone without either compromising on quality or leaving a distasteful bump on the phone’s back. Technology, however, is starting to catch up with smaller but more powerful sensors and lenses that could really give cameras a run for their money. The OPPO Find X7 Ultra embodies that promise, so we give the smartphone and its cameras a good test to see if it’s worth that large disc on its back.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

If you’re familiar with OPPO’s premium smartphone line, then the Find X7 Ultra will immediately look familiar. But even if you aren’t, you’re still in for a treat with one of the most beautiful devices to grace the market so far. Just like its predecessor, the Find X6 Pro, it bears a dual-tone color scheme and a large circular camera bump that others have dubbed the “camera Oreo,” though a resemblance with the top of a soda can wouldn’t be off the mark either. It’s a peculiar design, but one that has a reason and actually serves another purpose, intentional or not.

That said, the OPPO Find X7 Ultra isn’t just a rehash of the 2023 flagship. The colored vegan leather that makes up two-thirds of the rear area has a pleasant curve that arcs around the camera at a distance where the two elements intersect. It’s a subtle yet significant change that prevents visual elements from just abruptly cutting into each other. It also has the visual effect of giving the camera Oreo more prominence, with the leather seemingly giving way to this important part of the phone’s design.

The color options for the phone differ in more than just their hues this year, though. Both the Orange and Blue colorways do share a similar design, with the white top of the design looking like a familiar ceramic that OPPO has used in the past. The black colorway, on the other hand, has a few more interesting details, like the stitching on the vegan leather surface. Instead of ceramic, the top looks more like metal but still feels like glass. The mid-frame is also different, using some sandblasted finish that complements the phone’s darker looks.

All three do have the same basic design, with a back that curves at the sides toward the edges. On the flip side, the screen is mostly flat but does curve sharply at those same edges, typical of the premium design carried by phones in the past. Admittedly, it’s going to be a divisive design choice, given how flat is back these days. There’s no denying, however, that the OPPO Find X7 Ultra still looks great with this style and probably wouldn’t be as appealing if was completely flat all around.

Ergonomics

The OPPO Find X7 Ultra is a large piece of metal and glass, there’s no getting around that fact. As with any large smartphone, there will be a problem of straining your hand with its weight and making it less comfortable and stable to hold over time. Fortunately, the phone is also unbelievably thin at 9.5mm only, and at 221g, it’s not exactly a heavyweight. It also feels well-balanced and not top-heavy as you might suspect given the size of the camera bump.

Even better, the rest of the phone’s design also contributes to helping secure a more confident grip. The vegan leather, for example, provides enough texture for your skin to grip comfortably. Even that camera Oreo becomes a place where your index fingers can rest when holding up the phone, especially with a ribbed rim that, again, adds texture and friction to stop the phone from slipping out of your hands. You will still have some difficulty reaching higher areas of the screen if you’re holding it in one hand, but other than that, the size of the Find X7 Ultra doesn’t get in the way of an enjoyable experience when using it.

Performance

The OPPO Find X7 Ultra is a premium flagship through and through, which means it also bears the best of the best hardware available in the market to date. That means a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, right at the top of the list. Suffice it to say, the phone isn’t wanting in terms of silicon power and it blasts through all kinds of tasks, including heavy gaming, without breaking a sweat. Your hands won’t be sweating either thanks to an impressive cooling system. Mind you, it does get a bit warm with heavier loads, but not to the point of making you want to drop it like a hot potato.

It would be such a shame and a waste if those specs were matched with a mediocre screen and, fortunately, OPPO didn’t fail to impress here either. The huge 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display is bright, fast, responsive, and vibrant. It perfectly complements the phone’s luxurious back with an equally gorgeous display that supports the industry-standard HDR10+, OPPO’s own ProXDR, and soon, Google’s new Ultra HDR. Given you’ll want to view the photos you take on this screen, OPPO really needed to make sure that it was up to the task.

OPPO crammed a 5,000mAh battery inside, which is both common yet also mildly disappointing. With all its capabilities, a higher capacity would have been a better choice, but that would have also weighed down the phone considerably. Fortunately, it does last a day on a single charger, at least with constant use, and the super-fast 100W charging is enough to bring it back to full in about half an hour. 50W wireless charging is also plenty fast, which is a rarity in this regard.

