Tag Archives: Smartphones

TECNO PHANTOM V Flip 5G Unveiled: Tech Marvel Meets High-End Design

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Today, the PHANTOM sub-brand of TECNO unveiled its first flip phone, the PHANTOM V Flip 5G, which marks a new era of design innovation. This foldable marvel distinguishes itself from other smartphones by combining advanced technology with a high-fashion aesthetic. Its camera trinity is at the heart of this cosmic ensemble: a powerful 64MP+13MP+32MP system. With aesthetics reminiscent of celestial bodies, its unique circular cover screen and cosmos-inspired finish are bound to turn heads and spark conversations.

Designer: TECNO

The PHANTOM V Flip 5G is a remarkable device that can fit easily in a pocket. Its sleek design has received much acclaim and even earned a prestigious German Design Awards nomination. The device was unveiled during the “Flip In Style TECNO Flagship Product Launch 2023” event in Singapore, which showcases PHANTOM’s dedication to innovative design, pushing limits, and providing an unparalleled foldable experience.

Eclipsing Shadows: Illuminate Every Moment

The PHANTOM V Flip 5G’s camera has been crafted to turn low-light moments into luminescent memories. The 64MP RGBW Ultra Sensitive Sensor Main Camera is designed to swallow light, boasting an impressive 60% surge in light intake. The RGBW pixel format ensures minimal noise and enhances color fidelity, ensuring every captured moment reflects reality. With its industry-leading f/1.7 aperture, large 1.6μm (4in1) pixels, and a resolution untouched by any flip phone, nighttime photography is not just possible – it’s great.

TECNO’s Dual-camera Fusion technology ensures every image, whether shot with the 64MP main or the 13MP Ultra-Wide Angle Camera, is detailed, vast, and immersive.

Are you a fan of taking selfies? The PHANTOM V Flip 5G has exciting news for you! It now includes a 32MP Dual-flash Autofocus Front Camera that will take your selfies to the next level. This flip phone has first-of-its-kind Micro-slit Dual-flash technology and TECNO’s Super Flashlight algorithm that guarantees perfect lighting every time. The Automatic Eye-focus feature also ensures that all your selfies and vlogs capture even the smallest details with crystal-clear precision.

In the evolving smartphone world, the PHANTOM V Flip 5G emerges as a shining star, a testament to PHANTOM’s relentless pursuit of design perfection and technological brilliance. Only time will tell where they’ll take us next, but the universe seems a little brighter for now.

As dusk sets and shadows dance, the PHANTOM V Flip 5G stands poised, ready to turn every fleeting moment into a luminous masterpiece. Delving deeper into its prodigious camera capabilities, one can’t help but marvel at how it seamlessly conquers the challenges posed by low-light conditions.

Exploring the Versatility of PHANTOM V Flip 5G’s FreeCam System

The unique flip design of the PHANTOM V Flip 5G isn’t just for aesthetics—it introduces a dynamic new way to capture photos with the FreeCam System. This system provides users with a vast canvas to stretch their creativity, utilizing both front and rear lenses. With the ability to stabilize at angles ranging from 30-150˚, it offers opportunities for diverse shots: group photos, detailed rear camera selfies, and low-angle captures that provide a unique perspective. Additionally, the FreeCam Time-lapses bring a fresh perspective to traditional time-lapse videos. The phone’s capability to hover and accept both gesture and voice commands further enhances its versatility, paving the way for hands-free photography and videography.

A Design Masterpiece in Your Pocket

The PHANTOM V Flip 5G is a tech device that combines luxury with cutting-edge technology. Its cosmic-inspired design features a round “The Planet” cover screen with a deep black hue that evokes the vastness of space, making it truly eye-catching. The innovative “Asteroid Belt-Shaped” camera module is seamlessly integrated into the screen, giving the phone a sleek and unique appearance.

For those who appreciate the finer details, the phone’s exterior boasts premium lychee-pattern classic leather, a material often associated with high-end fashion and luxury cars. It brings an added layer of sophistication and tactile pleasure to the device. Available in two refined shades—Mystic Dawn and Iconic Black—the PHANTOM V Flip 5G caters to various style preferences.

In terms of form and size, the PHANTOM V Flip 5G is designed with user comfort in mind. When folded, it is 88.77 x 74.05 x 14.95mm, which fits snugly in one’s pocket and allows for intuitive thumb navigation. Unfolded, it measures 171.72 x 74.05 x 6.95mm, with a slightly narrower screen. This design decision is rooted in research, ensuring users have a comfortable one-handed experience.

The PHANTOM V Flip 5G is joining competitors with a more modern mobile design, introducing a new dimension to user experience. At the heart of its exterior is “The Planet,” a centralized circular screen designed for effortless one-thumb operation, ensuring convenience from every angle.

This innovative cover screen is not just functional but also interactive. Users can personalize it with a selection of wallpapers, interactive animations known as Tmojis, and even engaging 3D virtual pets. Importantly, this screen allows immediate access to essential functions, such as capturing photos, selecting music tracks, or sending quick replies, without needing access to the main display. The integrated “Smart Widgets” also bring a suite of utilities right to the user’s fingertips. With these, one can view the day’s weather, activate timers, record voice memos, consult their daily agenda, and set alarms without opening the device.

Upon flipping the phone open, users are presented with a pristine 6.9-inch display. This expansive screen, without distracting creases, offers exceptional clarity and detail. With advanced technology behind it, the display ensures smooth navigation and responsiveness, enhancing activities like photo browsing and gaming. In essence, the PHANTOM V Flip 5G represents a harmonious blend of innovative design and user-centric features, making it an ideal choice for those seeking both sophistication and functionality in a mobile device.

