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itel P55 Plus Review: Budget-friendly Phone with Interesting Design Elements, Fast Charging
itel was a reliable feature phone brand in the early days of mobile communication. Over the years, the brand has produced a mix of budget-friendly and mid-range smartphones which are equally popular as its predecessors. itel launched the P55+ globally on 13th February 2024. As a successor to the P40+, the P55+ brings some interesting design elements and key features. Let’s take a look at the features, pros, cons, and price of the itel P55 Plus in Bangladesh.
Key Specs and Features of itel P55+
Design and Build Quality: A Touch of Faux Leather
The thing about ultra-budget smartphones is that the room for doing something out of the ordinary is quite small. Yet itel has taken up that challenge with its Power series. The Royal Green version of the P55+ comes with faux leather on the back which gives it a premium look. There are also Galaxy Blue and Meteor Purple colorways to choose from.
The P55+ is an all-around plastic smartphone. The frame has a bright chrome finish which might look a bit cheap. A brushed finish would’ve greatly complemented the faux leather back.
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The smartphone has an 8 mm thickness. The overall form factor along with an 187 g weight greatly aids in single-hand usability. It's great to see a budget smartphone that feels well-squared and compact in hand.
The power button and volume rocker are placed in their usual spot. The former doubles as the fingerprint scanner which was fast and accurate during the test. The P55+ supports dual sim with dual standby mode. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack along with expandable storage. However, users will be missing out on a secondary noise cancellation mic.
The Display: IPS LCD Panel With a 90 Hz Refresh Rate
Budget smartphones nowadays come with IPS LCD panels. The P55+ is also no different. Its 6.6-inch panel has a 90 Hz refresh rate. It sports a 720 by 1612 pixels resolution in a 20:9 aspect ratio ratio. The pixel density comes in at around 267 ppi.
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itel has done a decent job at reducing the chin. For a budget smartphone, the punch-hole camera and the overall layout don’t leave any room to complain. The display was sufficiently bright for indoor use. However, outdoor visibility might be an issue owing to the glare.
The viewing angles were also decent. Overall, it’s an okay display for the price.
The Camera: A Single Shooter Showdown
Even though there are two large camera housings on the back, the P55+ only has a single usable camera. The main sensor here is a 50 MP shooter with the secondary one being a 0.08 MP auxiliary lens. The front features an 8 MP selfie shooter.
itel didn’t elaborate much on the main shooter other than its resolution. From the looks of it, it's just another run-of-the-mill 50 MP sensor seen on most budget phones these days. What’s interesting though however is how it performs.
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Pictures taken with the P55+ came out on the saturated side. The colour popping in the images may look a bit artificial at times. On the plus side, pictures in good lighting condition came out better than most ultra-budget smartphones. The dynamic range was also pretty good in moderate daylight. The selfie camera performed well with good subject detection and focus.
However, the same didn’t hold in low light or indoors. Images came out to be noticeably softer with exposure issues. Even the night mode couldn’t make things any better.
Beyond that, itel has specific features like AI Clear Portrait, Pro Mode, and Time-lapse Mode integrated into the main camera.
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Infinix Note 40 Pro Review: A Mid-Range Phone with 108P sensor, MagSafe Charging
Infinix has consistently pushed its innovation in the budget and mid-range segment for quite some time now. Recently, the brand received the innovation award for its new battery tech at CES 2024. After considerable hype, Infinix officially launched the Infinix Note 40 Pro in the Bangladeshi market on 19th March 2024. Here’s our detailed take on the device.
Key Specifications of Infinix Note 40 Pro
Design and Build Quality: A Premium Look and Feel
Infinix has been consistent with the design language of the Note series. It is sleek, and innovative and has a premium look and feel. The premium feel is alleviated by the Magsafe-like case on the box.
The smartphone features a chamfered edge on the frame complemented by a vegan leather back. The curved front display also smoothly blends into the frame to create a unified slim footprint. The traditional flashlight has been replaced with AI-powered Active Halo. It’s like a small recreation of the glyph interface seen on the Nothing Phone.
Dimension-wise the Note 40 Pro comes in at 164.3 mm by 74.5 mm by 8.1 mm with either 190 g (leather back) or 196 g of weight. The front panel is symmetrical with a slight bezel at the bottom and top. The power button and volume rockers are placed on the right side.
The Note 40 Pro is also IP54 rated meaning it can easily withstand a light splash.
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The Display: Sheer Perfection from Infinix
Infinix Note 40 Pro’s display features a 6.78-inch 3D curved LTPS AMOLED panel with 1B colors and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Its display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.
The typical brightness of the panel is around 550 nits and the HBM clocks out at 1300 nits. In addition to the usual features, the display also incorporates PWM dimming for enhanced view in the low light.
The symmetrical outlay allows for a sizeable 93.8% screen-to-body ratio. The display sports an FHD+ resolution of 1080 by 2436 pixels with 393 ppi density. Additionally, users will be getting DCI-P3 wide color gamut support. The panel feels crisp and sharp with great contrast and viewing angles making it perfect for media consumption.