Quad Main Camera and HyperTone System

Much of OPPO’s rhetoric revolves around the OPPO Find X7 Ultra’s Quad Main Cameras, and to be fair, it does deserve some praise for pulling off what comes naturally to professional cameras but not to smartphones. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras can easily change lenses when they need a different focal length or field of view while keeping the same high-quality imaging sensor built into the camera. Smartphones, on the other hand, use a different camera for different focal lengths, but due to space and price constraints, also use different sensors that aren’t always up to the task.

What the OPPO Find X7 Ultra accomplishes is to have four different cameras with different lenses, all of which have 50MP sensors. Yes, these sensors have different sizes and specs and, therefore, different overall quality, but the differences are very marginal at best. No longer do you have to sacrifice quality just to jump from wide to ultrawide to telephoto, nor will you get that jarring effect whenever you switch between cameras.

The phone’s mighty camera roster includes a 1-inch 50MP Sony LYT-900 with a 23mm focal length equivalent, a 1/1.95-inch 50MP Sony LYT-600 ultrawide (14mm equivalent), a 1/1.56-inch 50MP Sony IMX890 3x periscope telephoto (65), and a 1/2.51-inch 50MP Sony IMX858 6x periscope telephoto (135mm). With this set, the OPPO Find X7 Ultra practically covers the whole range of lenses used by photographers, including 10x zoom at 270mm with some computational photography. OPPO’s software also allows users to select more common focal lengths, like 35mm for the wide (main) camera, though it does that with a bit of cropping.

As you might have already noticed with the camera samples, these aren’t just numbers or empty words. OPPO definitely delivered on its promise of professional-quality photos in any field of view, zoom, or even lighting condition. Part of that magic is thanks to its partnership with Hasselblad, which also led to the Computational Photography aspect of its HyperTone camera system. In a nutshell, it tries to avoid oversharpening, overexposure, and other exaggerations that most camera software apply to compensate for poor image quality, resulting in more natural-looking photos you might have never thought came from a smartphone instead of a pro camera.

Sustainability

As one of the world’s top 5 smartphone vendors, OPPO has taken its responsibility for preserving the environment quite seriously. In addition to a few models that made use of recycled or sustainable materials, the company also has a concrete program for reducing the negative impact its business has on the planet. That involves reducing its carbon footprint, optimizing its packaging and logistics, and offsetting its harmful emissions.

Unfortunately, the OPPO Find X7 Ultra itself doesn’t have the clear marks of a sustainable phone. Sure, it uses vegan leather across all models, but that synthetic material isn’t completely environment-friendly either, despite the name. One upside is that the phone is IP68-rated, which is one of the highest dust and water resistance levels for smartphones, promising a mostly durable product that should last you quite a while before you have to throw it away, responsibly, of course.

Value

If you’re anything of a mobile shutterbug, it’s hard not to get excited over the OPPO Find X7 Ultra. Although it’s not going to dethrone an expensive DSLR, it really comes close to it with its HyperTone Quad Main Camera System. And all that imaging hardware is packed into a thin and stylish device that you can also use for more than just taking photos. What’s not to like?

Unfortunately, the product’s value takes a nosedive because of the fact that, as of this writing, OPPO has no plans yet to bring the OPPO Find X7 Ultra to international markets, making it exclusive to a Chinese audience. Yes, you can probably import the phone through other channels, but that won’t change the fact that the version of ColorOS software running on it isn’t made for global users. Yes, you can install Google Play Store unofficially, but that still won’t give you access to some basic platform capabilities you’d expect from international versions of these devices. It’s definitely a shame that such a treasure would be out of reach, and hopefully, OPPO will change its mind very soon.

Verdict

Smartphones are sometimes a victim of their own success, or at least of marketing hype. It wasn’t that long ago when they were said to devour the lower end of professional cameras, but they haven’t managed to surpass the bulkier and more powerful shooters in terms of flexibility and quality. It’s just impossible, given the restraints on design, price, and engineering, so smartphones have to make do with workarounds and software solutions.

The OPPO Find X7 Ultra, however, comes pretty close to that ideal. It still can’t change lenses physically, but it provides almost the same experience through a perfect combination of hardware and software. Of course, it’s not just a digital camera, and it manages to excel in almost every field with very few flaws. It’s tragic that most people won’t be able to experience all of that, though, but hopefully, they will soon be able to get their hands on what could very well be this year’s most beautiful and most capable smartphone camera.

