After introducing the V21 4G smartphone, vivo just launched the V21 5G Exclusive Edition variant!
Here is what you need to know about the new vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition smartphone!
vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition : OIS Cameras FTW!
The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition is the ultimate vivo V21 flagship smartphone.
Built around the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, it offers flagship-class performance, with OIS cameras in both front and rear!
Let’s take a look at its key features!
6.44-inch AMOLED Display
The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition comes with a large 6.44-inch AMOLED display, with 500 nits of maximum brightness and a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
On top of that, its HDR10-certified display has a higher 90 Hz refresh rate, and is protected by AG Matte Glass.
Performance
The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, which is a new mid-range mobile SoC, roughly equivalent to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G.
It has two fast ARM Cortex-A76 cores running at 2.4 GHz for sustained performance, six power-efficient ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at up to 2.0 GHz, and a tri-core ARM Mali-G57 MC3 GPU.
Memory + Storage
The V21 5G Exclusive Edition comes with 8 GB of RAM, but has the ability to expand it with 3 GB of Extended Memory (virtual memory).
It also comes with 256 GB of internal UFS 2.2 storage, which offers 110% faster read speed and 95% faster write speed, compared to the vivo V20.
Its storage can be further expanded using a microSD card – shared with SIM2 in a hybrid SIM tray.
44 MP OIS Selfie Camera
The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition comes with a 44 MP selfie camera, with a wide f/2.0 aperture; and support for Super Night Selfie and AI Night Portrait.
This 44 MP selfie camera boasts two world-leading features :
its 44 MP selfie camera supports optical image stabilisation (OIS), which allows you to take super-steady photos and videos even while walking!
it is the first phone to feature Dual Selfie Spotlight, for radiant selfies even in low light conditions!
Triple Rear Camera System
The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition features a triple camera setup, that consists of:
a 64 MP main camera with f/1.79 aperture,
an 8 MP wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture,
a 2 MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture, and
a single LED flash.
The 64 MP main camera with a 4-axes OIS technology, allowing you to take photos and record videos with incredible stability.
Large Fast-Charging Battery
The vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition has a large 4,000 mAh battery, which supports 33 watt fast charging. And yes, it comes with the 33 watt FlashCharge 2.0 charger in box!
vivo V21 5G Exclusive Edition : Specifications
We created this table to take it easier for you to compare the 4G and 5G variants of the vivo V21!
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Kingston just announced that their eMMC memory has been selected to be used in the NXP iMX 8M Plus reference board!
NXP iMX 8M Plus To Use Kingston eMMC Memory!
On 8 April 2021, Kingston Technology announced that their eMMC embedded memory will be featured in NXP iMX 8M Plus evaluation kits.
Although Kingston did not reveal which eMMC part was selected, the picture they released appears to show the EMMC08G-MB29, which boasts these key features :
8 GB capacity
3D TLC in pMLC NAND memory
eMMC 5.1 standard
11.5 x 13 x 0.8 mm package size
They will be used as storage in the NXP iMX 8M Plus reference boards, which will be used for development and engineering verification.
NXP iMX 8M Plus : What Is It?
The NXP iMX 8M Plus is an application processor – a System-On-a-Chip (SoC) designed for infrastructure solutions like smart home, intelligent city and industrial IoT devices.
two or four ARM Cortex-A53 processors (up to 1.8 GHz)
a neural processing unit (NPU) operating at up to 2.3 TOPS
ARM Cortex-M7 controller (up to 800 MHz)
32-bit DDR4 and LPDDR4 interface (up to 4.0 GT/s)
dual image signal processors (ISP) : up to 12 MP, up to 375 MPixels per second
If you like our work, you can help support us by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI just introduced the MatePad T 10s – an affordable 10.1-inch tablet with 4G LTE connectivity for the family!
Take a look at the new HUAWEI MatePad T 10s, and find out what it offers!
HUAWEI MatePad T 10s : Hands-On Preview!
The HUAWEI MatePad T 10s boasts a 10.1-inch IPS display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, and TÜV Rheinland-certified Eye Comfort.
This display is enhanced by HUAWEI ClariVu technology, which automatically optimises colour, brightness and saturation. It also uses a Super Resolution algorithm to upscale lower-resolution content.
Build around the HUAWEI Kirin 710A platform, it comes with 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card (up to 512 GB).
Impressively, this affordable tablet comes with built-in 4G LTE connectivity, ensuring that you can stay connected wherever you are. Powering all that is a large 5,100 mAh battery, that supports 10 watt fast charging.
HUAWEI MatePad T 10s : Price + Availability
The HUAWEI MatePad T 10s is available for sale starting 10 October 2020, with this recommended retail price :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
HUAWEI MatePad T 10s : A Closer Look!
Let’s take a closer look at the HUAWEI MatePad T 10s tablet, and its key features.
Front Camera
In the front, it has a 2 MP fixed focus camera with an f/2.4 aperture. This camera supports 720p video recording.
Rear Camera
In the back, it has a 5 MP camera with a slightly wider f/2.2 aperture, and 1080p video recording capability. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with an LED flash.
Power + Volume Control Buttons
The only buttons you will find are the Power and Volume control buttons, both located along the top edge (if held horizontally) together with the front and rear cameras.
Ports + Speakers
The ports are all located at the bottom – a USB 2.0 Type C port, and a 3.5 mm audio port, next to the SIM tray.
It also comes with two Harman Kardon-tuned speakers, one at the bottom here, and one at the top.
SIM + microSD Card Tray
The SIM and microSD card tray is located at the bottom, next to the 3.5 mm audio port and USB-C port.
Unlike other tablets in the same price range, it comes with 4G LTE connectivity, and supports a single nano SIM card.
The MatePad T 10s only comes with 64 GB of storage, but fortunately, it also supports a microSD card, which lets you add up to 512 GB of additional storage.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
6.5-inch Infinity-O display
– Super AMOLED
– 1080 x 2400 pixels (~394 ppi)
Operating System
Android 10 Q
System Platform
Samsung Exynos 9611
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.3 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.7 GHz)
GPU
ARM Mali-G72 MP3
RAM
6 GB LPDDR4x
Storage
128 GB internal storage
microSD slot (512 GB)
Front Camera
32 MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture
Rear Cameras
Quad Camera System
– 48 MP main camera (f/2.0)
– 12 MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2)
– 5 MP macro camera (f/2.4)
– 5 MP depth sensor (f/2.2)
Connectivity
4G : LTE
Wi-Fi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth : BT5.0
USB : USB Type C 2.0
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, In-Display
Battery
4,000 mAh battery
15W fast charging
Dimensions
73.6 mm wide
158.5 mm tall
7.9 mm thick
Weight
172 g
Samsung Galaxy A51 Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A51 is available in three colour options – Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White and Prism Crush Blue, with a fourth colour option of Prism Crush Pink in some countries.
It has a recommended retail price of RM 1,299 / ~S$436 / ~US$314 / ~£242 / ~A$467. Here are online purchase options :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Samsung Galaxy A30s just received a nice 128GB upgrade for 2020. Here are the specifications, price and availability of the new Samsung Galaxy A30s 2020 smartphone!
Samsung Galaxy A30s 2020 Gets 128GB Upgrade!
Launched in September 2019, the Samsung Galaxy A30s just received a 128GB storage upgrade for 2020, effective immediately!
The Samsung Galaxy A30s comes with a 6.4-inch Infinity-V display, with a HD+ resolution. It is powered by the Exynos 7904 mobile platform fabricated on the 14 nm process technology.
It comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4x memory and 64 GB storage, with a 16 MP front camera. At the back, it comes with a 25 MP main camera with an 8 MP ultra-wide secondary camera, and a 5 MP depth sensor.
It also comes with an on-display fingerprint sensor, and support both Samsung Pay as well as Samsung Knox.
Samsung Galaxy A30s 2020 Specifications
In this table, we compare the improved Galaxy A30s 2020, with its 2019 predecessor :
Specifications
Samsung
Galaxy A30s
Samsung
Galaxy A30s (Enhanced)
Display
6.4-inch Infinity V display
– 720 x 1560 pixels
– Super AMOLED
6.4-inch Infinity V display
– 720 x 1560 pixels
– Super AMOLED
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung just introduced the Galaxy A10s smartphone, targeted at young Millennials.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy A10s, including its price, key features and specifications!
The Samsung Galaxy A10s Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy A10s (Price Check) is designed to target features that Millennials favour, including a very affordable price tag.
Millennials, for example, consume most of their content on smartphones, so the Galaxy A10s (Price Check) comes with a large 6.2-inch Infinity-V display with HD+ resolution.
They also play a lot of mobile games, and socialise on their smartphones, so Samsung gave it a large 4,000 mAh battery to last a full day.
To help them take better “Instagrammable” photos, its 13 MP main camera is paired with a depth sensor that lets you apply bokeh effects to your pictures for that professional portrait look.
Taking great Instagram selfies should be pretty easy with its 8 MP front camera, that has a wide and bright f/2.0 aperture.
It has just 2 GB of RAM, but comes with 32 GB of internal eMMC 5.1 storage. If that’s not enough, you can add a microSD card to add up to 512 GB of additional storage.
Its MediaTek helio P22 is a mid-range platform with old A53 CPU cores and an average GPU. Don’t expect too much from it when it comes to gaming, especially with 2 GB of RAM.
Curiously, it seems to lack dual-band WiFi or Bluetooth 5.0 or even a compass – features commonly found in other mid-range devices, and ostensibly supported by the helio P22.
This means it will have slower WiFi speeds, and will not come with an e-compass. GPS functionality is still there, so Google Maps and Waze will work, but they won’t be able to give you an accurate heading.
