entry-level phone
ZTE Blade A54 Review: An Entry-level Smartphone Below Tk10000
ZTE is known for being the parent company of Nubia, the subsidiary which produces high-end gaming smartphones. However, ZTE uses its proprietary brand name for all sorts of different smartphones as well. Recently, the brand launched the Blade A54 in November 2023. The entry-level smartphone brings a design overhaul with some interesting quirks. Let’s have a detailed look.
Key Specs of ZTE Blade A54
Design and Build Quality: Revamped Design with Same Old Plastic Build
At first look, the A54 looks much like the Realme GT 5 with its large end-to-end rectangular camera housing on the back. ZTE had a complete design overhaul on the A54 from the A53 as has been the case with all their models. The rectangular camera housing has a glossy finish whereas the back itself has a matte tone.
The smartphone has a 164 mm by 75.8 mm by 8.5 mm dimension with a plastic build all around. That brings the weight to around 185 g. The A54 keeps the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the dedicated microSD slot in place as is widely seen in this price segment.
Read more: Honor X6a Review: A minimalist budget-friendly phone with standard features
The plastic material is durable with drop and scratch resistance. The smartphone is available in three colorways, blue, gray, and lilac.
The Display: IPS LCD Panel with 90 Hz Refresh Rate
The display on the A54 is a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The water drop style notch and the large chin is a usual feature in any budget-friendly smartphone. The HD+ resolution comes in at 720 by 1612 pixels and 267 ppi density. The display fetches around 84.2% screen-to-body ratio.
There’s nothing really special about the display other than that it can get relatively bright indoors. The color reproduction is satisfactory with a slightly cooler tone. Viewing angles are passable with color shifts at extreme angles. Outdoor legibility isn’t all that great with the panel struggling under direct sunlight.
Read more: Infinix Smart 8 Review: Affordable Excellence in Entry-Level Smartphones
The Camera: Dual Camera with a Single Usable Lens
The main camera on the A54 is a 13 MP one with AF. The supporting sensor is a 0.08 MP auxiliary sensor which unsurprisingly, does nothing. And if an auxiliary sensor wasn’t a marketing gimmick enough, there’s a camera sensor-like design on the housing which is just printed graphics. Such design choices can be distracting for potential buyers.
The front features a 2 MP selfie shooter which ZTE claims to be “interpolated to 5 MP”. What it means is that post-processing can enhance the image up to 5 MP quality. The results aren’t all that great even in well-lit conditions. It’s disappointing considering even the most stringent entry-level smartphones these days come with at least 8 MP front shooters.
The performance from the main camera was as expected from a budget-friendly smartphone. Pictures taken under direct sunlight had good details but the dynamic range was average at best. Pictures taken at night or indoors had exposure issues and noticeable grain here and there. The warm tone pop was missing in photos captured by the A54. However, this feature is common on the average basic-level smartphones.
Read more: Lava Benco V90 Review: New Low Budget Smartphone in Bangladesh
The videography on the Blade A54 is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. But without any external stabilization, videos came out choppy and shaky.
Walton NEXG N25 Review: A Budget-friendly Smartphone with Standard Features
Walton is a widely renowned feature and smartphone manufacturer in Bangladesh. The brand has expanded its portfolio from home appliances to smartphones and has made its distinct mark as a local brand. Particularly, their NEXG series stands out for its design and durability for affordable price ranges. The brand recently launched the NEXG N25 on 21st January 2024. Let’s look at the Walton NEXG N25 phone's detailed review.
Key Specifications of Walton NEXG N25
Design and Build Quality: A match of aesthetics and durability
The NEXG N25 moves away from the traditional Walton design elements to embrace something new. The new design looks something reminiscent of the iPhone or the iQOO Neo series. The smartphone is made of plastic with a refracting frosted finish on the back and a brushed chrome look on the frame.
The dimension comes in at 164.5 mm by 76.1 mm by 8.65 mm with 196 g weight. There’s a sizable front chin on the N25 which might look out of place by 2024 standards. But considering the price range, it's an understandable tradeoff. On the positive end, there’s IP52 water and dust resistance on the N25.
Read more: Tecno Spark 20C Review: Standard phone under 15000 TK
Ports and buttons are placed in their usual location. There’s dual sim support on the N25 with a dedicated micro SDXC slot. There’s also a 3.5 mm headphone jack at the bottom along with the Type C port.
The Display: IPS LCD with 90 Hz refresh rate
There isn’t much to rave about the displays of budget-friendly smartphones. As usual, the N25 features an IPS INCELL LCD panel with a punch-hole camera on the front. The 6.6-inch panel has 720 by 1612 pixels for an HD+ resolution. In addition to the 90 Hz refresh rate, the panel boasts a 180 Hz touch sampling rate and 400 nits of peak brightness. The exact pixel count and screen-to-body ratio on the N25 couldn’t be confirmed.
For an LCD panel, the display has decent brightness, color reproduction, and viewing angles. The 90 Hz refresh rate and the color vividness alleviates the overall interaction with the display.
