Of everything, the OPPO Find X9s' cameras deserve special attention. Powered by the capable ISP of the sub-flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9500s SoC, the handset boasts an impressive camera hardware, coming remarkably close to the flagship Find X9. The Find X9s features a Hasselblad-tuned triple rear camera setup, comprising a 50MP f/1.8 OIS primary sensor, a 50MP f/2.0 ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field of view, and a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto camera with OIS. On paper, this has to be the most capable camera system in the sub-flagship segment.

But how does the hardware translate into real-world performance? Has OPPO cut any corners to keep the cost in check? We answer those questions, and plenty more, in this OPPO Find X9s camera review.

OPPO Find X9s camera specifications

Starting with a quick comparison between the OPPO Find X9s and the Find X9 (review), OPPO hasn't gone out of its way to differentiate the two devices. Both smartphones share the same ultrawide and telephoto cameras at the rear, with the primary sensor being the key point of distinction. The OPPO Find X9s features a 24mm 50MP f/1.8 main camera, whereas the standard Find X9 steps things up with a 23mm 50MP Sony LYT-808 sensor paired with a brighter f/1.5 aperture.

While we didn't have both devices side by side to directly compare their imaging performance, the Find X9's larger and brighter primary sensor is likely to deliver superior results, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, the vanilla Find X9 is equipped with a higher-resolution 50MP front camera, which should capture more detail than the selfie shooter on the X9s.

Nevertheless, the Find X9s also benefits from Hasselblad tuning, so the gap in image quality is unlikely to be dramatic in everyday use.

OPPO Find X9s camera features and app experience

The OPPO Find X9s retains virtually all the camera features found on its siblings. The camera app includes a wide range of filters and shooting modes, including Stage, Silhouette, Fireworks, Retouch, Action Mode, Macro, Soft Light, and the signature XPan mode, among others.

The overall camera app experience also remains largely unchanged, and that's a good thing. The interface feels cleaner, more intuitive, and easier to navigate than the one on the Vivo X300 FE. OPPO has also added subtle touches that enhance the experience, such as authentic camera-style sound effects in XPan mode.

While it lacks the AI portrait modes and other creative options which the Vivo X300 FE offers, the Find X9s camera app comes together to deliver a polished and straightforward user experience, with the option to dive into more advanced controls through the ‘Master' mode.

OPPO Find X9s camera performance

All four OPPO Find X9s cameras are quick to lock focus and capture shots in rapid succession. OPPO has also done a commendable job with the software optimisation, as lens switching on the smartphone appears smooth and largely free of noticeable jitter in the frame.

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When it comes to capturing images, the Find X9s ensures a well-rounded experience with a strong focus on natural colour reproduction, sharp details, and reliable dynamic range in well-lit environments. In low light, the handset may struggle with light flare and near-accurate colours. But on the bright side, there are modes like stage and fireworks that adjust ISO levels to control exposure for better results. The results look much better, as evident in the samples below.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-normal-shot.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-stage-mode.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Without Stage mode" after="With Stage mode"]

Moving on, the phone tends to lean towards slightly brighter tones when switching from the primary camera to the telephoto lens. While the shift is not drastic, it is noticeable enough to leave room for improvements while capturing distant objects and portraits. The telephoto lens also produces images that can appear slightly soft and overly sharp at times, with bokeh that occasionally looks unnatural.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-master-mode.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-regular-mode.jpg" offset="0.5" before="With Master mode" after="Without Master mode"]

If you wish to avoid heavy processing and sharpening, the OPPO Find X9s' Master Mode is worth using. The mode, which can be used in Auto or switched to Pro with manual controls, captures more natural images than the regular Photo mode, with no boosted HDR or aggressive post-processing. While less punchy, the images, especially travel shots, offer more realistic tones, fine detail, and well-balanced highlights.

Apart from this, the OPPO Find X9s cameras feature several XPan modes, offering a DSLR-like experience with classic and cinematic style shots, inspired by Hasselblad film cameras. The smartphone also comes with an action mode, which is meant to reduce blur for fast-moving subjects. However, in our experience, it didn't consistently deliver the expected results. Both the primary and telephoto lenses introduced noticeable blur when attempting to capture a still moment of a batter hitting a cricket ball.

It's a minor drawback in an otherwise strong camera setup when viewed in isolation. But how does it perform against the competition? That is what we will cover in the next section.

OPPO Find X9s vs Vivo X300 FE camera comparison

Both smartphones go beyond raw camera hardware to enhance the overall photography experience. OPPO continues its partnership with Hasselblad, bringing signature colour tuning and imaging enhancements to the Find X9s. Meanwhile, the Vivo X300 FE (review) benefits from Vivo's collaboration with Zeiss, offering features such as multi-focal portrait modes, distinct colour profiles, and additional imaging refinements.

Vivo has also gone a step further by offering support for its telephoto extender kit (sold separately), which provides a superior 200mm focal length. The Find X9s does not support a teleconverter lens.

To gauge the OPPO Find X9s camera performance, we compared its results across different scenarios with those of the Vivo X300 FE. 

Daylight

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-daylight.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-FE-daylight.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OPPO Find X9s" after="Vivo X300 FE"]

The OPPO Find X9s produces noticeably less saturated images compared to the Vivo X300 FE, which tends to favour a more contrast-heavy look. As a result, the Find X9s feels more natural and true to life, making it the better choice for users who prefer realistic colour reproduction. The handset also captures slightly brighter images, while delivering sharper details and noticeably better dynamic range overall than its arch-rival.

Ultrawide

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-ultrawide.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-FE-ultrawide.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OPPO Find X9s" after="Vivo X300 FE"]

The OPPO Find X9s' superior 50MP ultrawide camera makes this comparison feel rather one-sided. The handset captures noticeably sharper and more detailed images, along with more natural colour reproduction. It also handles highlights and shadow areas far better, delivering improved exposure balance and dynamic range compared to the Vivo X300 FE, which relies on a far more modest 8MP ultrawide sensor.

Portraits

Both phones capture portrait shots using their respective telephoto cameras, albeit with different focal lengths. The Vivo X300 FE defaults to an 83mm focal length (roughly 3.5x zoom), while the OPPO Find X9s opts for a slightly wider 73mm equivalent (3x zoom). The tighter crop on the Vivo gives it a slight edge in detail retention and subject separation.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-portrait.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-FE-portrait.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OPPO Find X9s" after="Vivo X300 FE"]

That said, both smartphones perform admirably when it comes to edge detection, handling hair and complex outlines well without awkward cutouts or inconsistent blurring. The Vivo X300 FE also delivers portraits with a slightly more natural bokeh effect. Even so, the OPPO Find X9s holds its own with pleasing results and near-accurate skin tone and colour reproduction; however, this goes for a toss when switched to the 85mm lens with a brighter appeal.

Selfie

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-selfie.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-FE-selfie.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OPPO Find X9s" after="Vivo X300 FE"]

The Vivo X300 FE outshines the OPPO Find X9s in selfie performance, with near identical results as portraits. The Vivo smartphone, with its superior 50MP camera, captures better facial details. However, the skin tones and colours appear boosted. The OPPO Find X9s enjoys superiority in accuracy and dynamic range.

Low light (night mode)

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OPPO-Find-X9s-night-mode.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-FE-night-mode-1.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OPPO Find X9s" after="Vivo X300 FE"]

In low light (with and without night mode), the Vivo X300 FE tends to produce slightly more natural-looking images. This is largely due to its better control over light flaring, which also helps preserve finer details in challenging scenes. However, the X300 FE still struggles with visible grain in darker environments - an area where the OPPO Find X9s outshines.

Videos

Unlike the Vivo X300 FE, the OPPO Find X9s supports 4K 60fps video recording across all its cameras, ensuring more consistent footage regardless of the lens in use. There is a slight jitter when switching between the 3x and 6x zoom levels, but aside from that, the videos look stable with only a minor shift in colours. That said, I do wish OPPO had included a dual-view recording mode to capture footage from the front and rear cameras simultaneously. Moreover, in low light, the handset fails to control the light flare as effectively as the Vivo X300 FE.

Verdict

The cameras on the OPPO X9s remain one of the most well-rounded in the sub-flagship segment. Its biggest strength lies in consistency, with both primary and ultrawide cameras producing sharp and balanced images with realistic tones, outperforming rivals such as the Vivo X300 FE. However, it's not a very easy recommendation to make in the X9 series, given that you have a more capable camera phone in the Find X9, which is also cheaper.

The OPPO phone's telephoto camera doesn't bring the best-in-class performance. While it captures pleasing portraits with solid edge detection, the lens is occasionally prone to softness or aggressive sharpening. The Hasselblad mode can fix some of these processing issues, but images might appear less punchy and not ideal for immediate social media postings.

Low-light photography is another area where the Find X9s could use some refinement, particularly when it comes to controlling lens flare and maintaining accurate colours. Despite that, the overall camera experience remains impressive, extending to selfies and video recording as well. Features such as XPan mode and Master Mode further elevate the experience for users who enjoy experimenting with photography beyond simple point-and-shoot usage.

All of these aspects make the OPPO Find X9s achieve a strong balance between camera hardware, software optimisation, and overall usability. While it may not dethrone true flagships or consistently outclass every rival across all scenarios, for users seeking a dependable and versatile camera-focused smartphone, the Find X9s deserves attention. The handset is priced in India starting at Rs 79,999.

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite (review) is one of those phones that get a lot of the basics right without trying too hard to be flashy. It focuses on things that matter in everyday use, like smooth performance, clean software, good speakers, and a design that feels more premium than you might expect at this price.

The device also fills the sub-Rs 25,000 gap in the brand's portfolio, with the regular Nord CE 6 (review) having increased in price. OnePlus is betting that its large battery and overall balanced feature set will make it a phone worth recommending for users who want a dependable device.

While it does deliver on that front, the Nord CE 6 Lite is not without a couple of drawbacks. So, it is worth considering both sides before deciding whether it is the right fit for you. In this article, we'll quickly go through the reasons why the device is worth buying, and why it may not be, so you can make a more informed decision.

Reasons to buy OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite

Feels smooth in everyday use

The Nord CE 6 Lite handles daily tasks with ease, whether you are switching between apps, scrolling through social media, or doing a bit of casual gaming. The Dimensity 7400 chipset and fast UFS 3.1 storage help keep the experience responsive, so the phone rarely feels slow or unprepared for regular use.

[comparative-benchmark type="1" title="AnTuTu score" caption="AnTuTu assesses a smartphone's CPU, GPU, memory, and overall user experience (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="42001,41567,41837,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

This makes it a very comfortable phone to live with if your usage is mostly practical and straightforward. You can check out the Antutu benchmark above, where the Nord outperforms rivals like the iQOO Z11x and POCO M8. 

The design is simple but polished

OnePlus has kept the design clean and straightforward, and that works well here. The phone has a comfortable in-hand feel, the build feels neat and well put together, and the camera module adds a more premium touch than you would expect at this price point.

It does not try to stand out with loud styling or unnecessary details, but that is part of its appeal. For users who prefer a phone that looks simple but still feels refined, this is a nice mix.

The speakers sound good

The stereo speakers are one of the nicer parts of the Nord CE 6 Lite's overall experience. They sound full, clear, and surprisingly deep, which makes a real difference when you are watching videos, listening to music, or just using the phone for general media playback.

This is a feature that is easy to overlook, but it improves day-to-day use more than you might think. If you consume a lot of content on your phone, the audio quality here will leave a good impression.

OxygenOS is clean and efficient

The software experience is another advantage of the Nord CE 6 Lite. OxygenOS is smooth and polished, with quick animations, useful features, and a clean interface that does not feel cluttered. That makes the phone easier to use every day and gives it a more refined feel overall.

OnePlus has done a good job of keeping the software experience intuitive without stripping away useful functions. For many users, that balance will matter just as much as hardware does. 

Reasons not to buy OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite

The camera is weaker in low light

The camera is usable for everyday shots, but it struggles in low light. Images become softer, and noise starts creeping in, which means the phone is not the best choice if you often take photos indoors or after dark.

[gallery link="file" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" columns="2" size="full" ids="701842,701825"]

In good lighting, it still does a decent job, but low-light performance remains a clear weak point. If camera consistency matters a lot to you, this is something to keep in mind.

It feels a bit heavy

At around 215 grams, the phone is manageable in hand, but it does carry some weight, which can make it feel tiring during longer use. It is not unusually heavy, but it is noticeable if you prefer lighter phones or come from a lighter device. 

For some users, that may be an acceptable trade-off for the larger battery and good build. For others, it might make the phone feel less comfortable than slimmer alternatives.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite gets a lot right and is easy to like if you want a phone that feels dependable, well-built, and smooth in everyday use. Its strong performance, good speakers, and polished software make it a practical choice, while the battery life adds even more value.

It does have a couple of clear compromises, especially in low-light camera performance and a slightly heavier build. But if those are not major concerns to you, the Nord CE 6 Lite remains a sensible pick around Rs 20,000. 

The Razr Fold might be Motorola's first book-style foldable, but that doesn't mean the brand is new to this segment. Motorola is no stranger to foldables, having launched several flip-style foldables since 2019. This, according to Motorola, has given the brand enough learning around screen and hinge technologies, among other things, to launch a book-style foldable to take on existing players like Samsung, Google, and Vivo. To wit, the Razr Fold claims to have the best camera system on a foldable yet. And it might just be a good foldable in general.

Verdict

The Motorola Razr Fold is a remarkably polished debut in the book-style foldable segment. While it compromises slightly on bulk and pure benchmark numbers, it compensates with industry-leading dual displays, an exceptional 6,000mAh battery life, and a highly capable camera system that doesn't feel like a foldable compromise.

Design

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7's flat frame design, Motorola's aesthetics are slightly more curvaceous. I say "slightly" because there's a bit of both here. While the Razr Fold has curved corners like the Razr 60 Ultra, the sides are slightly flat down the middle, just rounded enough to give a nice in-hand feel.

The Razr Fold is slightly thicker and heavier than both the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Vivo X Fold5. The Samsung foldable, in fact, is the slimmest and lightest of the three, which is worth noting if that matters to you when purchasing a foldable. I'm not too surprised by this - Samsung and Vivo have had multiple iterations to achieve this level of sleekness, whereas Motorola hasn't.

Still, the Razr Fold is a comfortable foldable to use day-to-day. I found the weight quite manageable, although prolonged one-handed use, especially when unfolded, can put some strain on the wrist. 

The overall look is quintessential Motorola. The brand has chosen to stick to a particular look across its portfolio, ensuring anyone who sees the phone from a distance identifies it as a Moto phone. The back of the PANTONE Blackened Blue colour variant we received has a textured, geometric, diamond-shaped fabric finish that feels nice to touch. I also like this colour more than the PANTONE Lily White option, but both are understated and premium-looking. The box includes a protective case, which might make the foldable feel less premium but more durable against accidental falls or corner bumps.

And speaking of durability, the Razr Fold is IP46, IP48, and IP49-rated. While the dust resistance is on the lower side, much like the Galaxy Z Fold7, you can rest assured that the foldable will handle water splashes just fine. In terms of durability, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold has the best among foldables with an IP68 rating.

Motorola truly did its homework when it came to design cause the Razr Fold's steel hinge mechanism is sturdy and solid, allowing you to fold it open at various angles, whether you want to use it as a tiny laptop or prop it up as a stand or tent to activate desk mode. 

[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="full" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="702131,702132"]

Camera

Motorola is quite proud of the camera system on the Razr Fold. The company believes that it is the best camera system on a foldable right now, backed by a DxOMark score of 164. The rear camera setup is identical to the Motorola Signature, comprising a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide macro camera, and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS. There's a 10MP camera on the cover display and a 32MP camera on the inner screen.

For a first-generation book-style foldable, the camera system is genuinely impressive. I didn't have the Galaxy Z Fold7, or any other foldable for that matter, with me for a side-by-side comparison. However, when analysed in isolation, the primary camera delivers reliable exposure, accurate white balance, and good detail in both daylight and indoor conditions. Noise is well controlled in photo mode, though colour fringing and some ghosting on moving subjects can appear in more challenging scenes.

Portrait shots are a highlight. The camera produces natural-looking background blur with good subject isolation and consistent skin tones, without the over-processed look that you see on some rival foldables. For a phone that doubles as a tablet, getting portraits right matters more than it might seem, and the Razr Fold handles them well.

Zoom is the most pleasant surprise. The dedicated 3x periscope telephoto transitions smoothly between focal lengths in photo mode, maintaining good detail and colour consistency from primary through ultrawide through tele. This is one of the few areas where the Razr Fold does not feel like a foldable compromise at all.

Low light is where the limitations show most clearly. The primary camera's OIS helps with shake, but noise becomes noticeably more intrusive in backlit scenes, and the autofocus slows down in the dark. It is a solid performer for casual night shots, but it cannot match the best dedicated camera phones in challenging lighting. Take a look at the comparison below between the Razr Fold and OPPO Find X9 Ultra. The OPPO phone delivers a better overall image, with good colour reproduction and excellent exposure control, ensuring the illuminated restaurant signs and billboards are clear rather than overexposed. 

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/oppo-find-x9-ultra-low-light.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/motorola-razr-fold-camera-sample-8.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OPPO Find X9 Ultra" after="Motorola Razr Fold"]

This outcome wasn't a surprise, as we noticed something similar in our Motorola Signature review, and both devices have identical camera systems. That is a reasonable trade-off for a foldable in 2026, and it does not take away from what is otherwise a very capable camera system on a book-style foldable.

Displays

The Razr Fold has two displays, and both are excellent. The 8.1-inch inner display is marginally larger than the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Vivo X Fold5, and it is quite useful, particularly for multitasking and reading. It is a 2K p-OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and peak brightness of 6,200 nits. In practice, it is vivid, sharp, and bright enough to use comfortably under direct sunlight, which has historically been a weakness of foldable displays. The screen crease is present, as it is on every book-style foldable, but it is subtle enough that you stop noticing it within the first day of use.

The 6.6-inch cover display is equally impressive, running at 165Hz with the same peak brightness as the inner panel. That is one of the largest and most capable cover displays on any book-style foldable right now, and it is genuinely useful for quick tasks without unfolding the phone. Checking notifications, replying to messages, controlling music playback, and using the camera all work comfortably on the outer screen.

What impressed me about the Razr Fold's displays is the additional settings that help reduce eye fatigue, such as offering a dedicated Flicker Prevention toggle under display settings that disables PWM dimming entirely, locking the dimming rate to the inner display's 120Hz refresh rate. Motorola also lets you schedule dark mode and Night Light together from sunset to sunrise, and the Natural colour preset reduces the visual intensity of the default vibrant output for extended reading sessions. None of Google's or Samsung's current foldables offers this combination of options, which makes the Razr Fold the most eye-friendly book-style foldable you can buy today.

Screenshot of Flicker Prevention

All in all, the Razr Fold delivers one of the best dual-display experiences currently available on a book-style foldable, and the inner screen is particularly impressive for a first-generation device from Motorola in this category.

Performance

The Razr Fold runs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, not the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that powers this year's flagship smartphones. So, while it doesn't achieve the 3.5 million+ AnTuTu scores that flagships like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra do today, the Razr Fold is still faster than its foldable peers.

[comparative-benchmark type="1" title="AnTuTu score" caption="AnTuTu assesses a smartphone's CPU, GPU, memory, and overall user experience (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="41737,41091,41155,41246," ][/comparative-benchmark]

In practice, the Razr Fold feels responsive and fluid in everyday use. Apps open quickly, switching between them is smooth, and multitasking across the large inner display works as well as it should. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM means the phone keeps plenty of apps alive in the background without having to reload them. I did not notice any slowdowns during my time with the device on daily tasks.

Where Motorola's chip choice pays off is in thermals. The Razr Fold throttles noticeably less than the Galaxy Z Fold7 under sustained load, which means performance stays more consistent over heavy use. In the Burnout throttle test, the Razr Fold throttled to 40% of peak performance, whereas the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold throttled to less than 30%.

The liquid cooling system helps here. The phone did get warm during gaming, but never uncomfortably so. Whether the lower benchmark ceiling bothers you depends entirely on what you are buying this phone for. For productivity, multitasking, and everyday use on the Razr Fold's large display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 has no trouble keeping up.

Software

The Razr Fold runs Android 16 with Hello UI on top, and it is a largely clean and well-considered software experience. Motorola's UI has always been closer to stock Android than most rivals, and that remains true here. There are fewer than 40 pre-installed apps, though the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is perhaps the best in this regard, with only 28 apps out of the box.

The interface is clean, and the animations are smooth. The larger inner display is put to good use with a split-screen system that lets you save frequently used app pairs as shortcuts, which becomes genuinely useful for productivity-heavy workflows over time. You can have up to three apps working simultaneously in split-screen. Apps can also be popped out into free-form floating windows, giving the Razr Fold a multitasking flexibility that suits the form factor. You can have up to five floating windows. However, resizing the windows is fairly restrictive compared to what you get on the Galaxy Z Fold7. It's not a deal-breaker, but I do hope Motorola adds more freedom to customise via future software updates.

Motorola promises seven years of Android OS upgrades and seven years of security updates, which is the best software support commitment you can get from an Android manufacturer right now, matching Samsung and Google. For a phone at this price, that matters.

The Moto AI suite is the one area that needs work. You get access to Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity alongside Motorola's own AI tools, including notification summarisation and real-time call transcription. The third-party AI access is useful, but Motorola's own AI features feel a step behind what Samsung and Google are offering on their respective flagships.

While Motorola's software optimisation for the foldable form factor is decent, it's still lacking the polish that Samsung's OneUI currently offers. This isn't surprising, and I do believe Motorola is on the right track to improve this further with future iterations.

Battery

Book-style foldables have two large displays that tend to use up a lot of battery. While the foldable design currently makes it difficult to add 8,000mAh or 9,000mAh batteries, as you see in regular smartphones nowadays, it's worth having the best possible battery that current technology allows. Thankfully, the Motorola Razr Fold and Vivo X Fold5 are the only two foldables currently in India to offer a 6,000mAh battery.

The 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery (split in two) inside the Razr Fold comfortably delivers a full day of battery life and then some. During my review, I forced myself to use the larger display more than I usually would to stress the battery, and I was happy with what the foldable delivered. I managed between 4 to 5 hours of screen on time. Unfortunately, the PCMark battery benchmark test kept crashing, so I don't have any synthetic benchmark numbers for you.

What's even better is that the Razr Fold charges at 80W using the bundled 90W charger. It takes roughly 46 minutes to charge the phone from 20 to 100 percent, faster than the Galaxy Z Fold7, which takes around 75 minutes on 25W speeds. Interestingly, the Vivo X Fold5, which supports a similar 80W charging and battery capacity as the Razr Fold, takes the least amount of time to fully charge.

[comparative-benchmark type="4000" products="41737,41091,41155,41246," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Final verdict

Motorola's first book-style foldable looks quite polished, which is saying something. The Razr Fold avoids the classic "first-generation pitfalls" by leveraging years of flip-phone expertise, resulting in a device that is robust, practical, and highly competitive right out of the gate.

It does require a few intentional trade-offs. If your priority is the absolute slimmest chassis or the bleeding-edge benchmark scores of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, rivals like Samsung and Vivo remain ahead. Motorola's software environment, while clean and highly customisable, also still needs a bit of large-screen optimisation to match the mature multitasking polish of OneUI.

However, where the Razr Fold chooses to win, it wins decisively. By prioritising physical endurance, both in the form of a massive, fast-charging 6,000mAh battery and a robust steel hinge, alongside a genuinely excellent periscope camera system and unmatched eye-comfort display tech, Motorola has built a foldable designed for the real world. Backed by an industry-best 7-year software update promise, the Razr Fold isn't just a great first attempt; it is one of the most reliable and practical book-style foldables you can buy in 2026.

Editor's rating: 8.3 / 10

Pros:

• Superb dual displays
• Class-leading battery and charging
• Impressive camera system
• Long-term software support

Cons:

• Thicker and heavier than rival foldables
• Lower peak performance
• Low-light camera performance could be better

The Rs 25,000 segment has changed quite a bit over the past year, with several phones that once sat here now moving closer to the Rs 30,000 mark. New launches have filled some of that gap, but the space no longer feels as packed or as straightforward as before, especially with smartphone prices fluctuating every 2 weeks. That also means there is a bit less clarity on which phones will stay in the bracket for long and which ones may quietly slip out after the next price hike.