The post OPPO Find X7 Ultra Review: Inching Closer to Photography Perfection first appeared on Yanko Design.

nubia Z60 Ultra Review: Challenging Conventions

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PROS:


  • Distinctive boxy design

  • Gorgeous, hole-less screen

  • Large, long-lasting battery

CONS:


  • A bit on the bulky and heavy side

  • "Metallic glass" material attracts dust too easily

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Taking the road less traveled, the nubia Z60 Ultra's unconventional rectangular design, flawless screen surface, and choice of camera focal lengths are sure to leave a lasting impression on consumers tired of the same old things.

Despite how smartphone manufacturers try to differentiate the designs of their products, most of them still jump on the same trends, like the curved edge screens of the past, today’s flat sides, or camera bumps of different shapes and sizes. The same is true even for features you don’t immediately see, like camera sensors and lenses that everyone is using, just advertised under a different marketing name. It’s almost too easy to just do what everyone else is doing, riding the waves in the hopes of making a large catch as everyone else. Fortunately, there are outliers that dare to take a different path, and the nubia Z60 Ultra easily stands out as a nonconformist, so we take a closer look to see if it has more to offer than just a different yet oddly familiar face.

Designer: nubia

Aesthetics

The design of the nubia Z60 Ultra is admittedly divisive. Some will appreciate a fresh break from the smooth curves of the current breed of smartphones, while others might scoff at the blast from the past. Anyone who still remembers the Sony Xperia of the past might indeed see some resemblance to this late 2023 newcomer, and it’s not exactly a bad light to be in.

The nubia Z60 Ultra is unabashedly flat and angular, giving off an air of maturity and hardness at the same time. Even the camera bump diverges from circles, squircles, and any other round shape found on most smartphones. Two of the three cameras sit on a strip, not unlike the Google Pixel 8’s visor, except it’s also completely flat and more like a thin block stretching across the width of the phone. This boxy aesthetic is going to be subjective, even more so compared to other phone designs, but there’s no denying that it will leave a lasting impression, positive or otherwise.

If the shape and back of the phone are what immediately catch your attention, it will be the large 6.8-inch display that will probably draw you in. Admittedly, it’s not the brightest nor the most colorful panel, but it’s the flawless, unbroken surface of this screen that will really impress you. Under-display cameras (UDC) aren’t exactly novel, but they’re so rarely used that you’d still be surprised to see one up-close. Even better, the nubia Z60 Ultra uses the company’s fifth-generation UDC technology that improves the pixel density of that spot above the front-facing camera. The result is a screen that is full from edge to edge, and thanks to its completely flat surface, also visible and usable in its entirety.

There are different colorways available, including a “Starry Night” that makes no effort to hide its Van Gogh inspiration. nubia introduces an “AG Metallic Glass” material that covers the rear of the phone, and for the most part, it does offer your hand a new sensation that almost feels like metal. Unfortunately, for some reason, it also seems to act as a huge magnet for dust. It may stay free of oily fingerprint smudges, but you’ll still want to put on the included clear case to keep it clean, among other reasons.

Ergonomics

There’s still an ongoing debate on which design is better for your hand and your grip. Curved edges are claimed to be gentler on the skin, but some claim it makes the phone slip more easily from your grasp. Flat edges and sharp angles add a bit more tooth to improve your grip, but there are those who feel uncomfortable with how it bites into their palm. The latter, of course, is what applies to the nubia Z60 Ultra’s sharp figure, and like its design, is going to split camps.

What everyone will agree on, however, is how bulky and heavy the phone feels in your hand. At 8.78mm thick and 246g heavy, it’s definitely going to give your hand a bit of strain when held up for long periods of time. Add that to the phone’s sharp edges, and you might indeed find your hand feeling a bit uncomfortable sooner rather than later, at least with the protective case that makes all those moot. Fortunately, that heft isn’t without good reason, but it’s still something that prospective buyers will need to consider if they prefer phones that are impossibly thin and light instead.

Performance

The nubia Z60 Ultra has been compared to its gaming-focused cousin, the RedMagic 9 Pro, and the comparison isn’t without basis. Both sport top-notch hardware available in the mobile market, starting with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 that can be paired with up to 16GB of RAM. In terms of raw performance, the nubia Z60 Ultra is pretty much a gaming phone, sans the bells and whistles like a tiny fan or extra buttons on the edges. In a way, this is the more subdued and stylish version of the RedMagic 9 Pro.