Read more: Honor 90 Lite Review: Performance within Budget
The Camera: 50 MP AI Triple Camera
Like most smartphones in the entry-level segment, the number of camera sensors is usually a marketing bait. The case is similar with the N25 as well. There’s a 50 MP f/1.8 main sensor with AF, and PDAF. Walton has also included basic features like BSI, Antibanding, and Touch Focus. But that’s about it when it comes to the back camera as the other two included sensors are a 2 MP macro and an unrated AI camera.
The front features a usable 8 MP f/2.0 sensor for decent enough selfies.
The camera performance, similar to other NEXG smartphones, is a hit-and-miss at times. The camera was able to produce decent results in good lighting with a slightly greenish tint. The details and dynamic range were also satisfactory. But under harsh lights, the camera fails to properly expose the subject and the background. The portrait mode also leaves much to be desired with edge detection errors here and there. Nighttime photos are riddled with grains and noises. The night mode however helps a bit with decent artificial lights.
Read more: Infinix Note 30 5G Review: Know the Pros and Cons
The videography is limited to 1080P without any form of stabilization onboard the device.
Processor and Performance: Decent Daily Driver with Bloatware Issues
The processor on the N25 is a Unisoc Tiger T616 2.0 GHz octa-core one. It is coupled with Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. On paper, the T616 is a basic entry-level Octa-core processor that is best suited for casual day-to-day use. The N25 also comes with 4GB RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. There’s an additional 4 GB of virtual RAM that can be accessed from the storage.
Games on the N25 performed below par. Titles like Free Fire, PUBG, and Asphalt 9 had a lot of flickers and stutters to make it a smooth experience. On the other hand, 2D and less graphics-intensive games like Temple Run 2 ran smoothly.
Read more: Symphony Helio 80 Review: Is the hype justified?
The N25 is using Dido OS based on Android 13. It’s a third-party OS with its own set of bloatware, which thankfully, can be uninstalled. The OS has some useful features like quick navigation through Smart Touch and ring light notifications. There are three distinct ring lights blended into the three back cameras which act as a notification light.
The processor and the RAM would have been better on the N25 as competitors like Xiaomi offer Snapdragon equivalence at this budget-friendly range.
Battery and Charge Time
The NEXG N25 comes with a 5000 mAh battery. The low processing power allows for a good battery life which would comfortably last all day in a single charge. There’s a 10W charging brick included in the box. However, the device can support up to 18W charging.
Read more: vivo Y17s Review with Price in Bangladesh
Pros and Cons of Walton NEXG N25
Pros:
- Good Display - Great Build Quality - Ring light notification - Great battery life - IP52 protection.
Cons
- Subpar performance - Average camera.
Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Review: What are the key upgrades?
Price of Walton NEXG N25 in Bangladesh
The Walton NEXG N25 smartphone is available for 13,999 BDT in Bangladesh.
Verdict
The NEXG N25 offers a good package considering the competition in the budget-friendly segment. An inclusion of 6 GB RAM, a periscope sensor, and a slightly more powerful processor could make the device a strong competitor. However, the smartphone still shines in its display, design, and build quality. For what it is worth, the Walton NEXG N25 is best suited for those looking for a casual daily driver for processor-easy tasks.
Read more: Tecno Spark 20 Review: Budget-friendly phone with a smart look
Benco V91 Review: Android experience at BDT 10000
Benco is a subsidiary of the Chinese electronic giant INONE Group. The brand has been operational since 2009 and specializes in entry-level to mid-range smartphones. Benco is getting popular day by day for their value-for-money devices. Recently, Benco launched V91 under their V series lineup. The phone is now available in Bangladesh. Let's check out the smartphone in detail.
Key Specifications of Benco V91
Design and Build Quality
Benco V91 is positioned as an ultra-budget smartphone. As a result, there are certain cut corners to accommodate an overall passable Android experience.
Starting from the design, the V91 is a major overhaul from last year’s V90. The rectangular camera housing with a fingerprint on the back has been replaced with a circular camera grid and a dual-tone finish. The fingerprint scanner has now been moved to the power button. The matte frosted back is made of plastic with the frame also following suit.
Read more: Honor 90 Lite Review: Performance within Budget
Dimension-wise, the smartphone comes in at 162.94 mm by 74.69 mm by 8.99 mm with 195 g weight. There isn’t any specific information on the screen-to-body ratio but it isn’t exactly pleasing. The front panel has a water drop notch display with a thick bottom bezel. It looks quite out of place by 2023 standards but that’s just one of the gripes of entry-level smartphones.
The smartphone has the usual ports and buttons with a dedicated microSD slot and a headphone jack. However, the secondary mic for noise cancellation is missing on the V91.
The Display
The display on the V91 is a 6.56-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel with 720 by 1640 pixels with 269 ppi density. The panel has 90.14% color accuracy which is on the higher spectrum among HD+ LCD panels.
Read more: Honor X8a Review: Is it a value for money smartphone?