Even so, this remains a very important price point for buyers who want the right balance of performance, cameras, battery life, and design without stretching their budget too far. So in this list, we've picked the best phones around Rs 25,000 in the month of May 2026 based on what each one does best, whether that is gaming, photography, endurance, software, or all-round value. Let's get started!

Best in design – POCO M8

The POCO M8 (review) is a notable change in POCO's design direction. It moves away from the brand's usual bold styling and instead goes for a cleaner and more polished look that feels quite premium in hand. Even though the frame is made of plastic, the phone does not feel cheap at all, and the slim 7.35mm body, along with the 178g weight, makes it exceptionally comfortable to hold and use for long periods.

At the back, the phone comes in a dual-tone finish across all colour options, including Carbon Black, Frost Silver, and Glacier Blue. The effect is immediately apparent on the Frost Silver variant we received, where the contrast between the silver centre and the darker edges gives the phone a distinctive look. It may feel a little unusual at first, but it quickly starts to stand out in a good way.

There is also a subtle line running across the rear panel, which adds a bit of depth when light falls on it. The square camera module sits neatly in the centre and blends well with the rest of the back, thanks to its matching finish and soft, rounded corners. It also sits flat on a table, which helps keep the phone steady and makes typing a little easier. With phones packing in larger batteries, slim, lightweight phones have become somewhat rare, but if that's what you fancy, the POCO M8 is a great one to have. 

Alternative – Infinix Note Edge

The Infinix Note Edge (review) does a very good job when it comes to design and in-hand feel. At just 7.2mm thick, it slips into pockets easily, while the 185g weight is well balanced enough that it doesn't feel awkward to hold for long periods. The review unit came in the Lunar Titanium shade, which has a reflective matte finish that feels smooth to the touch, though it can also get a bit slippery in regular use.

Infinix does bundle a good-quality rubberised case, which helps with grip. The phone also gets Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for scratch protection and an IP65 rating for dust and splash resistance, which adds a bit more peace of mind in everyday use.

Best all-rounder – OPPO K13

The OPPO K13 (review) makes a great case for itself as a well-rounded phone that gets most things right for a more affordable price compared to other phones on this list. It feels sleek in the hand, performs reliably for both regular and heavy users, and is backed by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, which keeps things smooth while remaining efficient with heat and battery use. That means you get consistent performance through the day, along with fast charging that can take the phone from empty to full in under an hour

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The cameras are also decent in good lighting, though low-light shots are average, and the software is feature-rich but comes with a fair number of pre-installed apps. Still, if those things are not major concerns, the OPPO K13 is an excellent all-round choice at this price point.

Alternative – OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite (review) keeps things simple and gets the basics right, with a large 7,000mAh battery and a dependable Dimensity 7400 chipset that make daily use feel smooth and worry-free. It does have a few compromises, such as the LCD display, which does not offer the same contrast and punch as an AMOLED panel, and the phone can also feel a little heavy over time.

Even so, the overall experience remains consistent thanks to clean software and cameras that hold up better than some of its direct rivals. It remains a balanced choice for buyers who want long battery life, solid performance, and a more refined software experience without overthinking the rest.

Best in cameras – Motorola Edge 60 Fusion

The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (review) comes across as the strongest camera phone in this set, mainly because it delivers the most consistent results across different lighting conditions. It performs especially well in daylight, where the main camera captures sharp, detailed images with vibrant colours, and the ultra-wide camera also holds up well in terms of detail and dynamic range. Portraits and selfies are generally good too, with the phone doing a better job than rivals at colour accuracy and facial detail, though the selfie camera can still soften features a little.

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Low-light performance is where it falls a little behind, as the phone struggles with light sources, colour reproduction, and overall clarity, even with night mode enabled. Low-light performance, however, is a thorn in the side of almost all phones in this price bracket. When you look at the bigger picture, the Edge 60 Fusion comes through as the best option here for photography, especially if you shoot mostly in well-lit conditions.

Best in software – iQOO Z11x

The iQOO Z11x's (review) software is one of its strongest points, even though it comes with a fair number of pre-installed apps and games. Running on OriginOS 6, the interface feels smooth and lively in daily use, with attractive blur effects, bouncy animations, and clean transitions that make the experience feel more polished than you might expect at this price. Small touches like the app opening and closing animations, the Origin Island effects, and the quick settings panel help the phone feel more refined, and these are details that are missing from most of its rivals in this price bracket.

The phone is also promised two years of OS updates and four years of security patches. That is still fine for a midrange phone, but it falls behind some rivals with longer update cycles. Even so, if you care about how the software actually feels to use every day, the iQOO Z11x does a very good job and is one of the best options in this list.

Alternative – POCO M8

While the iQOO Z11x makes a better case for day-to-day software feel, long-term support still matters a lot to buyers who plan to keep their phone for several years. That is where the POCO M8 (review) comes in, as it offers the longest software support in this segment, with 4 OS updates and 6 years of security patches. It may not feel as polished or as lively as iQOO's interface, but the longer update promise adds a lot of value for anyone who wants a phone that should stay supported for much longer. 

Best in gaming – Infinix GT 30

If gaming is your priority, the Infinix GT 30 (review) is the most purpose-built option in this list, and it is not particularly close. The phone carries a gamer-inspired design with GT Shoulder Triggers that offer a 520Hz touch response rate, making fast-paced multiplayer titles feel noticeably more responsive and fun to play. Under the hood, the Dimensity 7400 chipset handles most modern games well, whether that is BGMI at 90fps or more demanding titles like Genshin Impact at playable frame rates on high settings.

What's really exceptional, however, is the thermal management. The vapour chamber cooling keeps the temperature rise to just around 3 degrees Celsius after extended gaming sessions, which means performance stays consistent even during longer play sessions. There are a couple of compromises, like the IP64 rating and no storage expansion, but if gaming is what you are buying this phone for, the GT 30+ offers a level of focus and feature depth that the other phones on this list simply do not match.

Best in battery – Vivo T4

The Vivo T4 (review) is the clear battery leader in this aspect, thanks to its large 7,300mAh Silicon Carbon battery, which delivers excellent endurance without making the phone feel overly bulky. In our PCMark battery benchmark, it returned a score of 18 hours, but the real strength shows up in day-to-day use. The phone dropped just 5 percent during an hour of YouTube streaming, and even an hour of gaming at 90fps brought the battery down by only 7 percent overall.

[comparative-benchmark type="3" title="PCMark Battery score (in hours)" caption="PCMark battery test measures phone battery life from 100% to 20% (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="38029,,,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

It easily lasts through a full day and then some, even with heavier use, and it also charges very quickly thanks to 90W support and the bundled charger. That gives it a clear edge over other big-battery phones that usually take longer to top up. The bypass charging feature is another useful addition, since it helps reduce battery strain during charging and should support better long-term battery health. If you want a battery champ at this price point that is also a strong all-rounder, this is the one to beat.

Conclusion

Many of these phones launched last year, and while some have seen small price increases since then, they still offer excellent value. That matters even more now because newer launches have shifted the long-established price brackets, and many have trimmed certain hardware features to keep costs in check. As a result, some of the older options here still make more sense for buyers who want a better balance of features without stretching their budget too far. 

It is also worth noting that some really good phones, like the CMF Phone series and Nothing models, are not easy to recommend right now simply because they are out of stock on major online platforms.

Overall, the under-Rs 25,000 price bracket has become a more mixed segment than it used to be, but that also means there are still some very good phones to pick from depending on what matters most to you. Whether you care about design, cameras, battery life, software, or gaming, there is now a clear recommendation for each kind of buyer. 

Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick HD arrives in 2026 doing exactly what a good streaming stick should: stay out of the way, load fast, and not make you think too hard. Now, if your current smart TV is relatively modern, supports 4K, and handles latency well, this purchase might feel a bit redundant. However, for those nursing older-generation, pre-2020 screens that have become sluggish relics or basic secondary panels lacking in brainpower, this could be a worthwhile lifeline. Let's see if this little stick actually deserves a spot behind your telly.

Display & Connectivity (9/10)

This version is 30% slimmer than other sticks in the Fire TV line, meaning it plugs directly into your TV or laptop's HDMI slot without awkwardly blocking adjacent ports. The headline engineering update here is direct power, enabling the device to run entirely off your television's built-in USB port via the included cable, eliminating the need to hunt for a spare wall socket. It's a clean, clutter-free setup that makes it incredibly easy to toss into a backpack when travelling. It is an HD stick, though, so it tops out at 1080p and 60fps. If 4K is what you're after, look elsewhere in Amazon's lineup. That said, HDR10 and HDR10+ support mean content that's mastered for HDR looks noticeably better than vanilla HD, and Wi-Fi 6 (dual-band, 802.11ax) ensures the connection holds up even in busier home networks.

Interface & app (7.8/10)

More than the TV interface, for me, the highlight was the Fire TV Mobile app that enhances the whole UX. Browsing content and adding to your watchlist from your phone before casting to the TV is so much more comfortable and a personal experience than scrolling through a remote-controlled grid. But it does have one annoying quirk which must be rectified at the legislation level. When browsing your watchlist on the app, Amazon gives you IMDb ratings, synopses, and genres, but completely hides which streaming platform actually hosts the content. You click a movie, wait for the TV to boot up the respective app like Zee5 or Sony Liv, only to realise you don't even subscribe to that service. There is clearly enough screen real estate to squeeze in a service logo. I would suspect the philosophy is to get viewers thinking in terms of content rather than platforms, which sounds like a utopian frictionless future, but until everyone is subscribed to 27 different platforms, that extra step is just friction dressed up as vision.

The Clicker & Alexa (8.2/10)

The included Alexa Voice Remote features standard hotkeys for popular streaming apps and a mechanical click wheel that works exactly as you would expect, in 2020. So don't expect natural, conversational language recognition; it requires clear pronunciation just to get you into the right ballpark. The remote can also handle basic IR controls for your television's power and volume, which is always a welcome convenience. Amazon also continues to include the Silk web browser, which now feels increasingly futile since YouTube is an official app on Fire TV and you no longer have to use the browser version as a workaround.

Verdict

Cloud gaming via the Xbox app (Game Pass subscription and Bluetooth controller required) is a solid bonus feature. Titles stream entertainingly well on a stable Wi-Fi 6 connection, and it genuinely transforms a streaming stick into a light gaming console. Don't expect miracles, but it's more capable than you'd expect for Rs. 4999. It isn't an essential purchase for anyone with a modern 4K display. However, for older-generation sets, it provides a worthwhile spend for the convenience of the Fire TV ecosystem. It offers quick boot-up times, clean USB power delivery and a well-organised interface. It's a capable, highly portable little stick that gets the job done.

Editor's Rating: 8.5/10

Pros

• Wi-Fi 6 and HDR10+ support
• Genuinely useful companion app
• Powers directly via TV's USB

Cons

• Caps out at 1080p HD
• No OTT logo on thumbnails
• Redundant on newer smart TVs

The OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite is back in India with the launch of the Nord CE 6 lineup, and it succeeds the Nord CE 4 Lite from 2024. This time, OnePlus has made a small bump in pricing, with the base variant offering 6GB RAM and 128GB storage now starting at Rs 20,999.

On paper, the phone brings a capable MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor, a massive 7,000mAh battery, and a standard 50MP rear camera setup. With smartphone prices steadily going up across segments, the Nord CE 6 Lite aims to offer a balanced experience at a price that still feels reasonable. In this review, I'll take a closer look at whether it delivers enough to justify its price and if it's worth your money right now.

Short verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite offers dependable battery life with its massive battery and efficient Dimensity 7400 chipset. The LCD panel is not the best when it comes to content consumption but the paired stereo speakers add a lot of depth to media. Its cameras perform well in daylight conditions, but the detail level can fall short in scenarios in dimly-lit environments.

Display and audio: a standard panel with some punchy sound

[pdp-expert-review]
The Nord CE 6 Lite offers a large display that feels smooth enough for everyday use. While the visuals are decent with balanced colours, outdoor visibility can be a challenge in harsh sunlight. On the plus side, the stereo speakers deliver full sound with good depth, making media consumption enjoyable.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The phone features a 6.72-inch LCD display with an FHD+ resolution and a refresh rate that goes up to 144Hz. In regular use, most apps tend to stick to fixed refresh rates, which likely helps with battery efficiency, but the overall experience may not feel as smooth as slightly pricier phones, where apps run constantly at high refresh rates. Even still, the display feels smooth enough while scrolling and navigating through the interface.

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In terms of visual quality, the display looks perfectly fine for everyday use, with good enough detail when watching content on platforms like YouTube and JioHotstar. The colours, to my eyes, look balanced, but if you prefer a more punchy and vibrant look, this panel might feel slightly underwhelming. Brightness is decent indoors at 1000 nits, but outdoor visibility can be a challenge, especially under harsh sunlight like what you'd typically experience during Delhi summers.

As for audio, the speakers sound quite full and offer a good sense of depth, which makes watching videos or casual listening more enjoyable. Overall, you'd be happy with the multimedia output of this device. 

Battery: endurance that you can rely on

[pdp-expert-review]
The Nord CE 6 Lite stands out with its strong battery life, backed by a large 7,000mAh unit that easily handles extended daily use. It delivers consistent screen time and dependable endurance, while charging speeds remain reasonable for the battery capacity.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The phone packs a large 7,000mAh battery, which plays a big role in its overall endurance. In my usage, the device consistently delivered excellent battery life, often lasting close to two days on a single charge with a screen time of roughly 5 hours. This included a mix of social media browsing, music streaming, video playback, and general day-to-day tasks, with mobile data and Bluetooth enabled most of the time.

[comparative-benchmark type="3" title="PCMark Battery score (in hours)" caption="PCMark battery test measures phone battery life from 100% to 20% (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="42001,41837,41567,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Screen-on time comfortably crossed the 9-hour mark on one or two occasions, which makes this a reliable option if battery life is a priority. I don't use my phone that heavily, so I take my cues from the more reliable benchmarks we can test. For instance, its PCMark battery benchmark sits at 17 hours, and the test is a lot more demanding than what you or I'd manage in a day. While usage patterns can vary from person to person, the phone should easily get through a full day and more without much concern for regular users.

[comparative-benchmark type="4000" products="42001,41837,41567,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Charging speeds are also reasonable for a battery of this size. The bundled 45W charger takes a little over an hour and a half to fully charge the device, which feels acceptable considering the large capacity. Top it up once at night, and you're good to go for the next day or two! Overall, the battery experience remains one of the strongest aspects of the phone and adds to its everyday usability.

Design: simple, elegant build

[pdp-expert-review]
The Nord CE 6 Lite keeps things simple with a clean design and a comfortable in-hand feel, though the smooth back can be a bit slippery without a case. It looks neat and well put together, with a camera module that adds a slightly premium touch, but durability could have been better compared to some rivals.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The phone sticks to a simple and practical design, using a polycarbonate body with a flat frame and gently curved edges that make it comfortable to hold. The review unit we received comes in a Mint Green finish.

[comparative-benchmark type="1000" products="42001,41837,41567,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

The rear panel also feels smooth to the touch, which looks nice but can make the phone a little slippery during regular use. For that, the included case adds some much-needed grip. The camera module, however, is nicely done, with a metallic finish and subtle detailing that helps the phone have a more premium appearance.

In hand, the device does feel a bit heavy while still manageable and comfortable to use for longer durations. There's no 3.5mm headphone jack here, but you do get stereo speakers that deliver loud output with clear enough sound for everyday use.

The smaller details are well executed, too. The buttons feel sturdy and clicky, the side-mounted fingerprint sensor is quick and reliable, and the IP64 rating adds a bit of reassurance against dust and minor splashes. The durability, however, could have been improved since quite a few rivals in this price bracket offer better IP ratings. 

Performance and software: good day-to-day experience

[pdp-expert-review]
The Nord CE 6 Lite delivers a smooth and reliable day-to-day experience, powered by the Dimensity 7400 and fast UFS 3.1 storage. It handles regular tasks and casual gaming well, with good thermal control, while OxygenOS adds a clean and feature-rich software experience for the price.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor, which is the same chipset we've seen on its sibling. The handset comes in multiple configurations, including 6GB or 8GB RAM with up to 256GB of storage. You also get UFS 3.1 storage here, which is a nice addition in this segment and helps with faster app loading, smoother installs, and generally quicker day-to-day performance.

[comparative-benchmark type="1" title="AnTuTu score" caption="AnTuTu assesses a smartphone's CPU, GPU, memory, and overall user experience (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="42001,41837,41567,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

In regular use, the phone feels quite responsive, whether you're switching between apps, scrolling through social media, or handling basic tasks. The CE6 Lite also holds up well for gaming. Titles like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile support up to 90FPS, and at standard graphics settings, the gameplay remains stable. A noteworthy aspect is that the temperatures are remarkably well managed, and over an hour of gaming increased the temperature by just 4 degrees Celsius. 

[comparative-benchmark type="10" title="Geekbench single-core score" caption="Geekbench assesses the efficiency of the CPU's single and multiple cores (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="42001,41837,41567,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

However, prolonged gaming at 90FPS, I did notice that performance starts to dip slightly once the phone heats up, with frame rates settling below the peak levels. It's not a dealbreaker, but it is something to keep in mind if you game for extended periods. The built-in vapour cooling system does help manage thermals, especially in warmer conditions, and keeps the overall experience fairly consistent.

[comparative-benchmark type="11" title="Geekbench multi-core score" caption="Geekbench assesses the efficiency of the CPU's single and multiple cores (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="42001,41837,41567,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

The phone runs on Android 16 with Oxygen OS on top, and the company is promising two years of OS updates along with three years of security patches. The overall experience feels familiar if you've used a recent OnePlus device, with a mix of useful features and some added AI tools baked into system apps like Gallery, Notes, Camera, and Sound Recorder.

[comparative-benchmark type="3000" products="42001,41837,41567,," pias="52,64,58,,"][/comparative-benchmark]

Features like AI Eraser, glare removal, and document scanning work as expected and can come in handy in day-to-day use. Apart from that, you get the usual set of customisation options for the home screen and lock screen, along with features like Live Alerts, a Game Assistant, and support for tools like Circle to Search and Gemini. For a device in this price range, the software experience is pretty decent. 

Cameras: vibrant and detailed in good lighting

[pdp-expert-review]
The Nord CE 6 Lite delivers good results in well-lit conditions, with natural colours and decent detail, and it performs better than some rivals in areas like selfies and portraits. However, the lack of OIS and average low-light performance means it falls short in more challenging scenarios.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The phone features a 50MP primary camera paired with a 2MP secondary sensor at the back, while the front houses an 8MP selfie shooter. Unfortunately, there's no OIS support on the primary camera, but it still manages to capture sharp enough shots. For videos, you can record at up to 4K 60FPS using the main camera.

In good lighting, especially outdoors, the camera produces pleasing images with balanced colours that don't feel overly saturated. While the level of detail at 1x could have been slightly better, the shots still come out clear enough for everyday use. Contrast and dynamic range are generally handled well, although more challenging scenes, like harsh sunlight or hazy conditions, can throw things off a bit. Images tend to lose some sharpness and appear softer at 2x zoom and higher.

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Selfies and portrait shots have slightly cooler skin tones, but they still retain a fair amount of detail, particularly in well-lit conditions. In low light, the camera performance is average, with softer images and some visible noise if you look closely. 

I compared the phone's cameras against the iQOO Z11x (review) to determine how the device compares to its primary competitor. 

Daylight

In this category, the Nord CE6 Lite manages detail level and sharpness better than the iQOO Z11x. Even in terms of colour science, the Nord's image is a lot closer to the actual scene compared to its peer, which adds a lot of contrast to make the image appear more cinematic. 

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OnePlus-Nord-CE6-Lite-daylight-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/iQOO-Z11x-daylight-2-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite " after="iQOO Z11x"]

Portrait

In portrait shots, the iQOO Z11x's key advantage lies in its colour science, where its skin tones and environmental hues are quite close to the actual scene. In other aspects, like the subject's facial details and edge detection, the Nord CE6 Lite performs better. 

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/iQOO-Z11x-portrait-2-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/iQOO-Z11x-portrait-2-1-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite " after="iQOO Z11x"]

Selfie

This is another aspect where the Nord CE6 Lite is superior to its competitor in almost all aspects. The handset delivers a better detail level and sharpness across the scene and renders colours more closely to the actual scene. 

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OnePlus-Nord-CE6-Lite-selfie-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/iQOO-Z11x-selfie-2-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite " after="iQOO Z11x"]

Low light (night mode)

With the dedicated night mode enabled on both phones, the iQOO Z11x delivers a more balanced image output. Its sharpness and detail level are significantly higher compared to the Nord, and it manages lens flares and exposures quite well, too. The Nord's only advantage is its colour science, which is closer to the actual scene.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/OnePlus-Nord-CE6-Lite-nm-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/iQOO-Z11x-nightmode-2-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite " after="iQOO Z11x"]

Final verdict

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite focuses on the basics and gets most of them right. You get a large 7,000mAh battery and a reliable Dimensity 7400 chipset, which together make the phone feel smooth in daily use, whether it's multitasking, streaming, or casual gaming.

Although there are a few compromises here worth noting, like the LCD display, which lacks the deep contrast and punch you get with AMOLED panels. The handset can also feel a bit heavy in day-to-day use. The overall experience, however, feels consistent, helped by clean software and cameras that perform better than some of its direct rivals.

Looking at alternatives, the iQOO Z11x (review) offers similar battery and performance, but the OnePlus is ahead with better cameras and a cleaner software experience. The POCO M8 (review), on the other hand, is a better pick if you want a slimmer design and an AMOLED display, but it is held back by its underwhelming performance and software experience.

All things considered, if you want a phone that lasts long and handles everyday use without issues, the Nord CE 6 Lite is an easy option to consider at this price. 

Editor's Rating 8.2/10

Reasons to buy:

• The phone feels responsive in daily use, handles multitasking well, and stays smooth for casual gaming thanks to the Dimensity 7400 chipset and fast UFS 3.1 storage.
• It has a simple and well-finished build with a comfortable in-hand feel, a neat camera module, and a look that feels more premium than expected at this price.
• The stereo speakers sound full and clear, with good depth that makes videos, music, and general media playback more enjoyable.
• OxygenOS feels quick and polished, with smooth animations, useful features, and a clean overall interface that makes the phone easy to use every day.

Reasons not to buy:

• The camera struggles a bit in dim lighting, with softer images and visible noise when the light drops.
• The phone has some weight to it, which is manageable, but it can feel slightly tiring during longer usage sessions.

Remember when buying a gaming laptop felt like signing an unofficial agreement with thermodynamics? More performance meant more wattage, chunkier chargers, louder fans, and enough heat output to make summer gaming feel like a survival challenge. For years, that was simply the rule. If a laptop wanted to push higher frame rates, it had to brute-force its way there with more power.

But somewhere along the way, NVIDIA decided brute force was getting a little old-fashioned. Instead of just pushing GPUs harder, the company started teaching them how to think smarter. That shift gave us DLSS, short for Deep Learning Super Sampling, and honestly, it has completely changed how gaming laptops behave in the real world. Modern GPUs no longer rely purely on raw horsepower. AI now plays a huge role in how games are rendered, how frames are generated, and ultimately, how smooth gameplay feels.

To see just how dramatic that shift has become, we put three popular laptop GPUs head-to-head: the RTX 3060, RTX 4060, and the brand-new RTX 5060. On paper, this sounds like a straightforward generational showdown. In reality, the results turned into something far more interesting. Older GPUs suddenly gained a second life, mid-range cards started punching above their weight, and the RTX 50-series showed just how absurd AI-assisted gaming is becoming.

The benchmark setup and why these numbers matter

For testing, we used three gaming laptops equipped with NVIDIA's RTX 3060, RTX 4060, and RTX 5060 Laptop GPUs. The games selected were intentionally brutal on hardware, including Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, Forza Horizon 5, and Resident Evil: Requiem. We tested across multiple scenarios, including native rendering, DLSS upscaling, Ray Tracing, Frame Generation, and Multi-Frame Generation, where supported.

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As for the laptops used, we went with an RTX 3060-powered MSI Pulse GL66 11UEK with a TGP of 85W, an RTX 4060-powered MSI Sword 15 A12VF-401IN with a TGP of 105W, and finally, the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora AC16250 with an RTX 5060 with 80W of TGP.