The post TECNO PHANTOM V Flip 5G Unveiled: Tech Marvel Meets High-End Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Vivo V29 5G Review: Simplicity and Elegance for the Young and Young at Heart

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PROS:


  • Beautiful, distinctive design using 3D magnetic particles

  • IP68 rating for dust and water resistance

  • Sharp and bright high-resolution display

  • Good main and selfie cameras

CONS:


  • OK but unimpressive mid-range performance

  • No zoom or macro camera

  • Single, bottom-firing speaker

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Vivo V29 5G rises higher with its elegance and 3D magnetic particle design, but its decent yet unimpressive performance keeps it from taking the lead.

It’s not surprising to see enormous amounts of resources being poured into marketing for big phone brands, almost to the point you might think they’re the only options available. It’s almost too easy to take for granted how you might discover unexpected treasures if you walk off the beaten path, scanning the smartphone landscape with a keen eye for detail and design. There are many brands that try to catch people’s attention with buzzwords and gimmicky aesthetics, but there’s always something to be said about beauty that rises from simple yet elegant designs. That’s the kind of experience that the Vivo V29 and its rather intriguing “3D Magnetic Particles” are aiming for, so we took a deeper look to see if its beauty is just skin deep or if this subtly stylish smartphone has more to offer

Designer: Vivo

Aesthetics

Like any other smartphone manufacturer, Vivo has a few different lines or families targeting different audiences. The Vivo X series, for example, is more focused on camera chops, no pun intended, while the V family to which this Vivo V29 belongs is aimed at a somewhat younger consumer base. This group of people, which admittedly spans a wide range of ages, is characterized by a hunger for new experiences and innovations, as well as designs that are trendy and outstanding yet also simple and unobtrusive.

For the Vivo V29, these goals were achieved by using a rather unique method the company is calling “3D Magnetic Particles.” In a nutshell, they got millions of tiny magnetic particles to create natural curving patterns using magnetic forces, resulting in gentle waves of white particles traveling across the phone’s back in a way no design has accomplished before. On the Peak Blue review unit that we got, the waves resembled mountain peaks, while Starry Purple tried to recreate the Milky Way against a night sky. It’s a visual effect that is both seemingly random yet artistically intentional, not unlike when an artist pours paints or colors, creating messy but unique patterns, which is exactly the inspiration behind this revolutionary design technique.

This gives the Vivo V29 a subtle beauty, never garish but also not plain. Even the changing colors of the Velvet Red colorway’s Flourite AG glass give a tasteful touch to what would usually be an ordinary glass back. The Noble Black variant is a bit more subdued, but its etched shimmers give it a bit of personality as well. The phone’s curved edges also give the phone a sophisticated and delicate look, something that seems to have been lost in the move toward sharp corners and flat sides.

Ergonomics

Smartphones are, of course, not just something to look at. To be honest, most of the time you spend with your phone is on the screen and in your hands. That’s why ergonomics and comfort are just as important, and the Vivo V29’s design brings a bit of a mixed bag in that regard. On the one hand, the curved edges of the screen and back have always been regarded to be more comfortable to hold, having no corners to bite into your skin. On the other hand, the phone’s lightweight body and glass back also make it feel precarious and slippery. Fortunately, Vivo does ship with a clear gel case, though that detracts from the phone’s elegant aesthetic a bit.

There’s no clear winner between curved and flat edges in terms of ergonomics, with both camps claiming to offer a better and more secure grip. Vivo, however, opted to use a design that some might say is outdated primarily due to their own customers’ preferences. This market prefers how those curves help make the phone look very slim, and how the lack of bezels gives a more immersive gameplay experience. A bit ironically, that’s one area where the phone falters a bit.

Performance

Despite its premium external appearance, the Vivo V29 is, at its core, a mid-tier smartphone. While the boundaries between tiers have been blurring recently, this particular model has its feet firmly planted on the ground. For some odd reason, Vivo opted to go with an older processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G, rather than something more recent from the same series. To be fair, the performance gap isn’t that huge, and the phone performs admirably for most use cases. The Snapdragon 778G, however, starts to show its age when it comes to more graphics-intensive activity, particularly when it comes to mobile gaming that taxes the chip to the point that it comes a little hot.

This is a bit of disappointment given how beautiful the Vivo V29’s 6.78-inch screen is. With a resolution of 2800×1260 pixels, you get crisp and clear images that are enhanced by the bright AMOLED panel. It’s definitely quite the sight and a pleasure to use, though you’ll also be faced with one of the biggest drawbacks of screens with curved edges. A fraction of the content falls off at the edges, which is fine for most Web content but could be an annoyance for videos and especially games.

Further demoting the phone’s ranking for multimedia is the single bottom-firing speaker. Audio output is passable but nothing noteworthy, and the earpiece at the top doesn’t function as a second speaker. It’s probably not going to be a deal-breaker for some, but it’s small paper cuts like these that keep the Vivo V29 from being at the top of its game.

The Vivo V29 carries a rather middling 4,600mAh battery, a decision made to ensure that the phone remains thin and lightweight. It’s enough to get you around 18 hours of use a day, which means you’ll definitely want to plug it in at night or sometime during the day. Vivo makes up for it by pushing the charging speed to 80W and shipping the phone with the correct charger. In practice, it’s nothing compared to those that boast 100W or higher, but it can still get it from zero to full in around 40 minutes.