The inclusion of a 90 Hz refresh rate is praiseworthy. The higher refresh rate alleviates the display experience and somewhat compensates for other lacking. As for the visibility, Benco didn’t provide any rating on the nits of the panel. But visibility felt alright indoors as well as outdoors. However, users would have to squint a bit under direct sunlight.
Overall, the panel won’t be a disappointing experience considering its price. The only drawback however would be its design.
The Camera
There is a triple-camera setup on the Benco V91. However, only the main 13 MP AI camera with f/2.0 aperture gets the specifications. There are two more 2MP sensors in the camera housing.
Read more: Infinix Note 30 5G Review: Know the Pros and Cons
As for the main sensor, it gets the job done for casual photography. Images had good details with an average dynamic range. There were a few exposure issues as the shadows became completely dark at times. The image quality also deteriorated in indoor and artificial lighting conditions. Pictures taken without the flashlight had noticeable grains in them.
There is also an 8 MP front camera which can take some decent selfies.
The videography on the Benco V91 is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. However, the lack of proper stabilization both internal and software doesn’t produce good quality videos on the V91.
Processor and Performance
The processor on the V91 is Unisoc T606. The octa-core processor is coupled with ARM Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. Both the processor and the GPU are entry-level ones with modest performance.
Read more: Symphony Helio 80 Review: Is the hype justified?
In day-to-day tests like browsing the web, watching videos, and browsing social media, the processor performed fairly well. There weren’t any noticeable lag or glitch and the 90 Hz made it a smooth scrolling experience.
As for gaming, the V91 isn’t made for graphics-intensive 3D games. Yet it was able to run games like PUBG and Asphalt 9 with basic settings. However, the device became hot after about 20 minutes of gaming.
One of the best features of V91 is its Operating System. Typically, budget-friendly smartphones tend to use the lightweight Android GO as their OS. Unlike them, the V91 comes with a full-fledged Android 13. Even though the OS uses a custom skin, there wasn’t any bloatware to bog down the experience.
Overall, the V91 was able to provide a decent user experience considering its price.
Read more: vivo Y17s Review with Price in Bangladesh
Battery and Charge Time
The battery on the Benco V91 is a 5000 mAh Li-poly one. It also comes with an 18W fast charging feature.
Pros and Cons of Benco V91
Pros:
- High refresh rate - Standard user experience - Headphone jack - Reliable battery life
Cons:
- Mediocre camera.
Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Review: What are the key upgrades?
Official Price of the Benco V91 in Bangladesh
The Benco V91 is available in 4/128 GB and 8/128 GB variants. The official prices of these variants are 9,999 BDT and 10,999 BDT respectively.
Verdict
Benco V91 is an incremental update over last year’s V90. It brings quite a few noticeable changes in terms of design and performance. The fast refresh rate and the easy-to-navigate UI make the V91 a perfect daily driver budget-friendly Android. However, the camera could’ve been a bit better.
Overall, this entry-level smartphone offers a standard package for regular tasks. It can be said that the highly affordable price of the Benco V91 can make it an easy choice in the ultra-budget market.
Read more: Tecno Spark 20C Review: Standard phone under 15000 TK
Tecno Spark 20C Review: Standard phone under 15000 TK
The Shenzhen-based Chinese mobile phone manufacturing company Tecno Mobile was founded in 2006. This brand is popular for producing affordable devices that offer reliability and durability. In this wave, Tecno released their new budget-friendly device Spark 20C in December 2023. Let’s take a look into the key features, pros, cons, and price of Tecno Spark 20C.
Key Features of Tecno Spark 20c
Design
The Tecno Spark 20C boasts a commendable display that enhances the user experience with its well-balanced dimensions. Measuring 163.7 mm by 75.6 mm by 8.6 mm, the device strikes an equilibrium between a sizable screen and ergonomic design, ensuring a comfortable grip.
The display, featured on the glass front, with a plastic back and frame. The combination of its design elements offers a substantial viewing area that creates a harmonious blend of form and function within an affordable price range.
Read more: Honor 90 Lite Review: Performance within Budget
Display
The Tecno Spark 20C features an impressive 6.6-inch IPS LCD with a notable 90Hz refresh rate, providing users with a smoother scrolling experience. The display's resolution of 720 by 1612 pixels and 20:9 ratio ensures vibrant colors and sharp clarity, yielding a pixel density of approximately 267 ppi.
The screen-to-body ratio stands at around 84.6%, maximizing the available display area for an immersive visual experience. This specification combination underscores the device's commitment to delivering advanced display features, including enhanced refresh rates and optimal resolution, making the Tecno Spark 20C a compelling choice for users seeking a superior viewing experience.
Cameras
The main camera of 20c boasts an impressive 50 MP wide lens complemented by a 0.08 MP auxiliary lens, ensuring the capture of sharp and detailed images. The inclusion of Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) guarantees swift and accurate focusing, enhancing overall performance. Notable features such as Dual-LED flash and HDR further contribute to a standard photography experience allowing well-lit and balanced shots in diverse lighting conditions. The main camera also supports video recording at 1080p and 30 frames per second, delivering stunning video quality.
Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K70 Review: Mid-range phone with flagship features
The 8 MP selfie camera, equipped with Dual-LED flash, caters to avid selfie-takers, ensuring well-lit and clear selfies.
Considering its price range, the Tecno Spark 20C offers a comprehensive and user-friendly camera system, allowing users to capture satisfactory photos with clarity and details.
Performance and Hardware
Spark 20C is powered by the Android 13 operating system. Its Mediatek chipset and Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU work in tandem to facilitate swift multitasking and efficient app launches, ensuring optimal performance whether engaging in video streaming, gaming, or handling multiple applications concurrently.
Storage versatility is a standout feature, with the microSDXC card slot offering expandable storage options. Complementing the generous internal storage choices of 128GB with either 4GB or 8GB RAM, the Tecno Spark 20C accommodates a wealth of apps and media. This configuration facilitates smooth performance, even during resource-intensive tasks.
Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K70 Review: Mid-range phone with flagship features
Battery and Charger
The Tecno Spark 20C is equipped with a non-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery. It comes with 18W wired charging.
Pros and Cons of Tecno Spark 20C
Pros
-Impressive Display-High-Resolution Cameras-Ample Storage Options-Durable Build-Long-lasting Battery.
Cons
- Limited Video Resolution- Plastic Build- No Mention of Water Resistance- No Wireless Charging- Moderate Pixel Density.
Read more: Walton NexG N8 Review: Budget-friendly phone with essential features
Price of Tecno Spark 20C
The Tecno Spark 20C has officially made its debut in Bangladesh. Priced at BDT 14,499, the 128/16GB RAM variant provides ample storage. Alternatively, the 128/8GB RAM model is available at a slightly lower cost of BDT 12,999, catering to those seeking a balance between storage capacity and affordability
Conclusion
The Tecno Spark 20C impressively blends essential features with affordability, making it a standard choice in the entry-level smartphone segment. Its standard display, refresh rate, camera system, storage, etc offer a reliable user experience.
The device's storage versatility, durable build, and long-lasting 5000 mAh battery with 18W wired charging enhance its overall appeal. While it has some limitations, such as the plastic build, low video resolution, etc.
Overall, Tecno Spark 20C's competitive pricing in Bangladesh positions it as a reliable and user-friendly smartphone. This device can be a good pick for users seeking a feature-rich yet budget-friendly option under BDT 15000.
Read more: Most Hyped Smartphones Releasing in December 2023
itel A70 Review: A standard entry-level phone
itel shares the same parent company with Infinix and Tecno. In a sense, the brand trio is known for offering standard entry-level to mid-range smartphones. itel particularly specializes in the budget-friendly segment with its range of smartphones. Recently, the itel A70 was announced on 30th October 2023 for a global release. Let’s check out how it stacks against the competitors.
Key Specifications of itel A70
Design and Build Quality
Itel A70 has a plastic frame and back with a front LCD panel. The front and the back of the device aren’t flush with each other which is a unique design choice on its own. The exact dimension and weight of the device couldn’t be confirmed but the thickness comes in at 8.6 mm. The frosted finish on the back and the iPhone-like camera housing give the A70 a premium look.
The headphone jack and other features come as standard on the A70. Overall the design isn't anything new, but rather a repacked version of a common entry-level smartphone design.
Read more: Google Pixel 8 Pro Review: Is this the best Android phone of 2023?
The Display
The display on the A70 is an LCD with 720 x 1612 pixels resolution and 267 ppi density. The water drop notch and the chin bezel are again something that’s very common in budget smartphones. The 6.6-inch panel has 500 nits of peak brightness and 60 Hz refresh rate. It performs well for an HD+ LCD panel with good contrast and viewing angles.
The Camera
There is a dual camera setup on the itel A70. Even though the back camera is arranged like that of the iPhone, one of the three cutouts is actually for the LED flash. The main camera is a 13 MP sensor with HDR and AI enhancement. The secondary sensor is a 0.08 MP auxiliary sensor.
Pictures taken on the A70 during the daylight are decent. Dynamic range was on the average side but there were good details on the subject. However, the image quality dropped significantly in low light as there was noticeable noise and grains in the pictures.
There is also a generic 8MP front sensor that produces good photos with AI enhancements. The videography on the A70 is rated to be 1080P at 30 fps.
Read more: realme GT5 Review: A gaming phone with high capability
Processor and Performance
The processor on the itel A70 is Unisoc T603. The octa-core processor is an entry-level chip that is designed for basic use. The processor handles day-to-day tasks like browsing the web, social media, or watching YouTube videos pretty well. The processor isn’t really made for gaming as there were a lot of heating and frame drops on 3D games. Considering the low processing power, itel has opted for the Android 13 Go edition for the A70. It is a lightweight OS with basic Android features.
Overall the performance of the itel A70 is satisfactory if the price is taken into account.
Battery and Charge Time
The battery on the itel A70 is 5000 mAh. There is an included 10W wired charger with the device. Expect to get an all-day battery out of the A70 on a full charge with moderate use.