Note: Laptop GPU performance heavily depends on TGP, cooling, and power allocation. A higher-powered RTX 4060 can outperform a lower-wattage RTX 5060 in native workloads, and all testing here was conducted independently using units available to us at the time.

Turns out, older RTX laptops still have a lot of life left

Before getting distracted by shiny new silicon, let's talk about the biggest surprise from this entire test: the RTX 3060 is aging way better than most people probably expected.

Traditionally, gaming laptops tend to age like milk once newer AAA titles start piling on advanced effects and heavier rendering pipelines. A GPU that once felt powerful slowly gets pushed into the "medium settings only" category. But DLSS has completely disrupted that cycle.

Take Cyberpunk 2077 as an example. Running the game natively at High settings, the RTX 3060 delivered 63.4 FPS. Perfectly playable, but not exactly ideal for a fast-paced shooter-RPG hybrid where responsiveness matters. Turn DLSS on, though, and performance jumps to 81.4 FPS. Suddenly, the experience feels dramatically smoother without sacrificing visual quality in any meaningful way.

Things get even more interesting once Frame Generation enters the chat. Officially, RTX 30-series GPUs do not support NVIDIA's DLSS 3 Frame Generation, but thanks to community workarounds using AMD's FSR Frame Generation, the RTX 3060 still pulled off some surprisingly impressive results. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing enabled, performance jumped from a rough 42.2 FPS to a much smoother 79.2 FPS, while Black Myth: Wukong climbed all the way to 93 FPS with Frame Generation enabled. It's a great example of how modern upscaling tech is not just improving newer GPUs, but also giving older gaming laptops a serious second wind.

For gamers still holding onto RTX 3060 laptops, this is genuinely good news. No, these machines are not magically competing with flagship hardware. But they are far from obsolete. With a little settings tweaking and smart use of AI-assisted rendering, they still deliver a surprisingly solid gaming experience in some of the heaviest modern titles available today.

How did the RTX 4060 beat the RTX 5060, though?

One of the biggest surprises from our testing was seeing the RTX 4060 occasionally outperform the newer RTX 5060 in native gaming workloads. In Cyberpunk 2077 at High settings, the RTX 4060 delivered 84.3 FPS, slightly ahead of the RTX 5060's 82.4 FPS, with a similar trend appearing in Forza Horizon 5 as well.

As strange as that sounds, the reason is fairly simple. Our RTX 4060 laptop was configured with a much higher 105W TGP, while the RTX 5060 machine operated at a lower 80W power limit. In traditional rasterized workloads without heavy AI assistance, raw power still plays a huge role, and the RTX 4060 simply had more room to brute-force higher frame rates. It's also a reminder that gaming laptop performance is no longer just about the GPU name. A well-cooled, higher-powered older GPU can absolutely outperform a newer chip in certain scenarios, especially when the newer laptop is designed around efficiency, thermals, or battery life.

But then we enabled Multi-Frame Generation. And the entire story changed.

RTX 50-series and the absurdity of Multi-Frame Generation

The moment Multi-Frame Generation entered the picture, the RTX 5060 basically stopped caring about its lower TGP. This is where NVIDIA's AI strategy starts looking genuinely futuristic. In Cyberpunk 2077 with Ray Tracing enabled, the RTX 5060 using DLSS and Multi Frame Generation shot up to 166.1 FPS. For context, the RTX 4060 topped out at 105.8 FPS using standard Frame Generation.

That is not a small difference. That is a gigantic leap in smoothness from a laptop GPU running at significantly lower power. And the craziest part is that the RTX 5060 is not achieving this through traditional rendering alone. Instead of brute-forcing every frame conventionally, NVIDIA is essentially using AI as a performance multiplier, allowing thinner and more efficient laptops to deliver frame rates that previously required much larger and hotter systems.

Black Myth: Wukong showed the same behavior. Under standard DLSS workloads, the RTX 4060 and RTX 5060 were basically neck-and-neck around the mid-80 FPS mark. The moment Frame Generation was enabled, though, the RTX 5060 surged ahead to 174 FPS, while the RTX 4060 settled at 130 FPS. Even with Ray Tracing enabled, the RTX 5060 maintained a buttery-smooth 127 FPS.

That is the real story of modern AI-assisted gaming. Raw raster performance still matters, absolutely. But increasingly, the real differentiator is how effectively a GPU can leverage AI acceleration technologies. And right now, NVIDIA's latest 50-series hardware is operating on a completely different level in that department.

So, which RTX gaming laptop actually makes the most sense?

After spending hours benchmarking these machines, one thing became very clear: there is no universally "bad" option here anymore. DLSS has fundamentally changed how gaming laptops age and perform.

If someone already owns an RTX 3060 laptop, upgrading immediately probably is not necessary unless there is a need for cutting-edge Ray Tracing or ultra-high refresh competitive gaming. DLSS and modern upscaling technologies are doing an incredible job keeping these GPUs relevant, and the performance gains from software alone are honestly impressive.

RTX 4060 laptops, meanwhile, continue to hit a sweet spot for value. The ecosystem is mature, drivers are stable, performance is predictable, and the GPU handles modern games extremely well. Native rendering performance is still excellent, especially on higher-TGP implementations, and DLSS Frame Generation gives these systems plenty of extra breathing room.

But the RTX 5060 represents where gaming laptops are clearly heading next. Even at lower wattages, it delivers absurdly high frame rates once Multi Frame Generation is enabled. More importantly, it does this while remaining relatively efficient compared to older gaming laptop designs. That matters because nobody really misses the era of gigantic, overheating gaming laptops that sounded like industrial cooling systems.

DLSS is the real winner here

The biggest takeaway from all this testing is that DLSS is no longer just a fancy graphics feature hidden in settings menus. It has become one of the single most important technologies shaping modern PC gaming. It can rescue older GPUs, dramatically improve mid-range hardware, and completely transform what newer GPUs are capable of.

Won't deny, I'm a bit nostalgic to host this brand back in my listening room. Having owned several of their genre-defining AV receivers back in the early 2000s and even the Integra Research processor/power amp duo, the Muse Y-50 had big, nostalgic shoes to fill. The question was whether the new Onkyo under the Premium Audio Company umbrella, itself a subsidiary of Gentex Corporation, could translate eight decades of Japanese audio heritage into something that makes sense for the streaming era. Spoiler: It largely can.

Design (8.5/10)

I like the modern aesthetic, with two large dials tastefully illuminated around the edges, anchored by a large 5.5in display in the centre. Although with its resolution and on-screen keyboard, it really should've been a touchscreen and not just a display. The left dial handles input selection with indentation, while the volume knob is the free-wheeling kind, and the display also doubles up as a VU meter since…why not! Everyone wants them these days and is quickly becoming the Gen-Z audiophile aesthetic. They are amplitude dependent and not signal, so the louder you push, the more they dance.

Build quality is genuinely impressive for the price. The aluminium front panel gives it the kind of solidity you'd expect from something costing considerably more, and the distinctively patterned San Kuzushi ventilated top plate serves as a nod to Japanese craft tradition and works to elevate it above generic slab territory. One gripe that hasn't aged well: the remote is decidedly very 90s, crammed with more buttons than the cockpit of a regional jet. For a unit this modern, it feels like an afterthought bolted on from a different decade.

Technology (9/10)

Axign Class-D module is relatively new and not seen on many home-audio products yet, but they have been using the professional industry as their proving ground, which is even more demanding when it comes to dynamics, reliability and efficiency. But what about the refinement and microdynamics, you ask? In a word, excellent. The rated power output of 250W @4ohms is legit as the dynamics piled on during the massive brass and bass of Junun's self-titled banger of an opener from 2015.

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The Y-50 also features a proprietary room-calibration system developed for the Muse Series dubbed Onkyo Room EQ. It uses your phone's built-in mic to correct minor aberrations in the frequency response caused by room modes and to flatten some of the peaks and nulls, in theory giving you a more accurate sound. In practice, too, it did serve well by boosting a supposed dip around the lower midbass that my room displayed around 80-90Hz. In essence, it sounded like a "loudness" button engaged, making the sound fuller with more body at lower volume, but I realised over a longer duration and more demanding tracks, I preferred the leaner presentation with Room EQ off. Of course, this is the classic "as per taste" argument, and the variables are infinite with every room, speakers used, personal preference of sound and everything in between.

[gallery link="file" size="full" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" columns="2" ids="701754,701762"]

Connectivity (9.5/10)

The Y-50 is impressively well-stocked at the back. Three pairs of RCA analogue inputs, a coaxial and optical digital input, HDMI in with full 4K/120p and 8K/60p support, HDMI ARC, a dedicated MM/MC phono stage, USB-A for storage playback, a subwoofer output, pre-out, and a 6.3mm headphone jack. That's a lot of doors into this box. Both Ethernet and Wi-Fi are on board for network duties, which is the correct answer.

App is basic but functional, and if you go past its dated UI, it's actually fast and logical…like the virtual volume dial that pops up without interfering with the album art. Clear and large input source selection buttons and a no-nonsense tone control menu. Streaming service support is comprehensive: Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, and Google Cast. The AirPlay 2 inclusion is a meaningful differentiator from rivals at this price

Performance (9.2/10)

There was no sign of top-end grain, sterility or flatness of the image, all the things that are typically associated with Class-D amplification. Everything I played from Deep Purple's newest, which is no cadaveric spasm but a full-on assault in the classic rock sense, to the polished production of Don West, the Y-50 sounded energetic, poised and muscular. Rated at 250W into 4 ohms, it had no trouble driving the big KEF Blade 2 Metas with their difficult load and eight woofers in totality to control. Long hours of listening are totally possible with the Y-50 if your setup follows some basic rules of proper setup.

You will be treated to a solid centre image, a wide spread of image, and even reasonable depth, something Class D would find especially challenging in the past. The Axign post filter-feedback tech really cleans up the signal to the point where it starts sounding both musical and modern, without any harshness. In the real world, it's so refined that no music lover should even bother with obsessing over the amplifier topology and just buy it for what it is. The only real shortcoming, and that too in A/B comparisons with a much more expensive Class AB amplifier, was the lack of as much "body" or three-dimensionality to large acoustic instruments. It's a very modern presentation of sound, and while it's not necessarily a drawback, it may be the only thing traditionalists miss about their big and burly toroidal transformer-based amps.

Verdict

In terms of value, at Rs. 2,59,800, the Y-50 is steeper than the WiiM Amp Ultra, but it also has much more muscle to drive even more demanding speakers and the bonus of being AirPlay 2 compatible. The remote deserves a rethink, though, and that display really ought to be a touchscreen, but these are quibbles around the edges of something that is otherwise impressively coherent. Onkyo hasn't just returned — it's returned with a point to prove, and the Y-50 makes that case convincingly. This isn't your dad's hi-fi, and there's no reason to get nostalgic about it.

Editor's Rating: 9/10

Pros

• Commanding power easily drives large speakers
• Plenty of physical and wireless connection options
• Useful display features analog-like VU meters

Cons

• Large screen completely lacks touch capabilities
• Included remote control is excessively cluttered
• Bluetooth limits streaming to basic codecs

Soundbars have undergone a massive evolution over the past decade, transitioning from basic TV speaker upgrades to complex, room-calibrating powerhouses with modular, detachable surrounds. Today, that evolutionary wave brings us a surprising new contender. Historically, boAt has dominated the market as the undisputed king of budget-friendly personal audio and entry-level soundbars. However, the launch of the boAt Aavante Prime X signals an ambitious strategic shift for the company.

Priced at roughly Rs 38,000, this system marks the brand's bold step into the premium audio segment, shaking up its value-first image to target tech-savvy cinephiles. By offering a high-end 7.1.4 setup with truly wireless detachable speakers, boAt is executing a major lineup reshuffle. The strategy here is clear: leverage their massive market presence to undercut legacy home theater giants, proving they can deliver enthusiast-grade immersion without the traditional luxury price tag. Let's see if this premium gamble pays off and if the Aavante Prime X is truly worth your hard-earned money.

Key Specifications at a Glance

• Audio Configuration: 7.1.4 Channel setup with Dolby Atmos support
• Total Output Power: 700W
• Subwoofer: Wireless 8-inch driver
• Surround Speakers: Truly wireless detachable satellites with up to 12 hours of battery life
• Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.3, HDMI (e-ARC), 2x HDMI Passthrough, Optical, AUX IN, and USB
• Audio Modes: Movie, Music, Night, and News EQ modes

Design & Build: Premium Looks with a Versatile Form Factor

The soundbar has a premium finish with a black grill covering the speakers. The bar is big enough to fit comfortably below a 55-inch TV without the detachable speakers. Add the detachable speakers, and now it looks like a soundbar that would do better justice to a 65-inch TV. This is just so you understand how big the bar will look under a TV. Ideally, it should get the job done well for anything from a 50-inch TV to a 75-inch TV with ease. It has rubber feet at the bottom to hold it firmly in place when kept on a table, although it should work well wall-mounted, too.

Connectivity options

All the connectivity ports are at the back of the soundbar. You have the HDMI eARC port along with 2 HDMI inputs (a very nice touch) supporting 4K 60Hz Dolby Vision and Atmos passthrough, an Optical port, an AUX port, and a USB port. It also features Bluetooth v5.3 for seamless wireless streaming. You get an HDMI and optical cable in the box, which is a great inclusion.

Speaking of the wireless subwoofer, it is huge—much bigger than most soundbars I've tested recently, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. We'll get to the punch it packs in the performance section. Here, the air duct is facing the back, while the 8-inch driver is down-facing. It has the boAt logo on it and looks a lot like a JBL subwoofer, which isn't a bad thing at all. There are only so many form factors you can have for a bass module. It also has slightly long feet to ensure the driver has enough space to give that boomy effect.

Speakers that surround you

Let's talk a little bit about the surround speakers. No cable or hook holds them with the bar. They sort of "magnetically" attach and are quite firm when connected. Separating them is as simple as pulling them slightly, and they come right off. You can place them horizontally or even mount them on a speaker stand. They charge when connected to the main module; however, they also have USB-C ports for independent power, boasting an impressive battery life of up to 12 hours on Dolby Atmos playback. This is a very nice touch, making the bar super versatile for your room's setup.

Overall, the design of the soundbar and the sub feels premium, and it's a well-built system. My only gripe is that I wish you could turn off the dot matrix-like display on the front of the bar. For those "lights out" movie sessions, I find it to be a bit distracting.

Setup: Plug, Play, and Prepare to Be Amazed

Setting up the soundbar is super simple. Connect the HDMI cable to the eARC/ARC port of your TV and the back of the bar. Connect the detachable speakers to the bar. Plug the sub into a power port, and it's all good to go. There is an LED light on each of the detachable speakers that glows a solid blue when paired. The same light is at the back of the subwoofer as well. There is a manual pairing process available, but I didn't need to go through that.

Once the light is blue, you can detach the speakers and place them in the surround positions. There is a label on each for left and right, so you know which goes where. Overall, the setup process is very simple and user-friendly.

Remote Control: Functional, But Leaves Room for Tweaking

"Functional" is the best way to describe the remote control. It has the standard set of controls: from changing the input to controlling the volume, a dedicated mute button, bass controls, Movie/Music/News/Night EQ modes, surround and treble controls, a pair button, etc. Night mode reduces the dynamic range of the speakers so you don't wake up the house when watching an action movie.

My small nitpick here is that the volume controls are horizontal rather than vertical, which takes some getting used to. But that's just a nitpick. My real gripe is the inability to set the surround volume for each speaker individually. This can be an issue if one speaker is slightly closer to your listening position and the other is further away. Again, this isn't a dealbreaker, but it would be nice to have. Overall, the remote is functional and gets the job done.

Sound Performance: Loud, Bassy, and Unapologetically Cinematic

Holy smokes, this soundbar can get really loud! With its 700W total output, the sound is clear, vibrant, and though a bit on the bassier side, it sounds very good. Let's talk about some examples.

I am going to start talking about the performance by keeping the detachable speakers in the surround position, where you would want them if you want the sound to come from behind or around you. Once detached, I would recommend keeping the speakers at ear height or slightly higher, facing towards you at about an arm's length distance from your listening position.

Initial hiccups

Before we get into the content, I want to highlight one problem I have had with the Apple TV 4K box. I connected the Apple TV to the TV, and the TV to the soundbar using the eARC port, and faced the same problem I've experienced with soundbars in the past: it feels as if the sound is coming from all the speakers, and even in the settings of the Apple TV on my TV, it showed the output as only 5.1 and not Dolby Atmos (which the soundbar fully supports with its 7.1.4 channels).

But, if I remove the Apple TV box from the TV and plug it directly into one of the HDMI passthrough ports on the soundbar, not only is the audio correctly recognized as Dolby Atmos, but I also get the surround effect mapped perfectly. This means the surround speakers only kick in when they need to.

Ready Player One is a great example. During the race at the 13-minute mark, you have cars and coins flying all over the place. It actually sounds sublime on the soundbar, with clarity in the dialogues and mixed audio. Even in other action movies like The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings, or Spider-Man: Homecoming, when you have so much action happening all around, having the surround speakers in the correct place gives you an incredible experience.

Speakers and TV Shows

Now, when you connect the speakers to the soundbar itself, you get a slightly wider soundstage from the front. This is most apparent when you're consuming Dolby Atmos content because the sounds that are supposed to come from behind you are now coming from the extreme left and right in front of you.

When you are consuming a regular TV show, some of the dialogues that kick in from the front speaker and the surround speaker sound more like an echo when the surround speakers are attached to the bar. In such cases, I recommend going into the settings of either your TV, Fire TV Stick, or whatever the source is, and switching the sound output to stereo wherever possible. This gives you a nice 2.1 experience and significantly reduces the echo.

What about Music, though?

This effect is also very noticeable when you listen to music. When you listen to music that is mastered in Dolby Atmos, the rear speakers can elevate the experience—as long as the source of the music is good. If you connect the rear speakers to the bar in the front, it gives you a wide soundstage, much like a very good 2.1 experience.

Coming to some of the settings, I found the Movie EQ mode to be the best profile. I recommend reducing the subwoofer from +4 (the default) to +2, as the sub can get quite boomy. Reducing it by 2 points made its performance ideal for my room.

Great for gaming too

Moving on to gaming, I would also recommend that when playing on the PS5 or Xbox Series X, you go into the console settings. If you have the surround speakers connected to the front bar, use stereo mode or 2.1 mode. But if you are using the surround speakers behind you, enable the Dolby Atmos settings on the consoles, as the games will give you very good surround effects. In games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2, when Spider-Man is flying through the city, you hear the noises of the city and the action coming from all around. The city actually feels very alive.

Even in games like Ori and the Will of the Wisps, you have this really beautiful orchestral score that engulfs you, and when Ori fights on screen, the swishes have very good surround effects. In a game like Doom: The Dark Ages, which has a fantastic metal soundtrack, the speakers sound great, containing the heavy thuds of the guns quite well. If you play the Music Rally mode in a game like Gran Turismo 7, the background score, along with the grunt of the car, really shines, especially when you consider the price-to-performance ratio.

The Verdict: A Highly Customizable 7.1.4 Powerhouse

Priced at around Rs 38,000, the boAt Aavante Prime X faces plenty of competition, but it stands out with its truly wireless, detachable speakers. This design offers incredible flexibility: you can pull the satellites out for immersive movie nights, or snap them back onto the main bar for a cleaner setup during casual TV viewing. The echo from the rear speakers playing upfront can be an issue with 5.1/Atmos content, but you can easily change the settings of the input device to a simple stereo/2.1 mode to work around it.

This customizability is the system's best asset. The audio performance is fantastic, packing deep bass and a rich volume that gets seriously loud. Vocals are also remarkably crisp and clear—even during chaotic, sound-heavy action scenes, you can comfortably turn off your subtitles.

It does have a couple of quirks, though. The front Dot Matrix display remains permanently on with no option to dim it, and you cannot adjust the volume for each rear speaker individually to calibrate for room placement. Minor gripes aside, the boAt Aavante Prime X is a powerhouse of a system and a truly worthy contender if you want absolute freedom over your surround sound setup.

Editor's Rating: 8 / 10

Pros:

• Versatile design
• Immersive sound
• Ample connectivity options
• Easy setup

Cons:

• Display can't be dimmed or turned off
• Limited Calibration for rear speakers
• Echo Effect requires manual intervention

There's a very specific kind of self-awareness that comes with buying an iPhone. You know Android phones are doing more interesting things. You know Apple is late to features it then markets as if it invented them. You've probably made this criticism yourself more than once. And then, you still end up buying the iPhone.

Six months into using the iPhone 17 Pro Max and years into the Apple ecosystem, I've stopped trying to justify that contradiction. This isn't about Apple leading every category, because frankly, it doesn't. It's about Apple being predictable in a way that it's comforting. At Rs 1.5 lakh, the phone won't dazzle you every day the way you'd expect it to at that price, but it also won't give you reasons to doubt it. Here's what I feel about burning that hole in my pocket six months later, and whether there are any regrets.

The size: a truce, not a resolution

Let's start with the part I still haven't fully made peace with: the size. The Pro Max form factor remains sort of impractical for consistent one-handed use, and no amount of time changes that. Even with Apple's reachability feature compressing the screen downward, typing with one hand never gets comfortable. If you're hoping it'll eventually grow on you, there's a good chance it won't. Five-plus years with a Pro Max has taught me that you don't adapt to the size so much as stop consciously reacting to it. You adjust your grip, switch to two hands without thinking, and eventually the friction just stops registering.

The reason I keep choosing it anyway is the same reason it's this large in the first place. I consume a lot on my phone — videos, articles, doomscrolling sessions that start responsibly and end somewhere around 2 am — and the bigger display genuinely makes all of that better. HDR content still has a "wow" factor six months in, and outdoor brightness has improved noticeably over older iPhones, even if premium Android phones still do better under harsh sunlight. The subtle curves along the edges help more than expected, too. No accidental touches, and the slight contouring makes the phone surprisingly comfortable to hold for long periods.

That said, the "iPhone pinky" is real. Long Netflix sessions in bed eventually become a grip-adjustment workout. At this point, I consider it a tax for choosing the biggest iPhone.

The display also benefits from Apple's software tuning in ways that sound boring until you're living with them. True Tone, Reduce Bright Effects, Dim Flashing Lights — these are the kind of features that don't make headlines but quietly improve daily life. Reading long articles at night feels gentler. ProMotion is another one: I stop noticing it entirely until I pick up an older standard iPhone, and then everything feels like it's moving through syrup. However, nothing to gloat about, as 120Hz is the bare minimum Apple can do for us at that price, so let's not glorify that.

The size also creates inconveniences that reviews rarely mention. The phone doesn't fit in many bags. This sounds trivial until you're dealing with it pretty regularly. For women, especially whose bags already seem to have been designed around phones from the 2000s, it remains a bafflingly unsolved problem. Six generations of oversized Pro Max phones, and neither Apple nor the bag industry has found a middle ground. Respect, I suppose, for the commitment.

The Camera Control button sits exactly where your fingers naturally rest, which makes it easy to reach but equally easy to trigger by accident. I pressed it constantly without meaning to in the early weeks. Eventually, muscle memory takes over, and it becomes more useful than intrusive, but it's still a learning curve Apple probably could have avoided with slightly different placement.

The camera plateau was harder to warm up to aesthetically. Compared to older iPhones, it feels visually louder. The two-tone rear, with a camera block on one side and matte, lighter-toned aluminium on the other, isn't something I'd call elegant at first sight. But like most things with this phone, and even as our iPhone 17 Pro Max review after launch noted, it grows on you. Call it design Stockholm syndrome if you like. That said, I'd prefer a more uniform back. Maybe that's what the iPhone 18 Pro Max is for.

Coming to the colour, I chose the Silver variant particularly because early reports flagged chipping and scratching around the camera module on darker colours, where the exposed metal underneath is more noticeable. I'd be lying if I said I didn't notice them first-hand on demo models too. But my Silver variant, six months later, looks pretty clean — no scratches, no dents, no looseness in any of the buttons. That, I'll admit, is partly luck and partly the Apple Silicone Case with MagSafe, which I've been using from day one.

[block-highlights] But my Silver variant, six months later, looks pretty clean — no scratches, no dents, no looseness in any of the buttons. [/block-highlights]

The case deserves a proper mention. It adds grip, ages well without turning sticky, and eliminates those small moments of panic that inevitably come with carrying a Rs 1.5 lakh slab of glass and metal. Using the phone without it now feels vaguely irresponsible. Quietly, it's one of the better accessories Apple makes.