Where the phone does somewhat excel is in photography, at least the kind of photography its intended audience cares about. With a 50MP main camera and a 50MP front camera, you get excellent photos and selfies, especially with the right ambient light. Vivo takes photography up a notch with an Aura Light feature on the back of the phone that can add some lighting that automatically changes its temperature based on the ambient environment. Streamers might be familiar with the concept of ring lights, and the Aura light is like a miniature version. It works quite well but, unfortunately, won’t help with selfies. The 8MP ultra-wide camera is decent under good lighting conditions, but it’s definitely nothing to boast about. The 2MP monochrome camera is even more disappointing, given how many of its peers now go with a macro camera at the very least.

Ultrawide

50MP (1x)

50MP (2x)

Sustainability

Sustainability has become an important conversation topic among tech companies these days, and smartphone manufacturers are no different. Unfortunately, with so many of these mobile device makers operating today, only a few can be said to have concrete visions and strategies to help save the planet. Fortunately, Vivo is indeed one of those by taking steps to reduce the negative impact of their operations, manufacturing, and product life cycles on the planet.

Sadly, Vivo still has ways to go, especially when it comes to the actual materials that it uses, like incorporating recycled plastics or aluminum. Vivo’s designers are hoping that their designs and experiences are able to convey their love for nature. The Vivo V29, for example, references mountains and stars, connecting users with the planet in subtle and subconscious ways. Vivo also gives the V29 an IP68 dust and water resistance rating, a rare trait for phones in this tier. Along with its durability, this helps the phone survive the most common accidents that users encounter, helping delay the device’s untimely death and its addition to the world’s growing electronic waste.

Value

The Vivo V29 is, with very little doubt, a beautiful smartphone that earmarks it for a more premium category. It is, however, a true mid-range phone, and while its performance is decent, it isn’t going to blow your mind, nor will it blow the competition out of the water. That competition, unfortunately, is where it might struggle the most, with so many options that nibble at its strengths in different ways.

At around $450, the phone is definitely on the affordable side, but there are also other phones that have some of the same perks at lower prices. These include the Samsung Galaxy A54, the Motorola Edge 40, the Nothing Phone (1), and even the Google Pixel 7a. None of these are perfect, of course, but neither is the Vivo V29. It’s always a matter of balancing the pros and the cons, but when it comes to a striking and memorable design, the Vivo V29 can stand head-to-head with the eccentric Nothing Phone (1).

Verdict

Today’s consumers have become more conscientious of the value that product design brings into their lives. Smartphones are no longer just geeky gadgets but also a reflection of their tastes or even their character. Not everyone wants an exotic design that loses its novelty quickly, nor does everyone need the latest and greatest that will burn a hole through their wallets. An elegant, reliable, and accessible smartphone is sure to win the hearts of buyers, regardless of age, and that’s the experience that the Vivo V29 5G brings to the table.

With an innovative new design technique that treats minuscule 3D magnetic particles like splashes of paint, the Vivo V29 tries to embody the company’s design philosophy of simplicity, elegance, and perfection. At least it manages to achieve the first two with a beauty that is noticeable, memorable, and not overbearing. Unfortunately, perfection is still a bit out of its reach, with some puzzling hardware choices that hold it back from that achievement. But if you’re in the market for a stylish smartphone that feels good in your hand and can keep up with most of your needs, then the Vivo V29 is definitely worth taking a second look.

The post Vivo V29 5G Review: Simplicity and Elegance for the Young and Young at Heart first appeared on Yanko Design.

Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition Review: In Pursuit of Speed and Excellence

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PROS:


  • Eye-catching racing-inspired design with great attention to detail

  • Premium features like wireless charging and IP53 rating

  • Includes rare microSD card slot

  • Great price value for performance and features

CONS:


  • Odd camera combination

  • Limited availability

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Excelling in both looks and overall features, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition is an unexpected yet impressive surprise that is hampered by its odd camera choices and limited availability.

With so many smartphone brands and models available today, it’s not an easy task to stand out from the crowd, especially when you’re not one of the big five. Some companies employ visual gimmicks or technical buzzwords just to catch people’s attention, only for those products to fall flat once they land in users’ hands. It takes no small amount of effort and careful thought to create a design that not only looks great but also checks all the other boxes of an excellent user experience. The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP claims to be one such item, so we took its fancy Racing Edition for a spin to see if it really matches up to the expectations of a smartphone that was made to blaze a trail in the market.

Designer: Infinix

Aesthetics

As its name clearly says, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition’s overarching theme is one of speed, taking inspiration from heart-pounding and thrilling street races. And when it comes to race cars, who better to know the spirit and design of speedsters than BMW’s design powerhouse, Designworks. But unlike some smartphones that boast of BMW branding, Infinix goes beyond just using themed colors or stripes to make the NOTE 30 VIP epitomize the spirit of speed that these cars exhibit, both in looks as well as in feel.

Right off the bat, this racing-inspired version of the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP is nothing like any other smartphone you’ve seen before, including those that also claim spiritual camaraderie with race cars. The way it uses a special vegan leather material doesn’t simply slap on a cover on the back of the phone but fully envelopes the surface to create a unique aesthetic and tactile experience. Even the camera bump is fully covered by the organic texture, giving the phone a more unified appearance with no metal or glass awkwardly sticking out. The embossed check-flag pattern creates a subtle nod to the racing culture, demonstrating Infinix’s meticulous attention to the smallest details.

As if the vegan leather treatment wasn’t already unique enough, Infinix and BMW Designworks go a step further by adding a feature that gives a little bit of flavor to the phone. In line with the trend of bringing decorative lights to the back of phones, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition presents what the brand calls “3D Lighting Leather,” an innovative design that lets strips of light shine through the leather material when it is turned on. The three colors of these light strips not only represent BMW Motorsports’ iconic branding but also represent speed, performance, and power. It’s a small yet tasteful detail that adds to the phone’s character and cements its image as an extension of a street race car.