Pros and Cons of itel A70
Pros:
- Stylish design - Dynamic bar - AI features on the camera - Good battery life.
Read more: Honor X6a Review: A minimalist budget-friendly phone with standard features
Cons:
- Basic Android experience - Below-par processing power
Price of the itel A70
Itel A70 is available in the 4/128 GB variant in India. The price of the A70 is 7,490 INR or 9,899 BDT (1 INR = 1.32 BDT). However, the official price is expected to differ once the device becomes officially available in Bangladesh.
Verdict
For a sub-10,000 BDT device, the itel A70 gets a lot of the things right. There are obvious cut corners in the form of processing power. But that is well compensated with a good display and camera.
It's hard to expect anything more from a budget-friendly device. For what it's worth, the A70 can be a great starter android for casual users.
Read more: Infinix Smart 8 Review: Affordable Excellence in Entry-Level Smartphones
Infinix Smart 8 Review: Affordable Excellence in Entry-Level Smartphones
Infinix Mobile is known for offering smartphones under affordable price ranges. The brand brought out another entry-level phone, the Infinix Smart 8, which is a successor of the Infinix Smart 7. It is a budget-friendly smartphone that comes with a range of essential features. Designed for users seeking a reliable device without breaking the bank, the Smart 8 combines functionality with simplicity. Infinix Smart 8 was released on November 11, 2023, in Bangladesh. Let’s see what features you will get in this device.
Key Features of Infinix Smart 8
Design
The design of the Infinix Smart 8 combines durability and functionality, featuring a glass front, plastic back, and a plastic frame. This construction strikes a balance between a sleek aesthetic and practicality, ensuring a sturdy build that can withstand everyday use.
The bottom part houses a mono speaker, along with a USB Type-C port and a headphone jack, providing convenient connectivity options. The right side of the device is equipped with volume keys and a power button, cleverly integrated with a fingerprint scanner for added security and ease of access.
Read more: OPPO Find N3 Review: A New Standard for Foldable Smartphones
On the left side of the phone, users can find the SIM card and microSD card tray, offering expandable storage options. With 4G capability, the Infinix Smart 8 not only delivers on design but also ensures a smooth and connected experience.
It comes with four different color options, including Timber Black, Crystal Green, Shiny Gold, and Galaxy White.
Display
The Infinix Smart 8 features a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720x1612 pixels, providing a satisfactory visual experience for basic social media consumption.
Notably, the display stands out with a surprisingly high 90Hz refresh rate, a significant improvement from the 60Hz refresh rate on its predecessor, the Infinix Smart 7. This enhanced refresh rate contributes to a smoother and more responsive user experience, which is particularly beneficial for tasks like scrolling and navigating through applications.
Read more: Honor X5 Plus Review: A decent budget-friendly phone
While the display may not be suitable for high-end gaming due to the device’s low-end processor and the Android 13 Edition, casual games like Candy Crush and potentially Free Fire can run at a decent frame rate. It’s worth noting that major software updates may be limited, but Infinix promises at least one year of security updates.
Additionally, the Smart 8 introduces a unique feature – the Magic Ring, incorporated into the 6.6-inch Interactive Punch-Hole Screen. This Magic Ring offers real-time information about charging status and voice calls, enhancing the overall user interface and adding a touch of innovation to the device.
Camera
The camera setup of the Infinix Smart 8 comprises a triple camera module featuring a dual AI main camera system and a single selfie camera. The primary rear cameras consist of a 13-megapixel lens with an f/1.8 aperture for wide-angle shots, complemented by a 0.3-megapixel depth sensor. The dual camera setup incorporates features such as Ring-LED flash, HDR, and panorama mode. Notably, the LED flash is ring-shaped, adding a unique visual element to the device.
The main camera is capable of recording videos at 1080p resolution with a frame rate of 30 frames per second, providing users with decent video recording capabilities.
Read more: DOOGEE V31GT 5G Rugged Phone Review: Sturdy mid-range gaming device
On the front, the Smart 8 sports an 8-megapixel selfie camera.
While the camera system performs well under sufficient lighting conditions, capturing decent photos, the quality may suffer in indoor or low-light settings. Despite this, the Infinix Smart 8 offers a functional camera setup suitable for everyday photography and video recording needs.
Performance and Memory
The Infinix Smart 8 is powered by the UniSoC T606 chipset, a budget-friendly 12-nanometer processor. Featuring an octa-core configuration with two Cortex-A75 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores, this chipset is designed for efficiency rather than high-end performance.
Infinix’s advanced RAM extension technology effectively doubles the initial 4GB RAM capacity, elevating it to an impressive 8GB. This enhancement significantly enhances the user experience, making activities like watching movies, listening to music, and engaging in daily tasks more enjoyable. The augmented RAM not only facilitates quicker booting but also enables the seamless operation of multiple applications simultaneously.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 Review: An Incremental Update Nearing Perfection
Further, the device comes with 128GB storage. While the Smart 8 may not be geared toward gaming enthusiasts due to its lower-end specifications, it performs well for everyday tasks and applications. To optimize performance, users are advised to install lighter versions of apps, such as Facebook Lite, Instagram Lite, or TikTok Lite.