The phone’s extra-large battery definitely supports that use case and then some. Rated at 6,000 mAh, it’s definitely one of the highest capacities in the market today, and while you might not hit that advertised 47-hour uptime with average use, you’ll get pretty close to more than a day’s worth. Charging, however, won’t be blazing fast, given it only supports 80W wired charging, pushing the charging time to a little over 30 minutes. This chunk of power is definitely to blame for the nubia Z60 Ultra’s size and weight, but it’s a price worth paying for those who value battery life over comfort and thin profiles.

It isn’t only in design that the nubia Z60 Ultra bucks the trend. While it does put a heavy emphasis on its cameras like any other flagship smartphone, it’s the details that truly make it unique. In a nutshell, nubia has opted to adopt narrower fields of view compared to most smartphones in an effort to appeal to photography enthusiasts who would be more familiar with these focal lengths.

The main 50MP camera, for example, has that 35mm focal length used by classic camera lenses, which is great for taking sharp photos, especially with a natural bokeh effect. Unfortunately, this field of view will be too narrow for videos that will look cropped at the edges. That’s probably why nubia used an ultra-wide camera with a similar 50MP sensor (though from a different manufacturer) to make the transition to a wider view look more seamless. That said, this ultra-wide camera is also narrower than what you’d find in the market, using an 18mm focal length only.

In practice, the nubia Z60 Ultra’s cameras perform impressively, producing images with rich detail, at least in well-lit environments. The small exception is the 64MP telephoto camera with an equally narrow 85mm focal length, which makes close-up shots less doable. The narrow field of view might find fans among more seasoned photographers, but it is also an odd and awkward detail for those already used to the wider range of camera smartphones, especially when it comes to video recording.

Sustainability

So far, the nubia Z60 Ultra is proving to be quite the nonconformist, embracing designs already eschewed by most manufacturers as well as camera specs more popular among photographers than smartphone users. It would have been even more impressive if nubia also became a rebel and embraced sustainable materials and practices wholeheartedly for this smartphone. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

In this regard, the nubia Z60 Ultra is pretty typical when it comes to composition, durability, and repairability. It’s your typical mix of plastic, glass, and metal, none of which were made from post-consumer recycled materials, at least none that nubia is telling. The silver lining here is that the phone is IP68 rated, so it’s not going to join the masses of e-waste littering the planet after a slight splash or dive into water.

Value

The nubia Z60 Ultra is a premium flagship through and through, and its extra-large battery, hole-less screen, and pixel-dense camera sensors push it even higher among its peers. For all of that, you’d expect it to cost as much as your next late 2023 or early 2024 high-end handset, but here’s the clincher: it’s almost half that!

While it does start at $599 for a rather modest 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, the highest configuration with double that memory is only $779. And it’s not like nubia is a new, unknown, and unreliable brand, so such a price tag is downright crazy. Of course, there’s the matter of being able to buy one in the first place, since nubia isn’t available in all markets, but in those regions it does serve, the nubia Z60 Ultra is bound to make an irresistible proposition to go with its undeniable presence.

Verdict

While there is some wisdom in going with tried and true traditions, it’s never an excuse not to think outside the box. There’s no certainty that you will do better or worse, but what’s certain is that you will make some impact. That’s the kind of legacy that the nubia Z60 Ultra will have with a design that is both fresh yet classic, and features that have a clear purpose, even if it swings away from the mainstream smartphone crowd.

It definitely gets a lot of things right, like its impressive performance, its memorable design, and its blemish-free screen, but it’s far from being perfect. There’s no denying that part of its imposing character is its bulk and weight, and the narrow field of view will probably trip up some mobile shutterbugs. With a head-turning price tag, though, you might be willing to look past these flaws, especially if the flaws are features you actually value. Needless to say, the nubia Z60 Ultra is doing quite a difficult balancing act, and to its credit, it’s doing quite an admirable job in keeping on its toes.

The post nubia Z60 Ultra Review: Challenging Conventions first appeared on Yanko Design.