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The Camera: Leaves More to be Desired
Note 40 Pro’s primary sensor is a 108 MP one (SK5HM2SP03-FGX9). The bizarre name suggests that it is sourced from Samsung with 1/1.67 inch sensor length and f/1.75 aperture. There’s also OIS to complement stability. The other two sensors are 2 MP ones.
The front features a 32 MP selfie shooter that can shoot 1080-pixel videos at 30 fps.
Fortunately, the main camera does a decent job. Pictures came out detailed with good dynamic range. Images were slightly on the warmer side while shooting in auto mode. Pictures taken in low light weren’t all that great. The night mode is the saving grace considering the noise and grains.
Users can shoot up to 1440P footage at 30 fps from the back camera. The videos came out fairly decent thanks to the OIS onboard.
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Processor and Performance: Benchmarks Fall Short of the Price
The processor on the Note 40 Pro is Helio G99 Ultimate. There’s another global version that comes with a Mediatek Dimensity 7020 processor. But Bangladeshi users will be getting the G99 Ultimate one. It’s an octa-core processor with Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.
Helio G99 Ultimate seems a letdown in a mid-range phone. Especially, when competitors like Redmi 14C and Tecno Spark 20 Pro are providing the slightly old G99 at a much lower price point. The miniscule upgrade brought forth by the Ultimate simply doesn’t justify the price.
But beyond the benchmarks and prices, the Note 40 Pro would suffice for most users. 3D titles like Asphalt 9 and PUBG ran smoothly on medium settings. The device did get heated a bit but that’s expected from a mid-range processor.
Overall the processor won’t blow you away with its numbers. But for casual use and moderate gaming, it will be enough.
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Software: A Refreshing Take From XOS
The Note 40 Pro comes with XOS 14 based on Android 14. It seems like Infinix has finally listened to its users as the number of bloatware has significantly decreased. The center punch-hole camera now acts as a dynamic island which is quite useful for glance notifications and charging indicators. Infinix has also announced that the Note 40 Pro will receive two years of software updates.
Battery and Charge Time
Now onto the exciting bit. Infinix has decided to introduce its own MagSafe charging with the Note 40 Pro which they call MagCharge. It is a power bank that comes with the retail box. It can be magnetically attached to the included cover (MagKit) and recharge the device to around 50% on a single charge. It also doubles as a wireless charger when hooked with the included power brick.
The 5000 mAh battery can be wire-charged by the 70W included charging brick. The Magcharge when connected to the brick can charge at 20W and up to 7.5W while working as a power bank. Infinix also included their new X1 chip for superior charging optimization to safeguard the battery.
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Samsung Galaxy A35 Review: Does It Offer Value for Money?
As 2024 gradually advances, Samsung keeps on delivering remarkable devices one after another. On March 11, Samsung released this year’s first addition to its mid-budget segment, the Galaxy A35. The Galaxy A series has always reflected Samsung’s integrity and endeavor to offer the highest quality phones within budget. The latest addition isn’t an exception. But will the Galaxy A35 be able to meet customer’s expectations? Let’s find out.
Key Specs and Features of Samsung Galaxy A35
The Galaxy A35 has almost everything a user can expect from a mid-range Samsung phone. Nothing feels like a heartbreak so far.
Design
Last year’s Samsung Galaxy A34 received massive success for its stand-out features and design. Being the direct successor of the phone, the Galaxy A35 has been carrying great expectations ever since the rumors about its release spread out. So, how is it doing against all these expectations?
The most significant change the latest A series addition brought to its design is a glass back cover. It is the first time Samsung has introduced a glass panel on the back of an A-series phone. However, the main body frame is still made of plastic. The phone's overall look highly resembles the Galaxy S24’s and the concurrent release, the Galaxy M55’s. Among the three resembling phones, the Galaxy A35 comes at the minimum price.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy M55 Review: Here’s What It Offers
The 161.7 mm by 78 mm by 8.2 mm plastic body frame touches are polished, maintaining a smooth brushed feel. The 209g weight can feel heavy sometimes. On the right side of the frame, the portion holding the volume rockers and the power button has been nudged up. So that users can comfortably reach the button with their fingers. Like the Galaxy S24, the A35 has three distinct circular camera modules horizontally placed on the top left area of the back.
On the front, the phone keeps it flat and introduces the second satisfactory change to the usual design of the A-series phone. Ditching the ancient water drop design, Samsung has seated a punch-hole camera module.
Apart from that, Users will get a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on the screen. For the sensor, an in-display fingerprint with a fast response has been installed. Finally, the front of the phone reveals a noticeable bezel around the display, which is probably the only crack in the phone's design.
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Display
Like the Galaxy M55, the Galaxy A35 has installed a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display. Sustaining the well-established prestige of Samsung’s display, the Galaxy A35 surfaces crisp and vivid pictures. The touch response is adaptive and can reach up to 120Hz, the industry standard for a mid-budget phone. The only exception may be the Motorola Edge 40, which has used a 144Hz refresh rate without tripping beyond the mid-budget range.