Samsung Galaxy A10s Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A10s
Model
SM-A107
Display
6.2-inch PLS display
– 720 x 1520 pixels
Operating System
Android 9.0 Pie
Platform
MediaTek helio P22
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (1.5 GHz)
GPU
IMG PowerVR GE8320 (650 MHz)
Memory
2 GB LPDDR3
Storage
32 GB internal storage
microSD slot (up to 512 GB)
Front Camera
8 MP with f/2.0 aperture
Rear Cameras
13 MP camera with f/1.8 aperture
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture
Connectivity
4G : LTE
WiFi : 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz only)
Bluetooth : BT 4.2
USB : micro USB 2.0
Dual SIM
Yes, Dual nano SIMs, dual standby
Samsung DeX
No
NFC
No
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, Rear-mounted
Other Sensors
Accelerometer, Light, Proximity
Battery
4,000 mAh battery
Dimensions
75.8 mm wide
156.9 mm tall
7.8 mm thick
Weight
168 g
Colour Options
Green / Black / Red
Samsung Galaxy A10s Price + Availability
What’s most exciting about the Samsung Galaxy A10s (Price Check) is, arguably, its price.
It is available with immediate effect with a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM 529 / ~US$126 / ~£103 / ~A$187.
At launch, it is available in three youthful colour options – Green, Black and Red.
Here are some direct purchase links for your convenience :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Here is everything you need to know about the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 smartwatch – the four models, features, and specifications!
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is a new active lifestyle smartwatch. Available in two sizes, it comes with a slew of healthcare and activity monitoring features. Let’s check out what’s new…
Four Different Designs
To cater to different lifestyles, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 comes in two sizes – 44 mm and 40 mm, and in two styles :
lightweight aluminium, with a casual Fluoroelastomer (FKM) band
premium solid stainless steel, with a leather strap
They can be further personalised with a range of stylish straps and watch face options.
Match Your Outfit!
You can now customise your Galaxy Watch Active2 face to your outfit of the day, using the My Style colour extraction algorithm.
Simply use the Galaxy Wearable app to take a photo of your outfit, and choose from five different colour patterns to change to a matching watch face!
Digital Touch Bezel
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 features a digital touch bezel. Directly turn the digital bezel on the curved display edge in either directions!
Your Wellness Compansion
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is designed to provide actionable insights into your health.
It automatically tracks seven types of workouts – running, walking, cycling, swimming, rowing, elliptical and dynamic, with more than 30 other workouts you can manually track.
It can also track your real-time stress levels through Samsung Health, and better analyse your sleep patterns at night.
Stay Connected!
Designed for a connected lifestyle, the Galaxy Watch Active2 keeps you connected on-the-go.
You can access social media content, and even video clips from your wrist. And if you are travelling, it supports real-time voice and text translations in over 16 languages!
[adrotate group=”2″]
Through Samsung’s partnership with Spotify, you can now enjoy listening to music and podcasts on-the-go using your Samsung account!
Galaxy Synergy
You can use its Watch Camera Controller app to remotely control your Samsung smartphone’s camera – to take photos, record videos, switch between camera lenses and so on.
And you can use the Wireless PowerShare capability of Samsung smartphones like the Note10, S10+, S10 and S10e to wirelessly recharge your smartwatch!
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 Specifications
Specifications
Galaxy Watch Active2
(44 mm)
Galaxy Watch Active2
(40 mm)
Display
1.4-inch (34 mm) Super AMOLED
– 360 x 360 pixels
1.2-inch (30 mm) Super AMOLED
– 360 x 360 pixels
Display Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass DX+
Durability
5ATM + IP68
MIL-STD-810G
Operating System
Tizen
System Platform
Samsung Exynos 9110
Processor
2 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores @ 1.15 GHz
Graphics Processor
ARM Mali-T720MP1
Memory
4 GB RAM
Storage
768 MB flash storage
Connectivity
WiFi : 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 5.0 + NFC
GPS
GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Sensor
Heart Rate (8 photodiodes)
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Accelerometer (up to 32G of force)
Gyroscope
Barometer
Ambient Light
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Xiaomi just launched the highly-affordable Redmi 7A smartphone! Here are its official price list, specifications and availability!
The Xiaomi Redmi 7A Smartphone
The Xiaomi Redmi 7A is their new entry-level smartphone, offering a major upgrade over the Redmi 6A.
It has a better design built around a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 platform, a larger 4,000 mAh battery, and splash resistance.
The Redmi 7A has a 5 MP front camera, with a 12 MP rear camera. It also has a 5.45-inch HD+ display, with low blue light eye protection certified by TÜV Rheinland.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 is the first mid-range Samsung smartphone to offer a large 6.3-inch Infinity-V display, a large 5,000 mAh battery and dual rear cameras at an incredibly affordable price.
Find out if this is the smartphone for you in our in-depth review!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 First Impressions + Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) is designed to be an affordable mid-range smartphone that offers dual rear cameras and a long battery life.
It comes in two variants – a base model with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, and a higher-end model with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy M20
Display
6.3-inch Infinity-V display
-1080 x 2340 pixels (409 ppi)
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio, >90% screen-to-body ratio
Operating System
Android 9.0 Pie
System Platform
Samsung Exynos 7904
Processor
2 x ARM Cortex-A73 (1.8 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.6 GHz)
Graphics Processor
ARM Mali-G71 MP2
Memory
3 GB / 4 GB
Storage
32 GB / 64 GB
microSD card (up to 512 GB)
Front Camera
8 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
Dual Camera System
- 13 MP main camera with f/1.9 lens
- 5 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 lens
Connectivity
WiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz only)
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
Battery
5,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
- supports 15 W fast charging
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) has two colour options – Charcoal Black and Ocean Blue. Which do YOU prefer? The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) was originally launched in India on 5 February 2019, in two variants :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 Up Close!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) is designed around a large 6.3-inch Infinity-V display, and a large 5,000 mAh battery.
This display has a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, with more than 90% screen-to-body ratio!
Let’s take an up close look at the Samsung Galaxy M20, and its key features!
The SIM tray is located on the left side, with the Power and Volume control buttons on the right. The 3.5 mm audio port is located at the bottom, next to the USB Type C port.
Samsung Exynos 7904
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) runs on the new Samsung Exynos 7904 mobile SoC.
With a 2+6 architecture, the Exynos 7904 has two fast Cortex-A73 cores running at 1.8 GHz, and six low-power Cortex-A53 cores running at 1.6 GHz.
It also has a dual-core ARM Mali-G71 GPU to accelerate graphics and games.
Memory + Storage
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) has two variants – a base model with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, and a higher-end model with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage.
There is considerable bloat though. Out of the 4 GB memory capacity, 1.9 GB or just under half is available for use. We definitely recommend going with 4 GB of RAM.
The operating system and built-in apps take up just under 13 GB, which leaves you about 51 GB of free space. In the base model which has 32 GB of storage, you will only have about 19 GB of free space to use.
Triple Card Tray
Don’t worry about running out of storage space though. The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) comes with a triple card tray.
This allows you to use two nano SIM cards, and a microSD of up to 512 GB in capacity.
Fingerprint Sensor
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) comes with a rear fingerprint sensor, aligned centrally.
V-Notch
Covering most of the front is a large 6.3-inch IPS display, which Samsung calls an Infinity-V display because of its V-shaped notch.
The smaller V-notch allows for a larger display area, specifically space for more notifications. Barring the complete removal of the notch, this is about as good as it gets!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung Galaxy M20 Cameras
Concealed within the teardrop notch of the Samsung Galaxy M20’s Infinity-V display is an 8 MP selfie camera with f/2.0 lens.
The front camera does not have a dedicated LED flash, but is supported by screen flash instead.
In the back, it has a 13 MP main camera with f/1.9 lens, and a secondary 5 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 lens.
The ultra-wide angle camera is really useful for certain shots. Let’s show you what the difference between the main camera (with a 76° angle) and the ultra-wide angle camera (120°)
Battery Life
We tested the Samsung Galaxy M20’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
Thanks to its large 5,000 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) lasted almost 13 hours! This is not just screen-on time. It’s running the Work 2.0 benchmark over, and over again, for over 12.75 hours!
Battery Recharging Performance
The Samsung Galaxy M20 supports 15 watt fast charging. Let’s see how fast it recharges its 5,000 mAh battery!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) took 2 hours and 3.5 minutes (123.5 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%.
This gives it a good battery life : recharging ratio of 6.2 : 1. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, you will need to charge it for 9.5 minutes.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung Galaxy M20 Photo Samples
Here are eight full-sized unedited photo samples taken using the Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US).
At the full 13 MP resolution, the photos are 4128 x 3096 pixels in size, with file sizes between 3 MB and 4 MB.
Click on them to expand – you can also download them to “peek” at the pixels!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) produced very good pictures, particularly when you consider its price point. However, you need to be aware of two issues.
Its wide aperture is great for low-light photography, but introduces a narrow depth-of-field. That means you may need to “help” it focus on your subject, or it will turn out blur – out of focus.
The other thing is that it requires some distance to focus properly. So macro shots will be a challenge.
Samsung Galaxy M20 Video Samples
Despite sporting a 13 MP camera, the Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) only supports 1080p video recording. Here are two video samples :
Video Sample #1 : Live Performance
The image quality was excellent, but it was painfully obvious that it was not even electronically-stabilised.
There were also some exposure issues – sometimes it was overly dark, and when we tapped on the subject to correct – the background got overblown.
But on the bright side, the audio quality was very good. It was richer, with a markedly widerly range, than most smartphones at the same price range.
Video Sample #2 : Auto Show
This walk around of a small auto show demonstrates just how important stabilisation is when you record a video.
We can understand the lack of optical image stabilisation, but why didn’t Samsung throw in electronic image stabilisation?
This is a real shame, because the image quality was good, even though there were some exposure issues.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Samsung Galaxy M20’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Samsung Exynos processors have never been particularly strong at work performance, and the Samsung Exynos 7904 is no exception. It was 13% slower than the Redmi Note 7 which uses the 2-year old Qualcomm Snapdragon 660.
