Our @henryrburrell thinks Apple's latest iPad is simultaneously a great tablet and one of the weirdest iPads Apple has ever made.
"The 2022 iPad is a good iPad and is the go-to option if you want a tablet to watch films, have video calls, read books, and surf the web. It just costs more than the last model, which is still on sale and still a product that can do everything the new one can.
64GB is too little for most people, so the 256GB version is the one to get, pushing the price close to that of the iPad Air, which has a better screen and supports the newer Apple Pencil. Apple is in full up-sell mode with its features and pricing here and connecting the older Apple Pencil to the new iPad with an adapter is a joke.
Still, I enjoyed using the iPad with the Magic Keyboard Folio, and the new colours are very nice. But the regular iPad just isn’t the great deal it used to be anymore."
Full review via link in our bio!
#Apple #iPad #Review #Technology #Tech #Tablet
After years of rumours, the Google Pixel Watch is finally here - but is it all it's cracked up to be? @abvolume has been investigating:
"When you wait so long for something, it becomes harder for it to live up to expectations. However, the Google Pixel Watch has gone beyond mine in many ways.
It really is the only smartwatch I would consider wearing beyond the review period and this largely comes down to its beautiful design. Not only does it look and feel great, with its own personality, but it’s also compact, light and comfortable, too.
The build quality is also exceptional so all of this combined makes it very desirable indeed. It is packed with loads of great tech and works brilliantly well thanks to the combination of intuitive Wear OS 3.5, a digital crown and dazzling screen.
Sadly, Google hasn’t nailed it in every department with unpredictable battery life, restrictions when it comes to charging and, most odd of all, lacking proper automatic workout detection which you’ll find on other Fitbits.
I can forgive most of this for my personal usage, especially when most rivals can’t go much longer in the battery life department. But I’d also understand if you feel like waiting for the Pixel Watch 2. "
Full review via link in our bio!
#PixelWatch #smartwatch #tech #wearable #wearos
The iPhone 14 Pro is a stunning bit of tech, and @lewwypaints thinks there could even be enough for iPhone 13 Pro users to upgrade:
"The iPhone 14 Pro is undoubtedly the best iPhone you can buy, with significant upgrades over the iPhone 13 Pro.
The Dynamic Island is the standout feature, bringing what is usually a frustration of modern smartphones and making it a part of the core experience with an impressive blend of hardware and software. The always-on display is another nice touch, providing full access to your wallpaper, widgets and notifications at any time. It’ll certainly make it difficult to go back to an iPhone without it.
The 48Mp rear camera sensor is another solid addition to this year’s Pro line-up, not only offering significant gains in low-light environments but added detail and even 2x zoom without a dedicated 2x telephoto lens. The 3x telephoto has you covered for closer shots, but Android alternatives can zoom further.
Throw in additional features like the top-end A16 Bionic, car crash detection, satellite connectivity and a truly premium build and you’ve got one of the most capable smartphones available. The only reasons to go for the Pro Max are the larger display and longer battery life, as the latter can still leave something to be desired on the regular 14 Pro despite year-on-year improvements."
Review via link in our bio!
#Apple #iPhone14Pro #Technology
The @oneplus 10T is official, and @henryrburrell has some thoughts about the tempting flagship:
"The OnePlus 10T is an affordable flagship phone whose fine balance of price and specs harks back to the plucky OnePlus of a few years ago. It skimps in mostly the right areas to deliver a phone with bleeding edge specs that undercuts the higher-end OnePlus 10 Pro enough on price to present customers with a clear buying decision.
The price just about undercuts the 10 Pro – and other Android competitors – enough to justify the 10T’s existence. If you don’t need wireless charging and a telephoto lens, the 10T will save you some cash.
The Nord 2T is also available for ÂŁ369 with the same rear camera setup, but if you want the very best processor on an Android phone right now and a whopping 16GB of RAM, the 10T is a solid all-rounder with a lengthy software promise, and is easy to recommend."
Full review via the link in our bio!
#tech #smartphone #oneplus #android #technology
The Google Pixel 6a is up for pre-order now, and it sounds like @henryrburrell is a fan:
"Despite the higher price than previous A-series Pixels, you’re only paying slightly more for the Pixel 6a, a superb mid-range phone with a flagship-level processor, truly outstanding main camera, 5G, the latest version of Android, five years of security support, and a more pocket-friendly design.
Downsides are the slow charging speeds on a phone that charges hot, the easily scratched rear plastic material, and the 60Hz display lagging behind similarly priced phones.
Yet, this is a Pixel, which means it has a superlative Android experience and camera with a software polish and premium hardware feel you won’t find on other brands in this price range."
Full review via the link in our bio!
#Google #GooglePixel #Android #Smartphone #technology
ZTE's under-display camera tech is visually impressive, but as @dom.preston found out, selfies still suck:
"Should you buy the ZTE Axon 40 Ultra?
If you’re not a selfie fan and you love the idea of an interrupted display with a few extra pixels of usable space, then sure. It’s not a perfect phone, but you can expect strong specs and a solid rear camera setup to back up that unique viewing experience.
However, anyone who expects to get much use of out of the front camera should really look elsewhere. This tech is impressive, and this is the best it’s been yet, but there’s still work to be done. In practice, this isn’t the phone for you if you ever choose to use your selfie shooter."
Full review via the link in our bio!
#tech #technology #smartphones #android #gadgets
The Red Magic 7 Pro certainly looks the part, but is it the ultimate gaming phone? @anyron97 has the verdict:
"The Red Magic 7 Pro is the most advanced gaming phone Nubia has ever made, but also the most divisive.
It offers stunning performance, thanks to Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, a separate dedicated gaming chip and generous helpings of RAM. The large, silky-smooth AMOLED display is a joy to behold, complete with class-leading 960Hz touch sampling rate.