The display supports HDR10, 1080 by 2340 pixels resolution, and 390 ppi pixel density. Assembled, these features demonstrate a high-quality display. It employs a 1000 nits brightness level, sufficient for a comfortable indoor and outdoor phone maneuver.
Among the market peers, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro offers a higher spec in a few cases, mentioning a peak 1800 nit brightness level, 1220 by 2712 pixels resolution, and 446 ppi density.
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Cameras
Camera specs are where The Galaxy A35 has deviated from the Galaxy M55. Both phones house a triple back camera setup and a single front lens. But the difference lies in the capacity of the lenses of the two phones. The Galaxy A35 has a 50MP primary wide-angle camera with OIS support. The other two lenses are an 8MP ultrawide and a 5MP Macro lens.
The front punch-hole houses a 13MP selfie camera, which is a far degradation compared to the M55’s 50MP front lens. At least a 16MP would do better if using a 32MP was impossible. Direct competitors like Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro and vivo iQOO Z7 Pro both have 16MP lenses for their selfie cameras.
Pictures snapped with the Galaxy A35 are of good quality and don’t fall short in terms of detail compared to its other market peers. Both primary and secondary cameras can record videos at 4K resolution. Indeed, it will end a sigh of sadness that Samsung budget phone users have been suppressing for a long time.
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Performance and Hardware
For the chipset, the Galaxy A35 uses the Exynos 1380 octa-core processor, which is explicitly powerful and uses 5nm technology. A Mali-G68 MP5 GPU supports the phone's visual processing tasks. Heavy gaming and video-consuming are possible without experiencing any lagging or heating. The phone offers three variants combining a 6GB or 8GB ROM with a 128GB or 256 GB internal storage. An Antutu 603441 and a GeekBench 2931 score demonstrate the robust performance capacity of the phone.
Users will get Samsung’s dedicated One UI 6.1 OS, a customized Android 14 variant designed to provide smooth and stylish phone maneuvers.
Battery and Charger
Samsung’s signature 5000mAh battery with 25W charging capacity once again takes care of the power supply unit of their latest A-series phone A35. A minimal-consuming session can run around 10 to 12 hours with battery support.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Review: A Budget-friendly Version of Galaxy S24?
Pros and Cons of the Samsung Galaxy A35
Pros
- Sleek glass back design- Punch-hole display for a modern look- Reliable performance for gaming and multitasking- Samsung One UI 6.1 for smooth user experience- Long-lasting 5000mAh battery.
Cons
- Plastic body frame- Lower resolution front camera compared to competitors- Limited camera features compared to other models- Not the highest refresh rate in its price range- Display bezels could be thinner.
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Price of Samsung Galaxy A35 in Bangladesh
The Samsung Galaxy A35 has been revealed in the USA market, and its price starts from $367.86 or BDT 40,356. (USD 1 = BDT 109.70). However, the official price of Galaxy A35 in Bangladesh may vary due to tax and other issues.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy A35 impresses by introducing a glass back design and punch-hole display on a Galaxy A series phone. It delivers reliable performance for gaming and multitasking, thanks to the powerful Exynos 1380 octa-core processor. With Samsung's One UI 6.1 ensuring a smooth user experience and a long-lasting 5000mAh battery, it's a solid mid-budget option.
However, the plastic body frame, lower resolution front camera, and limited camera features are notable drawbacks. Despite these, the Galaxy A35 stands out for its overall performance and design. Even with rough competition from phones like Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, vivo iQOO Z7 Pro, and Motorola Edge 40, the Samsung Galaxy A35 keeps the possibility of being able to shine in the market.
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Samsung Galaxy M55 Review: Here’s What It Offers
Smartphone lovers wait all year, hoping for Samsung releases. Samsung presented the latest Galaxy M55 in Brazil on 28 March. Fans are now curious about the features that the phone offers. Let’s take a look at what Samsung Galaxy M55 offers.
Key Specs and Features of Samsung Galaxy M55
Design
Up until now, the Samsung Galaxy M55 has been expected to match the Galaxy A55 in features and specifications. However, the reality falls further away from that expectation. With the Galaxy A55, people have experienced the epitome of design from a mid-budget phone. It employed a metal body with a flat look sandwiched with glass shields on both the rear and front. Whereas, the Galaxy M55 uses an average plastic body design with slight curves on the sides.
The Galaxy A55 gave way more premium feel compared to that given by the Galaxy M55. The phone is 7.8mm thick and weighs 180g.
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The latest addition to the M series has three protruded camera buckets on the back keeping the concurrent trend for the camera modules. The fingerprint sensor is located below the mid-bottom part of the display. Unlike the dual speaker in the Galaxy A55, the M55 uses a mono speaker.