It isn’t just the phone’s back that catches one’s attention in a pleasing manner. The sharp red edges contrast beautifully with the softer black rear, lending it an elegance that you’d expect to find in more expensive designs. The flat screen, whose bezels gently curve to the sides, also complements this aesthetic, delivering a design that exudes both speed and class in a single product.

To really complete both the VIP and the Special Edition experience, Infinix ships the NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition with a ton of freebies all designed around that same theme. Small gestures like these give a product that extra level of attention that truly sets it apart from ordinary, mass-produced phones.

Ergonomics

The most beautiful phone will simply be a pretty face if it turns out to be an unusable slab of glass and metal in your hand. Fortunately, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition isn’t that, and it manages to look stunning while also giving you confidence when you hold the smartphone in your hand. Part of that is thanks to the textured surface of the vegan leather material that delivers a better grip, but the design also has another small yet critical detail that improves the phone’s ergonomics.

The minuscule embossed triangle in the palm grip takes inspiration from racing car steering wheels to offer the necessary traction for your hand, increasing your grip on the phone. With this anti-slip wrapping, the NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition gives you confidence that you’ll be able to hold it in a stable and safe manner, which is probably going to be necessary considering how light the phone feels in your hand at only 190g. Just like how race car designs not only give speed but also stability, the Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition embodies this duality in a beautiful and satisfying manner.

Performance

Of course, this special Infinix NOTE 30 VIP’s racing chops don’t stop with its looks. Infinix has stepped up its game by endowing the Racing Edition with some of the best hardware for performance, making you feel like breezing through tasks and games with aplomb. The new MediaTek Dimensity 8050 might not sound familiar compared to something that has “Snapdragon” in its name, but its performance isn’t exactly sub-par. You might find yourself adjusting settings in heavier games like Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, but for all intents and purposes, it is able to handle most mobile tasks without breaking a sweat.

The phone comes with 12GB of RAM out of the box, but it’s possible to extend that to 21GB by borrowing some memory from the 256GB internal storage. The latter might sound a bit measly until you hear about a feature that you’ll rarely find in smartphones these days. The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP actually has a dedicated slot for a microSD card slot to expand that storage, giving it an edge over other phones in both mid and premium tiers.

Uptime with the 5,000mAh battery is decent as well, which is surprising given how powerful the phone is. Charging at 68W, however, sounds a bit disappointing considering how many of its peers are already boasting 100W speeds. Then again, few of those can also boast of supporting wireless charging and fast 50W wireless charging at that. Even better, Infinix ships with a specially themed wireless charger as part of the VIP Racing Edition box so you don’t have to go hunting for one on your own.

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition’s hardware selection seems almost perfect, at least until you get to the cameras, one of the things that most buyers check first. Yes, there are three cameras there led by a mighty 108MP main shooter that definitely lives up to expectations. It takes good photos with plenty of detail when there’s plenty of light around. What’s more impressive is that it can shoot 4K videos, though without OIS, something that’s still uncommon at this price point. The 32MP selfie camera is decent, but it’s made more notable thanks to dual LED flash lights that hide in the phone’s top edges, bringing much-needed lighting to your face.

Things get weird with the other two cameras on the back of the phone, a 2MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro shooter. While the asymmetry between cameras isn’t uncommon, it’s almost unheard of to have an ultra-wide camera that low these days, even on mid-tier devices. As you might expect, they don’t produce good results, so you’re better off sticking to the main camera anyway. It might not be a deal-breaker for some people, but it does show at least one area where Infinix chose to cut corners.

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP runs the company’s custom XOS 13 Android experience that’s thankfully already based on Android 13. It’s specifically themed to match that same racing motif, especially when it comes to the tri-color combination, and has a boatload of pre-installed apps you will have to uninstall one by one. One special feature of this Android skin is the “Magic Ring”, practically Infinix’s version of Apple’s Dynamic Island that changes the UI flanking the front camera cutout, depending on the context, like which app is being used. While not exactly original, we can expect other manufacturers to implement their own version of this UI flourish to help mask the presence of the hole at the top of the screen.

Sustainability

Although it has already started building a reputation for itself, Infinix is younger and smaller compared to other smartphone brands. So if it took giants like Samsung and Apple decades to establish their sustainability efforts, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it isn’t yet a focus for the fledgling company. That said, it’s not without any attempt at reducing its negative impact on the environment, like the use of this special vegan leather material for the Racing Edition. It might not be a 100% sustainable material, but it’s still significantly better than plastics.

More importantly, however, the Vivo V29 is designed to at least delay meeting its end from accidents. It has an IP53 dust and water resistance rating, which is almost unbelievable considering its price point. That simply means that it is less likely to die from a splash of water, prolonging its life for as long as it is still in good operating condition. The longer it stays in your hands, the longer it and its non-biodegradable parts stay off landfills.

Value

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition comes as a completely unexpected surprise. The combination of premium features and an accessible price tag might be more than enough to get buyers considering this option, but it really changes the game with its high-quality design that you might have not expected from a phone on this price tier. The 3D Lighting Leather material is more than just a gimmick, delivering a luxurious look and feel with some colored light accents to drive home that street racing image.

It’s hardly perfect, of course, and there’s a list of quirks and flaws that leave us scratching our heads. One of those is the choice of cameras aside from the 108MP main shooter, which is just mind-boggling in this day and age. The biggest drawback, however, is its limited availability to very specific markets, which means fewer people will get to experience this surprisingly impressive package. That’s quite a shame, considering how everything else about the phone is worth more than what Infinix is asking for, especially with all the accessories that come with it.