The camera: dependable, but occasionally dramatic

The camera doesn't try to impress you with every shot, let's be honest. What it does instead is show up consistently, and after six months, I've come to value that more than occasional brilliance.

In good light, shooting feels almost thoughtless. I don't compose carefully for every frame, and I don't review each shot afterwards. Whether it's a burst of a moving subject or a quick click mid-walk, there's a reliable baseline quality that makes most photos usable without effort. The main camera handles this with ease. The photos are sharp without looking aggressively processed, skin tones are natural, and exposure is stable even across bursts. Shooting with it feels confident.

Low light changes the dynamic, though not always for the worse. The phone can produce well-exposed images in genuinely difficult conditions, but it asks for cooperation. I've caught myself holding still for an extra second while shooting indoors or at night, instinctively giving the processing the time it needs. When subjects are moving, that pause becomes more costly, and I usually take a second shot just in case. The results are good, often very good, but computational photography becomes visible at this point. Textures smooth out, details flatten slightly, and the final image has that polished, slightly constructed quality.

[gallery link="file" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" size="full" td_gallery_title_input="iPhone 17 Pro Max camera samples" ids="701388,701397,701400,701389,701391,701401,701393,701395,701402,701399,701392,701394,701396"]

The ultrawide is useful without being exceptional. Colours stay consistent when you switch lenses, but edge sharpness drops noticeably. It's the lens I reach for when I need the framing, not when I care about fine detail.

The telephoto is where the upgrade over older iPhone Pros feels most tangible. The added reach genuinely changes what you can photograph — distant subjects, landscapes from flights, candid moments from across a room. On the iPhone 12 Pro Max, shots that previously required heavy digital cropping are now actually frameable. Push the zoom further, though, and softness creeps in quickly.

The front camera deserves more credit than it typically gets. Centre Stage sounds like a gimmick until you live with it. Selfies and video calls feel less self-conscious because you're not constantly adjusting yourself into the frame; they simply follow you. It removes a friction point I didn't realise was bothering me until it was gone. In low light, the front camera follows the same pattern as the rear, though. The results look fine at a glance, but a close inspection reveals smoothing and loss of detail.

Video is where the phone feels the most polished and dependable. Stabilisation while walking is absurdly good to the point where movement almost disappears from the final footage. The microphones also do a surprisingly clean job in noisy environments, separating voices from surrounding chatter without making audio sound artificially isolated. The weak spots show up mostly in low light. Switching between lenses while recording still causes a noticeable dip in sharpness and introduces extra noise, especially when moving from the main camera to the ultrawide. Longer 4K recording sessions also warm the phone up after a few minutes.

Over time, I've stopped evaluating the camera shot by shot and started understanding its behaviour instead. In good light, it's effortless. In low light, it asks for patience. That feels like a reasonable deal.

Battery, speakers, and performance: the luxury of not thinking about it

The highest compliment I can give the battery is that I've stopped thinking about it.

On moderate-to-heavy days, the phone comfortably gets through the day and often into the next. Push it harder with gaming or extended media sessions, and it becomes a reliable one-day device. However, the drain is steady and controlled, with no sudden percentage drops that send you scrambling for a charger. After a while, you stop checking the battery icon because you already know roughly where it'll be.

Six months in, battery health sits at 100 percent after 118 cycles, which I'll attribute at least partly to keeping it between 20 percent and 80 percent as a habit. One caveat worth knowing: the 80 percent charging limit isn't a hard stop. Leave the phone plugged in long enough, and it will creep slowly past the limit toward 100 percent. It's not a significant issue, but if you're relying on the cap strictly for longevity, it's worth being aware of.

[block-highlights] Six months in, battery health sits at 100 percent after 118 cycles. [/block-highlights]

Charging speed is a meaningful improvement over the iPhone 12 Pro Max, even if Android flagships are still playing an entirely different sport. The faster top-ups are, the more planning anxiety they reduce. Heat during charging is mostly resolved, too — credit to the new vapour chamber — though peak Indian summers do warm the phone slightly. That feels less like a hardware flaw and more like physics doing what physics does. The only other time the phone warms up noticeably is during extended AI app usage.

The speakers have improved more than I anticipated. They're noticeably louder, clearer, and fuller; vocals are cleaner, stereo separation is genuinely immersive, and there's no distortion even at high volume. I find myself watching content directly on the phone instead of reaching for earbuds far more often now. That, probably more than any spec sheet, tells you something.

Performance has nothing substantial to report, which is exactly what you want. No lag, no crashes, no restarts. The phone behaves exactly like it did on day one. However, we've seen a number of Ultras take stage post the debut of the 17 Pro Max, and here's how numbers stand:

[comparative-benchmark type="1" title="AnTuTu score" caption="AnTuTu assesses a smartphone's CPU, GPU, memory, and overall user experience (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="38703,41434,41205,41565," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Looking at the numbers alone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is clearly outscored by newer Android flagships, especially devices built around Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipsets. On paper, that gap looks massive. In actual day-to-day use, though, I genuinely would not have guessed it. Six months in, the phone still feels absurdly fluid. Apps open instantly, multitasking is effortless, animations remain smooth, and there hasn't been a single moment when the phone has felt slow or overwhelmed. That's the funny thing about iPhones sometimes, they benchmark like they're losing the race while behaving like they never got the memo.

Software: where Apple still feels behind

The hardware earns its asking price, but the software is where the questions begin. Apple Intelligence exists, but six months later, it still doesn't feel particularly intelligent. At Rs 1.5 lakh, I'd want Siri to understand me with the contextual fluency that something like ChatGPT already offers. Instead, Apple's AI features frequently feel half-finished.

The Clean Up tool works okay, just okay, in simple scenarios, but upper mid-range Android phones regularly produce cleaner results in complex and simple ones both. Priority Notifications sounds better in theory than it works in practice. Alerts are filtered and stacked, but the logic isn't consistent enough to trust. I've missed messages that mattered while less important ones got surfaced. It's useful as a rough filter, not reliable as a system.

iOS 26's redesign also took time to settle with me. Liquid Glass initially felt like a stark visual departure, almost Android-like in its emphasis on transparency and customisation, to the point that I delayed updating from iOS 18 longer than I usually would. As Apple added more controls for visual intensity, the interface started to feel familiar again. However, what I realise is Apple's software identity is no longer built purely around simplicity. It's trying to combine that simplicity with the flexibility Android users have had for years. Surprisingly, it mostly works, but it's clearly a transition.

[block-highlights] At Rs 1.5 lakh, I'd want Siri to understand me with the contextual fluency that something like ChatGPT already offers. [/block-highlights]

Some features still feel stronger in keynote demos than in real life. Eye Tracking and Live Captions are technically impressive, but six months in, I almost never use them. They feel like groundwork for something in the future rather than features for right now, especially in India. The Visual Intelligence shortcut with the ChatGPT integration works as intended, but we've had Google Lens do that for a while, so I wouldn't be wowed there.

The genuinely useful software addition is call screening. Unknown numbers are filtered automatically, and I almost never deal with a spam call directly anymore. In India, where voicemail itself isn't particularly practical, this one feature has improved daily life. Transcription, on the other hand, is inconsistent to the extent that I never started relying on it.

The ecosystem: the actual reason people stay

At some point during your iPhone journey, you realise the phone is only half the product. What Apple actually sells is continuity, and it remains the most underrated part of this purchase. AirDrop is probably the feature I'd miss most if I switched. Sharing files, photos, links, and videos between Apple devices is so instinctive by now that I barely register it as a feature. Universal Clipboard, Continuity, automatic syncing, all of it fades into the background until you use something else and suddenly notice how much friction you'd been quietly spared. Happened to me while I switched to an Android upper mid-ranger for a short while, and then quickly went back to my OG daily driver.

The AirPods experience captures this well. Pausing audio on the iPhone and seamlessly continuing it on an iPad without manually reconnecting anything still feels quietly clever every time.

The frustrating side of the ecosystem is that it's excellent internally and deliberately awkward externally. AirDrop is magic within Apple's world. Universal file sharing with anyone outside it remains unnecessarily clunky by comparison. Samsung, Google, and others are slowly closing this gap, which makes Apple's walls feel more intentional than inevitable.

Final take

After six months, the excitement around the iPhone 17 Pro Max hasn't disappeared. It's just transformed into something quieter: familiarity. Strangely, that's the more impressive outcome. This isn't the most feature-packed flagship on the market. It isn't the most ambitious. Apple Intelligence still feels undercooked, Siri still needs to grow up, and there are Android phones doing objectively more interesting things at similar prices.

But here's what it has done: nothing has broken. Nothing has slowed down. The camera shows up, the battery shows up, and the ecosystem pulls everything together seamlessly. Backups, transfers, continuity across devices, all of it just works in a way that's easy to take for granted until you've experienced the alternative. At some point, admiration stops mattering as much as trust, and this phone has earned the latter completely.

It's a bit like that relationship where you're clear-eyed about the drawbacks but too settled in the comfort to seriously consider leaving. Six months in, the iPhone 17 Pro Max hasn't given me a reason to. If I lost it tomorrow, I'd probably buy the same one again. Thanks, iCloud, for making that decision even easier than it should be. And honestly, that's the most Apple-user answer possible.

Over the last several weeks, the smartphone market in the Rs 30,000 price bracket has seen a slew of new releases from the likes of OnePlus, Vivo, Infinix, and a few others. While each of these smartphones brings something unique to the table, they offer buyers a wide range of options to suit their needs. However, choosing one can be difficult, as many devices in this segment are quite similar, especially since most are powered by the same Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset.

Furthermore, several smartphones launched under Rs 30,000 last year continue to offer great value, making them worthwhile considerations even in May 2026 and beyond. On that, here are our top smartphone picks under Rs 30,000 you can go for this month.

Note: This list is based on our in-house reviews and benchmark tests conducted under a controlled environment. You can read all about our testing methodology here.

Best in day-to-day usage – OnePlus Nord CE 6

Launch price: Rs 29,999 (8+128GB)

Having spent a couple of weeks with the OnePlus Nord CE 6 even before its launch, we feel it offers one of the most well-rounded day-to-day experiences among the current batch of phones around Rs 30,000, unless a flexible camera system is your top priority. For starters, when it comes to software, it's well known that OxygenOS 16 is one of the most comprehensive skins out there.

While the Nord CE 6's software may not feature the advanced, prominent blur details in several areas, like the volume panel and notification banners, as seen on the premium-tier OnePlus 15 and 15R, its fluidity is right up there. Every scroll feels smooth, combined with the excellent haptic feedback that's deeply integrated into the UI, operating the Nord CE 6 feels pleasant.

It also comes with a comprehensive set of AI features and customisation options, which we've already covered in our detailed OxygenOS 16 guide, further adding to the experience. It's not just the software that makes the Nord CE 6 a great daily driver. The more-than-usual rounded corners offer comfortable handling, while the slim 1.65mm near-symmetric bezels give the front a premium, striking look.

Alternate option: Motorola Edge 70 Fusion (review)

For those prioritising a solid set of primary and ultrawide rear cameras, a display that curves from all sides, and software that's close to stock Android with sufficient features, the Edge 70 Fusion remains a great pick. In fact, it should even perform better in cameras than the Nord CE 6, but the haptics and software experience fall short.

Best in gaming – OPPO K13 Turbo

Launch price: Rs 27,999 (8+128GB)

Five months into 2026, and we're yet to find a gaming smartphone as competent as the OPPO K13 Turbo under Rs 30,000. While most smartphones are seeing major price hikes left, right, and centre, the OPPO K13 Turbo is retailing for its original price of Rs 27,999 on Flipkart, making this MediaTek Dimensity 8450-powered phone a no-brainer for those who're into intensive mobile gaming.

In our tests, the OPPO K13 Turbo delivered 115FPS on average during an hour of BGMI gameplay. Furthermore, after playing BGMI and CODM for 1.5 hours straight, the average temperature increase was only 2.5 degrees Celsius, thanks to the built-in active cooling fan, which kept temperatures in check during long gaming sessions.

Here's how the OPPO K13 Turbo compares to its rivals under Rs 30,000 after running BGMI for 30 minutes straight in 'HDR + Ultra' graphical setting:

With ColorOS 16 on board, the software experience is similar to that of OxygenOS 16 found on the OnePlus Nord CE 6, making it one of the most reliable phones for daily use. However, as noted in our review, the camera performance may not be the best on the K13 Turbo, especially in low light, largely because of its small sensor size.

Best in battery – Realme P4 Power

Launch price: Rs 26,999 (8+128GB)

With a massive 10,001mAh battery on board, the Realme P4 Power (review) continues to take the top spot in our in-house battery endurance charts. Scoring over 21 hours in the PCMark battery drain test, the Realme P4 Power doesn't just provide the highest battery backup in the sub-Rs 30,000 segment but across price ranges.

[comparative-benchmark type="3" title="PCMark Battery score (in hours)" caption="PCMark battery test measures phone battery life from 100% to 20% (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="41761,42000,41876,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

In our real-world use, the Realme P4 Power fares equally well. During a week with the P4 Power, the device showed no signs of strain, delivering over 15 hours of screen time on a full charge over more than 1.5 days! With 80W charging support in tow, charging it is just as effortless, taking just 80 minutes to juice up from 20 to 100 percent.

All that said, if you can live with the 219g weight, chunky build, and lack of stereo speakers, the P4 Power stands out as a reliable choice, delivering not just impressive battery endurance but a well-rounded overall experience. While its cameras may not be the best in class, the 6.7-inch 1.5K AMOLED display offers vibrant colours, the software feels snappy, and the Dimensity 7400 Ultra handles daily tasks with ease.

Alternative option: Vivo T5 Pro (review)

With similar performance gains in the form of Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, the Vivo T5 Pro is another solid choice for users seeking top-class battery life under Rs 30,000. Its 9020mAh battery offered a respectable runtime of over 18 hours, though, at Rs 29,999, it's slightly pricier than the P4 Power.

Best in functional design – Infinix Note 60 Pro

Launch price: Rs 31,999 (8+128GB)

Priced at Rs 31,999, the Infinix Note 60 Pro (review) commands a slight premium over the Rs 30,000 mark. However, its design breaks the mould by offering several features that are rarely seen at this price point. To begin with, there's an Active Matrix Display placed within the rear camera island that can show notifications, charging status, battery levels, pixel pets (like a cat or dog), and even custom text or emojis using its 288 LEDs.

While the display doesn't get developer support for making further additions, as seen on Nothing's Phone (3) and Phone (4a) Pro, it certainly adds a fun element to the design and a cool party trick to brag about. For an in-depth look at all the use cases, feel free to check out our dedicated piece on the Note 60 Pro's Active Matrix Display.

Next, there's a customisable one-tap button on the left side and a heart rate sensor on the right. The one-tap button can be assigned to various functions, such as muting, launching the camera, enabling DND, activating the flashlight, and more, though it requires a long press to activate. The heart rate sensor measures heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and stress levels. In our testing, readings were quite close to those from the Apple Watch Series 11, showing decent accuracy for casual use.

As for the rest of the phone, like other phones selling around Rs 30,000, the Note 60 Pro offers decent performance from the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, an enjoyable display, fluid performance on XOS 16, and a striking design, especially in the orange shade.

Best in software - Vivo T5 Pro

Launch price: Rs 29,999 (8+128GB)

Along with boasting a large 9,020mAh battery, the Vivo T5 Pro (review) leaves a mark with its software. Even though OxygenOS 16 on the OnePlus Nord CE 6 has an edge over Vivo's OriginOS 6 in attention to detail and smoothness, the Vivo T5 Pro goes a step further by offering longer software support. It's set to get three OS upgrades over five years of security patches, while the Nord CE 6 is limited to two OS upgrades and four years of security patch updates.

That being said, in our experience with the Vivo T5 Pro, OriginOS 6 offered tons of features to play around with, such as Origin Island for real-time tracking of food orders, Drag & Go for quickly saving media and text in a dedicated space, heavy lockscreen customisation options, and more.

Alternative option: Motorola Edge 70 (review)

While the Motorola Edge 70 is assured of three OS upgrades, its software is no longer as clean as it once was. That said, it ships with just 40 pre-installed apps, one of the lowest counts in this price segment, making it an excellent choice for users who prefer a cleaner out-of-the-box experience.

Best in cameras – Nothing Phone (4a)

Launch price: Rs 31,999 (8+128GB)

The Nothing Phone (4a) (review) is the only phone around the Rs 30,000 mark to feature a three-camera setup comprising a primary, telephoto, and ultrawide lens. Rocking a 50MP 1/2.75-inch JN5 telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom (80mm), the Nothing Phone (4a) delivers accurate colours, natural subject separation, and pleasing bokeh. Detail retention is also satisfactory for its price segment. The 50MP primary sensor produces natural tones with good overall results, while the 8MP ultrawide camera boosts contrast and saturation to create a more vibrant and appealing look.

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Here's a side-by-side comparison of portraits taken with the telephoto lens on the Nothing Phone (4a) versus the Moto Edge 70, its close competitor:

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/03/Nothing-Phone-4a-portrait.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/03/Edge-70-portrait.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Nothing Phone (4a)" after="Motorola Edge 70"]

Since the Moto Edge 70 completely skips a telephoto lens, it utilises its main camera to capture portrait mode images. As a result, the Phone (4a) outshines it by delivering accurate skin tones, excellent edge detection, and noticeably better detail retention than the Motorola Edge 70. The subject separation looks cleaner and more refined, too, on Nothing Phone (4a).

Alternative option: Vivo T4 Pro (review)

While the Vivo T4 Pro lacks an ultrawide, the 50MP primary camera and 50MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom combo make it a suitable choice for those who prioritise capturing portrait and landscape images. Furthermore, the 100x AI zoom can output some usable results for everyday photography, even though the shots may look slightly artificial, as noted in our dedicated camera review.

Gone are the days when smartphone lineups looked simpler. As market needs continue to evolve, brands are trying to cater to a wider range of users, and Vivo is no exception. Its flagship X series has expanded from just two models to four in less than a couple of years. While that reflects the brand's growing ambitions, it can also make things confusing for buyers looking for the best value for money.

To help you decide, we've put together a buying guide for Vivo's latest X300 series. The line-up was recently refreshed with the Vivo X300 FE and X300 Ultra, joining the Vivo X300 and X300 Pro that debuted in December 2025. After reviewing all four models, here's what we think of each smartphone and the kind of user it best suits. But before that, let's take a quick look at the pricing of the Vivo X300 series.

Vivo X300 series price in India

Which Vivo X300-series smartphone should you buy?

Vivo X300

The smartphone offers flagship-grade hardware in a compact form factor. In our full review, the Vivo X300 (review) proved itself to be a true compact flagship with virtually no meaningful compromises.

Specs at a glance

• 6.31-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate
• MediaTek Dimensity 9500 SoC
• 12GB/ 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 256GB/ 512GB UFS 4.1 storage
• 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP telephoto cameras
• 50MP front camera
• 6,040mAh battery, 90W fast charging, 40W wireless charging
• Android 16-based OriginOS 6

The Vivo X300's biggest strength lies in how well it balances flagship-grade hardware with a compact 6.31-inch form factor that remains comfortable for one-handed use. Apart from that, its ZEISS-backed cameras stand out for portraits, zoom photography, and detailed daylight shots, while the AMOLED display delivers sharp visuals, vibrant colours, and ample outdoor brightness.

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Performance remains consistently smooth in everyday use, aided by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset and OriginOS 6 optimisations. However, battery life, while still sufficient to last a full day, is slightly behind that of its siblings. The device also shows some inconsistency in low-light portrait shots, while the stereo speakers lack the depth and richness offered by rivals. In addition, benchmark scores trail a few Snapdragon-powered competitors, likely due to more conservative thermal tuning.

Vivo X300 FE

While its design differs slightly, the Vivo X300 FE (review) matches the Vivo X300 in overall form factor. It also addresses the earlier battery concerns, comfortably delivering up to a day and a half of endurance under typical usage. However, there are still a few areas where the Vivo X300 FE's hardware may feel inferior.

Specs at a glance

• 6.31-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate
• MediaTek Dimensity 9500s SoC
• 12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 256GB/ 512GB UFS 4.1 storage
• 50MP main + 8MP ultrawide + 50MP telephoto cameras
• 50MP front camera
• 6,500mAh battery, 90W fast charging, 40W wireless charging
• Android 16-based OriginOS 6

The Vivo X300 FE also ensures one-handed usability while offering a balanced experience with its sub-flagship chipset. The handset's cameras are also Zeiss-backed and deliver promising portraits and daylight shots with ample details and vibrant colours that are instantly shareworthy.

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However, the X300 FE's ultrawide lens feels underwhelming, and its video recording can be inconsistent due to a lack of 4K recordings across the setup. On top of that, the handset is pricier than the more capable Vivo X300 smartphone. The company has announced a few launch offers that bring the effective price of the X300 FE down to Rs 66,999. 

Vivo X300 Pro

The Vivo X300 Pro (review) may not be a compact offering, but it brings best-in-class performance and equally capable battery life. The handset also excels with cameras, with a superior 200MP telephoto lens.

Specs at a glance

• 6.78-inch AMOLED FHD+ display, 120Hz refresh rate
• MediaTek Dimensity 9500 SoC
• 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 512GB UFS 4.1 storage
• 50MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 200MP telephoto cameras
• 50MP front camera
• 6,510mAh battery, 90W fast charging, 40W wireless charging
• Android 16-based OriginOS 6

The Vivo X300 Pro is the elder sibling of the Vivo X300 smartphone, offering identical performance and viewing experience. The handset also features a relatively larger display, which is better suited for streaming videos and gaming compared to more compact devices. While it uses a different primary camera setup compared to the vanilla X300, the Vivo X300 Pro still stands out for its strong photography capabilities. It consistently delivers detailed, natural-looking shots in daylight, along with strong long-range zoom performance.

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One might expect a larger battery capacity on the smartphone, but it is well optimised to last more than a day on a single charge. While there are a few drawbacks, including a relatively heavier build, underwhelming stereo speakers, inconsistent low-light and mid-zoom shots, and thermal inefficiency under sustained loads, the Vivo X300 Pro remains a fairly positive smartphone that delivers well-rounded performance.

Vivo X300 Ultra

The Vivo X300 Ultra represents the pinnacle of the lineup. It addresses areas where the Vivo X300 Pro fell short, including swapping the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9500 SoC with a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC. The handset also offers a 200MP primary sensor, compared with the 50MP sensor on the Pro model.

Specs at a glance

• 6.82-inch QHD+ AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC
• 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.1 storage
• 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 200MP telephoto cameras
• 50MP front camera
• 6,600mAh battery, 100W fast charging, 40W wireless charging
• Android 16-based OriginOS 6

The Vivo X300 Ultra is positioned as a no-compromises ultra-flagship focused almost entirely on photography, and it pushes Vivo's camera-first philosophy further than ever before. The standout feature is its versatile triple-camera system, which delivers extremely consistent results across focal lengths and is arguably among the best smartphone camera setups available right now. The Zeiss tuning and colour science are the cherry on top for natural, detailed, and highly reliable images in daylight, portrait, and long-range-zoom scenarios.

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Performance is top-tier, offering flagship-grade speed and smooth handling of demanding tasks, while the 2K AMOLED display is bright, sharp, and excellent for media consumption. Battery life is also dependable, but not class-leading. Moreover, at Rs 1,59,999, the handset commands a premium price that may not appeal to everyone, especially considering its heavier build and a few rough edges in the software experience.

IPL is back, FIFA World Cup 2026 is around the corner, and with titles like GTA 6 and shows such as House of the Dragon Season 3 lined up, there's no shortage of visually rich content to look forward to. To make such content truly enjoyable, one needs to invest in a TV that not only manages fast-paced content but also excels at delivering an immersive cinematic and gaming experience. The Hisense E7Q Pro proves to be one such offering, at least on paper, and that too at a relatively affordable price.

Hisense E7Q Pro 55-inch: key specifications

• Panel Type: 55-inch QLED
• Resolution: 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160)
• Brightness: 330 nits (typical)
• Refresh Rate: 144Hz, up to 240Hz HSR
• OS: Vidaa, 8 years of software updates
• HDR Support: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG
• Sound: 20W Output with Dolby Atmos
• Connectivity: 3x HDMI (supports HDMI 2.1 features), Dual-band Wi-Fi, 2x USB 2.0, Bluetooth v5.0, AV Input, Headphone jack, Ethernet, digital audio out, Bluetooth 5.0
• Gaming Tech: VRR, ALLM, Game Bar
• Special Features: Filmmaker mode, Karaoke Mode, MEMC

Do these specifications translate into equally impressive real-world performance? We put that to the test in our review of the Hisense E7Q Pro 55-inch TV. Read on.