Other specifications about the design of the phone appear to be as usual. A sim card holder is rooming two 5G sim nano sim cards or a single sim card and a memory card that can be expandable to 1TB. Minimal bezel, punch hole front lens, smooth volume rockers, headphone jack, and other features are just on par. For colours, Samsung has provided two variations- a Dark Blue and a Light Green.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy M55 boasts a 6.7-inch super AMOLED+ high-resolution vivid display. Users will have an experience of Full HD+ resolution. With a pixel density of 393ppi, the display will surface a lively and near-accurate projection of the objects. The display also has a 1000-nit brightness level, which means it will be sufficient to preserve a glowing brightness regardless of the indoor or outdoor ambiance.
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The Samsung Galaxy M55 has implemented an adaptive refresh rate feature. So, the touch response rate will adapt to a user's necessity and set itself at 60 to 120Hz. The display will give an experience similar to a premium phone.
Performance
The hardware and software used in the Galaxy M55 are noteworthy as they can provide a satisfactory experience. For the processor, users will get a 4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, undoubtedly a powerful engine, if combined with the right combination, capable of doing wonders.
Mentioning the combination, the Samsung Galaxy M55 has integrated an Adnino 644 graphics module, 8GB RAM, along with a 256 ROM. Together, the hardware unit can yield considerable performance. In the Antutu testing, the phone has made a remarkable 6.67K, which suffices the performance requirements for all high-quality games.
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There will be three variations of the phone- 8GB * 128GB, 8GB * 256GB, and 12GB * 256GB. In the software section, users will celebrate Samsung’s modified operating system One UI version 6.1. This version is based on the latest Android 14 OS. Samsung will provide 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security updates, meeting the expectations of people from a brand. Compared to the overall features of the phone, the performance of the Galaxy M55 is its most powerful aspect.
Cameras
If the performance segment is the most powerful feature of the Samsung Galaxy M55, which will be the second most satisfactory aspect of the phone? Without any doubt, it’s its camera segment. With a robust triple camera setup containing a 50MP wide-angle principal lens, an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro auxiliary lens, the Galaxy M55 maintains its dignity among all mid-budget phones.
Pleasing the users to their best, the Galaxy M55 engraves a 50MP frontal lens in the punchhole on the top-mid of the display. Both rear and front lenses snap quality photos.
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Video recording capacity is capped at 720p 240FPS for slow motion and 4K 30FPS for the highest quality. Another departure from the Galaxy A55 specification lies in the absence of Ai features in the cameras.
Battery and Charger
Mid-budget phones usually power themselves with a 5000mAh battery, and the Galaxy M55 is not an anomaly. Its battery supports up to 45W fast charging.
Price of Samsung Galaxy M55
The phone is officially available in the Brazilian market for pre-order. The 8GB * 256GB version of the phone comes for BRL 3,199 or BDT 69,912. The conversion rate here is 1 BRL = BDT 21.85.
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Pros and Cons of the Samsung Galaxy M55
Pros
- Powerful Snapdragon processor- Stunning super AMOLED+ display- Versatile triple camera setup- 5000mAh battery with fast charging- Long-term software support.
Cons
- Plastic body design- Lack of AI camera features- No wireless or reverse charging support.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy M55 offers a blend of impressive features and specifications. Despite falling short of some design expectations with its plastic body, it makes up for it with a powerful Snapdragon processor, a stunning super AMOLED+ display, and a versatile triple camera setup that captures quality photos and videos. The phone's 5000mAh battery with fast charging support ensures long-lasting usage, while its long-term software support adds to its appeal. However, the absence of AI camera features and the lack of an included charger are notable drawbacks.
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Walton NEXG N9 Review: Budget-friendly Phone with Decent Features
Walton, a leading electronics product manufacturing brand in Bangladesh, released the NEXG N9 in March 2024. It is the latest smartphone in Walton’s NEXG lineup. Refined in many aspects, the NEXG N9 appears as a next-generation effort from Walton under a budget-friendly price range. Let’s take a look at the main features, pros, cons, and price of Walton NEXG N9 in Bangladesh.
Key Features and Specs of Walton NEXG N9
Design
The Walton NEXG N9, a stylish smartphone, measures 170.6 mm in height, 77.6 mm in width, and 9.1 mm in depth, weighing 219g (including the battery). Its sleek glass front adds an element of sophistication. It is available in Mirror Black, Chrome White, and Mystic Cyan colors.
Elegance will be felt when the phone is within a grip as it uses a smooth glass back. A giant circular stage has protruded on the top mid of the back to room triple Ai cameras and a flashlight. The circular stage encompasses itself with a golden rim along the protruded part, and on its mid has an oculus branding.
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The device features the usual design, with the power button and volume rocker conveniently positioned on the phone's side. The tactile power button and volume rocker enhance the user experience, providing quick and effortless control.
Display
The Walton NEXG N9 boasts a spacious 6.82-inch (17.27cm) punch-hole FHD+ IPS display, measured diagonally for an immersive viewing experience. This expansive screen enhances productivity and multitasking, accommodating various applications and activities comfortably.