Verdict

It’s not easy for a smartphone to stand out these days, especially when you consider just how many designs there are available in the market today. It’s even harder when you try to hit the sweet spot of aesthetics, performance, and price, something that even industry giants don’t get right all the time. So there’s definitely a good reason to be amazed at how Infinix managed to pull a rabbit out of its hat, with some help from BMW Designworks, of course.

The Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition definitely embodies the spirit of street racing with intricate design details that easily remind one of the cozy interiors of sports cars. Infinix’s attention to detail leaves no stone unturned, with every side, corner, and surface matching that overarching theme. That extends inside the phone, of course, with specs that would leave you wondering why bigger manufacturers don’t follow suit. Who would have thought, for example, that we’d meet an old microSD card slot friend here, or that it would boast fast wireless charging and an IP rating at this price point? There are, indeed, some noticeable missteps, especially with the camera, but the overall package might still make you want to get your hands on one, especially for its mouth-watering $315 price tag.

The post Infinix NOTE 30 VIP Racing Edition Review: In Pursuit of Speed and Excellence first appeared on Yanko Design.

Infinix Zero 30 5G brings 4k/60FPS front camera to a budget-friendly phone

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Infinix today announced the latest addition to its Zero series: Infinix Zero 30 5G. The device features a 50MG front camera with 4K 60FPS video capturing capabilities. That’s correct – Infinix incorporated an HD front camera into a budget-friendly device.

Designer: Infinix

Infinix created Zero 30 5G in direct response to the growing desire among today’s youth for a better front camera to seize and share their digital captures. Leo Chang, Inifinix’s Deputy General Manager commented “Infinix ZERO 30 5G empowers young people with the means to ‘Capture your own story’, placing a full cinematic production house in their hands and making Ultra HD video blogging more attainable than ever.”

On its rear, Zero 30 5G sports a triple camera setup. The main camera is 108MP with a 1/1.67” sensor, f/1.65 aperture, and OIS. It’s paired with a 13MP ultrawide with f/2.2 aperture that delivers 120-degree wide images. Finally, there is a 2MP macro camera to round up the triple camera setup. Besides the hardware, there are plenty of software features like filters and shooting modes to inspire your digital creativity.

Zero 30 5G packs a large 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with FHD+ (2400 x 1080 resolution) and 144 Hz refresh rate. The peak brightness can reach 950 nits. It’s equipped with 2,160 PMW dimming and TUV Rheinland Certified eye-care mode to protect your eyes during extended screen time. The display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass.

Under the hood, Zero 30 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8020 paired with 256GB of memory and 12GB of RAM which can be expanded to 21GB via memory fusion technology so you can record plenty of Ultra HD quality video. The device measures 164.5 x 75.0 x 7.9 mm and weighs 185g, making Zero 30 5G 9g lighter compared to Zero 20, despite maintaining essentially the same size. It is IP53-rated for water and dust resistance.

Infinix has also given a hefty upgrade to Zero 30 5G’s battery from its predecessor. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery and supports 68W Super Chaging, which is first enough to get from 1% to 80% in 30 minutes, according to Inifinix. There is no support for wireless charging, however.

Zero 30 5G runs the latest version of Infinix’s XOS 13 atop Android 13. It comes with an updated Folax voice assistant now integrated with ChatGPT. Other notable specs include dual stereo speakers that can play back DTS, an under-display finger sensor, and NFC.

The Infinix Zero 30 5G comes in three colorways. Golden Hour and Fantasy Purple feature a glass back panel while Rome Green comes with a textured vegan leather back panel. While Infinix has not revealed the exact availability of Zero 30 5G, the starting price is projected to be around $399.

With a 50MP 4K/60FPS front-facing camera at the forefront, does Infinix Zero 30 5G live up to its promises? Stay tuned for an upcoming review that will delve into every facet of this exciting release.

The post Infinix Zero 30 5G brings 4k/60FPS front camera to a budget-friendly phone first appeared on Yanko Design.

Realme GT5 240W Review: Insane specs, disappointing design

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PROS:


  • Ultra-fast 240W charging

  • Impressive flagship specs and performance

  • Very affordable price tag

CONS:


  • Only available in China for now

  • Unremarkable design

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With 24GB of RAM and 240W ultra-fast charging, the Realme GT5 240W looks mighty tempting if not for its limited availability and plain appearance.

Smartphones are more than just devices these days, becoming more like lifestyle choices and extensions of ourselves. That said, it’s impossible to separate the specs from the design because even the most beautiful phone will fall flat if it ends up being unusable anyway. In fact, people do buy phones primarily for their features, with aesthetics and ergonomics coming a close second, especially for those who’d slap on a protective or decorative case anyway. Realme’s newest wonder could very well satisfy this kind of user, cramming in the latest and greatest that mobile technology has to offer, so we had to give the Realme GT5 240W a good test run to see if it can truly rice to the challenge despite its rather unremarkable appearance.

Designer: Realme

Aesthetics

It’s hard to ignore a shift in the smartphone market that has made consumers more aware of how design plays an important role in the overall experience of their smartphones. They no longer just want a slab of glass and metal that seemed to be cobbled up in order to house the hardware inside. They want phones that give a positive visual impact, make them stand out, or more closely express their style and interests. Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a stylish smartphone, Realme’s latest flagship might not be to your taste.

The most distinctive part of smartphones is their backs, and here the Realme GT5 seems to take a page from different smartphones, creating a mishmash of designs that feel a little incongruous. The sandblasted metal texture looks like a blast from the past, while the large camera bump seems to be an overgrown version of the Google Pixel’s “visor” design. Even the fancy “Pulse Interface Design 2.0” LED light that strangely frames a Qualcomm Snapdragon logo is reminiscent of the Nothing Phone’s now iconic Glyph Interface gimmick.