Design

The Hisense E7Q Pro doesn't exactly turn heads with its design, but it still feels contemporary thanks to its slim profile and razor-thin bezels on three sides. Even the bottom chin is relatively restrained, especially when compared to some competing options. You can either wall-mount the TV, at an additional cost, or use the bundled stand for a tabletop setup.

The stand is made of plastic, which has been the general theme of the TV anyway, but sturdy enough to support the TV's roughly 11kg weight. That said, it doesn't entirely eliminate wobble, and a slight nudge is enough to set it in motion. You may want to be mindful of this if you have young children or pets around.

Ports accessibillity

The ports are positioned facing the right edge of the TV, making them fairly convenient to access in a tabletop setup like mine. However, things may not be as straightforward with the wall-mounted setup. The ports sit around the middle section of the rear panel, and there's very little clearance between the body and the wall, making it hard to reach them.

Remote usability

The Hisense E7Q Pro remote is surprisingly eye-catching. Instead of the usual black finish with generic white circular and elongated buttons that you get in the segment, Hisense has opted for a muted grey tone paired with a silver circular dial and matching hot keys. The rest of the buttons blend neatly into the body's colour, giving the remote a more cohesive look.

It's not the most compact remote around, but the rounded edges make it comfortable to hold and use. The buttons are well-spaced and provide satisfying tactile feedback, which enhances overall usability. It also relies on standard Bluetooth connectivity, so it works reliably even from a distance or with minor obstructions.

Software

The Hisense E7Q Pro's Vidaa OS feels like a breath of fresh air amid the sea of Google TV options. Credit where it's due, the setup is refreshingly straightforward, with no mandatory logins or endless terms and conditions to get through. You can start using the TV without creating an account, which is a welcome change at a time when most platforms push for data access in the name of "better" recommendations.

In day-to-day use, that simplicity works in its favour. The experience feels clean and fuss-free, and honestly, I didn't miss those personalised recommendations while using the TV. There will still be recommended content based on your viewing habits, but it feels less intrusive than the one synced to an account.

However, the software looks slightly dated with a static grid of app icons. It could benefit from a bit of modernity with round menus, subtle transparencies, smooth animation, and better content discoverability. That's my only qualm with the other easy-to-use and content-rich platform. Out of the box, the TV comes preloaded with popular streaming apps like JioHotstar, YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix. There's also a dedicated app store for downloading additional apps, and in my usage, the selection felt comprehensive, on par with what most users would expect from the Google Play Store.

The TV supports hands-free use with voice control and Alexa integration. Additionally, it has a dedicated app, VIDAA Smart TV, available on both Android and iOS, which allows you to control the TV, browse apps, search for content, and even cast media. The Hisense E7Q Pro is also promised up to 8 years of software support, which is unheard of in the TV segment.

Visuals

Coming to the meat of the matter: the Hisense E7Q Pro's picture quality. The TV features a 55-inch QLED panel with a promising set of specifications, including 4K Ultra HD resolution, HDR10+ support, up to a 144Hz variable refresh rate, Filmmaker Mode, MEMC, Dolby Vision, and a suite of AI-backed picture enhancements.

During my testing, I kept AI Picture Optimisation and the energy-saving mode disabled. However, in the brief period I tried the optimisation feature, it thankfully avoided the excessive sharpening that often plagues lower-resolution content. That said, it did push colours slightly towards the oversaturated side, which ultimately made me prefer using the TV with the feature turned off.

The TV also includes AI Sports Mode and AI Smooth Motion, both designed to reduce motion blur in fast-paced scenes. In my experience, though, the results were inconsistent. The Hisense E7Q Pro still exhibited noticeable artefacts and motion issues during fast-paced sports content, such as Cricket, Football, and Tennis, even after tweaking the motion settings.

For instance, the warmer lighting and rich wooden interiors in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone looked livelier without appearing artificially boosted, while the bright office spaces and colourful startup culture in Silicon Valley retained good contrast and detail. Even sitcoms like Friends benefited from the mode, with skin tones and the iconic warm lighting of the apartment sets appearing more pleasing and less washed out compared to the Standard preset.

However, if you prefer deeper blacks and better highlight retention in darker scenes, Filmmaker Mode and Cinema Mode are the presets to go for. There isn't a dramatic difference between the two, as both lean towards warmer tones and prioritise a more cinematic presentation. This worked particularly well while watching darker scenes from the Harry Potter movies, where the TV managed to preserve shadow detail. While the screen didn't match those inky blacks of an OLED panel, it was sufficient for the pricing and ensured an immersive viewing experience in dimly lit rooms.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Hisense-E7Q-Pro-55-inch-TV-review05.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Hisense-E7Q-Pro-55-inch-TV-review06.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Flimmaker mode in bright environment" after="Flimmaker mode in dark environment"]

Both modes lose some of their charm in brighter environments, owing to its modest 330 nits brightness. Colours begin to look slightly muted, and the overall image lacks the vibrancy and punch offered by the Dynamic preset.

Gaming

I hooked up a PS5 to the Hisense E7Q Pro to test its gaming performance. I'm not a particularly active gamer, nor do I maintain a massive library of titles, so my testing was limited mainly to FC 24 and Dirt 5. Of the two, Dirt 5 ran at 120 fps, while FC 24 remained capped at 60 fps. It appears that the panel's advertised 144Hz refresh rate is only available in select supported titles, with games such as Black Myth: Wukong among the few that can fully take advantage of it.

The TV also includes a dedicated Game Mode interface that appears as a compact pop-up overlay rather than a full-screen menu. It's straightforward to navigate and provides quick access to gaming-related settings without interrupting gameplay, making on-the-fly adjustments fairly convenient.

The games looked stable on screen, with no noticeable jittery animations, artefacts, or motion issues. In fact, the HDR processing looked significantly better than what I experienced on the Croma 4K Pro QLED series TV (review). The Hisense TV also made racing in Dirt 5 more immersive, with improved highlights in both bright and shadow-heavy areas.

Audio

The Hisense E7Q Pro features a pair of bottom-firing speakers with a combined 20W output, and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support. Despite that, the TV sounds ordinary at best. It lacks depth for a more immersive listening experience, but that's something that most TVs lack. Hisense could have done better by offering more powerful speakers, especially since competitors in the segment have moved to 40W or higher output for richer, fuller audio.

Investing in a good soundbar or home theatre is recommended if you are looking for more than just a casual listening experience from the smart TV.

Verdict

Overall, the Hisense E7Q Pro positions itself as a strong value-oriented 4K TV that offers many modern features, especially for gaming and general entertainment. It delivers an enjoyable experience in everyday use, with vibrant colours in well-optimised picture modes and a generally smooth, responsive feel when paired with consoles. Filmmaker Mode also helps retain a more natural, cinematic look in darker viewing conditions.

However, its strengths are tempered by a few clear limitations. The 144Hz capability, while impressive on paper, isn't consistently usable across all games. HDR performance is also held back by relatively modest peak brightness, which becomes more noticeable in brighter rooms. Motion handling can occasionally lack refinement during fast-paced sports content, leading to slight inconsistencies in smoothness.

Audio performance is another area where the TV feels fairly basic, lacking the depth and clarity that more premium models offer. On the software side, Vidaa OS remains straightforward and easy to use, but it does feel somewhat dated in design and overall fluidity compared to newer smart TV platforms.

Taken as a whole, the E7Q Pro is best viewed as a well-rounded, feature-rich option for its price rather than a high-end performer. For users prioritising value and functionality over top-tier refinement, it remains a sensible and capable choice. The Hisense E7Q Pro is currently listed on Amazon.in at Rs 37,999.

Editor's rating: 8/10

Pros

• Satisfactory picture quality
• Good HDR performance
• 144Hz panel with VRR for gaming
• Clean, easy-to-use Vidaa OS

Cons

• Motion handling during sports could be better
• Average speaker output

There are foldables, and then there's OPPO's Find N6. OPPO seems to have taken its hardware engineering prowess to a level where it's tough to find fault, and the Find N6 serves as a solid showcase of that might. The headlining aspect of this book-style foldable is its creaseless main display, and that's just one of the reasons it's such a compelling device. Frustratingly, the Find N6 isn't available to buy in India officially, but my friends at OPPO were kind enough to lend me one to try out. Little do they know that I have no intention of returning it… It's just so good.


Foldable smartphones no longer hold the same novelty value they did in the initial few years of appearing on the scene, so at first glance, the OPPO Find N6 doesn't seem very different from others of its ilk. It's the small things that matter in the end, though, and based on my usage, I can say that the Find N6 scores where it matters. Let me elaborate.

Design and displays

Cameras

Software

Performance and battery

Verdict

Not too long ago, a 5,000mAh battery was something brands put in a press release and underlined twice, think as recent as 2024. Today, in 2026, it barely gets a mention or is often skipped altogether. India's current smartphone market is in the middle of a battery arms race with no signs of slowing down, with 7,000mAh as the new baseline, 9,000mAh as a highlight-worthy specification, and at least one phone having crossed the 10,000mAh barrier already. The battery size that once defined a power user's ideal is now what you get in a device as low as Rs 15,000.

But all this didn't happen overnight, and the jump from modest 5,000mAh cells to the enormous batteries stuffed into phones today is the result of a specific chain of events. Largely, a slew of launches that changed expectations, a new battery chemistry that made it physically possible, and a set of market pressures that gave brands every reason to keep pushing the number up. This is a look at how India's smartphones got so big, so fast, and what's driving them.

How it started

Big batteries in phones are not exactly a new idea. Samsung was already experimenting with oversized cells back in 2020, putting 6,000mAh into the Galaxy M21 and Galaxy M31, and pushing the Galaxy M51 all the way to 7,000mAh. But these phones also had an obvious problem. The Galaxy M51 was 9.5mm thick and weighed 213 grams. Conventional lithium-ion cells hold only so much energy per gram, so fitting a bigger cell into a phone meant fitting more physical material. The bulk was simply the price of a bigger number on the spec sheet.

Motorola tried something similar with the Moto G24 Power in January 2024, fitting a 6,000mAh Li-ion pack with 30W TurboPower charging into the budget segment. At 9mm thick and 197 grams, it was slightly more manageable, but still what you'd call a chunky device.

While this was playing out in India, Chinese manufacturers were already testing something different. Honor had been working on silicon-carbon battery technology since 2023 with the Magic5 Pro (Chinese variant), and by 2024, OPPO shipped the Find X8 and X8 Pro with explicit silicon-carbon cells that fit into a slimmer frame than any comparable Li-ion device at the time.

Silicon-carbon anodes can theoretically store over ten times the energy per gram compared to traditional graphite, so manufacturers could now push capacity up without increasing the thickness. China was getting its first look at what this chemistry could do in a real product, and India was soon to follow.

In 2025, major mid-range launches like the Realme 14 Pro series and Redmi Note 14 Pro series, the Poco X7 Pro, the Realme P3 Pro, and the Motorola Edge 60 Pro, among others, arrived with similar silicon-anode batteries. In the flagship segment, phones like iQOO 15, OnePlus 13, Vivo X200, and Xiaomi 15 all arrived in India within months of each other, with each brand explicitly mentioning silicon-carbon batteries as a key feature.

This new wave of launches addressed the biggest complaint about large-battery phones. A massive battery no longer meant that the device would be heavy or thick, making these silicon-anode batteries the new trend for smartphones. 

The tech behind it

To understand why silicon-carbon batteries suddenly became mainstream, you first need to know how Li-ion cells work. Traditional batteries use graphite as the anode material, the part that holds the negative charge and stores energy when the battery charges. It is made of graphite, which is reliable, but it has an energy limit: it can store roughly 372mAh of energy per gram. Manufacturers have been working with that limit for years, which is why getting more capacity meant making the battery physically bigger.

Using silicon, however, helps alleviate that problem. It can theoretically store over 4,000mAh per gram, more than ten times what graphite can manage. But there's a catch: pure silicon expands by up to 300 percent every time the battery charges, which cracks the electrode and degrades the cell quickly. Silicon-carbon batteries solve this problem by embedding silicon particles into a carbon matrix. The carbon structure acts like a sponge, absorbing and cushioning the expansion, keeping it to around 10-20 percent and preserving the electrode over hundreds of charge cycles. 

The result is a silicon-carbon cell that can deliver significantly more energy in the same physical volume as a conventional Li-ion pack or maintain the same capacity in a smaller, lighter form. Brands no longer have to choose between a high mAh count and a device people actually want to carry. 

The current generation of commercial silicon-carbon cells typically uses around 15 percent silicon by composition, enough to deliver a measurable jump in energy density without pushing the structural instability that higher concentrations could cause. As manufacturing matures and that percentage climbs, the gap between silicon-carbon phones and conventional Li-ion devices will only widen. Neware has a detailed breakdown of the chemistry if you want deeper insights into how the technology works.

Is there an actual upside?

This year, we have seen some phones with exceptionally large batteries that put them closer to a power bank than a smartphone. The Vivo T5 Pro, the OnePlus Nord 6, and last year's Realme P4 Power all fall into that category, with the P4 Power currently holding the top position as the biggest battery phone in India. We've also compiled extensive data from the phones we've tested in the last couple years to give you an idea of how the batteries have grown in size since 2024. Check it out below: 

Average battery sizes have grown across every price segment, with budget and mid-range phones seeing the biggest jumps of around 25 to 28 percent over two years. Even flagships above Rs 60,000 have added over 1,000mAh on average since 2024, a 20 percent increase despite already starting with larger cells.

Now, you may be asking: is there truly an upside to having such a large battery? The answer is yes. Our testing team at 91mobiles regularly benchmarks a variety of tests across all major smartphone aspects, and we have a lot of legacy battery data from older launches that gives us a good comparison point against these new battery giants.

PCMark battery benchmark

This is a standard test that we employ, which helps us gauge the estimated time a battery will last in a phone with heavy usage. On average, a phone in 2024 delivered about 13 hours of runtime, which increased to roughly 14 hours in 2025. In 2026, however, the average PCMark runtime on a device has climbed to 15.5 hours, a significant increase thanks to these bigger batteries. 

A PCMark score above 20 hours indicates the device will easily last over 1.5 days, and quite often in real-world use it goes beyond that. When we benchmark these phones, the test runs continuously at 80 percent brightness, which is not fully indicative of real-world usage. With automatic brightness and typical usage habits, most phones sit around the 50-70 percent level, so the test is more rigorous than what most people actually experience.

This is especially true for phones with higher peak brightness levels, like the Nord 6, Realme P4 Power, and Vivo T5 Pro. Here is how they compare against some of the best scorers from 2024 and 2025:

[comparative-benchmark type="3" title="PCMark Battery score (in hours)" caption="PCMark battery test measures phone battery life from 100% to 20% (higher is better)" highlight="" products="38302,41689,41761,41876,41555" ][/comparative-benchmark]

Do note that while the Vivo T3x's result is exceptional, it uses a lower-resolution panel with a lower maximum brightness level compared to its peers. That makes a significant difference in battery life, allowing it to deliver such a result.  

Battery drop while gaming

Another demanding aspect is battery performance on gaming, where the power draw is usually the highest compared to even the most rigorous use cases. We'll compare the average battery drop in CoD: Mobile and BGMI for the top performers in 2024, 2025 and 2026 to show how things have improved.

Top performers in 2024

Top performers in 2025

Top performers in 2026

The results above will make it abundantly clear that while brands have definitely inflated the battery size of their new offerings, battery efficiency, on average, has seen a significant improvement. 

Major phones with big batteries (brand by brand)

Analysing the table above, you'd notice a few things. Realme and iQOO are arguably the most aggressive brands overall in terms of battery, with 7,000mAh or higher capacities across most of their lineups. Realme, in fact, currently holds the fort with the biggest smartphone battery in India yet, with a 10,001mAh phone.

You'd look at OnePlus and wonder why the mid-range Nord 6 carries a larger battery than the flagship OnePlus 15. That is because mid-range phones have fewer competing hardware priorities, which gives brands more room to push battery capacity without significantly adding to the cost. For example, the POCO's X8 Pro Max at 8,500mAh in the sub-flagship segment reflects how far that approach has gone in a relatively short time.

The Xiaomi 17 ships with a 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery in China but comes with a 6,330mAh cell in the Indian variant, with the Ultra following a similar pattern. Battery sizing is clearly a market-specific decision, and the Indian specification does not always match what Chinese buyers receive. 

Counterpoint

According to Counterpoint Research, smartphones with 6,000mAh or larger batteries made up 29 percent of all global smartphone sales in January 2026, up from just 10 percent in January 2025. That is nearly a three-fold increase in market share within a single year. Six of the ten best-selling phones in that segment used silicon-carbon cells, and every single one of the top ten came from a Chinese brand. 

There is another detail worth paying attention to, as six of those top ten phones were China-exclusive models, meaning global markets, including India, were not even seeing the full extent of the trend. The big battery wave that Indian buyers are experiencing in 2026 is, in many ways, a filtered version of what has already been playing out in China for the better part of two years.

The brands leading this shift are almost entirely manufacturers of Chinese origin. The bigger global names, Apple, Samsung, and Google, are watching from the sidelines.

Why key players like Apple, Samsung, and Google aren't in yet 

The brands leading the silicon-carbon charge in India are almost entirely Chinese-origin manufacturers. The bigger global names, Apple, Samsung, and Google, are all still shipping comparatively modest batteries on conventional lithium-ion chemistry, and here's why:

Samsung has been the most transparent about its non-adoption of silicon-carbon technology. At a roundtable around the Galaxy S26 launch, the company's smartphone R&D chief, Sung-Hoon Moon, said silicon-carbon cells had not yet passed Samsung's internal validation standards and that the team would only make the switch when they could demonstrate a clear improvement in real-world user experience. Samsung ships at a scale that most Chinese brands do not, and even a small failure rate on batteries can be an enormous absolute number of affected devices. 

Apple has not commented on the silicon-carbon decision, but its track record makes the reasoning fairly obvious. The company has consistently waited for hardware trends to mature before committing, whether those are high refresh rate displays, fast charging, or foldables. When Apple does eventually make a move, it gets more attention than most other brands, which means a battery that degrades faster or swells prematurely would be a far bigger story for Apple. It stands to reason that the brand intends to wait until the tech is mature enough for implementation in its products without any potential negative caveats. 

Google's Pixel 10 series ships with a conventional Li-ion cell, and Google has not addressed silicon-carbon publicly in any capacity. The company has always argued that hardware numbers only tell part of the story and that the Tensor chip combined with software-level optimisation delivers competitive battery life without needing a bigger cell. That argument has some truth to it, but it gets harder to make every year when mid-rangers at a third of the Pixel's price are comfortably running two full days on silicon-carbon cells. 

Conclusion

The battery arms race in India shows no signs of slowing down in the near term. If the jump from 5,000mAh to 7,000mAh happened in under two years, 8,000mAh becoming routine before the end of 2026 seems like a reasonable expectation. Samsung has already confirmed it is working on silicon-carbon batteries for future Galaxy devices. When that happens, and Apple eventually follows, the technology will get a level of mainstream visibility it does not currently have, which will likely push the baseline even higher across the board.

The question is whether this trend has a foundation beyond the current moment or it is just a product of specific market conditions? Memory prices are expected to remain elevated through most of 2026, and as long as brands are under pressure to justify higher retail prices, the battery capacity is one of the easiest ways to deliver more value. If memory prices stabilise and RAM and storage specs start recovering, the situation is likely to change as well. Brands may not need a 10,000mAh battery to sell a phone anymore when they can deliver more competitive specs with a stabilising market. 

That makes the next two years quite an interesting time for the smartphone market. The silicon-carbon technology is maturing fast, and consumer appetite for longer battery life is not going away. But whether 2026's obsession with bigger batteries reflects a permanent shift in what buyers prioritise or a temporary overcorrection driven by hardware constraints is a question the market has yet to fully answer. 

The CMF Watch 3 Pro debuts in India with a sticker price of Rs 7,999, placing it in a fiercely competitive segment packed with feature-rich alternatives - some of them even more affordable. So, does CMF's latest smartwatch bring enough to the table to stand out? I've been using the Watch 3 Pro as my daily driver to find out what kind of real-world value it actually offers. Without any further ado, let's dive straight into the CMF Watch 3 Pro review.

Design and display

The CMF Watch 3 Pro is designed to stand out, even though it drops the interchangeable bezel system seen on the CMF Watch 2 Pro. We received the Dark Grey variant for review, which features flat edges that give it a sharper look compared to the softer, rounded design of the Light Grey version. While the Light Grey keeps things understated with its subtle finish, the Orange colourway is the one to pick if you want something bolder on your wrist.

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The Orange colourway adds engraved hour markers around the frame, but otherwise its design is identical to the Dark Grey variant. The watch retains an aluminium casing, with a right-side crown and a soft-touch plastic rear housing for the sensors. While the back panel feels comfortable against the skin, I would have preferred slightly more breathable straps.

The bundled straps tend to trap sweat, making the watch less appealing for extended wear. However, since the wearable uses standard 22mm silicone bands with quick-release pins, it can be swapped with more skin-friendly straps if you happen to find some. Officially, you are stuck with the silicon straps.

That remains my only real complaint with an otherwise fantastically designed smartwatch that feels both slim and surprisingly lightweight on the wrist - despite the large 47mm dial size. The Watch 3 Pro measures 15.2mm in thickness and weighs 51 grams.

The CMF Watch 3 Pro features a 1.43-inch always-on AMOLED display with a 466 × 466 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and up to 670 nits of peak brightness. The screen is large enough to comfortably view fitness stats and notifications, and to send quick replies to messages without feeling cramped. The panel also gets bright enough to remain legible outdoors under direct sunlight, while colours appear vibrant and text stays sharp and crisp across the interface.

Features

The CMF Watch 3 Pro has plenty to offer. The list includes

• 24×7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring
• Sleep tracking with Deep sleep, REM sleep, & Nap detection
• Active Score tracking
• Training Load metrics
• VO2 max-focused running plans
• 131 sports modes
• Auto-recognition for 5 workouts
• Dual-band GPS (L1 + L5)
• Voice assistant support
• Recording transcription feature
• ChatGPT integration on Nothing OS devices
• Essential News summaries
• Notifications with quick replies
• 120+ watch faces
• Crown navigation support
• Bluetooth v5.3
• Syncs with Strava, Google Health, and Apple Health
• Music control, weather updates, Alarm, Stopwatch, and more

In addition to these vital and health-tracking features, the CMF Watch 3 Pro also supports Bluetooth voice calling, complete with a built-in speaker and microphone. This is backed by AI noise cancellation to deliver clearer audio during calls. In my experience, the call quality is decent in moderately loud environments. The built-in microphone managed to cancel out some noise, if not all of it, making the watch a reliable companion for quick calls.

The speaker is also respectably loud and can even read out news updates tailored to your interests through the Essential News feature. However, you'll need to grant the necessary permissions via the compatible app to use it.

App compatibility

The CMF Watch 3 Pro requires the Nothing X app to be installed on the paired smartphone. The app is available on both Android phones and iPhones. I used version 3.5.3 of the app on my Vivo X300 FE during testing, and it worked seamlessly. The app offered access to nearly every feature of the wearable, except for ChatGPT support, which remains exclusive to Nothing OS smartphones.

The Nothing X app also has one of the cleanest interfaces I've come across on a smartwatch companion app. Its typography follows Nothing's signature design language, making everything easy to read, while health metrics and other information are neatly organised into widget-style cards.

The app also allows you to customise the home screen between the Health and My Devices sections, offering a level of flexibility many competing apps still lack. Most settings are only a few swipes away, and the overall experience feels intuitive. Another highlight of the app is 'Recording Transcription', which stores messages recorded on the watch and transcribes them into English within a few seconds. A handy feature to take quick notes when your phone is not around. The only aspect of the app that bugs me is the mandatory login.

Performance

Regarding performance, the CMF Watch 3 Pro feels smooth, responsive, and easy to navigate in day-to-day use. The overall interface follows a familiar smartwatch layout, with multiple screens dedicated to activity stats, workout modes, music controls, sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and compact circular widgets for contacts, weather, call logs, and the dial pad.