With a crisp resolution of HD 720 by 1640 pixels and a modern 20:9 aspect ratio, it ensures vibrant colors, sharp text, and commendable image quality.
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Employing IPS INCELL Technology with 2.5D Glass, the display guarantees standard color reproduction and offers a capacitive touch screen for seamless interaction. Its 90Hz refresh rate also contributes to smoother scrolling and improved responsiveness, enhancing the overall user experience.
Cameras
The Walton NEXG N9 has an impressive camera setup to capture life's moments with clarity and detail. Its rear camera features a powerful 50MP AI Triple Camera system, ensuring sharp and colorful shots with its wide aperture of F/1.8. With features like autofocus, LED flash, and various shooting modes, including portrait, video, and panorama, it offers versatility for every photography enthusiast.
The camera also boasts advanced capabilities such as AI scene recognition and digital zoom, enhancing the quality of each image. For selfie lovers, the 8MP front camera with F/2.0 aperture delivers clear and vibrant self-portraits, supported by features like face detection and digital zoom. With the ability to record 1080P Full HD videos, both rear and front cameras ensure that every moment is captured beautifully.
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Top Smartphones Being Released in April 2024: A Mix of Flagship, Midrange and Budget Options
After an exciting March release schedule, smartphone enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to in April as well. March saw most of the releases at MWC. The story would be more or less the same in April as well as Chinese releases in the previous months will have their global debut in April. With that said, here’s a list of the most anticipated smartphones to be released in April 2024.
Most Hyped Smartphones Releasing This April
OnePlus Nord CE4
The Nord CE from OnePlus has been the budget lineup of the brand for several years now. The Nord CE phones bring exceptional value for money like an ode to OnePlus’s early days.
We already have official renders of the new Nord CE4 on OnePlus India’s official website. The smartphone is expected to feature a 6.74-inch AMOLED panel with 1240 by 2772 resolution, 451 ppi density, 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR 10+ support.
The processor will be an octa-core Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 based on the 4 Nm architecture coupled with Adreno 732 GPU. Users will be getting micro SDXC support along with 8/256 GB and 12/256 GB RAM configurations.
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The back will feature two cameras with the main one being a 50 MP f/1.8 shooter. The second camera is rumored to be an 8 MP ultrawide shooter. The front will feature a usual 16 MP sensor.
We don’t have an exact release date as of yet, but based on rumors, it is expected to be sometime in mid-April.
OnePlus Nord 4
Another smartphone from OnePlus that’s expected to hit the international market is the OnePlus Nord 4. The Nord 4 will be the global variant of the already announced OnePlus Ace 3V.
By all accounts, the Nord 4 will share a lot of similarities with the CE4. But the former will have certain features to justify its higher price.
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Unlike the CE4, the Nord 4 will come with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor. It will also have IP65 water and dust resistance. The Nord 4 will unfortunately miss out on the extendable storage option. The rest of the configuration is expected to be the same as of now.
Samsung Galaxy M15
Samsung is gearing up with their budget and mid-range lineup in April. The first of the M series smartphones to hit the market would be the budget Galaxy M15.
The M15 will feature a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate, 800 nits HBM, and 1080 by 2340 resolutions. The 19.5:9 aspect ratio will boast 396 ppi density.
On the processor end, users will be getting the entry-level MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ based on a 6 Nm architecture. The octa-core processor has a chip design of 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55. The smartphone will come in 4/128 GB, 6/128 GB, 8/128 GB, and 8/256 GB storage configurations.
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There’s a triple camera setup on the M15 with the main sensor being a 50 MP f/1.8 shooter. The additional sensors are a 5 MP f/2.2 ultrawide and a 2 MP f/2.4 macro lens. The front will feature a 13 MP f/2.0 selfie shooter.
The expected release date of the Galaxy M15 is sometime in mid-April.
Samsung Galaxy M55
There’s a hard rumor going around about the new Galaxy M55. The initial idea that the M55 would mirror the A55 has been quelled thanks to a series of new leaks.
The M55 will feature a 6.7-inch screen with Super AMOLED tech onboard. That means a 120 Hz refresh rate and a 1000 nits HBM is on the cards.
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The Exynos 1480 found on the A55 would be replaced by a rather old Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 on the M55. The storage options will be either 128 GB or 256 GB with an extension of up to 1 TB.
The camera remains more or less the same with reduced ultrawide and macro capabilities and an enhanced selfie camera compared to the A55.
The Galaxy M55 will go live sometime in late April.
Motorola Edge 50 Pro
Motorola is gearing up with its flagship release of the year, the Edge 50 Pro.
The smartphone is expected to be powered by the new Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 processor. It’s an underclocked version of this year’s flagship 8 Gen 3. The smartphone is absolutely stacked in terms of storage as users will be getting options of up to 12 GB RAM and 512 GB of internal storage.