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We then tested the Samsung Galaxy M20’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
The Samsung Exynos 7904 was not fast at games either, with its dual-core ARM Mali-G71 GPU.
It was actually half as fast as the Redmi Note 7 which uses the 2-year old Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It was closest in performance to the OPPO R17 Pro, which uses the MediaTek Helio P60.
Our Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) is an interesting mid-range contender. It comes with a large 6.3-inch Full HD+ display and a large 5,000 mAh battery to keep it going for hours and hours…
It also comes with a nice complement of cameras. Its 8 MP front camera boasts a fast, bright f/2.0 lens. In the back, it has an excellent 13 MP main camera, with a very useful secondary ultra-wide angle 5 MP camera.
However, its muted colour makes its chassis look like a budget device, a far cry from the premium look of the cheaperRealme 3!
We also wish Samsung added electronic image stabilisation to their camera. It would have made the Galaxy M20 (MY | US) a more compelling device. After all, the Redmi Note 7 offers electronically-stabilised video recording at the same price point!
The Samsung Galaxy M20 (MY | US) is a good effort by Samsung to defend its lower mid-range market share. However, it will find strong headwinds from Chinese smartphones like the Redmi Note 7 and the Realme 3.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
There is a new Entry-Level King in town – the Realme C2 smartphone! Here is everything you need to know about the latest entry-level smartphone from Realme!
The Realme C2 Smartphone
The Realme C2 is an evolutionary upgrade of the Realme C1, which decimated the entry-level market last year.
Dewdrop Display
The Realme C1 had a 6.2-inch notched display. The Realme C2 comes with a 6.1-inch dewdrop display, with a slightly wider resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels and aspect ratio of 19.5:9
Faster 12 nm Mobile SoC
The Realme C2 runs on a faster MediaTek Helio P22 mobile SoC. More importantly, the Helio P22 was built on the 12 nm process technology, which makes it more power-efficient.
Smudge-Free Chassis
Realme maintained the same diamond-cut chassis design, but upgraded it with a smudge-free treatment. It is offered in the same two colours – Black and Blue.
Smaller Battery
Thanks to its more power-efficient SoC, the Realme 2 comes with a slightly smaller 4,000 mAh battery.
Front + Rear Cameras
The Realme C2 maintains the same 5 MP front camera, as well as the 13 MP + 2 MP dual-lens camera in the back.
Realme C2 Specifications Compared
In this table, we compare the specifications of the Realme C2 against the Realme C1.
Specifications
Realme C2
Realme C1
Display
6.1-inch dewdrop display
- 720 x 1560 pixels
- 89.35% screen ratio
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The new Realme 3 smartphone is here! It boasts a new design, new cameras, and a more powerful processor – all at an INCREDIBLE PRICE!
Find out what the Realme 3 offers over its predecessor, and why we gave it out Reviewer’s Choice Award!
The Official Realme 3 Tech Briefing
Let’s start off with the official Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) tech briefing!
India + International Variants
Before we kick off the preview, we need point out that there are two Realme 3 variants. Internationally, it runs on the MediaTek Helio P60. Yes, the same mobile SoC used in the far pricier OPPO F9.
The Indian variant though runs on the faster MediaTek Helio P70 mobile SoC. What’s different?
Its four high-speed ARM Cortex-A73 cores run 2.1 GHz, instead of 2.0 GHz
Its ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU runs at 900 MHz, instead of 800 MHz
Basically, the Helio P70 variant has a slightly faster CPU, with a GPU that is said to be 13% faster.
Realme 3 Colour Options
Globally, there are three colour options – Radiant Blue, Dynamic Black and Classic Black. However, here in Malaysia, they are only bringing in the Radiant Blue and Dynamic Black, which are 3D gradient colours.
The Radiant Blue colour combines semi-transparent blue-green colours with a silver mirror reflective layer.
The Dynamic Black colour, on the other hand, is created by black and blue painting in three separate spray and bake sessions, with pearl powder added to add depth.
Realme 3 Price List + Deals
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) will be available in two configurations, from 6 April 2019 onwards.
Let’s take a look at the box and unbox it to see what’s inside!
When you fully unbox it, you will find the following items :
One Realme 3 smartphone, wrapped in plastic
One Realme 3 clear TPU bumper case
One set of Realme 3 documents
10 watt Realme fast USB charger
One micro USB data and power cable
One SIM tray extractor pin
We really like its bundled bumper case, and highly recommend that you use it. It provides a thick protective border along all sides of the display. It is also thick enough to protect the camera bump.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Realme 3 Smartphone Up Close!
Evolving from last year’s Realme 2, the Realme 3 uses the same form factor.. In fact, it is just 0.1 mm shorter, and 0.1 mm thicker – virtually similar in size!
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) retained the 6.2-inch display, with the same resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels. The display notch has, however, been replaced with a smaller dewdrop notch.
Realme also added Gorilla Glass protection, although we are not sure what version they used. Most of what’s changed is literally under the hood.
On the left side, you will find the SIM tray positioned right above the two Volume buttons.
The Power button is located on the right side.
Realme chose to stick with the old micro USB port, probably to ensure compatibility with older cables and devices. The new bidirectional USB Type C port is, frankly, far more convenient to use. We are glad to see the 3.5 mm audio port though.
The only microphones we spotted are here – between the audio port and micro USB port. It looks like it may lack noise cancellation capabilities. The longer row of ports are the speaker ports.
Setting Up The Realme 3 Smartphone
It’s really easy to setup the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB). After all, it is running on the new Android 9.0 Pie. It should take you no more than 5 minutes to set it up as a new device.
Realme 3 Specifications Compared
We created this table to show you the differences between the Indian and International variants. You can also compare them against last year’s Realme 2 smartphone.
Specifications
Realme 3 (India)
Realme 3 (International)
Realme 2
Display
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass
Corning Gorilla Glass
NA
Operating System
Android 9.0 with ColorOS 6.0
Android 9.0 with ColorOS 6.0
Android 8.1 with ColorOS 5.1
Platform
MediaTek Helio P70
MediaTek Helio P60
Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.1 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Dewdrop Notch Display
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB)has a 6.21-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels, like the Realme 2.
But Realme upgraded it with a dewdrop notch, and added Gorilla Glass protection. This gives it a distinct advantage over smartphones at the similar price range, like the HONOR 8C.
Thanks to the smaller notch, there is a lot more space for your notifications. It also increases the screen-to-body ratio to 88.3%.
A Big Boost In Performance!
The last generation Realme 2 used the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, which is a decent mid-range mobile SoC.
This year, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) gets a big performance boost in the form of the MediaTek Helio P60.
It boasts four high-speed ARM Cortex-A73 cores and four low-power ARM Cortex-A53 cores – all running at 2.0 GHz. In addition, it has a faster ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU running at 800 MHz.
On top of that, the Helio P60 is fabricated on the newer 12 nm FinFET process technology. This means a significantly lower power consumption, and thermal output.
The MediaTek Helio P60 modem supports LTE Cat7 (300 Mbps) download and LTE Cat13 (150 Mbps) upload, as well as 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
Memory + Storage
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) comes with 4 GB of RAM with 2.25 GB of free memory to use. If you opt for the 3 GB model, you will probably have 1.25 GB of available memory to use. That’s still more RAM than entry-level smartphones come with!
The base model comes with 32 GB of storage., Our higher-end model comes with 64 GB, of which 48 GB or 75% is free to use.
This is enough space to store about 13,000 photos or 6 hours of 1080p videos.
MicroSD + SIM Card Tray
If you don’t find 64 GB of storage sufficient, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) comes with a dedicated microSD card slot that supports up to 256 GB of additional storage.
Even if you don’t use that much storage, using a microSD card will help protect your data in the event the phone is damaged or destroyed.
Those who need dual SIM capability will be delighted to know the Realme 3 comes with two dedicated nano SIM slots. So you can use two SIM cards together with a microSD card. This is as good as it gets!
Fingerprint Sensor
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) retained the same rear fingerprint sensor as the Realme 2. It is fast and accurate, taking only about a dozen finger presses to register.
The Realme 3 also supports basic facial recognition using the front camera. It is certainly convenient, but for those who are security conscious, we recommend sticking with the fingerprint sensor.
Aesthetics
Despite its very modest price point, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) looks premium, thanks to its injection-moulded unibody with curved edges and a really beautiful gradient colour scheme.
This combination of a curvy silhouette and gradient colours, with a mirror-like finish gives the Realme 3 a really premium look and feel.
Realme offers a classic Black option in some countries, but most countries will have two 3D gradient colour options – Dynamic Black and Radiant Blue.
The Radiant Blue colour combines semi-transparent blue-green colours with a silver mirror reflective layer.
The Dynamic Black colour, on the other hand, is created by black and blue painting in three separate spray and bake sessions, with pearl powder added to add depth.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Better Cameras
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) has a new 13 MP main camera with a new, brighter f/1.8 lens. While it is still a 13 MP sensor, this sensor has larger 1.12 µm pixels.
The brighter lens and larger pixels will deliver better low-light performance with lower noise levels.
In addition, this new camera now supports 90 fps slow-motion video recording at the 720p resolution.
Like the Realme 2, it is still paired with a 2 MP depth sensor, and supported by a single LED flash.
The depth sensor does not actually take any pictures. Instead, it lets the camera to more accurately differentiate the subject from its background, allowing for more realistic software bokeh effects..
The front camera has been upgraded with a higher-resolution 13 MP sensor with a brighter f/2.0 lens. The Realme 2, you may recall, has an 8 MP front camera with f/2.2 lens.
Nightscape Mode
For the first time at this price range, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) camera has a Nightscape mode.
Like the HDR feature, it takes multiple shots in quick succession and combine them for a brighter scene, and to bring out the details in the shadows.