However, CMF has added enough personality to keep the experience from feeling generic. The signature orange accents, dotted typography, and playful visual elements give the interface a distinct identity that aligns nicely with the brand's design language. Users can customise the layout, and there are plenty of watch faces, with up to seven readily available, to personalise the experience.

Battery and charging

The CMF Watch 3 Pro packs a 350mAh battery that the company claims can deliver up to 13 days of usage under typical conditions, while intensive continuous use can bring the battery life down to around 17.2 hours. In my day-to-day use, which mostly involved default settings, occasional GPS workouts, and a few Bluetooth calls, the smartwatch comfortably lasted close to eight days on a single charge.

This is a respectable battery life for the CMF Watch - on par with other smartwatches available within the segment. For charging, the watch uses a magnetic dock that can conveniently draw power from a PC, laptop USB port, or even a power bank. The wearable takes over 90 minutes to achieve a full 100 percent charge from nothing. While a faster-charging solution would have been appreciated, it can be overlooked given the smartwatch's long battery life between charges.

Verdict

Priced at Rs 7,999, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is currently available on Flipkart for as low as Rs 6,999 with launch offers. At this price point, there are plenty of alternatives, some of which do a better job in areas where the CMF smartwatch falls short, such as more comfortable straps, swim tracking, and a more compact design.

Moreover, options like the Amazfit Bip 6 (review), which have been on the market longer, offer a more well-rounded experience. The CMF Watch 3 Pro, meanwhile, struggles in a few areas, such as its Recording Transcription not accurately transcribing words and the Essential News, which feels limited due to its lack of localisation.

Yet the smartwatch makes a case for itself with its striking design, vibrant AMOLED display, dependable battery life, and a smooth software experience, all wrapped in a lightweight, comfortable form factor. In addition to these aspects, features such as dual-band GPS, Bluetooth calling, AI-backed tools, and comprehensive health-tracking support further strengthen its appeal in the budget smartwatch segment.

What also works in the CMF Watch 3 Pro's favour is the polished Nothing X app experience, which feels cleaner and more intuitive than many rival companion apps. The watch also stands out visually, thanks to CMF's playful design language and thoughtful interface customisation options.

These aspects make the CMF Watch 3 Pro stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

Editor's rating: 8/10

Pros

• Bright AMOLED display
• Smooth and responsive
• Reliable tracking
• Strong battery life

Cons

• Strap comfort issues
• Some features need refinements
• No Swim tracking

Many flagships come close to offering DSLR-like camera systems, such as the Vivo X300 Pro, OPPO Find X9 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max. But then comes along the Vivo X300 Ultra, which doesn't just come "close to offering DSLR-like photos." It achieves it. Provided, of course, you're willing to go the whole nine yards and buy not just the phone but the photography kit as well. The Vivo X300 Ultra is not a flagship for the masses; it is for buyers who are serious about photography. I mean, really serious.

Verdict

The Vivo X300 Ultra is, first and foremost, a camera phone. Every design decision, from the massive ZEISS camera module to the photography kit accessories, reinforces that identity. And as a camera phone, it is the best you can buy right now. The three-lens system delivers class-leading consistency across focal lengths, Vivo's colour science remains the best in the business, and the ZEISS Telephoto Extender Kit extends the X300 Ultra into territory no other smartphone touches. Performance, display, and battery are all flagship-grade. The software has a few rough edges, the shortcut button is missed, and the Rs 1,60,000 price tag for the phone alone ensures this is a phone for a very specific buyer. If cameras are the primary reason you buy a phone, the X300 Ultra is the answer. If they are not, there are better-rounded flagships, including Vivo's own X300 Pro, available for less.

Cameras: Three lenses, one consistent standard

[pdp-expert-review]
The most consistent three-lens camera system on any smartphone right now, with colour science that remains the best in the business. Photos lean towards producing natural, true-to-life colours over saturation.
[/pdp-expert-review]

You can very well buy the Vivo X300 Ultra without the photography kit and be satisfied with the cameras. Vivo has made sure this Rs 1,60,000 phone has the absolute best camera system an ultra-premium phone should offer.

The X300 Ultra technically has four rear cameras, three of which are usable, each with a distinct purpose. The 35mm ZEISS Documentary Camera is the primary shooter. It is a 200MP Sony LYTIA 901 sensor on a 1/1.12-inch sensor. It is the lens that most closely approximates how the human eye sees a scene, which makes it the natural default for street photography, travel, and everyday shooting. The 14mm ZEISS ultra-wide uses a 50MP sensor with 2-degree OIS and support for 4K 120fps. The 85mm ZEISS Gimbal-Like Stabilisation APO Telephoto rounds out the three main lenses, with gimbal-grade 3-degree OIS, 200MP output, and 60fps AF tracking in Snapshot mode. These cover what Vivo calls the "golden focal length."

Each of these three lenses has a ZEISS T* coating and Super Blue Glass to reduce flare and ghosting. The fourth camera, a 5MP multispectral sensor with 12 colour channels, sits quietly in the background and ensures the colours in every shot are as accurate as possible, regardless of ambient light.

The most immediately impressive thing about the X300 Ultra's cameras is how consistent they are across all three lenses. Whether you are shooting at 14mm, 35mm, or 85mm, the output feels like it came from the same camera. The only meaningful difference I found is that the telephoto and ultrawide are slightly more prone to motion blur with fast-moving subjects in less ideal lighting. I spent more time choosing between lenses to find the right framing for a shot than calculating which lens would let me down the least. That's a nice problem to have.

[smartslider3 slider=2120]

Vivo's colour science continues to be top-notch. The processing is naturalistic rather than punchy, avoiding the oversaturated look that some rivals lean on to make photos appear impressive at first glance. You need to know about the ZEISS colour styles, specifically Vivid, Refined, and Natural. Vivid tends to boost colours for those bright, social media-ready photos. Natural brings the colour saturation down a notch and was the style I preferred the most. Refined brings the colours closest to what your eyes see, so it is the most accurate, albeit comparatively dull. I also found the Super Macro mode quite impressive for ultra-close shots of flowers and insects, with really nice stability and detail.

I compared the X300 Ultra with the X300 Pro to give you a better idea of what you're getting for roughly Rs 50,000 more. All samples were taken on ZEISS Natural mode.

Daylight

The ultrawide camera is one of the best in class in good light. Dynamic range is wide, white balance is accurate, and the level of detail at its native 14mm focal length is consistently excellent. The 35mm main camera delivers the same reliability. Colours are vivid without feeling processed, background blur in Photo mode is natural enough that Portrait mode is rarely necessary.

On resolution modes, the main camera shoots at 12MP by default, but the sweet spot across all three lenses is either 25MP or 50MP. The 200MP mode produces usable results in good light but adds file sizes that are rarely justified by the detail gain. Stick to 50MP as the ceiling.

Compared with the X300 Pro at its default 12MP resolution, the X300 Ultra captures more realistic colours, and there's much more sharpness and detail retention when zooming in. The 35mm main camera on the Ultra captures a tighter frame compared to the 24mm lens on the X300 Pro, giving the latter slightly more freedom in framing the shot.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-Pro-daylight.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-Ultra-daylight.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro" after="Vivo X300 Ultra"]

On the ultrawide, the X300 Ultra is ahead as well, offering better sharpness and detail than the X300 Pro.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-Pro-ultrawide.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-Ultra-ultrawide.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro" after="Vivo X300 Ultra"]

Portrait

At 50mm, the telephoto lens handles people shots exceptionally well. Facial proportions are natural, skin tones are accurate, and there is enough background separation at close to medium distances without needing to engage Portrait mode. The 85mm telephoto takes this further with tighter framing, better subject isolation, and headshots that hold detail under scrutiny.

The samples below were captured with both phones on ZEISS Natural mode. Both images are similar in colour reproduction, offering natural, true-to-life colours across the background and clothing. The 85mm portraits are also crisp and detailed on both devices. But the X300 Ultra delivers flatter, more neutral skin tones, where the X300 Pro leans towards a warmer, golden hue, which might be preferred for social media.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-pro-50mm-portrait.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-Ultra-50mm-portrait.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro 50mm" after="Vivo X300 Ultra 50mm"]

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-pro-85mm-portrait.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/Vivo-X300-Ultra-85mm-portrait.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro" after="Vivo X300 Ultra"]

Selfie

The front camera shoots at 24mm and 47mm crop. The X300 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Ultra both go wider to allow more people in the frame. It is not a meaningful disadvantage in practice, and the X300 Ultra handles close-up selfies well regardless. Sharpness is generally excellent in daylight, but it tends to soften in certain areas of the face when shooting indoors or in low light. That said, the dynamic range is excellent, and the colours are accurate when shooting outdoors.

Compared with the X300 Pro, the X300 Ultra's portrait selfies show more balanced exposure, more realistic colours, and better subject separation.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-pro-selfie-portrait.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-ultra-selfie-portrait.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro" after="Vivo X300 Ultra"]

Macro

I mentioned earlier that the X300 Ultra's super macro mode is legitimately great. While both the X300 Pro and Ultra offer stable macro shots, the Ultra handles colour separation better. That's really the story of the X300 Ultra in a nutshell: better colour reproduction.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-pro-macro.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-ultra-macro.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro" after="Vivo X300 Ultra"]

Low-light

The 35mm main camera is the strongest of the three in low light, producing wide dynamic range, accurate colours, and excellent sharpness without the aggressive noise reduction that smooths away texture on other phones. The ultrawide holds up well too, with balanced exposures and accurate white balance. The telephoto performs reliably at its native 85mm and remains usable through the 135mm zoom range, though detail begins to soften meaningfully beyond that in challenging light.

The larger sensor on the X300 Ultra captures more light and retains better clarity and detail than the X300 Pro in low-light conditions.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-pro-low-light.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/05/vivo-x300-ultra-low-light.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Vivo X300 Pro" after="Vivo X300 Ultra"]

Video

Vivo has made a serious push on video this year, though the upgrades are aimed squarely at professional users. The X300 Ultra supports 4K 120fps 10-bit Log recording across all three rear lenses, with consistent colour science and dynamic range between focal lengths. Custom 3D LUTs can be imported for real-time monitoring, and the Pro Video mode offers full manual controls, including shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and focus. If you know what any of that means, the X300 Ultra is one of the most capable smartphone video tools currently available. If you do not, the standard video modes are excellent and require no additional knowledge to produce great results.

It's also worth mentioning that the X300 Ultra has a redesigned camera app UI. The Photo mode now shows focal lengths instead of zoom levels. There's a new six-dot icon on the bottom right for easier access to setting the aspect ratio, selecting super macro, snapshot, and so on. Street Photography has now moved to the carousel instead of swiping up from the bottom — I preferred the old swipe-up way, though. While the new design makes it easier to use some of the additional controls without stretching your finger or using two hands, it can still get overwhelming.

Photography kit: Turns great cameras into unbelievable ones

[pdp-expert-review]
If your photography involves planned shoots and subjects at distance, the kit is worth spending Rs 2,10,000. If you shoot casually, the three native lenses are more than enough.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The ZEISS Telephoto Extender Kit takes the X300 Ultra somewhere most smartphone cameras have no business going. The kit includes two telephoto lenses, a 200mm Gen 2 and a 400mm Gen 2 Ultra, along with a camera grip, lanyard, tripod mounting rings, and swappable camera rings. Together, they also cost a whopping Rs 2,10,000, though you can buy the lenses separately if you don't need both.

Before you get excited, there is a practical reality worth stating upfront. This is not a kit for spontaneous shooting. Attaching the grip and lens takes a minute or more, so any moment that requires a quick reaction is already gone. Think of it as the difference between a point-and-shoot and a DSLR: both take photos, but only one requires you to decide in advance. One other thing: always ensure the correct teleconverter is selected in the camera app. Selecting the wrong one creates stability issues that undermine the whole exercise.

The 200mm is the more practical lens for everyday use. It's smaller, lighter, and versatile enough for portraits at a distance, architectural details, and situations where you need extra reach.

Take a look at some snaps taken using the 200mm lens below.

[smartslider3 slider=2115]

The 400mm operates in an entirely different category. It is front-heavy and demands support from the grip, but when you have a subject at distance that no other smartphone can reach cleanly, the results are genuinely difficult to believe came from a phone.

Here are some captures with the 400mm lens. 

[smartslider3 slider=2116]

The camera grip adds a two-stage shutter, a customisable control dial, a zoom lever, and a built-in 2,300mAh battery to operate the controls, not to charge the phone. In hand, the full setup feels like a dedicated camera. I've written at length about the experience, including who should and shouldn't buy it, in a dedicated article here. The short version: for planned shoots and subjects far away, the teleconverter lenses absolutely make sense. For casual, spontaneous photography, the three native lenses are more than enough.

Design: Big, heavy, and unapologetic about it

[pdp-expert-review]
The X300 Ultra wears its camera identity proudly, and the build quality backs it up — but at 237 grams, it demands commitment from the wrist as much as the wallet.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The Vivo X300 Ultra is a slightly thicker and larger version of the X300 Pro. The back, of course, is the highlight, with a metal biscuit-style camera module protruding more than it does on the X300 Pro. You can, in fact, hold the camera module by the fingers and lift the phone. That's how tall it is. The Victory Green colour variant we received has a dual-tone finishing that looks quite nice. 

The matte finish glass fiber back is soft to the touch, slightly slippery at times, and won't leave any smudges on the back. You're likely to use a case with it to protect it from accidental drops. The green silicone case that comes with the green variant makes the phone easier to grip. And I preferred this to the camera kit case, which makes the phone even bulkier than it already is.

As I mentioned earlier, the X300 Ultra is a big phone and will take up your entire pocket. The Victory Green colour weighs 237 grams, which feels substantial and can put some strain on your wrist if you use the phone one-handed for a long time. The Eclipse Black version is a few grams lighter.

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Interestingly, Vivo has dropped the shortcut button on the X300 Ultra and X300 FE. To recall, the X300 Pro has an extra button on the left side that can perform a feature, such as switching between ring and vibrate, enabling the flashlight, instantly recording audio, or launching a favourite app. At a time when almost every other brand has added a shortcut button (much like the iPhone's Action button), Vivo chose to skip it on the latest X300 phones. While it's not a dealbreaker, I did miss it for quickly switching sound profiles.

The X300 Ultra carries IP68 and IP69 dust and water protection ratings, ensuring no weather condition stops you from capturing the kind of wildlife or nature photos the cameras are designed to deliver.

Display: Bright, sharp, and nothing to fault

[pdp-expert-review]
A 6.82-inch 2K panel with 4500 nits local peak brightness and Dolby Vision that does full justice to the photos you will shoot on it. There is almost nothing to fault here.
[/pdp-expert-review]

When it comes to the display, Vivo has left no stone unturned. The X300 Ultra gets a stellar 6.82-inch screen with extremely slim bezels all around, 2K resolution, a 144Hz adaptive dynamic refresh rate, 1800 nits of global peak brightness, 4500 nits of local peak brightness, 100% P3 Wide Colour Gamut, and support for Dolby Vision, among other features.

The display is large, crisp, and attractive, making it great for viewing content on the go. Colours look vibrant, and blacks are deep. The stereo speakers are also clear and detailed at mid volume levels. The screen was also bright enough under harsh sunlight. Overall, there is almost nothing to fault with the X300 Ultra's screen.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 does what it says

[pdp-expert-review]
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 handles everything without hesitation, and Vivo's optimisation puts the X300 Ultra at the top of the AnTuTu charts among this year's flagships.
[/pdp-expert-review]

Much like the display, the performance is top-notch. Powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the Vivo X300 Ultra smashes benchmarks and breezes through anything you throw at it on a day-to-day basis. There have been a few Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagships this year, including the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, iQOO 15, OnePlus 15, and Realme GT 8 Pro. The Vivo X300 Ultra came the closest to reaching the 4 million mark in our AnTuTu benchmark test, suggesting Vivo has done some impressive optimisation.

[comparative-benchmark type="1" title="AnTuTu score" caption="AnTuTu assesses a smartphone's CPU, GPU, memory, and overall user experience (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="41434,41565,41205,41188,41259" ][/comparative-benchmark]

During my time using the X300 Ultra as my primary device, I found no issue whatsoever with the phone's performance. Everything ran quickly, smoothly, and lag-free, from opening apps to switching between them. I didn't have apps randomly crash on me. The phone did get warmer than other flagships we've tested during a 30-minute gaming session, but I would partly blame that on the increasing summer weather.

Software: Smart software with a couple of rough edges

[pdp-expert-review]
OriginOS 6 is feature-rich, visually distinct, and largely smooth, but the fingerprint sensor reliability and lockscreen notification handling, among other things need a software fix.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The Vivo X300 Ultra ships with Android 16 and OriginOS 6 on top. The phone received a couple of updates during the review, including the April security patch. Vivo is promising five years of major OS updates and 7 years of security updates. It's decent, but Samsung and Google are still ahead with their 7+7 update policy.

OriginOS 6 has a lot of appeal to users who love to customise the look of their phone, such as flip cards in lockscreen themes, where the wallpaper can shift between two images when the phone is tilted. There's Origin Island, which shows notifications, music playback, live alerts, and more. You get Airdrop support with Quick Share, allowing for seamless file transfers between the X300 Ultra and an iPhone. Animations are faster and more responsive.

While OriginOS has largely been smooth and impressive, I felt the lockscreen notifications could be improved, like showing separate chats from an app like WhatsApp and not limiting the ability to expand notifications to the tiny down-pointing arrow in the right corner. Another enduring issue is when you switch from the app drawer to widgets and forget to switch back, and widgets become the default every time you swipe up. I also found the fingerprint sensor glitchy at times, failing to recognise my fingerprint or freezing altogether, which I'm sure can be fixed through a future software update.

Battery: Enough to last the day, 100W charging handles the rest

[pdp-expert-review]
The 6,600mAh cell comfortably lasts a full day, and 100W rapid charging tops it up from 20 percent in 36 minutes — fast enough that you will rarely feel the battery anxiety that comes with a power-hungry flagship.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The 6,600mAh Li-ion battery inside the Vivo X300 Ultra might not sound as massive today as it would have a year ago. It is now commonplace to see sub-flagships launch with 8,000mAh and 9,000mAh batteries. But the 6,600mAh cell is still larger than that of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra or the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, though smaller than the 7,050mAh unit in the upcoming OPPO Find X9 Ultra. In reality, the battery life is about as good as any flagship in the market right now.

[comparative-benchmark type="3" title="PCMark Battery score (in hours)" caption="PCMark battery test measures phone battery life from 100% to 20% (higher is better)" highlight="product_1" products="41434,41259,41205,41565," ][/comparative-benchmark]

With this battery, the Vivo X300 Ultra can comfortably last a full day on a single charge. It's not a two-day battery phone like the OnePlus Nord 6, but you can't really expect that kind of endurance from a power-hungry flagship like this. On moderate usage, I was able to get around 1.5 days on a single charge, which wasn't bad at all.

It also helps that the Vivo X300 Ultra supports 100W FlashCharge, and you get a 100W charger in the box. When you plug it in, you can choose between normal and rapid charging. Choosing the latter tops up the battery from 20 percent in just 36 minutes, but it will warm up the device in that process. The normal mode takes over an hour to charge, which is what you should choose if you're not in a hurry.

Final verdict: Who is the Vivo X300 Ultra really for?

The Vivo X300 Ultra is not trying to be the best all-round flagship. It is trying to be the best camera phone out there, and it succeeds. The three-lens system is the most consistent I have tested on any smartphone, colour science is naturalistic and accurate, and the video capabilities put it in a category of its own for mobile video professionals. The Vivo X300 Ultra with the ZEISS telephoto extender kit makes breathtaking, professional-grade long-range photography feel surprisingly within reach of anyone who picks it up.

Beyond the cameras, the X300 Ultra is a capable flagship in every other respect. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 handles everything without hesitation, the 6.82-inch 2K display is among the best available, and the 6,600mAh battery with 100W charging means you end each day with charge to spare and spend very little time waiting for it to top up. OriginOS 6 has personality and is mostly smooth, though fingerprint sensor reliability, lockscreen notifications, and a few other elements need attention. The software update policy of five years of OS upgrades and seven years of security patches is decent, but Samsung and Google remain ahead on this front.

The Rs 1,60,000 price and 237-gram weight make the X300 Ultra a phone that demands commitment. Add the photography kit, and you are looking at a total investment of Rs 2,10,000 for the full camera system. That is not a casual purchase. But for a serious photographer who wants the most capable camera in a phone form factor, one that works as a daily driver without compromise. The Vivo X300 Ultra is in a league of its own in 2026.

Editor's rating: 8.7 / 10

Reasons to buy:

• The best and most consistent three-lens camera system on any smartphone right now.
• Vivo's colour science is naturalistic, accurate, and customisable with genuinely useful film simulation profiles.
• ZEISS Telephoto Extender Kit opens up 200mm and 400mm optical zoom that no other smartphone can match.
• Flagship performance and a stellar 2K display make it a near-perfect ultra-premium flagship phone.

Reasons not to buy:

• Rs 1,60,000 is a significant ask, and the full photography kit adds another Rs 2,10,000 to the total.
• While the battery life is dependable, it rarely lasts beyond a full day, especially if you're using the cameras a lot.
• OriginOS isn't completely polished, especially the lockscreen notifications, and software update policy trails Samsung and Google.

As the successor to last year's widely popular OnePlus Nord CE 5, the Nord CE 6 (review) brings upgrades and improvements across most areas. Rocking a similar boxy design with a subtle appearance, the Nord CE 6 comes with a Snapdragon processor, a larger battery, a higher-resolution display, and a more robust build that is rated to withstand heavy water and dust exposure. While the new additions may be enticing, is the OnePlus Nord CE 6 the go-to smartphone under Rs 30,000? Find out in this quick guide where we provide the top reasons to purchase and skip the smartphone.

Reasons to buy OnePlus Nord CE 6

A display that is sharp and vibrant

Sporting a 6.78-inch 1.5K (2772 x 1272) resolution, 10-bit AMOLED display with up to 144Hz refresh rate, the OnePlus Nord CE 6 delivers a great visual experience with sharp detail and sufficiently vibrant colours. As noted in our review, after watching tons of content, including IPL matches, Prime Video shows, and YouTube videos at 4K resolution, the panel on the Nord CE 6 left us completely impressed.

Regarding brightness, the Nord CE 6's display is adequately bright indoors, and under direct sunlight, the screen's content is legible to a great degree. Even though the panel is 144Hz rated, most daily-use apps run at 120Hz, as is the case with all phones. The 144Hz refresh rate is triggered in certain casual games, such as Clash of Clans, Brawl Stars, and Subway Surfers.

Strong build with a subtle look

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 features a clean, modest rear design with a square camera module that closely resembles the Nord 6. While we got the Fresh Blue colour shade in for review, the device also comes in Pitch Black and Lunar Pearl. The blue colourway sports a smudge-free matte panel that is not only soothing to the touch but also resistant to scratches and scuffs when used without the bundled case.

With IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings and MIL-STD-810H certification on board, the OnePlus Nord CE 6 is built to withstand rain and dust. During our review period, the device was exposed to Delhi's heavy dust storms. We later rinsed it under running tap water, and it has been working perfectly ever since. Even though it's hefty at 215g, the rounded corners of the Nord CE 6 don't dig into your palms during extended use.

Power-packed battery endurance

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 runs on an 8,000mAh battery. Having used the device in various scenarios, it's safe to say it provides sufficient battery life for all kinds of users. To give context, when using the handset with two SIMs installed and personal hotspot enabled for 9 to 10 hours straight, the Nord CE 6 delivers over 6 hours and 30 minutes of screen-on time on a full charge. During this period, the phone was also used to scroll through Instagram, check WhatsApp messages, and casually take pictures.

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In another charge cycle, the Nord CE 6 offered an impressive 9 hours of screen-on time over 1.5 days, with 14% battery remaining. While, for the most part, the device was used on WiFi, common tasks included scrolling through Instagram, playing games like BGMI and Subway Surfers, and livestreaming IPL. Furthermore, if you're a light user, expect the device to offer 2 days of battery life.

Smooth and feature-rich OxygenOS 16

In the typical OxygenOS fashion, the OnePlus Nord CE 6 curates all the signature features from the flagship OxygenOS 16 devices, such as the OnePlus 15 and OnePlus 15R. While the UI misses out on advanced blur textures and details, it runs smoothly regardless of what you're doing on the device.