Shiftcam Workflow Sling finally gives smartphone photographers their own bag

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You might chuckle or even roll your eyes at the so-called social media “influencers,” but it’s actually a lucrative (not to mention addictive) industry. That’s not even considering the new breed of photographers that rely only on their smartphones, plus some specialized lenses, to jump immediately into the middle of an action and not miss a beat by having to take out a bulky DSLR. But despite the popularity of smartphone photography, this market also feels a little underserved judging by the lack of basic accessories like something as simple yet as important as a camera bag. Now the wait is finally over and mobile shutterbugs can now enjoy the freedom and versatility that a dedicated smartphone camera bag offers thanks to Shiftcam’s new Workflow Sling, the first hyperfocused camera bag designed just for smartphone photography.

Designer: Shiftcam

The reason why some people prefer to capture photos and record videos using a smartphone is the near-instant action and versatility. You almost always have your smartphone with you, whether in your hand or in your pocket, and you can immediately edit and share those photos on social media. In fact, you can livestream directly from your phone, something that’s not easily done with a digital camera. But as your smartphone photography skills get better, you start to need and use more advanced accessories that you can’t easily fit in your pocket. That’s what a camera bag is for, and the Workflow Sling brings that same convenience to smartphones at long last.

It’s more than just a regular sling bag, mind you, because every corner and every feature was designed for people who use their smartphones as cameras. There’s a dedicated “Action Pocket” in the central compartment that makes sure your smartphone is in your hand in a split second. There are also dedicated pockets to keep your smartphone lenses safe and within reach, like the ones you might be purchasing from Shiftcam itself. There’s also plenty of room for all sorts of smartphone photography tools, from a tripod to a drone to even a water bottle to keep you hydrated during your adventures.

The Workflow Sling, however, does more than just hold your phone and its accessories. There’s an innovative MagSafe clip that lets you attach your phone to the strap and on your chest for a dramatic first-person view or in front of the bag, turning it into a makeshift stand. These features clearly mark this accessory as a product that was designed from the ground up to cater to smartphone shutterbugs, delivering the functionality and features that finally put them on the same playing field as the pros with their bulkier, heavier, and more expensive equipment.

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This Sleek MagSafe Tripod is as slim as a wallet and snaps onto the back of your iPhone

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Peak Design’s new tripod for smartphones may be the slimmest one we’ve seen so far. Designed to snap onto the back of your MagSafe-enabled device, it works in both landscape and portrait, giving creators the one accessory they need to supplement their incredible smartphone camera. At its thickest point, it’s just 0.3 inches in thickness, while gradually transitioning down to 0.2 inches for a nice sleek wedge profile. It also weighs a paltry 2.6 ounces (78 grams), and is robust, thanks to its machined aluminum body. I think it’s time to say goodbye to selfie sticks and propping your phone against random objects to get the right shot.

Designer: Robb J of Peak Design

Click Here to Buy Now

You may remember Peak Design for their incredibly durable carbon-fiber travel tripod from 2019, although the company isn’t limiting itself to larger DSLR-adjacent gear. The aptly named Mobile Tripod is roughly the size of a MagSafe wallet, sitting perpetually on the back of your smartphone. With three legs that pop out on command, the Mobile Tripod props you phone up at just the perfect angle, allowing you to instantly begin recording videos, reactions, dance tiktoks, and vlogs, whether you’re recording in landscape or portrait.

The Mobile Tripod snaps directly onto your iPhone (or any smartphone with the MagSafe sticker), using a series of powerful neodymium magnets to firmly attach in place. It works with smartphone cases too, although Peak Design recommends using their own case which relies on their SlimLink™ technology to attach in a more secure manner.

The slim tripod fits rather neatly onto the back of your phone, with a wedge-shaped side profile that lets you slide your phone in and out of your pocket without catching any fabric or slipping off. Three legs on the back can either be popped out independently to form a traditional tripod, or can be folded open together as a single, wide kickstand that you can angle-adjust.

The Mobile Tripod comes machined from solid anodized aluminum, which holds up much better than those flimsy plastic tripods you’d find elsewhere on the internet. A “buttery-smooth” micro ballhead allows for precise adjustments with a fair amount of friction that lets it hold any angle you adjust your phone at, and anti-slip TPU feet help the tripod hold its position without sliding around. All that sort of adds up to a $71 price-point, which certainly isn’t cheap, but it’s worth the money for a product that’s sure to come incredibly handy taking selfies, tiktoks, or even answering video-calls hands-free. Oh, and did I mention that it also comes with a lifetime guarantee, like all of Peak Design’s products?