Nightscape goes beyond, applying a combination of AI and anti-shake algorithms to dramatically increase exposure in extremely dim lighting, while keeping noise under control.
Chroma Boost Mode
Also new to this price range is the Realme 3’s Chroma Boost mode. It is similar to the Scene Optimiser feature in flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S10+ or the Samsung Galaxy Note9.
It uses AI algorithms to recognise scenes in a photo, and automatically optimise the photo’s colour, dynamic range and detail. The resulting pictures have greater dynamic range and have more vivid colours.
Ergonomics
Despite its large display size, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) is just 75.6 mm wide, and 156.1 mm tall. Thanks to its narrow bezels and dewdrop notch, it feels relatively compact in the hand.
Even though it only delivers a HD+ resolution on such a large screen, the icons and text look sharp and crisp. Realme did not reveal its maximum brightness, but it held up well in bright sunlight.
The ultra-wide aspect ratio is great for playing games, but you will have to live with some pillarboxing– a black bar on each side of a movie.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Realme 3 Camera Performance – Photo Samples
The Realme 3’s main camera has a new 13 MP sensor with larger 1.12 µm pixels. In addition, it is paired with brighter f//1.8 lens usually found in flagship-class smartphones.
The maximum 13 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio. The photos are 4160 x 3120 pixels in size; with a file size of between 3 MB and 4 MB.
Here are 12 high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos. You can also download them to examine up close.
Despite its modest price point, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) is delivering close to flagship-class photos. Blow up the picture to 100% and marvel at the detail the sensor captured.
Even without using its Chroma Boost feature, the camera is already capable of producing remarkably vivid colours.
We have to point out though that the camera is not great for macros. It has trouble focusing at short distances. But you can get pretty good results if you are careful about the focus distance.
The bright f/1.8 aperture naturally creates a narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But for the ultimate bokeh effect, you should leverage its Portrait mode, which leverages its depth sensor to separate the subject from the background and lets you create really nice bokeh for the background.
Realme 3 Camera Performance – Video Samples
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) only supports 1080p video recording from both the front and rear cameras. Here are two video samples.
Video Sample #1 : Piano Performance
When you play the video, you will notice that it lacks both optical and electronic stabilisation. So if you can afford it, get a gimbal. It will iron out this problem.
Later in the video, you will see us zoom in and out. The Realme 3 does not have a zoom lens, but it has a 2X software zoom button. However, we don’t recommend using it because it seems to have focus issues.
In this video, you can clearly see that there is no stabilisation of any kind. So make sure you get a gimbal if you want to do serious video recording.
You can also clearly hear the background buzz we were talking about in the previous video. That’s not wind noise, because we are not moving that fast. It’s just ever-present in the video, even when we paused for a moment.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Realme 3’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) did very well in this test. Its MediaTek Helio P60 virtually matched the flagship-class Kirin 970 powering the HONOR Play.
It was 13% faster than the far more expensive OPPO R17 Pro, and 35% faster than the Galaxy A7 2018 smartphones!
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the Realme 3’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) also delivered good gaming performance. It was 36% slower than the HONOR Play which boasts the flagship-class Kirin 970 mobile SoC.
On the other hand, it was 32% faster than the OPPO R17 Pro and Galaxy A7 2018,, which are both more expensive mid-range smartphones!
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the Realme 3’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
Thanks to its large battery, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) delivered a good battery life of 10.5 hours. Note that this is not just screen-on time. It’s running the Work 2.0 benchmark over, and over again, for 10.5 hours!
That said, it is the least efficient model in this comparison, using 6% more power than the HONOR Play, 28.5% more than the OPPO R17 Pro, and 38% more than the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018.
Battery Recharging Performance
The Realme 3 comes with a 10 watt fast charger. Let’s take a look at how fast it recharges the 4,230 mAh battery.
The Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) took 3 hours and 10 minutes (190 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This is not very good performance for a 10 watt charger, because the Galaxy A7 2018 recharges 29% faster with its less powerful 7.75 watt charger.
Its battery life : recharging ratio of 3.3 : 1 is also below average. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, you’ll need to charge it for 18 minutes.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Our Verdict + Award!
Since its inception, Realme has shocked the industry with their ability and willingness to push against the boundaries of what’s possible.
Their first slew of smartphones were incredible value propositions that helped make Realme a household name in just a few months. And they did it without noticeably sacrificing quality or features.
The new Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) impressed us no less with its incredible combination of great features, a classy unibody design, and an unbelievable price point. Unbelievably, it is a BIG UPGRADE from its predecessor, the Realme 2.
First, they gave it a big performance boost with the MediaTek Helio P60 processor. Impressively, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) was as fast as the flagship-class Kirin 970 in work performance, and delivered 32% faster gaming performance than the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 and Samsung Exynos 7885 processors.
Next, they upgraded the display; replacing the wide notch with a small dewdrop notch, and adding Gorilla Glass protection. The biggest upgrades though came in the form of its front and rear cameras.
In the front, Realme replaced the 8 MB selfie camera with a higher-resolution 13 MP camera with a brighter f/2.0 lens.
In the back, it upgraded the 13 MP camera with a new sensor with larger pixels, and a new, brighter f/1.8 lens. This camera also boasts new AI capabilities in the form of Nightscape and Chroma Boost photography modes.
Everything was packed into a really classy unibody chassis with a large 4,230 man battery. The Radiant Blue model is especially beautiful, with its blue-green gradient tones.
Now, here is the punchline. These features are not unique to Realme. You can find them in other smartphones from other brands. But only the Realme 3 offers all that at these incredible price points :
Ultimately, the Realme 3 (64 GB | 32 GB) offers you a powerful mid-range smartphone with high-resolution front and rear cameras, at the price point of entry-level smartphones!
For delivering an incredible value proposition.. an incredible bargain.. yet again, we proudly award the Realme 3 our Reviewer’s Choice Award! Great job, Realme!
Realme 3 Specifications Compared
Specifications
Realme 3 (India)
Realme 3 (International)
Realme 2
Display
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass
Corning Gorilla Glass
NA
Operating System
Android 9.0 with ColorOS 6.0
Android 9.0 with ColorOS 6.0
Android 8.1 with ColorOS 5.1
Platform
MediaTek Helio P70
MediaTek Helio P60
Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.1 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 cores (2.0 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 cores (2.0 GHz)
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
At a celebrity-studded “Era Of Live” event, Samsung launched the Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A30 smartphones! Get the full low-down o the new Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A30 smartphones!
Built around the new Samsung Exynos 9610 mobile SoC, it has four fast ARM Cortex-A73 cores running at 2.3 GHz, and four low-power A53 cores running at 1.7 GHz.
It has an ARM Mali-G72 GPU, and comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal flash storage. Powering it all is a large 4,000 mAh battery that supports 15 watt fast charging.
Like the Galaxy A7 2018, it boasts a triple camera system with a 25 MP main camera (f/1.7 aperture), an 8 MP ultra-wide angle camera (f/2.2 aperture), and a 5 MP depth sensor.
It also features an in-display fingerprint sensor, but unlike the Galaxy S10 series, it uses an optical sensor instead of an ultrasonic sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy A30 Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy A30, on the other hand, is positioned just above the Galaxy M20 smartphone which launched separately on the same day.
It uses the same Exynos 7904 mobile SoC, with two fast ARM Cortex-A73 cores running at 1.8 GHz, and six low-power A53 cores running at 1.6 GHz.
It has an ARM Mali-G71 GPU, and comes with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal flash storage. Powering it all is a large 4,000 mAh battery that supports 15 watt fast charging.
It has an improved version of the Galaxy M20‘s dual camera system. Its main camera has a higher- resolution 16 MP sensor with a brighter f/1.7 aperture. But it uses the same 5 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture.
Samsung Galaxy A50 + Galaxy A30 Specifications
Here is a table comparing the specifications of the Galaxy A50 vs the Galaxy A30.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A50
Samsung Galaxy A30
Display
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display
-1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display
-1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Operating System
Android 9.0 Pie
Android 9.0 Pie
System Platform
Samsung Exynos 9610
Samsung Exynos 7904
Processor
4 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.3 GHz)
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.7 GHz)
2 x ARM Cortex-A73 (1.8 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.6 GHz)
Graphics Processor
ARM Mali-G72 MP3
ARM Mali-G71 MP2
Memory
6 GB
4 GB
Storage
128 GB
microSD card (up to 512 GB)
64 GB
microSD card (up to 512 GB)
Front Camera
25 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
16 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
Triple Camera System
- 25 MP main camera with f/1.7 lens
- 8 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 lens
- 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens
Dual Camera System
- 16 MP main camera with f/1.7 lens
- 5 MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 lens
Connectivity
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : USB 2.0 Type C
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Bluetooth : BT 5.0
USB : micro USB 2.0
Battery
4,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
- supports 15 W fast charging
4,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (non-removable)
- supports 15 W fast charging
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Realme began their global expansion with three big bangs – the Realme 2 Pro, the Realme 2 and Realme C1 smartphones. While the Realme 2 Pro is clearly positioned as a killer mid-range smartphone, there is still some confusion about the Realme 2 and Realme C1 smartphones.
Despite their names, both Realme smartphones are very similar in many aspects. They are even similar in design and size! In this comparison, we will show you the differences between the two Realme smartphones. Find out which is the best option for you!
Realme Smartphone Video Comparison
Let’s start with a video comparison of the three new Realme smartphones!
Realme 2 vs. Realme C1 – By The Numbers!
Display : Same
Both Realme smartphones have the same 6.2-inch IPS display with a HD+ resolution of 720 x 1520 pixels.
CPU + GPU : Same
Both Realme smartphones run on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 platform, with eight ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores and the Adreno 506 GPU.
Memory : 2 GB vs. 3 / 4 GB
The Realme C1 comes with 2 GB of RAM, while the Realme 2 comes with either 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM.