Battery
The Infinix Smart 8 is equipped with a robust Li-Po 5000mAh non-removable battery, providing users with ample power for extended usage. The sizable battery capacity ensures that the device can easily last throughout the day, even for users with heavy smartphone usage patterns.
The inclusion of a 10W wired charging feature allows for a relatively quick and convenient charging experience, ensuring that the device can be replenished efficiently when needed. Additionally, the Smart 8 features reverse wired charging capabilities, allowing the device to function as a power source for other gadgets.
Pros and Cons of Infinix Smart 8
Pros
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner- 3.5mm Audio Jack- IPS LCD Display with 90Hz Refresh Rate- Android 13 OS- Dedicated MicroSD Card Slot- 5000 mAh battery.
Read more: Honor X8a Review: Is it a value for money smartphone?
Cons
- Camera performance is average- No 4K video recording- No NFC supports
Infinix Smart 8’s Price in Bangladesh
With all these great features, the Infinix Smart 8 is priced at Tk. 11,499.
Final Words
The Infinix Smart 8 emerges as a compelling budget-friendly smartphone and offers a range of essential features at an affordable price point. The device’s design strikes a balance between durability and functionality, incorporating a glass front, plastic back, and plastic frame. The camera system, comprising a dual AI main camera and a selfie camera, provides satisfactory performance for everyday photography and video recording needs. However, it may fall short in low-light conditions. The device’s performance, driven by the UniSoC T606 chipset, is optimized for efficiency.
Overall, for users seeking an affordable smartphone with essential features and a focus on practicality, the Infinix Smart 8 presents a competent option in the entry-level segment.
Read more: itel S23+ Review: Budget-friendly phone with AI-assistant
itel S23+ Review: Budget-friendly phone with AI-assistant
Ever since the itel S23+ has been announced, there has been quite a hype around this smartphone. itel is known for its smartphones in the entry-level to mid-range segment. The brand launched its S23+ on 19th September 2023 in India. Beyond the obvious confusion with Samsung’s flagship, the itel S23+ brings surprising features that are almost unthinkable in the budget segment. So what’s this hype about? Let’s find out.
Key Specifications of Itel S23+
Design and Build Quality
The design and naming philosophy of the smartphone can be considered a cosmopolitan mix of brand identities. The back looks like the iPhone, the front like Huawei, and a name that mimics the Samsung flagship, the S23+ has a lot going for itself.
But on a serious note, it is surprising to see itel pull off a sleek-looking curved screen device at such an ultra-budget price segment. The exact dimensions of the smartphone couldn’t be confirmed but the device is 7.9 mm thick with 178 g weight. There are two color options – Lake Cyan and Elemental Blue.
Read more: realme C33 Review: Key specs, pros, and cons
There is a large camera housing on the back that looks exactly like that of the iPhone Pro, except it is much larger in size and one of the arranged sensor spaces is actually dedicated to the flashlight.
The plastic back has a frosted finish that gives it a glass-like look. However, the main design attraction is at the front with the curved panel.
The scant bezels on the top and bottom along with the small punch-hole camera make the display look like an upper mid-range or flagship device.
Read more: Symphony Z47 Review: 90Hz Refresh Rate on a Budget Device
Another interesting feature is the in-display fingerprint scanner which is also uncommon in budget smartphones. Ports and buttons are as usual but the micro SDXC and the 3.5 mm headphone jack are missing on the S23+ which is a bit odd considering these are almost staple in budget smartphones.
The Display
The display on the itel S23+ is a 6.78-inch AMOLED curved panel with FHD+ resolution. The panel has a 1080 x 2400 pixels distribution at a 20:9 ratio and 388 ppi density. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The display is what’s usually seen on a mid-range smartphone. Except the S23+ is placed almost in an ultra-budget segment. The performance of the display has been pretty good. There’s a decent amount of curve on both sides but itel has optimized the OS well to ensure there aren’t any accidental touches. The color reproduction looked great with good viewing angles all around. There’s also 500 nits of peak brightness on the panel which makes it fairly legible under direct sunlight.
Read more: itel Vision 5 Plus Review: Standard Phone under Tk14000
The display of the S23+ has generated considerable buzz around the smartphone and honestly, the hype here is absolutely justified. The only lacking would be a higher refresh rate but its absence doesn’t take away anything from an already great experience.
The Camera
There’s a dual camera setup on the S23+. The flashlight is arranged in such a way that it might look like a triple camera sensor at first glance. The main camera is a 50 MP f/1.6 wide-angle shooter with AF. The secondary camera is a 0.08 MP camera. The S23+ is essentially a single-camera smartphone as the secondary camera won’t be of any practical use.
Even then, the camera performed pretty well. Pictures taken outdoors and in bright conditions came out sharp and crisp. The dynamic range was average and the shadow exposures were a hit and miss at times.