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For starters, there's a host of lockscreen and homescreen customisation options, tons of AI imaging features in the Photos app, and productivity features like Sports Live Alert and Writing Tools in Notes. If you're seeking one of the most comprehensive Android skins out there, the OnePlus Nord CE 6 has got you covered.

Excellent haptics integration

While most smartphones under Rs 30,000 miss out on a strong, high-quality haptic motor, the OnePlus Nord CE 6 comes with a Linear X-Axis motor that delivers tight, precise vibrations in various scenarios. Paired with OxygenOS's O-Haptics, the Nord CE 6 makes excellent use of its linear motor, delivering precise haptic feedback even in subtle interactions, such as dragging the brightness or volume sliders, toggling switches, scrolling in the Recents screen, and more.

Reasons to skip the OnePlus Nord CE 6

Primary camera requires some work

Even though the 50MP primary camera of the OnePlus Nord CE 6 produces usable images with on-point dynamic range and natural tones, it struggles to deliver sharp results, possibly due to its small 1/2.88-inch sensor. In contrast, the OnePlus Nord CE 5 was equipped with a larger 50MP 1/2-inch main camera and an 8MP ultrawide lens, resulting in a more flexible shooting experience.

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Not the best-in-class software update policy

The OnePlus Nord CE 6 comes with Android 16 out of the box and is slated to receive two OS upgrades and four years of security patch updates. While this is somewhat acceptable for a phone starting at Rs 29,999, the competition has an edge in terms of longer software support. For instance, other Snapdragon 7s Gen 4-powered smartphones released recently, such as the Vivo T5 Pro, Motorola Edge 70 Fusion, and Nothing Phone (4a), promise three major OS upgrades.

There was a time when buying a 75-inch TV felt absurdly expensive, like the kind of purchase that needed financial planning and a very understanding family. But brands like Xiaomi are changing that fast, especially when they launched the Xiaomi X Pro QLED TV earlier this year. However, the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 75 2026 might be the boldest example yet. At Rs 99,999, it brings a QD-Mini LED panel, 512 local dimming zones, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Google TV, and a claimed 1200 nits peak brightness into a segment that usually demands a much bigger budget.

On paper, this thing sounds dangerously good for the price. But spec sheets can be misleading, especially in the TV world, where flashy numbers often hide average real-world performance. So after spending time with the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 75, the big question is simple. Is this genuinely one of the best big-screen TV deals right now, or just a very good display attached to hardware that cuts a few too many corners? Let's find out.

Big TV energy

The first thing this TV absolutely nails is presence. This thing is enormous. A 75-inch screen changes the vibe of a room instantly. Suddenly, Netflix feels cinematic, cricket matches feel louder, and even random YouTube videos somehow gain unnecessary importance.

Thankfully, Xiaomi hasn't wrapped that giant display inside a cheap-looking frame. The TV looks clean and surprisingly premium, with slim bezels and a minimal design that doesn't scream "budget giant." From the front especially, it genuinely feels far more expensive than its asking price. Xiaomi clearly understood that people buying a 75-inch TV also want it to feel like a centerpiece.

Of course, the TV can be wall-mounted for that clean floating-screen look, and thankfully, it isn't ridiculously chunky either. But if keeping it on a TV unit is more your style, the bundled stands are surprisingly sturdy. Xiaomi also lets users place the feet closer together, which is great for smaller desks, while wider setups can space them out for a more premium, showroom-style look.

Mini LED is doing main character things

The Xiaomi TV S Mini LED uses a QD-Mini LED panel with 512 local dimming zones, and for this price segment, that is a genuinely big deal. Unlike traditional LED TVs that often struggle with washed-out blacks and uneven backlighting, Mini LED gives this TV far better control over brightness and contrast. The result is immediately noticeable in dark scenes.

Watching movies like The Batman or Dune feels dramatically better than on a standard QLED TV. Blacks look deeper, highlights pop harder, and there's a genuine sense of depth that cheaper large TVs simply cannot replicate. It's not OLED-level black perfection, but it gets surprisingly close at times, especially considering the price difference.

Additionally, HDR content is where this TV really starts showing off. Xiaomi claims a peak brightness of 1200 nits, and while real-world sustained brightness naturally varies, the TV gets impressively bright. HDR scenes in Dolby Vision content look punchy and vibrant, with sunlight, explosions, reflections, and neon lighting carrying real impact.

What impressed me most was how usable the TV remains in bright rooms. Large TVs often become accidental mirrors during daytime viewing, but the brightness here does a good job of fighting glare and maintaining image clarity. Colour performance is also excellent.

Thanks to the Quantum Dot layer, colours appear rich without becoming cartoonishly oversaturated. Animated movies look fantastic, nature documentaries pop beautifully, and sports broadcasts have that crisp, vibrant presentation most mainstream buyers love.

It's not all great, though...

Now, this is the part where I must calm the hype train slightly before it jumps directly into OLED territory, wearing sunglasses. Blooming is controlled well most of the time, but it's not invisible. Bright subtitles against dark backgrounds can still produce a noticeable halo effect occasionally. Viewing angles are also not amazing. Sitting directly in front gives the best experience, but moving too far to the sides and contrast begins to lose some punch.

Also, since I am talking about what's not so good, let's talk a bit about gaming, shall we? Xiaomi markets the TV with "120Hz Game Boost," but this is not a true native 120Hz 4K panel. The TV uses DLG (Dual Line Gate) technology to simulate smoother motion, which essentially means the TV uses a software trick to stimulate double frames, that too while dropping the resolution to 1080p.

For casual PlayStation 5 or Xbox users, the experience is still enjoyable. Input latency feels reasonably low with ALLM enabled, racing games feel responsive enough, and I had an absolute blast playing EA FC 26 on this large display. But if somebody is specifically hunting for flawless 4K 120Hz gaming, this is not that TV.

Surprisingly loud

As for the audio performance, it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The 34W quad-speaker setup gets impressively loud and manages to avoid sounding thin or shrill. Dialogue clarity is solid, action scenes carry decent impact, and the soundstage feels wider than expected from built-in TV speakers.

No, it's not replacing a proper soundbar setup. Let's not get carried away here. But unlike many large TVs that sound like somebody trapped Bluetooth speakers inside a cardboard box, the Xiaomi TV S Mini LED is actually enjoyable to use on its own. For everyday OTT watching, sports, and YouTube content, most people genuinely won't feel the immediate need to buy external speakers.

Smooth enough… until it isn't

The Xiaomi TV S Mini LED runs Google TV with PatchWall+ on top, so there's no shortage of streaming apps, recommendations, casting features, or smart integrations.

Support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast also makes it easy to use across Android and Apple devices, while Google TV itself remains clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate.

That said, the quad-core Cortex-A55 chipset and 2GB RAM occasionally remind you this isn't a flagship TV underneath. Day-to-day usage is mostly smooth, but app switching can feel sluggish at times, animations occasionally stutter, and prolonged usage exposes the limits of the hardware.

So, is this the smartest big-screen buy right now?

The Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 75 2026 gets one thing absolutely right. It focuses on the stuff most people will notice within the first five minutes of turning the TV on. The giant 75-inch screen feels cinematic, the Mini LED panel delivers excellent contrast and HDR performance for the price, the speakers are surprisingly capable, and the overall experience feels far more premium than what the price tag suggests. Sure, it has a few rough edges here and there, especially when the processor starts showing its limits, but as a complete entertainment package, it's genuinely impressive.

Of course, competition in this segment is brutal right now. The Samsung Vision AI TV offers a similarly large Mini LED experience with Samsung's excellent upscaling, polished Tizen OS, and more refined colour tuning. Gamers, meanwhile, may find the Hisense 75U7Q more appealing thanks to its native 144Hz refresh rate and stronger gaming credentials. Then there's the Lumio Vision 9 (2026), which impressed us with its fantastic panel, proper 4K/144Hz support, and smooth day-to-day performance, though it tops out at 65 inches.

And that's exactly where Xiaomi still manages to stand out. It may not be the absolute best at gaming, processing, or software polish, but it arguably delivers the most balanced "cinema-at-home" experience for buyers who simply want a massive, premium-looking screen without spending absurd flagship-TV money.

Editor's Rating: 8.5 / 10

Pros:

• Excellent Mini LED picture quality for the price
• Bright, vibrant HDR performance with strong contrast
• Surprisingly good built-in speaker setup
• Great value for a 75-inch premium-style TV

Cons:

• Not a true native 120Hz panel
• Can feel sluggish at times

There's something oddly satisfying about a monitor that just gets modern desk setups. No weird gamer aesthetics. No giant RGB strips screaming for attention. Just a clean-looking display that quietly promises to handle work during the day, Netflix at night, and the occasional "one quick game" session that somehow turns into three hours. That's exactly where the Dell 27 Plus S2725QC lands.

At first glance, it looks like a straightforward successor to Dell's wildly popular S2722QC: same 27-inch 4K formula, same productivity-first approach, same USB-C simplicity. However, now you also get a 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1, USB-C with 65W charging, dual 5W speakers, and a design that looks suspiciously tailored for MacBook users who refuse to spend Studio Display money. And honestly? Dell might've accidentally created one of the easiest monitors to recommend in this segment.

Design and build: Minimalist in the best way possible

The S2725QC looks clean. Really clean. Dell has moved toward a softer, more premium aesthetic with its newer Plus series monitors, and this one absolutely benefits from it. The ash white rear panel, combined with the silver stand, gives the monitor a modern workspace vibe that instantly makes most black plastic office monitors look ancient. Put this next to a MacBook Air or a silver Windows ultrabook, and it fits right in.

Thankfully, Dell didn't sacrifice ergonomics for aesthetics either. The stand supports height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and pivot, meaning the monitor can rotate vertically for coding, reading, or pretending to be productive while scrolling Reddit in portrait mode. Setup is also delightfully simple since the entire thing snaps together without needing tools.

In terms of connectivity, this is the kind of monitor designed for people who hate cable clutter with a burning passion. The USB-C upstream port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode alongside 65W Power Delivery, meaning a single cable can handle display output, data transfer, and laptop charging simultaneously. Plug in a MacBook or Windows ultrabook, and the entire setup instantly feels cleaner.

There are also two HDMI 2.1 ports for consoles or secondary systems, along with USB downstream ports for accessories. For hybrid users juggling work laptops and gaming consoles, this setup makes a lot of sense. That said, the box only ships with a USB-C to C 10Gbps 100W cable, and no HDMI cables. Add to that, it's just 1m in length, which is ridiculously short. As a result, it really does limit where you place your laptop on your desk while connected to the monitor.

Display quality: Sharp enough to ruin other monitors

At 27 inches, the 3840 x 2160 resolution results in a pixel density of roughly 163 PPI, and the sharpness here is excellent. Text looks incredibly crisp, spreadsheets feel cleaner, and reading long documents becomes noticeably easier on the eyes. Once this level of clarity becomes normal, going back to a regular 1080p monitor feels like someone smeared petroleum jelly across the screen. This is especially true for Mac users. And as someone who tested it with his MacBook Pro, the monitor definitely feels tailor-made for Macs.

Color reproduction is also quite good straight out of the box. The IPS panel covers 99% of the sRGB color gamut, and for general content creation, photo editing, YouTube work, or social media design, the display looks vibrant and pleasing without appearing artificially oversaturated. Viewing angles are excellent too, which is expected from a good IPS panel. Whether sitting directly in front or slightly off-axis, colors remain consistent.

As for the brightness, it is respectable for indoor usage, and the matte coating does a decent job of handling reflections. It won't melt eyeballs with HDR-level luminance, but for office environments and regular rooms, it's more than sufficient.

Speaking of HDR, while the monitor supports HDR input, the experience lacks the punch people expect from modern HDR displays. Blacks appear grayish in dark scenes, highlights don't pop dramatically, and the lack of local dimming limits contrast significantly.

120Hz Changes Everything

The Dell S2725QC's biggest upgrade over its predecessor is undoubtedly the move to a 120Hz refresh rate. And honestly, once you start using a high refresh rate monitor for everyday work, it's hard to go back. Everything from scrolling through websites to moving windows around feels noticeably smoother and more fluid. Even regular productivity tasks somehow feel more premium, which is something Dell absolutely deserves credit for here.

Gaming performance is surprisingly solid, too. Thanks to HDMI 2.1 and VRR support, the monitor pairs nicely with modern consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, while the 4ms response time helps keep gameplay responsive and clean enough for most users. Story-driven titles, racing games, and cinematic AAA experiences look fantastic in 4K at higher refresh rates, especially with the added smoothness of 120Hz.

That said, this still isn't a hardcore esports monitor. While casual gaming feels great, motion handling isn't quite fast enough for highly competitive shooters like Valorant or CS2, where ultra-fast response times and crystal-clear motion become more important. Simply put, the S2725QC is a productivity monitor that happens to be good at gaming, not a gaming monitor pretending to do office work.

Speakers that don't completely suck

Before we wrap things up, a quick word about the speakers. Monitor speakers usually sound like someone stuffed a Bluetooth speaker inside a lunchbox, but the Dell S2725QC genuinely surprised me here. The dual 5W speakers get fairly loud, vocals come through clearly, and there's even a tiny bit of bass trying very hard to earn its paycheck. No, they won't replace a proper pair of desktop speakers or gaming headphones, but for Zoom calls, YouTube binges, Spotify sessions, or casual gaming, they're more than usable. And honestly, for a monitor clearly designed around clean, minimalist setups, that's a bigger win than most people realize.

Verdict: The Hybrid Hero

Priced at Rs 29,899, the Dell 27 Plus S2725QC gets a lot right. It combines a sharp 4K IPS panel, smooth 120Hz refresh rate, USB-C convenience, HDMI 2.1 support, excellent ergonomics, and surprisingly decent speakers into one very well-rounded package. Sure, HDR performance is fairly basic, contrast is typical IPS fare, and competitive gamers should still look toward dedicated esports monitors. But for most users, those compromises are easy to overlook once the overall experience comes together.

If gaming is the higher priority, the BenQ EW270Q is a solid alternative, roughly Rs 10,000 cheaper, offering a 1440p panel with a much faster 200Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the LG 27UP850K matches the Dell in pricing while offering better colours, stronger HDR, faster 90W charging, and an extra DisplayPort input, though it remains limited to 60Hz.

Still, the Dell S2725QC feels like the best balance of productivity and entertainment features in this segment. It's the kind of monitor that can handle work during the day and casual gaming at night without missing a beat. And once 120Hz becomes part of everyday use, going back to a regular 60Hz monitor feels painfully outdated.

Editor's Rating: 8.8 / 10

Pros:

• Sharp and vibrant 4K IPS display
• Smooth 120Hz refresh rate for work and gaming
• Excellent USB-C connectivity with 65W charging
• Surprisingly good built-in speakers

Cons:

• HDR performance feels underwhelming
• Not ideal for competitive esports gaming

The Vivo X300 FE (review) may be a compact offering, but it arrives with a sizeable 6,500mAh battery. Priced in India from Rs 79,999, the handset goes up directly against the OnePlus 15, which now starts at Rs 77,999 following its recent price hike. In our full review, the Vivo X300 FE edged past the OnePlus smartphone in the camera department, delivering punchier colours, better dynamic range, and a wider selection of shooting modes and filters.

But how does it fare on battery life? Can the Vivo X300 FE, with its 6.31-inch display and 6,500mAh battery, outperform the OnePlus 15 (review), which pairs a larger 6.78-inch display with an even bigger 7,300mAh cell? We break it down for you in this comparison. Read on.

Battery specs at a glance

Both smartphones ship with a compatible wired charger in the box and a USB Type A to Type C charging cable.

Charging speeds

Before we get to the endurance, let's take a look at how much time it takes the Vivo X300 FE and OnePlus 15 to recharge their respective batteries.

• Vivo X300 FE: Our internal testing showed the Vivo X300 FE taking 41 minutes to charge from 20 percent to a full 100 percent using the 'High speed' charging mode. This mode pushes the device to its maximum charging capability, albeit at the cost of higher thermals. The regular charging mode, which the smartphone defaults to, takes around an hour and a half for a full top-up, which is still respectable for a battery of this size.
  
• OnePlus 15: Contrary to Vivo, the OnePlus smartphone takes just 30 minutes to juice up from 20 percent to 100 percent with its 'Smart rapid charging' tech. Charging the device at normal speed can take approximately an hour.

Both smartphones also support bypass charging, allowing users to power the devices directly without significantly stressing the battery while charging, and reverse wired charging. However, that 30W advantage on the OnePlus 15's charging speeds puts it in the driver's seat, making it an appealing buy for users who are always on the go.

How about the backup? To find out, we put the smartphone through a series of tests and usage.

Synthetic benchmark battery test

For this, we used the PCMark battery test with both smartphones fully charged and their display brightness and volume levels set at 80 and 50 percent respectively.

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The Vivo X300 FE scored 16 hours and 4 minutes in the test, which is commendable, but not quite as impressive as the OnePlus 15. The latter achieved a runtime of 17 hours and 6 minutes in the same test, which automates a series of tasks on the device. That said, when it comes to real-world usage, the difference between the two phones isn't as dramatic.

YouTube video streaming test

Both phones were used to stream a 60-minute video on YouTube under similar circumstances and network settings. To properly gauge their performance, the Vivo X300 FE and the OnePlus 15 were also set at 50 percent screen brightness and volume levels. 

[comparative-benchmark type="2000" products="41626,41330,,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

This resulted in the Vivo smartphone's battery dropping by 3 percent, whereas the OnePlus 15 recorded a 5 percent drop. This suggests that the X300 FE is better optimised for video streaming, despite featuring the same power-efficient LTPO panel as the OnePlus smartphone. While the OnePlus 15 is equipped with a 165Hz refresh-rate display, it delivers 120Hz across system UI and apps (except for gaming).

Gaming test

To test battery efficiency under demanding workloads, we played games on both devices. Once again, the handsets were kept on identical settings, including in-game graphics and frame rates. The titles chosen for testing were the popular BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile.

The battery drain figures were recorded after playing each game for 30 minutes on both smartphones. Overall, the handsets delivered similar battery efficiency, with each consuming a total of 11 percent charge.

Regular usage

Speaking of overall endurance in everyday usage, draining the batteries on either smartphone is no easy task. Vivo and OnePlus have done a commendable job with battery optimisation, allowing both devices to comfortably last a full day. The Vivo X300 FE delivers around six hours of screen-on time with mixed usage, which is more than sufficient unless you are constantly on your phone throughout the day.

The handset is capable of lasting up to a day and a half on a single charge with browsing, social media scrolling, streaming, and other casual usage. The OnePlus 15 goes a step further under similar conditions, offering close to two days of battery life. During testing, the smartphone had around 40–50 percent battery remaining after an hour of streaming and gaming, along with regular day-to-day usage.

Verdict

The OnePlus 15 emerges as the more capable battery performer in this comparison, pulling ahead with faster charging and stronger results in both synthetic benchmarks and day-to-day usage. That said, the Vivo X300 FE is far from outclassed. Despite its more compact form factor and smaller battery, it delivers consistent efficiency across video streaming and everyday tasks. In fact, the X300 FE matches the OnePlus 15 in the gaming test, underlining its well-balanced optimisation.

So, should you buy the Vivo X300 FE or the OnePlus 15? It depends,

Buying a graphics card in India in May 2026 requires making peace with two uncomfortable facts: the best card for the money is not from NVIDIA, and the prices you're paying are nowhere near what the rest of the world is.

In the span of a few months, NVIDIA launched the RTX 50-series Blackwell cards with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation, AMD responded with the RDNA 4 architecture in the form of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, and prices on the previous Ada Lovelace generation have dropped sharply enough that several of those cards have become genuinely compelling value propositions. 

The result is a market where knowing the spec sheet is not enough. You also need to know what each card actually costs in India, where to buy it, how it benchmarks relative to the competition, and which compromises you are making at each price point. 

In this guide, we cover all of that. We looked at four graphics cards available in India right now, all within the Rs 1,00,000 ceiling, ranked them by synthetic benchmark performance, and added real gaming context drawn from our own internal testing and published reviews from outlets like GamersNexus and PCGuide. 

1. AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 

• Architecture: RDNA 4
• VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
• TBP: 304W

This is the card that genuinely shifted the conversation about AMD's place in the mid-range. The RX 9070 XT arrived in March 2025 with wide availability, competitive pricing, and performance numbers that put real pressure on NVIDIA's lineup at this tier.

In our internal testing, it posted a 3DMark Time Spy score of 22,554 and a Time Spy Extreme of 14,219, placing it in direct competition with the RTX 5070 in synthetic workloads. Fire Strike came in at 48,556 and Port Royal at 18,297.

In gaming, the numbers are strong across the board. Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p native delivered 133 fps, climbing to 219 fps with FSR Balanced. At 4K native, it posted 63 fps, rising to 95 fps with FSR. Enable RT Overdrive, and the figures drop to 56 fps at 1440p and 28 fps at 4K, which is consistent with AMD's historically weaker ray tracing performance. With FSR Frame Generation at 2x, the card recovered to 109 fps at 1440p and 55 fps at 4K.

God of War Ragnarok gave us 138 fps at 1440p native, 87 fps at 4K native, and a very healthy 245 fps at 1440p and 123 fps at 4K with frame generation active. Red Dead Redemption 2, a rasterisation-favourable title for AMD, returned 156 fps at 1440p native and 191 fps with FSR. Indiana Jones came in at 120 fps at 1440p native and 84 fps at 4K. Black Myth: Wukong, one of the most punishing titles in our test suite, posted 78 fps at 1440p native, 86 fps at 4K native, and 97 fps at 4K with FSR. Forza Horizon 5 delivered 205 fps at 1440p and 152 fps at 4K with RT Extreme settings active.

The ray tracing numbers are where you'll want to temper expectations. At 4K with RT Overdrive in Cyberpunk, the card dropped to 28 fps, playable only with upscaling assistance. Indiana Jones with full RT at 4K came in at 19 fps native and 11 fps with frame generation, which reflects how demanding path tracing has become and how AMD's RT hardware compares to NVIDIA's at this tier. For players who run ray tracing selectively or not at all, none of this changes the value proposition. For those who want RT on at all times, it is a genuine consideration.

The 16GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus is a differentiator that only grows more relevant over time. Several AAA titles at 4K with high texture settings have started exceeding 12GB in peak VRAM usage, and that trend is not reversing. The 9070 XT has headroom that 12GB cards do not. Whether it matters today in every game you play depends on your specific library, but as a two-to-three-year purchase, the extra VRAM is a buffer worth having.

FSR 4, AMD's latest upscaling implementation, is meaningfully better than FSR 3 and narrows the quality gap with DLSS 4 in supported titles. It is not a full equivalent, but it is no longer the clear second choice it once was.

One practical note: stock unpredictability has been a consistent issue for the 9070 XT in the Indian market. Entry-level variants sell through quickly, and pricing on remaining stock can creep upward. The Rs 71,000 figure reflects the lowest verified listings at the time of writing. Check actual availability before building a budget around that number.

Where to buy in India:

• Elitehubs: From Rs 71,095 to Rs 1,05,000 depending on variant
• PrimeABGB: Multiple variants in stock
• MDComputers: Multiple brands in stock

Key Specs:

• Architecture: RDNA 4
• Compute Units: 64
• VRAM: 16GB GDDR6, 256-bit
• Boost Clock: Up to 3,060 MHz
• TBP: 304W
• 3DMark Time Spy: 22,554 (internal testing)
• 3DMark Time Spy Extreme: 14,219 (internal testing)
• 3DMark Fire Strike: 48,556 (internal testing)
• 3DMark Port Royal: 18,297 (internal testing)

2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

• Architecture: Blackwell (GB205)
• VRAM: 12GB GDDR7
• TBP: 250W

The RTX 5070 is a genuinely capable graphics card that gets more complicated the more closely you examine its position in the market. It ships with 12GB of GDDR7 while the AMD competition offers 16GB, and in rasterisation, it trails the RX 9070 XT in most scenarios. What it offers in return is the NVIDIA software ecosystem, and specifically, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation.

In synthetic testing, our GIGABYTE RTX 5070 posted a 3DMark Time Spy score of 22,274 against the RX 9070 XT's 22,554 ie. the two cards are essentially level in that benchmark. Time Spy Extreme tells a more differentiated story: the 5070 scored 11,146 against the 9070 XT's 14,219, a 27 percent gap that reflects AMD's stronger compute architecture at higher-resolution synthetic workloads. Fire Strike came in at 41,488 and Port Royal at 14,207.