Storage : 16 GB vs. 32 / 64 GB
The Realme C1 comes with 16 GB of storage, while the Realme 2 comes with either 32 GB or 64 GB of RAM.
Front Camera : 5 MP vs. 8 MP
The Realme C1 comes with a 5 MP front camera, while the Realme 2 comes with a higher-resolution 8 MP front camera.
Rear Camera : Same
Both smartphones boast the same dual-lens camera, with a 13 MP image sensor, and a 2 MP depth sensor. Their dual-lens camera is also supported by a single LED flash.
Fingerprint Sensor : Only In The Realme 2
Only the Realme 2 comes with a fingerprint sensor, and it’s located at the back.
Battery : Same
Both smartphones are powered by the same 4,230 mAh lithium-ion battery.
Colour + Finish : Diamond Cut vs. Mirror
The Realme 2 comes with a Diamond Cut glossy finish with 15 tangent planes. It is available in two colour options – Diamond Black and Diamond Red.
The Realme C1, on the other hand, has a mirrored glossy design, and comes in the Mirror Black and Navy Blue colour options.
Size + Weight : Same
Both Realme smartphones have the same dimensions, and even weight! They are both 75.6 mm wide, 156.2 mm tall and 8.2 mm thick, and they both weigh just 168 grams.
Price : Cheap, Cheaper… CHEAPEST!
[adrotate group=”2″]
The Realme 2 comes in two variants. The high-end 4 GB + 64 GB model costs RM 699 / Rp 2,299,000 / ~US$ 167, while the mid-range 3 GB + 32 GB model costs RM 599 / Rp 1,999,000 / ~US$ 143.
The Realme C1 is available only with 2 GB RAM + 16 GB storage. It has a launch price of just RM 499 / Rp 1,499,000 / ~US$ 119!
But amazingly, Realme is currently offering the Realme C1 at just RM 399 in Malaysia for a limited time!That’s a RM 100 off – a 25% discount! You can get it from this link!
Realme 2 vs. Realme C1 Specifications Compared!
Specifications
Realme 2
Realme C1
Display
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Realme 2 smartphone has now been unveiled in Jakarta and Malaysia to thunderous applause. Here are the Realme 2 price and offers, as well as its official tech briefing and full specifications!
Who Is Realme?
Created by OPPO as a sub-brand, Realme recently became an independent brand. Realme Southeast Asia Marketing Director, Josef Wang, gave a quick overview of Realme as a new smartphone brand, and how well they did in their first market – India.
Realme Interview Session
We also had the opportunity to grill Realme’s Josef Wang and Felix Christian about their ties with OPPO and the three new Realme smartphones that they just revealed!
The Official Realme 2 Tech Briefing
The Realme 2 smartphone is a more premium version of the Realme C1 smartphone. Designed with the tagline “Power Meets Style” in mind, the Realme 2 boasts more elaborate craftsmanship than is usually seen in its market segment.
It is currently in its original Indonesian, but we are in the process of dubbing it in English, so check back later for the English translation!
Realme 2 Specifications
Specifications
Realme 2
Display
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Realme 2 Key Features
Here is a summary of its key features :
2.5D Composite Multi-Laminate Back Panel
The Realme 2 features a diamond-inspired back cover made from a composite material with multiple glass-like layers that are scratch- and wear-resistant. It is also optically-coated to deliver a refractive lustre.
Notch Full Screen
The Realme 2 has a 6.2-inch Notch Full Screen, with 88.8% screen-to-body ratio. Thanks to its bezel-less design, it offers a 17% larger view for gaming and multitasking.
Long-lasting 4,230mAh Battery
The Realme 2 has a large 4,230 mAh battery that is managed by their AI Power Master software to provide all-day endurance, by intelligently suspending inactive apps and processes to minimise power consumption. Here are the results of Realme’s lab tests :
Normal Network Calls
44 hours
Music Playing (WiFi)
18 hours
Video Playback (WiFi)
15 hours
Gaming (WiFi)
10 hours
Surfing the Internet (WiFi)
18 hours
AI Power Manager
Without affecting smooth working of apps, AI Power Manager automatically optimises the power consumption of apps and controls the number of active processor cores.
App-Freezing Power Saver: Smartly restricts apps running in background to reduce overall power consumption and extend battery life. On average this feature allows the applications to save power by 5%-11%, and it can also be manually adjusted.
Quick App Freezing: AI Power Manager can put the background apps in the quick-freezing folder to effectively cut off the frequent and meaningless mutual wake-up between apps to save power. Laboratory data: About 5% energy saved per 24 hours compared to mobile phones without turning on app-freezing.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 is an octa-core processor built on the 14 nm process technology, and runs at 1.8 GHz.
[adrotate group=”2″]
Efficient, low power consumption with the ARM Cortex-A53 processor cores that consumes less power, and employs an efficient performance boosting feature;
Its GPU is 25% faster in image rendering, with 30% lower power consumption than the Snapdragon 435.
Memory + Storage
The Realme 2 in two variants – 3 GB of RAM with 32 GB of storage, or 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB of storage. It can be upgraded with a microSD card of up to 256 GB in capacity.
AI Photography
The Realme 2 has an AI-powered dual camera in the rear. It consists of a 13 MP camera paired with a 2 MP depth sensor, that is capable of recording 1080p videos. In the front, it has an 8 MP selfie camera that supports Portrait Mode, and AI Beauty Selfies.
The Complete Realme Jakarta Presentation
Here is the complete Realme Jakarta presentation for the Realme 2 Pro, Realme 2 and Realme C1 smartphones :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Realme C1 smartphone has now been unveiled in Jakarta and Malaysia to thunderous applause. Here are the Realme C1 price and offers, as well as its official tech briefing and full specifications!
Who Is Realme?
Created by OPPO as a sub-brand, Realme recently became an independent brand. Realme Southeast Asia Marketing Director, Josef Wang, gave a quick overview of Realme as a new smartphone brand, and how well they did in their first market – India.
Realme Interview Session
We also had the opportunity to grill Realme’s Josef Wang and Felix Christian about their ties with OPPO and the three new Realme smartphones that they just revealed!
The Official Realme C1 Tech Briefing
The Realme C1 smartphone is really a cut-down version of the Realme 2 smartphone. Offered at an incredibly low price, it’s designed to be the “New King of Entry Level” smartphones, in Realme’s own words.
It is currently in its original Indonesian, but we are in the process of dubbing it in English, so check back later for the English translation!
Realme C1 Specifications
Specifications
Realme C1
Display
6.2-inch display
- 720 x 1520 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 271 ppi
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Realme C1 Key Features
Here is a summary of its key features :
Notch Full Screen
The Realme C1 has a 6.2-inch Notch Full Screen, with 88.8% screen-to-body ratio. Thanks to its bezel-less design, it offers a 17% larger view for gaming and multitasking.
Nature-Inspired Design
Mimicking the natural reflection of a water surface, the rear panel is made of 12 layers of nanoscale composite material. The result is a mirrored design that reflects light with every movement you make.
Long-lasting 4230mAh Battery
The Realme C1 has a large 4,230 mAh battery that is managed by their AI Power Master software to provide all-day endurance, by intelligently suspending inactive apps and processes to minimise power consumption. Here are the results of Realme’s lab tests :
Music Playing (WiFi)
18 hours
Video Playback (WiFi)
15 hours
Gaming (WiFi)
10 hours
Surfing the Internet (WiFi)
18 hours
AI Power Manager
Without affecting smooth working of apps, AI Power Manager automatically optimises the power consumption of apps and controls the number of active processor cores.
App-Freezing Power Saver: Smartly restricts apps running in background to reduce overall power consumption and extend battery life. On average this feature allows the applications to save power by 5%-11%, and it can also be manually adjusted.
Quick App Freezing: AI Power Manager can put the background apps in the quick-freezing folder to effectively cut off the frequent and meaningless mutual wake-up between apps to save power. Laboratory data: About 5% energy saved per 24 hours compared to mobile phones without turning on app-freezing.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 is an octa-core processor built on the 14 nm process technology, and runs at 1.8 GHz.
[adrotate group=”2″]
Efficient, low power consumption with the ARM Cortex-A53 processor cores that consumes less power, and employs an efficient performance boosting feature;
Its GPU is 25% faster in image rendering, with 30% lower power consumption than the Snapdragon 435.
Memory + Storage
The Realme C1 comes with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal flash storage. It can be upgraded with a microSD card of up to 256 GB in capacity.
AI Photography
The Realme C1 has an AI-powered dual camera in the rear. It consists of a 13 MP camera paired with a 2 MP depth sensor, that is capable of recording 1080p videos. In the front, it has a 5 MP selfie camera that supports Portrait Mode, and AI Beauty Selfies.
The Complete Realme Jakarta Presentation
Here is the complete Realme Jakarta presentation for the Realme 2 Pro, Realme 2 and Realme C1 smartphones :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung recently launched the Galaxy A7 2018 smartphone, with triple rear cameras at the incredible Galaxy UNPACKED KL 2018, and we received one of the first units! Read our in-depth review and find out if this is the smartphone for you!
Updated @ 2018-11-02 : Upgraded to a full review, with four new pages, five videos and many new photos.
Updated @ 2018-10-16 : Upgraded to a preview of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018, with three videos.
Updated @ 2018-10-15 : Added the CPU and GPU specifications of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018!
Updated @ 2018-10-12 :Added the official Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (and Galaxy A9 2018) presentation, as well as its price and pre-order offer!
Originally posted @ 2018-09-21
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Smartphone Revealed!
Samsung revealed the Galaxy A7 2018 and Galaxy A9 2018 smartphones in a glamorous Galaxy UNPACKED event that was held for the first time in Malaysia, with Korean celebrities like Yook Sung-jae, AOA (Ace of Angels) and DJ Soda, headlining the event.