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The display on the Edge 50 Pro is rumored to be a 6.7-inch FHD AMOLED panel with a 165 Hz refresh rate. The smartphone will also feature a triple camera setup with the main camera tipped to be a 50 MP one.
The official India launch date of the Edge 50 Pro is set on 3rd April.
realme GT 5 Pro
Even though the realme GT5 Pro had its official launch last December, it didn’t make its global debut. Words coming from China indicate that things are about to change as the GT5 Pro may make its global debut sometime in April.
The smartphone is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 4nm processor with storage options going up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB internal.
Read more: Pros & Cons of Flagship Smartphones
As for the display, the GT5 Pro has a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with 1B colors, 144 Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support with 1264 by 2780 resolutions.
The triple camera setup features a 50 MP f/1.7 main shooter, a 50 MP f/2.6 periscope lens, and an 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens. The front camera is a 32 MP f/2.5 selfie shooter. For more on the GT5 Pro, check out the in-depth review.
Infinix Note 40 Pro+
Infinix Note 40 Pro+ will make its global debut sometime in late April. The news comes after the smartphone had its official Chinese release on 18th March 2024.
The Note 40 Pro+ will be powered by the mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 7020 based on a 6 Nm architecture. The storage configuration comes in a single 12/256 GB option.
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The display on the Note 40 Pro+ is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 1080 by 2436 resolution.
The camera on the Note 40 Pro+ is its key selling point. The main sensor is a 108 MP f/1.8 sensor with both PDAF and OIS. The additional sensors are two 2 MP depth and a macro shooter. The front features a 32 MP f/2.2 sensor.
Tecno Pova 6 Pro
And the last one on the list is the Tecno Pova 6 Pro slated to launch in mid-April. The news comes after the device was officially announced in February this year.
Tecno Pova 6 Pro is expected to be powered by Mediatek Dimensity 6080 based on 6 nm architecture. The storage option on the device will go up to 256 GB internal and 12 GB of RAM.
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The display on the Pova 6 Pro will be a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120 Hz refresh rate, FHD+ resolution featuring 1080 by 2436 pixels, and 1300 nits of peak brightness.
Pova 6 Pro will feature a triple camera setup. However, users will have the 108 MP f/1.9 main sensor only to work with, in principle. The additional rear sensors are a 2 MP depth sensor and a 0.08 MP auxiliary sensor. It also has a 32 f/2.2 MP selfie shooter.
Final Words
April 2024 is lined up with a lot of exciting smartphone releases ranging from flagships to mid-range to budget-friendly segments. Most of the releases have already been launched in the Chinese market as it always gets the exclusive first release from most local brands. Nonetheless, users will be getting a lot of choices in terms of price and performance match.
Read more: Most Anticipated Smartphones Coming in March 2024
Symphony Innova 30 Review: Budget-friendly, Powerful Camera Phone
Symphony Mobile’s latest addition, Innova 30, hit the market on 18th March 2024. The phone has struck smartphone aficionados with awe, unboxing powerful features and a premium look within an unbelievably budget-friendly price. As an expected consequence, doubt about the efficiency of these features has arisen. Is the phone keeping its promises? Let’s look at the features, pros, cons, and price of Symphony Innova 30 in Bangladesh.
Key Specs and Features of Symphony Innova 30
Design
For the look, Symphony Innova 30 has used a fairly trendy design with a 164.27 mm by 76 mm by 8.45mm flat, glossy body, rounded on the corners. A regular camera panel has protruded on the back to room three circular lenses and a flashlight, which has been a general trend for camera modules nowadays.
The back gives the feel of a glass-made frame and glows with a gradient multi-color shade when light falls on it from a certain angle. A plain, black logo of the brand name appears on the lower back.
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For the body material, Symphony has used reusable plastic, which has been renovated to look like a metal frame. The phone weighs 193g and may feel heavier than what is expected from a plastic frame body.
All the necessary buttons and ports are available. The SIM tray located on the left can house two nano SIMs and a microSD data card. The power button, located on the right, just beneath the volume rockers, has embodied a fingerprint sensor.
The phone's overall look offers nothing unique but a market-norm figure, most probably in an attempt to play safe, as the design has already been a hit among smartphone lovers.
Symphony Innova 30 has three explicit color variants- Reflective Green, Mirror White, and Space Green.
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Display
A 6.56” IPS HD+ screen is laid on the front to display Symphony Innova 30. With a pixel density of 269, the display emanates not only vivid but also colorful pictures, supporting around 16M colors. The display features Incell technology, which is integrated with multi-touch functionality. Maintaining an aspect ratio of 20.15:9, the display appears sufficient for giving a complete video-watching experience. It supports a maximum of 1612 by 720p resolution.
The display covers the whole front side of the phone, surrounded by linear chins and bezels. The thickness of these two properties is astoundingly thinner compared to other smartphones around the same budget range. The display also rooms a punch-hole front camera at its top center area.
Cameras
Symphony has put tremendous effort into providing high-end technology and hardware in the minimum possible budget with the Innova 30. But the phone manufacturing has outdone every other brand and model with the camera section of this phone.