Elsewhere, a hefty 5000mAh cell delivers all-day battery life, while 65W fast charging means you’ve got a full charge in less than 30 minutes. Even the rear cameras are impressive these days.
But it's that front-facing camera that will divide opinion. Embedded under the display, its results are demonstrably worse than a traditional selfie lens. Nubia's choice to drop the screen refresh rate to 120Hz also hurts part of the Red Magic line's unique appeal, compared to the 165Hz-enabled Red Magic 7.
Combined with a price hike, only the most dedicated gamers should pay extra for the Red Magic 7 Pro. Most will be happier with the regular model, or one of the growing number of alternatives."
#android #gaming #gamingphone #tech #gadgets
While the budget-friendly iPhone SE may seem tempting on the surface, @dom.preston thinks otherwise:
"The iPhone SE offers plenty of power, but I'm not sure why - it's the main area the last SE didn't need an upgrade.
Few will want to use all that performance to drive bleeding-edge mobile games on such a dinky screen, or use it for demanding multi-tasking.
Even the camera can’t take full advantage, with Apple arbitrarily restricting access to features like night mode and cinematic mode to drive demand for its more expensive options.
But, along with wireless charging, the A15 chip is really all the iPhone SE has going for it in the larger mid-range market – Android rivals at this price now offer similar software support, keep up with it on water-proofing, and surpass the SE on display quality, design, and camera performance.
If you’re happy with an Android, there are countless options available that will give you significantly better value for money, without relying on ageing parts to shave a few dollars off the bottom line.
So then the iPhone SE really only makes sense for buyers who simply have to have an iPhone, but can’t afford the step up to the 12 Mini – or won’t give up on Touch ID just yet.
If that’s you, then the iPhone SE will serve you well so long as you can stomach the dinky display, retro aesthetic and camera limitations – but I promise you, you don’t know what you’re missing."
Review via link in bio!
#Apple #iPhone #iPhoneSE #smartphone #technology
When it comes to foldables, @lewwypaints thinks @oppo has nailed it with the Find N - which makes the fact that it's not coming to the West even sadder.
"The Oppo Find N is the most exciting foldable phone that you’ll probably never be able to buy – at least without importing one from China.
This is a stellar attempt at a book-style foldable, with premium build quality that surpasses that of Huawei and Samsung in most regards.
The small 5.49in cover display provides a more traditional smartphone experience compared to comically tall alternatives, while also providing a smaller pocketable footprint.
The hinge system is robust and well-built with no visible gap between the two halves of the display when closed, and the expansive 7.1in internal display looks great with no noticeable crease when viewed head-on.
Throw in impressive performance, a strong suite of cameras, and multi-day battery life and you’ve got a stellar foldable smartphone. Let’s just hope it makes it to the West officially one day."
#Oppo #OppoFindN #foldablephone #smartphone #Android #tech
The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is an interesting concept, but is it actually worth buying? @LewwyPaints isn't too sure.
"If you like the idea of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8 but are put off by the integrated graphics on offer, the Asus ROG Flow Z13 may appeal to you.
The impressive internals – including a top-end 12th-gen Core i9 processor and Nvidia’s RTX 3050 Ti – offer a decent gaming experience in a form factor closer to a standard tablet than a traditional gaming laptop, offering a more lightweight, portable design that’s easy to throw into a rucksack.
The 13.4in Mini-LED display is much brighter than rivals, the design is intuitive and the form factor means it's versatile in use too.
However, whether the RTX 3050 Ti performance will be good enough in a few years’ time is yet to be seen, and unlike some gaming laptops, the components can’t be upgraded.
You do have the option to pick up the XG Mobile dock which brings not only RTX 380 power but more USB ports, display connectors and Ethernet connectivity for a more desktop-esque experience, but it’s a sizeable added cost on what is already a premium gaming device.
In all likelihood, the ROG Flow Z13 will be a niche product much like last year’s X13, but it’s refreshing for Asus to try something different to a traditional laptop with advantages not only to size and weight but elements like ventilation, which the Flow Z13 nails."
Full review via the link in our bio!
#laptop #gaming #gaminglaptop #pcgaming #technology #tech
Is the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra more 'Note' than S? @lewwypaints thinks so:
"There’s a lot to love about the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra; it looks premium, the WQHD+ AMOLED display is top-notch, the cameras are among the best around right now and, for the first time, the Ultra model has a built-in S Pen – just like the Note line.
This, coupled with the fact that the design mirrors the Note 20 Ultra more than the rest of the S22 range, means that the Galaxy S22 Ultra is a Galaxy Note in all but branding – and that’s no bad thing. The S Pen performance is incredible, offering lower latency than the Apple Pencil for an unmatched writing and drawing experience.
Despite Samsung’s work with AMD on the GPU of its new Exynos 2200 chipset, it lags behind near-identical Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 smartphones in benchmarks. That said, it’s not that noticeable in everyday use, offering a largely buttery-smooth experience when Instagramming and gaming.
It’s not the perfect smartphone – the charging speeds are much slower than rivals, the large dimensions will put some off and it’s very expensive – but the Galaxy S22 Ultra will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people."
Full review available via the link in our bio!
#Samsung #galaxys22ultra #smartphone #technology #tech #gadgets #review #opinion #Android
While TCL may have first shown off 'Project Chicago' back at CES 2022, Toddy was actually able to go hands-on with the TCL Flex V during MWC 2022, the following month.
The Flex V is still very much a concept device but proves that the company is seriously considering making its way into the foldable phone market. TCL's main reservation seems to be price, with the hopes of offering consumers a foldable phone at a more competitive price point, once the technology becomes more affordable to manufacture.
#TCL #TCLFlexV #MWC22