As their designer, Sang Il Park, recently revealed, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) is targeted at Millennials with a new minimalistic yet expressive design language.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Colour Options
Samsung is offering the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) in four colour options – Black, Blue, Gold and Pink. Here is a video comparing the four colour options:
In many countries, only three of those four colour options will be available for sale, at least initially. Here in Malaysia, it will only be available in Black, Blue and Gold colours.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Price + Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) officially launched on 11 October 2018 at the Galaxy UNPACKED 2018 event in Kuala Lumpur, and is currently available for purchase.
[adrotate group=”2″]
It has a recommended retail price of RM 1,299 / ~US$ 325 / ~£236.
Here is the cheapest price we found online (as of 1 November 2018) in Malaysia :
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 is not available for sale, but we managed to get our hands on one of the first retail unit, albeit one meant for the German market. Let’s unbox it, and see what we find inside!
Once you fully unbox the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018, you will find the following items :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Up Close!
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a large 6.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 pixels. This is an Infinity Display, which means it has very thin bezels, delivering a more immersive viewing experience. Especially with its support for Dolby Atmos.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) runs on Samsung Exynos 7885 octa-core processor with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal flash storage. The Exynos 7885 is a mid-range SoC, which pairs two high-performance ARM Cortex-A73 cores with six low-power ARM Cortex-A53 cores.
All that is powered by a 3,300 mAh battery, ensconced in a chassis that is only 7.5 mm thick, and weighs less than 170 grams.
Surprisingly, Samsung reverted to a micro-USB 2.0 port, even though the previous-generation Galaxy A7 2017 was their first model to feature a USB-C port. They also ditched the IP68 dust- and water-resistance that was a key feature of the Galaxy A7 2017.
[adrotate group=”1″]
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Specifications
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2018)
Display
6.0-inch Super AMOLED display
- Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2220 pixels)
- Corning Gorilla Glass protection
Operating System
Android 8.1 Oreo
Platform
Samsung Exynos 7 octa (Samsung Exynos 7885)
Processor
2 x ARM Cortex-A73 (2.2 GHz)
6 x ARM Cortex-A53 (1.6 GHz)
Graphics Processor
ARM Mali-G71 MP2 (1100 MHz)
RAM
4 GB RAM
Storage
64 GB or 128 GB internal flash storage
microSD slot (up to 512 GB)
Front Camera
24 MP sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
Triple Camera System
- Main 24 MP PDAF camera with f/1.7 lens
- Wide-Angle 8 MP camera with f/2.4 lens
- 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Four Cameras, 4X The Fun?
The key selling points of the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) are its front and rear cameras.
It has a single front camera, built around the incredibly high-resolution 24 MP Sony IMX576 sensor and f/2.0 lens. In dark conditions, its front camera can combine four pixels into one for even better low-light performance.
Despite its high resolution though, Samsung opted to limit to recording just 1080p videos.
In the back, it features a triple camera system, which is made up of :
a main 24 MP camera with f/1.7 lens,
a 120° wide angle 8 MP camera with f/2.4 lens, and
a 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens.
Even though there are three cameras, only two of them actually take pictures or videos. The depth sensor is not an imaging camera, and is only used for better depth perception, and subject separation (from the background).
The 24 MP main camera uses the same high-resolution Sony IMX576 sensor, with very bright and fast f/1.7 lens. The depth sensor is slaved to the main camera, allowing to deliver Live Focus and more accurate software bokeh capabilities.
The wide angle camera, on the other hand, boasts the same 120° viewing angle as the human eye. Here are some photos to show you just how useful the ultra-wide angle camera can be :
Both imaging cameras feature a new Scene Optimizer technology that uses AI algorithms to identify the subject and automatically adjust its colour, contrast and brightness for the best possible image quality.
However, just like with the front camera, Samsung limits both rear cameras to 1080p video recording.
[adrotate group=”1″]
Side Fingerprint Sensor
For the first time, Samsung is deploying a side fingerprint sensor, that doubles as a power button. It allows for smaller bezels, while allowing the fingerprint sensor to be used even when the Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) is attached to a car mount.
The side fingerprint sensor takes some getting used to, because there is less tactile guidance. It is harder to determine (by feeling) where the sensor is. But the good news is muscle memory will kick in eventually.
For ease of use, we would recommend registering the third finger of your left hand, and/or the thumb of your right hand.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Triple Card Tray
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby capability, with support for LTE Cat12 connectivity. The good news is – it comes with a triple card tray. In addition to the two nano SIM cards, it has a dedicated slot for a microSD card.
Now, it comes with 64 GB of internal storage, which should be plenty for most users. The microSD card slot allows you to add more storage – up to 512 GB.
The microSD card is also useful for another reason. The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) is not water-resistant, so storing your recorded photos and videos on the microSD card protects them, in case you accidentally drop your phone into water… or let a car run over it.
A Step Backwards
Last year’s Galaxy A7 2017 was the first Samsung Galaxy A series smartphone to boast IP68 dust- and water-resistance. That means it was capable of withstanding complete immersion in water up to 1.5 m in depth, for up to 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, Samsung dropped this capability in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK). This is a real shame, because the IP68 rating is a major KSP (key selling point) for Samsung. It is one of the few ways they are able to differentiate their A series smartphones from the competition.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 was also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to use the USB Type C port, with 15 watt fast charging capability. The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK), however, reverted to the old micro-USB 2.0 port, and slower 7.75 watt charging.
Samsung also trimmed its battery capacity to 3,300 mAh, down from 3,600 mAh in the Galaxy A7 2017.
The Ergonomics
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a large 6.0-inch display, but feels more like a 5.5-inch smartphone, thanks to its Infinity Display. Basically it has thin bezels, allowing Samsung to fit the large screen into a smaller body.
While it fits comfortably in our hands, this is definitely a two-handed device. If you prefer to use only one hand, you can turn on the One-handed mode option (Settings > Advanced Features).
The Super AMOLED display is beautiful as always. However, the FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2220 results in a non-standard 18.5:9 display ratio. Watching movies will result in some pillarboxing– a black bar on each side of the movie.
Even though it lacks the gradated colour scheme of the Samsung Galaxy A9 2018, it has a very shiny, albeit easy-to-smudge, glass back panel with a 2.5D curved edge all around. Very classy. Just watch out for those fingerprints!
[adrotate group=”1″]
Setting Up The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) runs on Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, and is very easy to set-up… although you may get stuck a bit registering your fingerprints! If you are setting it up as a new device, it should take you only 5-7 minutes to finish the setup process.
Available Memory & Storage
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory. There is relatively little bloat, with 2 GB (50%) of memory available for use. This is plenty enough to run several apps simultaneously, even memory-guzzling games.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with 64 GB of internal flash storage, with 51 GB of free space for you to use. That is enough space to store about 10,000 photos, or 6 hours of 1080p videos.
If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 512 GB), for a total storage capacity of 1 TB!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Camera Performance – Photos
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) uses the superb 24 MP Sony IMX576 in its primary camera, with a really bright and fast f/1.7 aperture. It is supported by an 5 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 aperture.
The maximum 24 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 5664 x 4248 pixels, and a file size of between 4 MB and 6 MB.
Here are six high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The resolution and detail in the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018’s photos are incredible. You can see the intricate detail of the flower petals, the individual buds of the broccoli florets, and the texture of the star anise.
[adrotate group=”2″]
It also did a great job of bringing out the colour of the subject matter. Every colour is accurately rendered and automatically “amped up” by AI algorithms. If you do not like the increased vividness though, you can turn off the Scene Optimiser feature.
The f/1.7 aperture naturally creates a very narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But you have to be more careful in framing the shot, because the subject may end up out-of-focus.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a Live Focus feature, but it’s not the same as the Live Focus capability in Samsung Galaxy Note9, because it lacks the telephoto camera. Instead, it uses the depth sensor to separate the subject from the background, before applying a software bokeh effect to the background.
Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 Camera Performance – Video Recording
Despite its highly-capable sensor and powerful SoC, Samsung limited the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) to 1080p video recording from both front and rear cameras. Fortunately, they maintained the ability to switch between the two rear cameras, while recording a video – a very useful feature!
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano Performance (1080p)
In this video, you can see the amount of detail the sensor captures, even at just 1080p. Its cameras do not support OIS (optical image stabilisation), but its electronic image stabilisation capability works great.
Its auto-focus capability was also excellent – you don’t see the camera losing focus and seeking – a very irritating problem in some cameras.
Noise cancellation was decent, but the audio was too bright and lacks bass. With Samsung excelling in image quality, we think it’s time they look into improving the audio quality instead.
Video Recording Test #2 : Street Market (1080p)
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has very good electronic image stabilisation, thanks to a combination of its high resolution sensor and the 1080p video recording limit.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
Samsung Exynos SoCs have never been particularly strong in work applications, and the Samsung Exynos 7885 is no exception. After all, it only has two high-performance ARM Cortex-A73 cores.
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the Galaxy A7 2018’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited test.
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has modest gaming performance. Unlike the Honor Play and Honor 10, which boast a 12-core GPU, or the Galaxy S9 with its 18-core GPU, the Galaxy A7 2018 only has a dual-core GPU.
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the Galaxy A7 2018’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
Now that is really amazing battery life – just short of 11.5 hours! This is not just screen-on time. It’s running the Work 2.0 benchmark over, and over again, for over 11 hours!
It lasted 1.,5 hours longer than the Honor Play, 2 hours longer than the Samsung Galaxy S9, and an astounding 2.5 hours longer than the Honor 10!
Of course, it was still not as good as last year’s Galaxy A7 2017, which lasted 12 hours on its larger 3,600 mAh battery.
Battery Recharging Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) comes with an adaptive fast charger with a power output of 7.75 W. Take a look at how fast it recharged the 3,300 mAh battery.
It took the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) just 115 minutes (1 hour 55 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. Pretty good performance, considering it’s just using a 7.75 watt charger.