Click Here to Buy Now

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Apple’s ENTIRE October MacBook Event was Shot On the iPhone 15 Pro Max

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The company may have announced new MacBooks and iMacs at its latest event yesterday… but what it secretly was doing all along was creating an advertisement for their smartphones. In a rare video uploaded to Apple’s YouTube channel, the tech giant revealed that their entire October 30th Keynote was filmed on the iPhone 15 Pro. The video lifts the curtain on how Apple pulled it off, while being perhaps the greatest act of ‘putting their money where their mouth is’ in terms of proving the iPhone’s top-notch video capabilities.

While it’s easy to think that the true star of the event was Apple’s new M3 chip, in reality it was the USB-C port on its newest iPhone 15 Pro. Unveiled just fifty days ago, the new iPhone 15 Pro’s USB-C port is capable of 10Gb/s transfer speeds, allowing you to move ProRes videos in a snap, and even connect external storage, 4K displays, microphones, among other accessories to augment the iPhone 15 Pro’s overall output.

The entire event was quite different from any of Apple’s events, and that seems to be by design. For starters, it premiered in the evening (or at night depending on which coast you live on), marking a massive departure from all of Apple’s morning events. We heard Tim Cook say the words “Good Evening” for the first time, but just before, we got a tour of the Apple Park at night. The camera flew in from up above, battling not just the tricky conditions of flight and navigation, but also incredibly low-light videography.  The Apple Park was practically drenched in the Halloween spirit, with bats flying, ominous music, smoky/foggy pathways, and dimly lit scenes…  all of which were captured brilliantly on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s massive sensor.

The pre-Halloween keynote, the evening announcement, all seemed like a brilliant setup for the fact that Apple was planning on shooting the entire event on its latest phone. Sure, Apple could have had the event during the day and still boasted a “Shot On iPhone” disclaimer… but to shoot the entire thing in low-light – there’s no way Apple could resist that massive a flex. The event was also entirely edited on a Mac, as Apple’s way of showing how powerful the two devices are on their own as well as put together.

Anyone deeply familiar with Apple’s Shot On iPhone campaign knows that there’s more than just an iPhone involved. Those massive billboards with beautifully composed and edited photos look great, but a regular user holding an iPhone in their hand could never pull off the same visual mastery. The words ‘Shot On iPhone’ are often followed by ‘with a lot of expensive accessories’, but not many people know that. For Apple’s keynote, the company is at least a little more forthcoming by showing exactly what their rigs looked like… and no, it isn’t just a dude holding an iPhone in front of Tim Cook.

Verge reports that the entire Scary Fast event setup would have probably cost tens of thousands of dollars. The iPhone itself is mounted on a massive hand-carried rig that stabilizes the footage. For more consistent camera paths, the team used a dolly cam setup with trolleys and rails, and for the aerial shots, the Apple team literally built their own drones that held the iPhone 15 Pro Max. There are expensive microphones, monitors, battery units, lights, and a tonne of other equipment used in the picture. To be fair, Apple would still use all that extraneous equipment with a high-end camera… so just the fact that the iPhone could replace that camera does count for quite a lot.

The entire video dump was easily transferred out of the phone using the USB-C connector. Company 3, an American post-production company that handled the filming of the event, mentioned how buttery smooth the entire process was to shoot 4K ProRes with all those accessories and have all that raw footage simultaneously transferred onto an external hard disk without any hiccups. The A17 Bionic’s heavy lifting would then be complemented by Apple’s M2 chips, which were used by the Macs that edited the footage.

A quick glimpse at the hand-made drone used by Apple’s team to shoot all the aerial shots of the Scary Fast keynote.

This isn’t the first time the iPhone was used to shoot professional content. In 2015, a film named Tangerine was highlighted at the Sundance Film Festival for being shot entirely on iPhones. Notably, Olivia Rodrigo shot one of her music videos on an iPhone too, and Indian film director Vishal Bharadwaj collaborated with Apple to shoot a short film, Fursat, entirely on an iPhone. This is the first time Apple’s taken that plunge, and it seems to have paid off rather well. If only they had migrated to USB-C sooner…

 

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