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Walton Orbit Y50 4G Review: Does it offer value for money
Walton has been a market leader when it comes to consumer electronics in Bangladesh for a long time now. The company ventured into the phone market almost a decade ago with its own line of feature phones. Over the years, the company manifested itself in the smartphone industry from entry-level to high-end phones. In line with their commitment, the brand recently launched the Walton Orbit Y50 on 27th September 2022 in the Bangladeshi market. Here’s a detailed take on the device.
Key Specifications of Walton Orbit Y50
Design and Build Quality
It's every bit generic smartphone design as we have seen previously from Walton. It is not necessarily a bad thing.
The dimensions of Y50 are 173.5 by 78.5 by 9.3mm. It weighs 212g including the battery. Not to mention the phone is a bit heavier than the similarly priced competitors from international brands.
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The Y50 boasts rounded edges with a texture-like plastic back and a vertical camera housing. The back also houses the fingerprint scanner, one that is increasingly becoming obsolete in the back position.
On the front, there is a glass display. the display isn’t rated for protection. But that is understandable given the price it comes at. While the bezels and chin might feel a bit thick by 2022 standards, it is what you get for what you pay.
All the other ports and buttons stay in their usual place on the Y50. The 3.5 mm jack has been housed on the top of the device with the sim tray and micro SDXC slot finding their place on the right of the device.
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Overall, the design and build quality of the Y50 won’t blow anyone away. But for its price, it’s a perfectly functional design with daily usage in mind.
Display
Walton Orbit Y50 sports a 17.3cm or 6.82-inch IPS V-Drop Display that features a 20:9 aspect ratio and 2.5D Glass construction.
The display of the Orbit Y50 is an HD+ IPS IN-CELL display. Walton calls it their full-lamination V-drop display. That’s just a fancy way of naming the TFT tech and the waterdrop notch on the screen.
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For its price, the choice of IPS IN-CELL is understandable. Walton did a better tuning with their display this time around as it looks much more vivid and sharp compared to other similar devices.
However, the viewing angles aren’t all that great. There are noticeable color shifts along with flickering if you view the display from the sides. The brightness levels are also average and even though the display is fully laminated, you would still see a strong glare under direct sunlight.
It’s clear that the Y50 won’t be the perfect media consumption device. But for day-to-day use, it will get the job done regardless.
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Camera
The Orbit Y50 boasts a triple camera setup on the back. Walton claims it to be an AI camera which is again, their fancy way of naming the object detection tech included in the main sensor.
Even though there are three sensors on the back, the main 13 MP sensor does all the heavy lifting. In fact, Walton doesn’t even provide any information regarding the accompanying secondary cameras.
Coming to picture quality, the pictures look sharp and detailed in outdoors and well-lit environments. The portrait mode also works well to detect the edges and properly expose the subject.
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But the problem starts in artificial lighting conditions. Even though Walton claims that the main sensor has a larger aperture, it still fails to properly expose subjects every now and then. This leads to underexposed and grainy shots at night.
The story is similar to the front 8 MP camera as well. It produces passable results but nothing out of the ordinary.
The videography of the Y50 is limited to 1080P at 30 fps. But without any internal and external stabilization features, the video ends up looking shaky and out of focus at times.
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Processor and Performance
The Orbit Y50 comes with an Helio A22 chipset based on the ARM Cortex A53 chip design. At its core, it has an octa-core chip design with 6 mid-range and 2 high-performing cores. The CPU is complemented by PowerVR Rogue GE8300 GPU.
The processor performs just as it does on paper. It’s a through-and-through entry-level processor designed for basic day-to-day tasks like social media browsing or YouTube. But does that mean you can't game on it? Fortunately, you can.
Even graphics-intensive titles like Asphalt 9 and PUBG run well without a hiccup on low graphics settings. If you go for more than that, the device will heat up really fast and thermal throttling will kick in.
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The device also has a modest RAM of just 4 GB with 64 GB onboard storage. Given the RAM capabilities, it would be best not to push heavy gaming on this device.
However, one of the positives of this device is that it comes with Android 12 out of the box. Even though it's not the latest one, users can expect to get the 13 sometime in the future.
Battery and Charge Time
The Walton Orbit Y50 comes with a 4200 mAh battery. The large battery compared with an entry-level display and power consumption makes this device good enough to run for 8 to 10 hours at a stretch.
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However, charging the device would be a hassle as there is no provision for fast charging on this device.
Official Price of Walton Orbit Y50 in Bangladesh
Walton has officially launched a single variant of 4/64 GB in metallic gold, baby blue, and pine green color. The price of the device is currently 12,999 BDT. However, the price is subject to change.
Final Words
Walton is a local brand and the Y50 is an ultra-budget device. Being a local brand, Walton can incorporate features and experiences on the Y50 which would otherwise be impossible for any sub 15K BDT device. So when you look at the features and specs, bear in mind the value proposition it brings to the table.
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The Orbit Y50 doesn’t really reinvent the wheel; rather it takes the existing features of a great entry-level phone and repackages it with a refreshed design. The battery, hardware, and software experience are definitely its highlight. However, in a classic entry-level fashion, the device does fall short in the display and the camera department.