That is a battery life : recharging ratio of 5.8 : 1 – a good ratio. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, charge it for 10.5 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 90% level. This took just 87.5 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took a further 27.5 minutes to top up the remaining 10%.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Our Verdict
Last year, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2017 really impressed us with a great combination of features and performance. It was also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to feature IP68 dust- and water-resistance, as well as the USB Type C port.
This year’s Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) followed through, introducing a new 24 MP front camera, as well as a new triple rear camera system. Together with the Galaxy A9 2019, it is also the first Galaxy A series smartphone to feature the Infinity Display, with ultra-thin bezels.
If that’s not enough, it is the first Samsung smartphone to feature a side fingerprint sensor, allowing you to unlock it with your fingerprint even when it’s mounted to your car’s dashboard.
However, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) also took a step backwards in some areas, to better differentiate it from the higher-end Galaxy A9 2019.
It lost its IP68 dust- and water-resistance rating, and reverted to the old micro-USB 2.0 port. Its fast charging capability was also cut from 15 watts to just 7.75 watts. It also came with a slightly smaller battery (3,300 mAh, instead of 3,600 mAh), with a slightly shorter battery life.
That does not mean it’s a better idea to just get last year’s Galaxy A7 2017. The new Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) has a faster processor, more memory and double the storage. On top of that, it has a larger 6.0-inch display in a narrower, slimmer and lighter body!
More importantly, Samsung made the Galaxy A7 2018 MUCH CHEAPER. The Galaxy A7 2017 had a launch price of RM 1,899 (~US$ 475). The new Galaxy A7 2018 has a launch price of just RM 1,299 (~US$325) – a whopping 32% price reduction!
Ultimately, the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) offers great value for your money, if you don’t mind the lack of IP68 water-resistance, and the micro-USB 2.0 port.
Where To Buy The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018?
The Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 (MY | US | UK) officially launched on 11 October 2018 at the Galaxy UNPACKED 2018 event in Kuala Lumpur, and is currently available for purchase in four colour options – Black, Blue, Gold and Pink. Here is a video comparing the four colour options:
In many countries, only three of those four colour options will be available for sale, at least initially. Here in Malaysia, it will only be available in Black, Blue and Gold colours.
It has a recommended retail price of RM 1,299 / ~US$ 325 / ~£236.
Here is the cheapest price we found online (as of 1 November 2018) in Malaysia :
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Two years ago, Honor launched the honor 8 smartphone with its iconic Aurora Glass finish. Here is our sneak preview of the honor 8X that we got fresh from the oven!
Find out what’s new in the honor 8X, and see why it’s really quite different from its namesake!
The Honor 8X Specification Comparison
First, let’s compare the specifications of the new honor 8X against the honor 8. Look at the difference :
Specifications
honor 8X
honor 8 (Premium)
Model
JSN-L22
FRD-L14 (US), FRD-L19 (EU & Asia)
Available Colours
NA
Sapphire Blue, Sunrise Gold
Display
6.5-inch IPS display
- 1080 x 2340 resolution (396 ppi)
Dual 12 MP cameras (monochrome + colour)
- Sony IMX286 sensor
- f/2.2 lens, dual LED flash and hybrid auto-focus
- 1080p video recording with EIS
GPS Support
GPS / AGPS / GLONASS
GPS / AGPS / GLONASS
SIM Support
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby
Single nano SIM (L14)
Dual nano SIM, Dual Standby (L19)
Connectivity
4G : LTE FDD LTE Cat13 : 150 Mbps (UL), LTE Cat12 : 600 Mbps (DL)
3G : WCDMA
2 G : GSM
Bluetooth : 4.2 BLE
OTG, VoLTE
4G : LTE FDD LTE Cat6 : 51 Mbps (UL), 301 Mbps (DL)
3G : WCDMA
2 G : GSM
Bluetooth : 4.2 BLE
OTG, VoLTE
WiFi Capability
802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz only)
Hotspot supports up to 4 devices
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz dual-band)
Hotspot supports up to 8 devices
USB Port
microUSB 2.0
USB 2.0 with USB Type C interface
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, rear-mounted
Yes, 3D fingerprint recognition, 0.4 second unlock with Smart Key customisation
Infra-Red Transmitter
No
Yes, with Smart Control 4.0
NFC Support
No
Yes, tag read/write, P2P transfer, mobile payment
Audio
HiSilicon Hi6402 audio DSP with Dolby DTS and HiRes Audio support
Dual-microphone noise reduction
Battery
3,750 mAh lithium-polymer battery
18 W fast-charging capability
2,900 mAh lithium-polymer battery
18 W fast-charging capability
Dimensions
76.6 mm wide x 160.4 mm tall x 7.8 mm thick
71.0 mm wide x 145.5 mm tall x 7.45 mm thick
Weight
175 g
153 g
Launch Price
NA
RM 1,899 (~US$ 475)
[adrotate group=”1″]
The Honor 8X Up Close!
The new honor 8X looks deceptively small. It actually boasts the industry’s largest display, edging out the Samsung Galaxy Note9, and matching the Apple Xs Max. Yet it still fits comfortably in our hands, thanks to extremely thin bezels and a display notch.
Despite its more modern design, honor went back a little, reintroducing the old microUSB 2.0 port. This is surprising since they first introduced the bidirectional USB-C port in the honor 8 two years ago!
They also dropped the IR transmitted at the top, which allowed the.honor 8 to be used as a remote control.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
New Level Of Mid-Range Performance
The honor 8X smartphone boasts the new Kirin 710 mobile SoC from HUAWEI’s HiSilicon subsidiary.
It is not the flagship-class SoC like the Kirin 950 used in the honor 8, but thanks to advances in semiconductor design and fabrication, it offers better performance with lower power consumption.
The Kirin 710 is actually a mid-range version of the Kirin 970 SoC that powers the honor 10 smartphone.
It uses the same four high-performance Cortex-A73 cores, with the same four low-power Cortex-A53 cores – just with slightly lower clock speeds.
It is paired with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory, and 64 GB of internal flash storage.
Advances in LTE technology allows the Kirin 710 to deliver much faster Cat13 upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps, and Cat12 download speeds of up to 600 Mbps.
However, its WiFi support is limited to a/b/g/n protocols, and only in the 2.4 GHz band.
Display Notch
The honor 8X has a Full HD+ display, with an aspect ratio of 19:9 and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. It features the display notch made popular by the iPhone X, to maximise its display size.
Although the notification icons nearest to the notch can appear “cut-off”, the hnor 8X is smart enough to work around the notch. In games and applications that don’t support the notification area, it just displays the main 1080 x 2240 section.
The Honor 8X Cameras
Hidden in the display notch is a high-resolution 16 MP camera with f/2.0 lens. It is supposedly capable of recording 1080p videos, but in our early firmware, it is limited to 720p video recording.
We were hoping that the honor 8X’s AI Camera would be based on the dual-camera design of the honor 10 and the honor 8 smartphones, they went instead with a single 20 MP camera paired with a 2 MP depth sensor.
The 20 MP camera uses a PDAF (phase detection autofocus) sensor paired with a fast and bright f/1.8 lens.
The 2 MP depth sensor has only one job – to deliver better depth perception, so the honor 8X can better differentiate the background from the subjects and more accurately apply the software bokeh effects.
Despite its high-resolution image sensor, the 20 MP camera can only record 1080p videos at up to 60 fps. It is not optically-stabilised, and surprisingly lacks electronic image stabilisation.
Fingerprint Sensor
To maximise display size in a relatively small form factor, honor had to use a rear fingerprint sensor. You may recall that they used a front sensor for the honor 10.
The honor 8X’s rear fingerprint sensor is very good – easy to train and works fast and accurately. The only problem that all rear fingerprint sensors have – you can’t use it while it’s attached to a car mount. If you intend to use it while driving, make sure you set-up and use the Face unlock feature.
[adrotate group=”1″]
Triple Slot Tray
honor smartphones all have dual SIM, dual standby capabilities. However, to save space, the honor 10 offered two nano SIM trays and removed the microSD card slot. The honor 8, on the other hand, opted for a hybrid SIM tray – the second nano SIM can be swapped out for a microSD card.
The honor 8X offers the ultimate option – a triple slot tray. You can use a microSD card to expand its storage, while still using two nano SIM cards.
Ergonomics
With its very large 6.5-inch display, the honor 8X is definitely a much larger smartphone than the honor 8 or honor 10 smartphones.
The honor 8X is just over 76 mm wide, and 160 mm tall, but remains under 8 mm thick. It is comparable in size to the new Apple iPhone Xs Max, but quite a bit lighter at just 175 grams.
The IPS display is very bright and vivid indoors, and does a decent job outdoors despite not being an AMOLED display. The non-standard 19:9 aspect ratio, while useful in giving you more screen space, will result in some pillarboxing for movies.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
honor 8X Camera Performance – Photos
honor did not reveal the model of the sensor used in the 20 MP main camera, but the photos have a resolution of 5120 x 3840 pixels, with the 4:3 aspect ratio.
Despite the high resolution, Honor appears to use a more efficient (or lossier) compression algorithm, resulting in a file size of between 3 MB and 4 MB in most photos.
Here are 8 high-resolution samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
[adrotate group=”1″]
honor 8X Camera Performance – Video Recording
Despite its high-resolution 20 MP sensor, the honor 8X can only record 1080p videos at up to 60 fps. Here are two videos we recorded to test its video recording capabilities.
Honor 8X Video Recording Sample #1 : Piano
First off – we can see that there is no optical or electrionic image stabilisation, so the video can get very jerky. The audio also lacks sufficient noise cancellation.
On the bright side, the image quality is very good, and the colours are vivid, albeit a little oversaturated. There is also very good control of the highlights. A shame about the lack of stabilisation.
Honor 8X Video Recording Sample #2 : Food Fair
The lack of image stabilisation is obvious from the jerkiness. A real shame because the image quality is very good.