It’s not that the Realme GT5 240W is unattractive. It is admittedly distinctive in how its camera bump spans the entire width of the phone rather than just one side, but it’s an underwhelming design nonetheless. When you consider how Realme has released many beautiful, unique, and creative designs over the past years, you come to expect a bit more from the brand, especially when it involves the flagship GT line. Fortunately, this phone has other things going for it beyond its somewhat plain looks.

Ergonomics

A phone’s design isn’t just about its appearance. Every part and every design element has an impact on both the phone’s performance as well as its usability. Put too many powerful components inside and you risk burdening the hands of your users. Arrange them in the incorrect way and it might also feel a little unbalanced.

The Realme GT5 240W is a little of both. At 205g, it is a bit on the heftier side, though not exactly by much compared to other devices on the same premium tier. It is, however, a bit top-heavy, thanks to the design of the camera bump and the components that are located there. Adding features always comes with a price, especially when they’re a bit more on the inessential and decorative side. This could result in lower confidence when holding the phone, pushing owners to slap on the opaque and unappealing case that Realme ships inside the box.

The one advantage of the phone’s wide camera design is that it will lie balanced on a flat surface like a table, unlike other phones with bumps only on a corner. The phone won’t wobble no matter how hard you tap on the phone when it’s lying on its back. Additionally, you might even be able to use that protrusion to your advantage when holding the phone, letting one of your fingers rest beneath it to prevent the phone from sliding off.

Performance

Although the Realme GT5 240W looks unremarkable at first glance, it is one of those things that definitely deserves a deeper look. That’s because, despite its modest appearance, this phone is filled to the brim with high-end features that are easily accessible, at least if you reside in a specific market. The Realme GT5 240W is, at its heart, a premium flagship smartphone and it has the guts to prove it, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is actually just the tip of the iceberg.

This particular model boasts a whopping 24GB of RAM, a feat that so far only one other smartphone has managed to pull off. It’s no surprise, then, that the phone performs smoothly without any hiccups, deftly taking anything we throw at it. CPU, GPU, and memory all work in harmony to deliver a fluid interface and flawless user experience, even considering how loaded Realme UI can be. As for data storage, there’s an equally astounding 1TB inside which makes any argument about microSD cards moot.

The Realme GT5 240W also has a gorgeous and bright 6.78-inch 2772×1240 AMOLED display capable of 244Hz refresh rates and 2,160Hz high-frequency pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming. What these figures mean in practice is that, depending on the app or content, the visuals you’ll get will be smooth as butter. With dual speakers with Dolby Atmos, this phone becomes an entertainment powerhouse for videos, music, and especially games. The one catch is that we found the phone to get a little too warm for comfort, and that’s just when playing Fortnite with medium settings at 60Hz. Performance at that level was quite impressive, but you might want to pay more attention to the heat it generates.

This particular phone’s killer feature can be seen from its name. While the regular Realme GT5 already has super-fast 150W charging, this one nearly doubles that to 240W. In just 5 minutes, we got from 60% to 100%, which is one of if not the fastest on the market. Of course, you’ll have to use the large charging brick it comes with to reach that record speed, but it’s going to be worth it if you really need to top up quickly.

Where the Realme GT5 240W shines least is in the one aspect that a lot of smartphone buyers consider to be the next most important thing: the cameras. The trio is led by a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor, which takes very good shots with plenty of detail when under bright light. The other two, however, are nothing to write home about, with a 112-degree 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro camera completing the team. They take OK photos, given the right conditions, but they’re a huge step back from the performance of other flagships in the market.

The phone runs realme UI 4.0, the company’s customized experience built on top of the current Android 13 release. It is as you would expect, given the target Chinese market, which means loads of customization options and bloatware. There is no Google Play Store, of course, but users in that region are already used to that situation anyway. The phone will most likely take a different route when or if it launches in global markets, though some aspects, like the presence of pre-installed apps, won’t be changing. The Realme GT5 also features the company’s newest “Pulse Interface Design 2.0,” which is basically a way to have colorful LED light notifications on the back of your phone.

Sustainability

Realme is one of the few smartphone brands that has a laudable stance on sustainability. It has a clear vision and target for becoming a more environmentally conscious company and has taken concrete steps towards that goal. It has even launched phones that made use of more sustainable materials, though those have been limited to a few special editions.

Unfortunately, none of those marks can be seen on the Realme GT5 240W, whether in terms of materials used or even the phone’s durability. There is no formal dust and water resistance rating, so it might not inspire confidence in using the phone everywhere. The packaging is fortunately minimal but, thanks to its ultra-fast charging tech, every box will ship with that large charger. It’s not like Realme is the biggest offender, but it definitely has a lot of opportunity to rise to the challenge and outpace other brands when it comes to establishing a Greener Tomorrow.

Value

The Realme GT5 240W is, without a doubt, a premium smartphone, even if you might have misgivings about its not-so-premium looks. It can definitely walk the talk and more, especially with 24GB of RAM and an insanely fast 240W charging. What makes the phone exceptional isn’t just the specs but the fact that it isn’t demanding for an extremely high amount of money. In fact, it only costs 3,799 RMB for all these features, which is around $520, give or take.

The phone would have almost been perfect if not for the simple fact that it isn’t available anywhere outside of China, at least not at the moment. There’s a chance it could reach some global markets, but major ones like the US are often still out of the question. You might be tempted to import one, but the total cost of ownership, plus the Google-less software, makes it a very poor investment overall.

Verdict

Smartphones have started to become as much fashion accessory as they are tech gadgets. They have started to appeal to the more design-conscious masses while rushing to compete for the next head-turning trending look. The Realme GT5 240W seems to stand out by not standing out, looking rather plain and almost forgettable if not for the features it carries underneath that “ordinary” skin.