So if you aren’t bothered by an above-average display and a mediocre camera, then Walton Orbit Y50 is sure to be worth every penny.
realme C30 Review: An entry-level phone with smooth performance
While the realme C30 was released in the international market in June 2022, it launched in Bangladesh on October 18. It is a budget phone for unparalleled performance in the entry level market. As a brand, realme has always placed the needs of the youth above anything else. In keeping with that, the company has debuted its latest C30 smartphone for young adults. This article will enlighten you on the features of realme C30.
Key Features of realme C30
Design and Build Quality
Like many cost-effective phones, the realme C30 has a plastic case with a plastic back panel. However, it has a sturdy plastic build quality, and the plastic feels very strong. The cutouts in the frame are well-made, and the finish is extremely thorough. All of the parts have been superbly put together. As a result, the phone appears tough.
In the budget segment, phone makers are starting to make eye-catching designs. For example, POCO M4 5G has such a funky design, and apparently, realme has followed in its footsteps. The company has a similar setup to the realme C30. In turn, the device has a unique rear that has an intricate pattern.
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The phone has a volume rocker button on the right side and a power button, while the left side contains a sim slot. The realme keeps the thin design of the C series with a width of only 8.5 mm and a weight of only 182 g, making the smartphone easy to carry around.
Additionally, the phone has a vertical stripe design which is inspired by luggage and comes in denim black and lake blue colors. The phone's appearance looks like a work of art, but one that gives away the fact that it is an entry-level device and has a single camera on the back.
Display
The realme C30's 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with HD+ (1,600 × 720 pixels) resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate are compatible with most other entry-level smartphones. It has 120Hz touch sampling rate.
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Today's entry-level mobile electronics are bright enough for outdoor usage and offer nice color reproduction for daily usage. And realme has also maintained this. Its level of brightness (400nits) makes it easily seen under direct sunlight. However, it does not produce the ideal colors, but it is good enough for average users.
You will see slight pixelation when you preview small UI elements, particularly if you are on the home screen of the device's Android OS and have pixels of 270 PPI. The pixelization is more obvious if you have already used it with a Full HD+ resolution. However, you cannot get better than this from a good entry-level phone.
Camera
The realme C30 lets you snap photos with a single 8-megapixel rear-facing AI camera featuring f/2.0 aperture, and a 4P lens.
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Its 5-megapixel front-facing selfie camera has f/2.2 aperture, and a 3P lens. That is typically what you get with any entry-level smartphone nowadays.
The cameras in beginner smartphones may not be capable of capturing the details, colors, or ranges to produce high-quality images. So, you should not expect too much in terms of photo quality.
You can record up to 1080P/30fps video using the main camera and 720P/30fps video with the selfie camera.
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Performance
The realme C30 uses an uncommon chipset, the Unisoc T612. Going by its specs, it was developed using an advanced 12nm fabrication process. It has two Cortex-A75 cores, six Cortex-A55 cores, and the Mali-G57 GPU. For an entry-level smartphone chip, it looks very promising.
On paper, the Unisoc T612 supposedly offers better performance than the MediaTek Helio G25, which is usually considered to be a very powerful option for an entry-level device. However, you can get high performance indeed.
The phone opens applications in a shorter time than most other entry-level phones. The credit does not only go to the processor but also to the UFS 2.2 storage, which is faster than the eMMC 5.1 storage that you get in most entry-level phones.
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The phone is capable of simultaneously dealing with multiple tasks and operates without a serious problem, even though it has only 2GB RAM. It offers 32GB internal storage that can be extended up to 1TB.
Software
The phone's software uses Android 11 GO Edition alongside Realme UI GO Edition customization. Many portions of this system are based on the built-in Android operating system, while you can customize some features too. However, the built-in elements look better than the custom features.
While the effort of fewer custom user interface (UI) elements makes the user interface look nice, the result also has an adverse effect. Realme UI may not be as visually pleasing as stock Android UIs, but it offers numerous benefits, such as the ability to use more than one instance of the same app, lock applications, change the design of several UI elements, and features that help make multitasking simpler.
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The realme C30 has all the essential apps preinstalled, but you can remove most of them if you want. The only app you can't uninstall is App Market
Battery
realme C30 comes with a massive 5000mAh battery. On a full charge, the phone can run for approximately 30 to 35 hours with around 8 to 10 hours of screen-on time. In addition to that, you can even connect to your smartwatch and other devices using Bluetooth.
realme C30's official price in Bangladesh
The phone is officially available in the Bangladesh market. You can buy it for Tk.10,000+VAT, which is a considerably cheap price for an entry-level phone.
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Final Words
Unlike most entry-level phones, the realme C30 can overcome the issue of slow performance due to its speedy Unisoc T612 chipset. The phone runs fast and smooth, which is a rear thing for a phone around TK10,000.
So, if you are looking for an entry-level budget smartphone with smooth performance for basic usability, the realme C30 is what you are looking for.