Never Coming – The Full Review
When HONOR loaned us this unit, they said that it was a production unit running on a beta version of the firmware.
We were planning to upgrade this preview to a full review after testing with a production firmware, but the review sample never received it.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Honor Play debuted in China last month as a gaming-centric smartphone, and it’s coming to a store near you. Read our In-Depth Review of the Honor Play, and find out why it’s designed for mobile gaming!
The Honor Play – Designed For Mobile Gaming
The Honor Play is specially-designed for mobile gaming. From the front, it looks like the Honor 10 (Price Check, with a display notch and an ultra-wide FullView display. Instead of an Aurora Glass back panel, it features a metal unibody design and a larger 6.3-inch display.
Like the Honor 10 (Price Check), the Honor Play is powered by the Kirin 970 SoC, which features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that speeds up certain AI functions. To ensure that you get to play your games for hours on-end, it comes with a larger 3,750 mAh LiPo battery that supports 18 W fast charging.
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac dual band
Bluetooth : BT v4.2
USB 2.0 Type C
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac dual band
Bluetooth : BT v4.2
USB 2.0 Type C
GPS
Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
FM Radio
Yes
Yes
Fingerprint Sensor
Yes, Rear-Mounted
Yes, Front-Mounted
Other Sensors
Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
Infrared Emitter
No
Yes
Battery
3,750 mAh Li-Po battery (non-removable)
3,400 mAh Li-Po battery (non-removable)
Dimensions
74.3 mm wide
157.9 mm tall
7.5 mm thick
71.2 mm wide
149.6 mm tall
7.7 mm thick
Weight
176 g
153 g
Available Colours
Black, Blue, Violet
Phantom Blue / Phantom Green / Midnight Black / Glacier Grey
Unboxing The Honor Play
The Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) comes in a plain white box. It is, after all, a mid-range smartphone. Don’t expect bling.
[adrotate group=”2″]
Once you fully unbox it, you will find the following items :
One Honor Play smartphone
One soft TPU bumper case
One SIM tray extractor pin
One 18 watt Huawei Quick Charge USB adaptor
One USB Type C cable
The package may be sparse but practical. Who needs cheap earbuds? What’s more important is that it comes with a free TPU bumper case so you can protect your new smartphone right out of the box!
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
The Honor Play Smartphone Up Close!
Designed for mobile gaming, the Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) is powered by the Kirin 970 SoC, which features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that speeds up certain AI functions. To ensure that you get to play your games for hours on-end, it comes with a larger 3,750 mAh LiPo battery that supports 18 W fast charging.
Because it is a larger device, the Honor Play is heavier than the Honor 10 (Price Check). But surprisingly, it is slightly thinner even though with a 10% larger battery!
Front + Rear Cameras
The Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) comes with a high-resolution selfie camera in the front. It has a 16 MP sensor, paired with a fast f/2.2 lens. There appears to be a laser diode on the other side, which is probably used for their AR emoji and 3D face lighting features. It doesn’t have a flash, but uses screen flash instead.
The camera at the back uses a dual-lens system that consists of a 16 MP camera (with a PDAF sensor and f/2.2 lens), and a 2 MP depth-sensing camera. The depth-sensing camera helps the main camera differentiate between the subjects in a photo and its background, allowing for more accurate software bokeh effects.
Please note that the main camera lens module will protrude through the TPU bumper case. The bumper case, therefore, cannot prevent damage to the main camera.
[adrotate group=”1″]
Fingerprint Sensor
Honor opted to go with a rear fingerprint sensor with the Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check). It is very fast and accurate, and allows you to trigger specific actions with different fingers.
The only downside? You can’t use it to unlock the device while it’s attached to a car mount. That’s when you need to use the Face Unlock feature. It uses the front camera and facial recognition algorithms to authenticate your identity, so it will work even with the Honor Play mounted on your car’s dashboard.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Hybrid SIM Tray
Unlike the Honor 10 (Price Check), the Honor Play has a hybrid SIM tray. This means the SIM 2 slot doubles as a microSD card slot. You can either use a second nanoSIM card, or a microSD card for extra storage capacity.
Its 64 GB internal storage capacity is plenty for many people, but microSD storage offers additional peace of mind – even if the phone is physically damaged or destroyed, you can still recover your data or photos and videos from the microSD card.
Display Notch
The Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) has a Full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, and a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. It features a display notch that is noticeably larger than that of the Honor 10 (Price Check).
The display notch allows for notifications to be confined to the top, giving you more space for your work… or really, your games. Heh… In games or apps that do not support the notch, it will simply “disappear” by turning black.
GPU Turbo
GPU Turbo is a hardware and software combination that increases the “efficiency” of the GPU by up to 60%. It does not mean you get a 60% boost in frame rate, although Honor says it will greatly reduce the jitter rate (variance between the highest and lowest frame rates), while appreciably increasing the overall frame rate.
Honor also claims that it will reduce the Kirin 970 SoC‘s power consumption by 30%, extending its battery life. In a specific test using King Glory 1.34.1.11, the Honor Play lasted 4.5 hours – 30 minutes longer than the Apple iPhone X (Price Check).
How does GPU Turbo work? From what we understand, it uses a proprietary algorithm in the graphics driver to detect the change between the current frame being rendered, and the next one. This allows the Honor Play to boost CPU and GPU performance for completely new frames, and reduce them for frames with few changes.
The only downside? GPU Turbo support is currently limited. Extremely limited. From what we understand – it will only work with PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and King Glory. Naturally, game support will be extended to more games over time.
AI Game 4D Experience
The Honor Play also offers an “AI Game 4D Experience” with a feature they call Smart Shock. In certain games (like PUBG), Smart Shock will vibrate the device according to the type of weapon used in the game.
[adrotate group=”2″]
The AI Game 4D Experience also includes the 3D Gaming Audio capability. Basically, it’s a 3D spatial surround sound effect that helps you to judge the azimuth of a particular sound effect (like footsteps or an explosion).
Game Suite
This is a software feature that reduces network latency and game lag, and offers an uninterrupted gaming experience. Turning it on restricts the notifications that you receive, and allows you to play your game while receiving calls simultaneously.
You will only receive notifications for incoming calls, your alarms and low power alerts. Even these notifications will appear smaller, so they won’t disrupt your gaming experience.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Setting Up The Honor Play
Setting up the Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) is easy, and takes no more than 10 minutes if you are setting it up as a new device. Take a look at a video of the initial setup process.
Ergonomics
The Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) is definitely much larger than the Honor 10 (Price Check). In fact, it is about the same size as the Samsung Galaxy S9+ – they both have similar-sized displays. It is a phablet that is a better fit for those with bigger hands and pockets.
The 6.3-inch IPS display is bright and brilliant even in daylight, which means you get to play your games wherever you go. The non-standard 18:9 aspect ratio of the main display section gives you more screen space for gaming, but you will get some pillarboxing while watching movies.
Available Memory + Storage
For a mid-range smartphone, the Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check)comes with rather large memory and storage capacities. It has 4 GB of memory, of which 1.52 GB (38%) is available for use. That is a considerable amount of bloat, but still enough to run several memory-guzzling apps at the same time.
The Honor Play comes with 64 GB of internal storage, of which just under 51.2 GB (80%) is available for use. That’s enough for over 12,000 photos, or 5.5 hours of 1080p videos, or 2.5 hours of 4K videos.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Camera Performance – Photos
The Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) has a depth-sensing dual-lens camera, with a 16 MP image sensor paired with f/2.2 lens. Photos from this camera have a 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4608 × 3456 pixels and an average file size of between 2 MB and 3 MB.
Photos from the wide-angle secondary camera have a 4:3 aspect ratio, with 3264 × 2448 pixels and an average file size of between 6 MB and 7 MB.
Here are 10 high-resolution samples from this 16 MP camera for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
As you can see, the Honor Play’s main camera can take really great photos, with bright, vivid colours. And the software bokeh effect is much more accurate, thanks to its depth-sensing camera. However, note that its dual-lens design requires a greater distance to work, so it won’t be able to focus if the object is very close – less than 10 cm or so.
[adrotate group=”1″]
Camera Performance – Video Recording
Despite its humble price point, the Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) supports 4K video recording. There is a 10 minute limit, and each clip is also limited to 4 GB in size. It even supports the newer and more efficient H.265 (HEVC) codec.
The Honor Play also supports electronic video stabilisation. However, it is disabled for videos that are recorded in 4K or 1080p at 60 fps.
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano (1080p)
The video stabilisation while recording at 1080p was very good. It’s not quite gimbal-level of stabilisation, but close enough. The Honor Play also showed good control of the highlights – you can see deep into the Padini Concept Store in the background. The recorded audio though was overly bright and lacks dynamic range.
Video Recording Test #2 : Piano (4K)
The 4K resolution is amazing, but there is noticeably less control of the highlights. The video is also jerky, because the Honor Play does not support video stabilisation at this resolution.
Video Recording Test #3 : Street Market (1080p)
The Honor Play’s video stabilisation is very good at this resolution. It felt like it was attached to a gimbal. There was minimal jerkiness even when we panned. There was also good control of the highlights. Very good!
Video Recording Test #4 : Street Market (4K)
Switching to 4K recording disabled video stabilisation, so the end result was a very jerky video. If you really want to record in 4K using the Honor Play, you should do so when it’s attached to a tripod or a gimbal.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Honor Play’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
The Honor Play supports 18W fast charging, and comes with an 18W quick charger. Take a look at how fast it recharged its 3,750 mAh battery.
It took the Honor Play (US Price Check | MY Price Check) just 92 minutes (1 hours 32 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This gives it a battery life : recharging ratio of just under 6:5.
If you like our work, you can help support our work by visiting our sponsors, participating in the Tech ARP Forums, or even donating to our fund. Any help you can render is greatly appreciated!
Gaming Performance – 3DMark
We tested the Honor Play’s gaming performance using 3DMark, using the Ice Storm Unlimited