Fortunately, the phone is worth a lot more than its looks, carrying some of the greatest hardware available to smartphones today. It’s hardly perfect, especially in the camera department, but with a powerful processor, an overly generous 24GB of RAM, and a blazing 240W charging speed, you will be getting your money’s worth, and it won’t even cost you that much. Presuming, of course, you can get your hands on one.

The post Realme GT5 240W Review: Insane specs, disappointing design first appeared on Yanko Design.

OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ Review: A Pretty Shutterbug with Some Muscle to Flex

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PROS:


  • Simple but memorable design

  • Impressive telephoto camera

  • Excellent battery life and charging speed

  • Accessible price tag

CONS:


  • Large and conspicuous camera bump

  • A bit slippery to hold

  • No water resistance rating

  • Still has some bloatware

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Eye-catching in both good and bad ways, the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ delivers on its promise of power and camera excellence but fails to take the final steps that will truly set it apart from the crowd.

OPPO has been making quite a name for itself, especially with its premium Find line that now includes two kinds of foldable phones. The attention to its flagship series, however, has raised questions about the purpose and future of its other family, the Reno. Launched as the brand’s mid-range offering, the lines between tiers have been blurring the past years, and OPPO has been taking the Reno series higher and higher while still trying to keep to its camera-focused theme. With the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+, it seems ready to pull out all of the stops, but is it enough to qualify as a premium flagship? We take the “Portrait Expert” for a few turns to bring you that answer.

Designer: OPPO

Aesthetics

The OPPO Reno was initially advertised as a more affordable option for mobile shutterbugs, so naturally its designs lean towards emphasizing its cameras. Over the years, this line of smartphones has adopted less than inspiring aesthetics, despite that focus, simply content to use the trending style of each model’s period. The OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ walks off the beaten path with a design that could prove to be a little bit controversial, giving the phone a unique visual identity that also makes its key feature a bit too pronounced.

The most prominent part of the phone’s design is, of course, its camera bump. It’s a large protrusion of glass and aluminum that makes it impossible to ignore its presence, especially with a capsule shape that is rarely seen on the backs of phones. The design is admittedly tasteful, even stylish, though it might not sit well with people who profile subtler profiles. It will at least get the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ easily noticed and distinguished among a sea of rectangles and bulging circles.

The rest of the phone, fortunately, looks less conspicuous. In fact, one could say it’s pretty simple, with a nod to classic designs. That particularly refers to curved edges, both back and front, like the premium flagship phones of old. The back of the phone is clean and unblemished, save for the obligatory OPPO branding. The Glossy Purple option comes with a very reflective rear, while the Silver Gray that we received for this review has a bit of a glazed matte surface. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help reduce the lack of friction and resistance that this phone offers in your hand.

The OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ exhibits two faces, both of them notable and memorable. On the one hand, its camera bump is a real attention grabber. On the other hand, the simplicity of the rest of the phone’s design presents a sharp contrast. It’s a combination of opposites that seems to work well in OPPO’s favor, resulting in a Reno phone that can finally stand out and stand proud from the crowd.

Ergonomics

At only 194g, the Reno 10 Pro+ is incredibly light to hold, especially when you consider its 6.74-inch screen and somewhat sizable battery. Then again, the use of a polycarbonate mid-frame helps lighten the load, though you might not be able to tell it given how premium it looks and feels. That lightness, however, serves to only reduce your confidence even more, fearing how the phone might easily slip from your hand.

That’s mostly because of how slippery the phone feels, even with the matte surface of the Silver Gray colorway. The curved sides also become too smooth for the palm, comfortable yet also precarious. Fortunately, OPPO does ship with a clear gel case, but you’ll be sacrificing the phone’s pristine beauty in exchange for a better grip.

That camera bump, distinctive as it might be, also adds to the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+’s troubles. When on a fat surface, it makes the phone a little unbalanced since it raises only a corner of the device. When held in hand, the phone feels a little top-heavy, adding to the worries of accidentally dropping the phone. Almost ironically, that thick camera protrusion could actually serve as a place to rest your finger to keep it from sliding off.

Performance

The OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ has the makings of a premium flagship, that is if it was launched last year. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is one generation behind the current titleholder, and the base 12GB RAM and 256GB storage feels a little behind as well. Fortunately, these don’t matter much in practice, even for gamers, with the phone performing admirably no matter what you throw at it. It doesn’t get unbearably hot, but it does get noticeably warm after long periods of extensive use where heavy graphics and processing are involved. The phone runs OPPO Color OS 13.1, which is based on the latest Android 13 release. For all the customization options that this OPPO experience brings, it also unloads a dozen apps that most users never asked for and maybe never even use. Fortunately, you can uninstall almost all of them.

The 4,700 mAh battery might also feel like a holdover, but the phone manages to hold its own quite well. After a day of normal, mixed-use, it still has plenty of juice left to make you not worry about having to charge it overnight. You will eventually need to plug it in, of course, but that that won’t take you more than 30 minutes to go from zero to full. It should be noted, however, that the super-fast 100W charging slows down a bit around the 75% mark in order to help preserve battery life. The OPPO Reno 10 Pro+, despite its premium facade, offers no wireless charging, a feature that is becoming more common even among mid-range phones.

If the hardware specs looked a little disappointing, OPPO pulled no punches when it comes to the Reno line’s key feature. Leading the trio of cameras on its back is the 50MP Sony IMX890 with OIS, resulting in vivid, vibrant, and very detailed images, both in bright outdoor light as well as moody indoor rooms. The camera is so good that it doesn’t even need the dedicated Night Mode to produce pleasing night shots as long as there’s just enough illumination to bring out the details. There is some loss in the richness of details, but the same is true even with Night Mode enabled.