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Equipped with a powerful rear camera setup, the Symphony Innova 30 boasts a 108MP UHD sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. Packed with features such as AI capabilities, slow motion, portrait mode, and night mode, it promises versatility in capturing moments. Additionally, users can explore Pro mode and HDR for enhanced creativity.
The front camera featuring an 8MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture, offers features like display flash and front portrait mode for quality selfies. With a zoom limit of 10X for the rear camera and 4X for the front, users have flexibility in framing their shots.
While video recording is capped at 1080p for both rear and front cameras, the Innova 30 ensures users can capture moments with clarity and detail.
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Samsung Galaxy A55 5G Review: A Budget-friendly Version of Galaxy S24?
The Galaxy A series has often been considered the toned-down version of the flagship S series. It has been Samsung’s reliable mid-range device that mimics the look and feel of the flagship. Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A55 on 15th March 2024 globally. As a successor of the A54, how does it stack up against its predecessor? More importantly, does it hold ground on par with its competitors? Let’s find out.
Key Specs of Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
Design and Build Quality
The A series has always been replicative of the S series. Users would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two side by side. The A55 follows the S24 with its glass front, aluminum frame, and glass back.
The frame has a brushed finish on the A55 which oddly enough, gives it a more premium look than the S24. The frame around the volume rocker and the power button is slightly raised which aids in the overall ergonomics.
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Dimension-wise the A55 comes in at 161.1 mm by 77.4 mm by 8.2 mm with 213 g weight. The overall dimension is a tad bit larger than last year’s A54. The front screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+, the same as that of the S24. In line with the flagship, Samsung has finally introduced a symmetrical display on the A series.
In addition to the highest 256 GB storage, the A55 also comes with a shared micro SDXC slot. There’s unfortunately no headphone jack on the A55 which was expected as Samsung stopped its inclusion in the A series. The A55 comes in Iceblue, Lilac, Navy, and Lemon colors which gives it distinction from the S24.
The Display
Samsung is often touted to create the best smartphone display in the market. The A55 stands up to that hype with its 6.6-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ panel with 1000 nits of HBM. The symmetrical display is 0.2 inch larger than the one on A54 with a center punch hole for the front camera.
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The resolution of the display comes in at 1080 by 2340 pixels with 390 ppi and an unusual 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The screen-to-body ratio has also seen a jump at 85.8% which is the highest among any A series device to date. With over 16 M color support, the A55 is one of the most vibrant and eye-pleasing devices in the mid-range category.
The Camera The A55 features a triple camera setup just like its predecessor. The main sensor is a 50 MP f/1.8 with PDAF and OIS. The secondary sensors are a 12 MP f/2.2, 123˚ ultrawide shooter, and a 5 MP f/2.4 macro shooter. The front features the usual 32 MP f/2.2 selfie camera.
It is difficult to differentiate the camera performance of the A55 from that of the A54 as both of them feature identical sensors. The pictures came out great in daylight with good color balance and dynamic range.
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The post-processing on the A55 seems to have slightly improved as it shows better exposure and portrait details side by side with the A54. The edge detection in the portrait mode has also gotten better.
Pictures taken in artificial light or low light suffer a bit from softness and grains. The night mode is stable in low light as it does an excellent job of capturing details and maintaining the overall sharpness of the image. The quality of the selfie camera is also as usual. It produces decent pictures with good details in bright conditions.
The videography on the A55 is rated to be 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30/60fps with gyro-EIS. OIS and EIS both work well to produce stable videos with good exposure.
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Infinix Hot 40 Review: Is It A Good Deal Under BDT 18000?
“Hot” series has been the supreme envoy of the good name of the smartphone manufacturing company, Infinix Mobile. At the end of 2023, on December 5, the company launched Hot 40. This gaming phone is now available in Bangladesh for an affordable price. Let’s take a look at the key specs, pros, cons, and price of the Infinix Hot 40.
Key Features & Specs of Infinix Hot 40
Design
The Infinix Hot 40 matches its Pro version in terms of design. Both phones contain themselves in a 168.6 mm by 76.6 mm by 8.3 mm body that features a plastic frame and a plastic back, while using a glass on the front. It is not quite bulky, as users will feel a weight of 196g, also not quite slander, on their hand while carrying the phone without struggling to handle or maneuver it.
The phone houses a massive camera module, reasonably inspired by the minimalism of the iPhone cameras, featuring three distinct lenses along with an LED flash. A subtle signature of Infinix branding is placed on the lower edge of the backing.
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Users will find all necessary buttons and ports where suitable. As usual, the power button and the volume rocker are on the right, and a SIM tray is on the left. The primary microphone, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the USB-C port with a speaker grille are placed at the bottom. The top gets a secondary microphone.
The selfie camera takes place in a punch hole on the top of the display, which is surrounded by thin chin and chunky bezels The overall design features nothing extraordinary.