Even more impressive, however, is the 64MP Telephoto shooter with 3x optical zoom, a rare treat for smartphones. Although the main camera is capable of zooming in just as much, it holds no candle to the quality that the dedicated telephoto is able to produce. This camera really shines in portrait mode, which is where the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ gets its self-professed moniker. But like any camera, quality drops off sharply once you get past that lossless zoom level.

1x

2x

3x

Ultrawide

Given these two heavyweights, the 8MP ultra-wide camera almost feels like a massive letdown. It gets the job done, and a bit nicely with its 112-degree field of view, but it’s definitely nothing to write home about. There are telltale signs of distortion and details are unsurprisingly low. The 32MP front camera is at least great for selfies and video calls, offsetting whatever disappointment the ultra-wide camera might have brought to the team.

Sustainability

OPPO is no longer a neophyte in this industry, and it is thankfully taking concrete actions when it comes to its role in safeguarding the environment. It has a clear vision and strategy for meeting its sustainability goals, which can’t be said of other brands in the market, even the older and bigger players.

Unfortunately, that isn’t clearly visible on the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+. Any sustainability boon this phone brings is mostly a side effect of OPPO’s larger program, like the use of recycled materials for packaging. The phone’s SuperVOOC fast-charging technology even mandates shipping a compatible charger in each and every box, including other models with that same feature. The use of a plastic frame also adds to the phone’s environmental transgressions. It will take some time before OPPO can boast of using recycled plastics and components in its phones, but the planet won’t be waiting for it to get its act together. It also doesn’t have definite dust and water protection, putting its durability and longevity into question.

Value

It’s hard to argue that the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ is an impressive smartphone. You might debate the beauty of its design, but its raw performance, battery life and charging, and camera output will hardly disappoint. That’s especially considering its price tag, which is around $600 to $700, depending on where you’re buying it. It’s admittedly higher than what most would consider a “mid-tier” phone, but you do get what you pay for, in a very good sense of the phrase.

The problem, however, is that it isn’t alone, even on this tier. Brands like OnePlus, vivo, and even iQOO have all stepped up with models that either offer better specs here and there or the same set of features at a more affordable price. Adding to the phone’s woes is its selective availability in some markets, leaving many major markets opting for more accessible brands or making a huge gamble on retailers. Although it does stand out aesthetically, the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ might have a tougher time competing with its peers, making it a bit of a brand battle in the final analysis.

Verdict

It is becoming more difficult to draw lines between smartphones, especially when manufacturers themselves blur those distinctions. Once just a mid-range phone, the OPPO Reno has grown up to rival even the company’s own Find line, at least in terms of offering premium features, and the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ sits at the top of the pile.

It’s one step short of being considered a 2023 premium flagship, but the corners that OPPO might have cut do little to ruin the experience. Bearing a design that you might equally love or hate, the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ establishes its visual presence with confidence, though that confidence might not extend to your grip. It shines the most with its cameras, especially that 64MP telephoto shooter, which remains the Reno brand’s bread and butter. It’s hardly perfect, but for fans of the brand looking for the next mobile photography fix, the OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ offers a more wallet-friendly option to consider.

The post OPPO Reno 10 Pro+ Review: A Pretty Shutterbug with Some Muscle to Flex first appeared on Yanko Design.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra poised to get design overhaul, conceptualized in a fresh video

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When it comes to smartphone battles every year, Samsung is the closest rival to Apple rubbing shoulders for supremacy. The two heavyweights match punch to punch with their own set of advantages and are grounded down by their minor disadvantages. Thus, keeping the playing field highly competitive for the delight of premium buyers.

The Galaxy S23 series was released in February 2023 with a stellar camera module and incremental features. Now, having done with the launch of Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung has the next-generation Galaxy S24 in its sights. Following convention, the three devices – Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Plus and Galaxy S24 Ultra – should see a launch in six months’ time.

Designer: Samsung

Drawing conclusions from the rumors and leaks already in the air for the upcoming Samsung flagship series, we have a fair idea of how the smartphones will look and perform. According to reliable Samsung tipster [Ice universe] the flagship smartphone will have a more flattened side frame akin to the recently released foldable for design parity for the brand. Another significant design change could be the slightly rounded edges, pretty similar to the current Apple flagship.

The premium Galaxy S24 Ultra is speculated to adorn the lightweight yet durable titanium frame ( Apple iPhone 15 Pro is also rumored to get the same) while the other siblings will be dressed in the aluminum body frame. The 144Hz refresh rate flat OLED display on the smartphone could be 0.1 inches bigger at 6.9 inches. The camera module on Samsung’s flagship for 2024 could see a 200MP primary lens with improved low light performance and supported by a 12MP Ultra-Wide camera, 50MP Telephoto lens and a 12MP Periscope Telephoto lens capable of 12MP optical zoom and 120MP digital zoom.

In all likelihood, the flagship device will get the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and some markets could get the Exynos 2400 chipset. The flagship might get 16GB RAM and a larger storage configuration. Samsung has initiated the battery certifications for the series, and rumors predict a 5,500mAh pack inside the device. Firmware development of the three rumored devices for the European, Indian and US versions is also in the works according to tipsters. Galaxy S24 series will come with the Android 14-based One UI 6 out of the box with expected software updates till Android 18.

Based on all the leaks and rumors so far, YouTuber 4RMD has mustered up a concept render of the Galaxy S24 Ultra showing off its probable look. Will the Galaxy S24 be the best smartphone of next year? We all are as excited as you all!

The post Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra poised to get design overhaul, conceptualized in a fresh video first appeared on Yanko Design.