Display
The front panel of the Infinix HOT 40 boasts a 6.78-inch FHD+ IPS LCD. It supports a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and offers a resolution of 2460 by 1080 pixels. With a touch sampling rate of 270 Hz, interactions feel responsive and fluid. You have the flexibility to adjust the refresh rate, either letting it switch automatically or setting it at 60Hz to save battery. Moreover, users can tailor the color temperature to suit their preferences.
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Noteworthy features include Eye Care mode, which maintains a warm screen tone to reduce eye strain during prolonged usage, and the Inadvertently Mode, designed to prevent accidental taps when the phone is stowed away.
Although the screen may not be as bright as some competitors, it remains acceptable for outdoor use. What it lacks in brightness, it compensates for with accurate and vivid colors. Additionally, the contrast remains consistent, ensuring a satisfying viewing experience from any angle.
Cameras
The back panel of the Infinix HOT 40 houses a triple camera setup, led by a 50MP main sensor featuring autofocus and an f/1.6 aperture. This primary sensor is complemented by a 2MP macro lens and a 0.08MP auxiliary lens. For selfies, there's a 32MP front-facing camera with an f/2.2 aperture.
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The 50MP rear camera captures photos with warm tones and decent detail, although colors may appear somewhat muted even under good lighting conditions. In low-light environments, image quality remains satisfactory but with reduced sharpness and contrast, typical for an entry-level smartphone. However, considering most users will likely share photos on social media, the quality should suffice.
The 32MP selfie camera captures adequate details, especially with the Beauty mode enhancing shots for social media sharing. Portrait mode effectively separates subjects from backgrounds, ensuring pleasing results.
The Super Night mode is a noteworthy feature, offering interesting shots with recovered details in low-light situations. However, caution is advised in tricky lighting scenarios to prevent overexposure.
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Performance and Hardware
The Infinix HOT 40 runs on a MediaTek Helio G88 chipset, accompanied by 8GB of RAM and a spacious 128GB to 256GB storage capacity. Users also have the option to expand RAM with an additional 8GB of virtual RAM for demanding tasks.
This 12-nm chipset is favored for its efficient cores and respectable performance in both entry-level and mid-range smartphones. The graphic unit sports a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU.
During testing, the HOT 40 proved proficient in handling everyday tasks with ease. It also demonstrated commendable performance in casual gaming and lighter titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Garena Free Fire, and Call of Duty Mobile game, running smoothly without noticeable lag or frame drops.
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While playing extensive sessions of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, the gameplay remained smooth with minimal interruptions. However, more graphically demanding games like Genshin Impact, while playable on lower graphics settings, may struggle with rendering complex gameplay effects.
The device excels in multimedia consumption, serving as a reliable platform for streaming shows from various apps. Notably, the inclusion of stereo speakers, though not delivering top-tier sound quality, enhances the overall audio experience with a balance of bass and treble.
In benchmark tests, the Infinix HOT 40 achieved respectable scores, reaching 275987 in the Antutu test, 430 for single-core and 1446 for multi-core scores in Geekbench 6 CPU benchmarking, and 575 in OpenCL and 1118 in Vulkan benchmark tests for GPU performance.
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iQOO Neo7 SE Review: Competent Mid-range Gaming Phone
vivo’s subsidiary company iQOO has had a reputation for producing value-for-money phones since 2019. In this wave, iQOO launched another gaming-centric device Neo7 SE. Recently, the phone had its global launch which brought it in the spotlight. Let’s have a look at where it can be the right gaming phone for you.
Key Specs of Vivo iQOO Neo7 SE
Design and Build Quality
There’s an obvious caveat of having a plastic build all around on a budget-friendly to lower mid-range phone. The Neo7 SE is also no different. The plastic frame and back have a mix of matte and glossy frosted finish which gives it a glass-like look.
The Neo7 SE comes in at around 164.8 mm by 76.9 mm by 8.6 mm with 193 g weight. It’s a relatively lightweight build with a considerably large footprint. The camera housing on the back is reminiscent of the Neo7 with the iconic squared cut. The front features a near-uniform punch-hole display with a slight bottom chin.
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Ports and buttons are identical to the Neo6 SE. Users will be missing out on the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the extendable card storage on the Neo7 SE.
Overall the design and the build quality are okay for its price. It matches the expectation for a sub 35K BDT smartphone.
The Display
The display on the Neo7 SE is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 12 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1300 nits of peak brightness. The panel has 1080 by 2400 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 388 PPI. The slight bottom chin accounts for an 87.6% screen-to-body ratio.
The Neo6 SE also had a similar spec albeit with a higher pixel density thanks to the smaller screen size. Competitions in this price point like the Redmi K60E bring higher resolution with nearly the same features.
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But as for the performance, the Neo7 SE holds its ground. The sharp brightness provides great contrast both indoors and outdoors. The viewing angles were great and the high refresh rate worked smoothly in day-to-day use. For the price, it’s hard to beat what Neo7 SE brings to the table.