In gaming, the native rasterisation numbers favour AMD in most titles. Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p native delivered 111 fps on the RTX 5070, versus 133 fps on the RX 9070 XT. At 4K native, the 5070 posted 50 fps against the 9070 XT's 63 fps. God of War Ragnarok at 1440p native came in at 119 fps, Red Dead Redemption 2 at 128 fps, and Black Myth: Wukong at 69 fps. Forza Horizon 5 delivered a strong 164 fps at 1440p native and 121 fps at 4K native.

The NVIDIA card makes its ground back with DLSS and MFG. Cyberpunk at 1440p with DLSS Balanced rose to 152 fps, and with MFG 4x active it hit 181 fps. At 4K with MFG 4x, it reached 123 fps. Alan Wake 2 with RT Ultra and MFG 4x returned 155 fps at 1440p and 86 fps at 4K. God of War, with frame generation, reached 216 fps at 1440p. Black Myth: Wukong with MFG 4x posted 132 fps at 1440p and 113 fps at 4K, and Forza with frame generation hit 216 fps at 1440p and 151 fps at 4K.

Ray tracing is where the RTX 5070 holds a consistent lead. Cyberpunk with RT Overdrive at 1440p returned 60 fps on the NVIDIA card against 56 fps on the 9070 XT. Spider-Man 2, a title not in our 9070 XT dataset, posted 78 fps at 1440p with RT Ultimate and 61 fps at 4K, climbing to 114 fps and 68 fps, respectively, with frame generation active.

The key context here is what MFG actually measures. When the RTX 5070 posts 181 fps in Cyberpunk at 1440p with MFG 4x, the card is rendering roughly 45 frames and generating the rest algorithmically. The rendered fps figure,111 fps native at 1440p, is the meaningful number when comparing raw GPU performance head-to-head with the RX 9070 XT's 133 fps. MFG adds real smoothness in single-player scenarios at the cost of increased latency, which is a reasonable tradeoff outside competitive multiplayer.

For competitive gaming at high refresh rates where smoothness and low latency must coexist, the RTX 5070 with DLSS 4 is a strong pick. For visual fidelity-focused gaming where native resolution and minimal upscaling are the priority, the RX 9070 XT is more powerful at an equal or lower price.

On Indian pricing: the Rs 60,000 figure reflects select lower-spec variants listed at Elitehubs as of May 2026. Several listings show inflated "original price" tags with heavily discounted display prices that may not reflect genuine available stock. Realistic expectation for most variants is Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000.

Where to buy in India:

• Elitehubs: From Rs 60,000 (select variants) to Rs 93,000+
• MDComputers: In stock across multiple brands
• PrimeABGB: Multiple models listed

Key Specs:

• Architecture: Blackwell GB205x
• CUDA Cores: 6,144
• VRAM: 12GB GDDR7
• Boost Clock: 2,512 MHz
• TBP: 250W
• 3DMark Time Spy: 22,274 (internal testing)
• 3DMark Time Spy Extreme: 11,146 (internal testing)
• 3DMark Fire Strike: 41,488 (internal testing)
• 3DMark Port Royal: 14,207 (internal testing)

3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 

• Architecture: Ada Lovelace (AD103)
• VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
• TBP: 285W

The RTX 4070 Ti Super launched in January 2024 as NVIDIA's upper mid-range refresh within the Ada Lovelace lineup. It remains a capable card in 2026, but its current Indian pricing puts it in a difficult position relative to the RX 9070 XT.

In synthetic benchmarks, the ASUS TUF RTX 4070 Ti Super achieved a 3DMark Time Spy score of 21,297, which places it roughly 4 percent behind our RX 9070 XT's internal Time Spy result of 22,554. In Fire Strike, the same card scored 42,724 at 1080p, 26,435 at 1440p (Extreme), and 14,209 at 4K (Ultra).

In gaming, the card performs well across a range of titles. In GamersNexus testing, it delivered 62 fps avg in Starfield at 4K and 129 fps avg in Final Fantasy XIV at 1440p. With ray tracing and upscaling in Resident Evil 4 at 4K, it hit 101 fps avg ie. 22% ahead of the RTX 4070 Super in the same test. At 1440p in RE4 with RT and DLSS, it reached 165 fps avg. 

Tom's Hardware measured 55 fps avg in Alan Wake 2 at 1440p with full path tracing, noting it was one of the few sub-$1,000 cards to remain playable in that scenario. In Worthplaying's testing, Forspoken at 1440p without ray tracing averaged 111 fps, rising to 137 fps with DLSS and dropping to 88 fps with RT enabled.

The AD103 chip with 8,448 CUDA cores and 16GB of GDDR6X on a 256-bit bus gives it the same VRAM headroom as the RX 9070 XT. The memory bandwidth upgrade over the original 4070 Ti, from 192-bit to 256-bit, is what makes the card meaningfully stronger at 4K, where that extra bus width and framebuffer capacity translate into real gains over its predecessor.

The pricing problem remains clear: at Rs 73,000, it sits almost level with the RX 9070 XT, a newer card that outperforms it in synthetic benchmarks and most native rasterisation scenarios. The case for the 4070 Ti Super is the NVIDIA ecosystem, including DLSS 3 frame generation, NVIDIA Broadcast, and broader software integration, rather than raw performance per rupee. At Rs 70,000 or below, that case becomes easier to make.

Where to buy in India:

• Elitehubs: From Rs 73,000 to Rs 91,000+
• PrimeABGB: Multiple variants listed
• MDComputers: Available across brands

Key Specs:

• Architecture: Ada Lovelace AD103
• CUDA Cores: 8,448
• VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
• Memory Bus: 256-bit
• Boost Clock: 2,610 MHz
• TBP: 285W
• 3DMark Time Spy: 21,297
• 3DMark Time Spy Extreme: 10,364
• 3DMark Fire Strike (1080p): 42,724

4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super

• Architecture: Ada Lovelace (AD104)
• VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
• TBP: 220W

The RTX 4070 Super is the only card on this list that sits comfortably below the Rs 70,000 mark, and that gap matters more than it might initially appear. At Rs 57,000 to Rs 60,000, it opens up meaningful headroom in a build budget for a better monitor, faster storage, or more RAM.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4070 Super Founders Edition scored 9,830 in 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, compared to 8,610 on the original 4070 and 10,624 on the 4070 Ti, placing it cleanly between the two in compute workloads.

In gaming, the card's 1440p performance is its clearest selling point. Engadget recorded 157 fps avg in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p with Overdrive ray tracing and DLSS enabled, a result that demonstrates how much DLSS 3 can recover in RT-heavy workloads. At 4K with DLSS in Cyberpunk, Engadget measured 78 fps avg; native 4K without upscaling came in at around 38 fps, which reflects the card's real 4K ceiling in demanding titles. Halo Infinite at 1440p with maxed settings, no DLSS, delivered 160 fps avg.

KitGuru's testing of Alan Wake 2 at 1440p returned 58 fps avg, just 5 percent behind the RTX 4070 Ti in the same test, and Forza Horizon 5 at 1440p averaged 137 fps, a 16% lead over the vanilla RTX 4070. TechSpot recorded 140 fps avg in Resident Evil 4 at 1440p. In PCGamesN's testing, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora delivered 100 fps at 1080p and 66 fps at 1440p, with the card consistently placing between the 4070 and the 4070 Ti across the test suite.

The efficiency argument is real. At 220W TBP, it draws 30 fewer watts than the RTX 5070 and 65 fewer than the RX 9070 XT. In a smaller case or a system on an older PSU, that distinction matters. The 12GB VRAM is a genuine long-term limitation for some 2026 titles at 4K with maximum textures pushing against that ceiling. But at 1440p, it remains a non-issue for most games currently available.

Where to buy in India:

• Elitehubs: From Rs 57,000 to Rs 68,000
• MDComputers: Listed across multiple brands
• PrimeABGB: Multiple in-stock variants

Key Specs:

• Architecture: Ada Lovelace AD104
• CUDA Cores: 7,168
• VRAM: 12GB GDDR6X
• Memory Bus: 192-bit
• Boost Clock: 2,475 MHz
• TBP: 220W
• 3DMark Time Spy Extreme: 9,830

Final Thoughts

If you want the best raw gaming performance under Rs 1,00,000 in India right now and have no strong reason to stay within the NVIDIA ecosystem, the RX 9070 XT is the clear recommendation. It leads on synthetic benchmarks, ships with 16GB of VRAM, and is available at prices that match or undercut both the RTX 5070 and RTX 4070 Ti Super. The only genuine caveat is ray tracing performance, where NVIDIA maintains an advantage that matters specifically when RT is enabled.

If DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is important to you, for competitive gaming on high-refresh displays, for smooth single-player experiences, or because you use NVIDIA's broader software tools, the RTX 5070 is the pick. You are accepting lower rasterisation performance and less VRAM in exchange for an ecosystem and frame generation system that AMD cannot fully match today.

The RTX 4070 Ti Super is worth buying at Rs 70,000 or below, primarily for NVIDIA ecosystem users or those with a specific need for Ada Lovelace's DLSS 3 implementation. At Rs 73,000 and above, the RX 9070 XT is a better card for less money.

The RTX 4070 Super at Rs 57,000 to Rs 60,000 delivers the strongest rupee-per-frame value on this entire list. It handles 1440p gaming comfortably, runs efficiently, and leaves meaningful room in the overall build budget. If the goal is to maximise the total gaming experience per rupee spent across the whole system, not just on the GPU, this is where to start.

Launched in 2025, Lumio is a brand that's run by people passionate about home entertainment, and it shows. The Lumio Vision 7 and Lumio Vision 9 were TVs built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts who can't afford the flagship offerings from the big 3: Sony, LG, and Samsung. While most budget brands offer "flagship killer" specs, most fall flat within a year of use. While we as reviewers only get the TVs for a handful of weeks, it's hard to justify the long-term claim. Upon reviewing the Lumio Vision 9 55-inch last year, it was one of my favourite budget TVs and at the top of my recommendation list when someone asked for a budget TV. You can read the testimonial of 91mobiles' own Sanket here, as he has been using the Lumio Vision 9 (2025) for a year.

Now it's time to judge the Lumio Vision 9 2026. Can it live up to the reputation set by its predecessor?

Under the Hood: Key Specs at a Glance

• Screen Size & Panel: 65-inch Mini-LED
• Resolution & Refresh Rate: Native 4K 144Hz with support for 1080P at 240Hz
• Processor & RAM: MediaTek Pentonic 700 paired with 3 GB of RAM
• Operating System: Google TV
• Audio: 50W Output, Dual Subwoofer, Hexa Driver (DGS 2.2) tuned by Dolby, reaching down to 38Hz
• Gaming Features: VRR and ALLM supported

Dressed to Impress: Design and Build Quality

Functional with premium elements is the best way to describe the TV. One of the criticisms of the Lumio Vision 9 was that the largest screen size available was 55 inches. So now, we have a 65-inch variant. The TV stands on 2 metal feet that hold it very well in place. Facing the TV, all the connectivity options are to the left with only the power port on the right. The power cable is detachable, which is nice. All the ports are outward-facing, making them easy to reach when the TV is wall-mounted. Overall, the build of the TV is the same as last year, so there is nothing to complain about. It is a black mirror.

Control Freak: The Minion 2 Remote

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just take feedback and improve it! Lumio has dubbed this the "Minion 2" remote. The remote feels slightly more ergonomic, has some buttons moved around, and includes additional buttons like 'info' (to bring up details of the content being played on screen), a relocated source button, etc. All in all, changes in the right direction. It is still a compact remote with a grey colour that makes it look unique.

A Visual Feast: Display and Picture Quality

Lumio has taken the feedback received in 2025 for their TV and brought about some interesting changes. The 2025 feedback to Lumio can be summarised into the following points:

• Great panel, but needs some optimization to improve black crushing, viewing angles, and overall brightness.
• Bigger screen size.
• Higher refresh rate for gamers.

Keeping the above feedback in mind, Lumio has added native 4K 144Hz performance to the panel, launched a 65-inch screen size, and upgraded the capabilities of the TV. Lumio also claims that the TV has an EVA panel, which is short for Enhanced Vertical Alignment Panel. It's a VA panel with better viewing angles, similar to what we've seen Sony do with the X-Wide Angle on TVs with a VA panel. For the most part, it works fine. Sitting in a standard layout, the viewing angles are decent, with the colour only shifting at extreme angles. Underneath, it's powered by the MediaTek Pentonic 700 processor and 3 GB of RAM, ensuring smooth picture processing.

SDR Supremacy: Where This TV Truly Shines

It's safe to say that the SDR performance of the TV is fantastic. I would go so far as to say that if possible, connect a Fire TV Stick or Apple TV 4K box to the TV and consume content in SDR only. Because the TV is fantastic! Let's cover some technicalities. The TV covers 99.8% of the REC 709 colour space, which means colours look fantastic and pop on the TV. In the Standard preset, it can hit 500 nits peak brightness, and in the Movie preset, it can hit a tad below 400 nits, making it a great TV for watching movies and TV shows. The Movie preset is more colour accurate, giving me an average delta error of 5.8 with the factory settings, which will be very good for most people.

I saw a bunch of movies and TV shows on this TV, and they just pop in SDR. From the reds and blues in Spider-Man's suit to the motorcycle chase sequence in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, producing some punchy colours with skin tones looking accurate, the TV is a true cinematic experience in SDR. Even for everyday TV shows like Young Sheldon, the Standard and Movie presets both shine. Use the one that you enjoy the best visually.

Some settings I change to enhance my experience. You can try them if you like. This is for the Movie preset in a bright room:

• Keep the brightness between 50 and 60, subject to the black levels. Remember, brightness elevates the black levels, so if the blacks look grey, you've increased the brightness too much. Keep the backlighting at 100%
• Keep local dimming at medium or high, but supplement this with the Gamma. If you've kept the local dimming at medium, you can keep the gamma at bright. If you keep the local dimming at high, then keep the gamma at middle. This helps offset the raised black levels while maintaining clarity in the details.

Overall, with these settings, you can enjoy all the content on this TV.

The HDR Hustle: A Mixed, Yet Mighty Bag

This is where things become a mixed bag. While Lumio officially claims a peak brightness of 800 nits, I tested the TV in the Standard and Movie presets in HDR and got a peak brightness in a 10% window of a bit more than 500 nits in Standard and a little over 400 nits in the Movie preset. It covers 64.3% of the BT2020 colour space in my test. Before you go crazy about numbers, let's understand why HDR content sometimes looks "duller" than SDR.

See, in SDR, the entire screen needs to achieve the same "uniform" brightness. In HDR, the highlights need to pop. Which means that if there is a scene of a man exiting a cave, the brightness and contrast of the TV need to make you feel like you are in a dark cave, unable to see anything, and when exiting the cave, you need to get the "bright" sunlight only from the entrance of the cave. Only a small portion of the screen needs to showcase the extra brightness, making you feel like you need to squint your eyes, like the protagonist on screen, before everything settles down. So, everything does not need to look punchy all the time in HDR. If you want an always-punchy image, switch to SDR.

So, in a movie like The Dark Knight, where Batman goes to kidnap Lao in Hong Kong, you have the fight on a slightly dark office floor with Batman beating up the bad guys. Here you can make out the chinks in Batman's armour, and when the windows explode, you get this nice punch of fire that is brighter than the rest of the scene. It looks really good on the TV, especially if you consume content in the dark.

I saw the end dogfight sequence of Top Gun: Maverick in SDR and HDR, and the entire scene looks nice and bright in SDR. In HDR, it looked "dimmer" but not bad. Because when the missile hits Tom Cruise's plane, you get a nice bright explosion which looks punchy. This is why you need a high-end TV with higher peak brightness and a very good contrast ratio to take advantage of different levels of brightness happening at the same time on screen without losing details. For the price, the Lumio Vision 9 does a commendable job of representing HDR content, and they can make improvements to it at a software level going forward, considering the panel on offer is very good.

Below are my settings for HDR content:

• In Dolby Vision: Leave it at Dolby Vision Bright. That's the best for a well-lit room as well as a dark room, in my opinion.
• For HDR 10 content (Movie Preset):

1. Local Dimming: High
2. Dynamic Noise Reduction: Medium
3. Gamma: Medium
4. Brightness: Between 48 and 60, subject to how dark things look on screen.

Level Up: A Gamer's Paradise

I played a lot of games on my PS5 and Xbox Series X on the TV. Of the 3 HDMI ports on the TV, only HDMI 2 and 3 are full HDMI 2.1, offering 4K at 144Hz (120Hz in the case of the consoles) without breaking a sweat. For PC gamers, the TV even supports a blistering 1080P at 240Hz, fully backed by Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM). I have only 2 problems with the TV when it comes to gaming, both of which are just me nitpicking.

1. Every time I switch to the console's input on the TV, local dimming goes off, and I need to enable it.
2. The PS5 peak brightness calibration needs to be fixed. I'm not sure if this is a console problem or a TV problem, but this is the solution: If you go to the Calibrate HDR screen on the PS5, you have the sun on a white background, and you need to press 'up' on the controller to merge the sun with the background. You do this twice, once in a small white box and next when the full screen is white (to tell the console the peak brightness of the TV). When you do this, you normally need to click up 22 times (from the base), which is like 2000 nits+ peak brightness. After doing this, if you play Dirt 5 (which is a game mastered in HGiG), everything looks washed out and burned out. Instead, click up during the PS5 HDR calibration settings only 12 times instead of 22. This will ensure the console thinks the peak brightness of the TV is much lower, leading to a remarkably better experience.

While I played a ton of games on the console, here are my findings with games that actually made my jaw drop:

• Dirt 5 - Looked absolutely sublime with great highlights, post the correct calibration.
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - The reds and blues in Spider-Man's suit pop, and the game looks absolutely stunning even in the night sequences. Super immersive.
• Astro Bot - The colours are so amazing it feels like playing a Pixar movie.

Even Ori and the Will of the Wisps on the Xbox, which is a super vibrant and colourful game with brilliant specular highlights, pops on this TV once the Xbox HDR is calibrated. Playing Ori in glorious 4K and 120 FPS was one of the most sublime experiences. Even a fast-paced game like Doom: The Dark Ages felt responsive, and the sound was great (more on that in a bit).

Overall, if you are looking for a primary TV to play games on and then have some content consumption on the side, this TV works really well.

A tip on how to check if your PS5 is actually outputting in 4K 120Hz on a budget TV. You can do this on any game that supports 120Hz. I did this using Ratchet & Clank and Spider-Man 2 on the PS5:

1. Launch the game, ensure the console is set to 120Hz output, and so is the game in its settings.
2. Press the PS button and go to the console's settings - go to Screen and Video, and then go to Current Video Output. It should show you the output at 4K, with 48-120Hz VRR. If the resolution shows 1080P, the display does not support true HDMI 2.1. This TV does, and it is amazing.

Sonic Boom: Unmatched Audio Arsenal

The TV has 50W of sound output with 2 subwoofers, 2 full-range drivers, and 2 tweeters. Lumio calls this the Hexa Driver DGS 2.2 setup, which manages an impressive low frequency of 38Hz. The TV supports Dolby Atmos, and the overall sound output is good. Dialogues are clear, you get a decent thump from explosions and action sequences, and even when gaming, mixed audio sounds good.

The orchestral score in Ori sounds emotional, and the rock soundtrack in Doom: The Dark Ages, along with the thumps of the guns, doesn't sound bad like it does on other budget TVs. It sounds good here. The important thing is that in the movie audio preset, I found the dialogue to be clear, which is important for me.

The Ultimate Hub: Unpacking the TLDR App

Lumio has claimed to be the fastest TV, and when it comes to the UI, it is. But another place where it distinguishes itself is with the TLDR app. The company aims to give you a one-stop solution for your entertainment and sports needs without having you scroll through different streaming apps. It's a great one-stop hub for content, and I kinda see this becoming a default UI for Lumio, similar to what PatchWall is for Xiaomi.

Here is exactly what makes the TLDR app such a game-changer:

• Movies Tab: It bundles trending movies and franchises into dedicated rows. You can filter by language (with a big focus on South Indian cinema), browse by genre, or check out curated collections from influencers and OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Aha, Hoichoi, Apple TV, Sony Liv, and Jiohotstar.
• Shows Tab: Similar to movies, you get dedicated language shelves supporting 8 languages and genre-based browsing. It tracks your favorite franchises and surfaces platform-specific rows so you don't have to keep switching apps.
• Sports Tab: This is a huge win for sports fans. It provides Live Match Cards and Upcoming Match Cards for Tennis, Cricket, and Football. It also features dedicated highlight hubs (both tournament-wise and single-match) and extensive coverage of categories like Badminton, Kabaddi, F1, Esports, and MMA. There are even dedicated pages for massive tournaments like the IPL and WPL with detailed standings and score breakdowns.
• Music Tab: It pulls fresh releases, Top 10 charts, and trending shorts audio straight from YouTube Music. You can access influencer music collections, global top videos, and curated playlists like "Bollywood Iconic Hits" without opening a dedicated music app.
• Search & Settings: The Global TV search is fantastic, allowing you to search across movies, shows, sports, and music simultaneously with 10 genres and 8 language filters. The settings tab is also unified, letting you sign in once to sync your viewing experience across the board while keeping device warranty info just a click away.

Final Verdict: Is it worth the price?

Currently priced at Rs 72,999 for the 65-inch variant, the TV has a few things going for it quite well. It is an excellent gaming TV, with extremely good SDR performance and acceptable HDR performance. The cherry on the cake is that the UI of the TV is butter smooth, and the TLDR app is not only a great one-stop shop for your entertainment needs but also has the potential to evolve into the de facto UI for the TV.

The connectivity options are good, and the sound output of the TV is better than most competing TVs. At the current price point for a 65-inch TV, you have options from Sony, Samsung, Xiaomi, and TCL, to name a few. However, it is easy to recommend the Lumio Vision 9 2026 65-inch TV for its strengths, which are truly great at this price point.

Editor's Rating: 8.8 / 10

Pros:

• Superb SDR performance
• Two full HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 4K/144Hz or 1080p/240Hz
• The TLDR app is a great USP
• Punchy audio output
• Super smooth UI

Cons:

• Real-world HDR brightness could be better
• Local dimming deactivates on console inputs
• PS5 HDR needs manual tuning

The HP OmniBook X 14 is priced at about Rs 1.7L. It is a premium price where you can expect to get some truly flagship performance in a thin and light form factor with some really great specs. But with the sea of options available in the 1.5L to 2L price bracket, can the new 2026 HP OmniBook X 14 stand out?

Key Specifications at a Glance

• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (up to 4.7 GHz, 16 cores, 16 threads)
• Memory & Storage: 16 GB LPDDR5x-6800 MT/s RAM and 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
• Display: 14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED, Multitouch, 120Hz VRR, 500 nits SDR / 1100 nits, HDR, 100% DCI-P3
• Battery: 4-cell, 70 Wh Li-ion polymer
• Weight & Thickness: 1.3 kg and 12.6 mm thin
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB Type-A 10Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.1

Design, build & connectivity: Suave, sturdy, and surprisingly well-connected

Kicking things off with the design, it is very minimal and elegant—ideal for those who want a work machine without any flash. The laptop is "Atmospheric Blue" in colour, similar to the HP OmniBook X Flip I reviewed last year. It still looks quite stunning. For the 10 days I've been using this machine as my daily driver, it has turned a few heads. The laptop's build is also very sturdy. HP claims that the device has undergone eleven total MIL-STD 810H tests, "so your PC is built to withstand the toughest of days". The chassis also features a dual anodised finish to ensure that durability meets a premium aesthetic. Additionally, the chassis incorporates sustainable materials, including 20% recycled aluminium and 30% post-consumer recycled plastics.

The hinge is very strong with almost no wobble for the display, and you can easily open the laptop with a single finger without wobbling the rest of the machine, a testament to its design. The display is a touchscreen and goes way back, but not all the way like its X Flip sibling. There are two rubber feet, which keep it elevated for optimal airflow when kept on a desk. While this helps a bit when keeping the laptop on the bed, I still wouldn't recommend using it on the bed for airflow and thermal reasons, unless you are using it on a table. The OmniBook X 14 is incredibly portable, measuring just 1.26 cm thin and weighing a mere 1.3 kg, making it "thinner than a stack of pencils" and "as light as a medium melon".

Next up is the keyboard, and this is one place where the laptop has undergone the biggest change. The keyboard looks and feels redesigned, all in a good way. You have a larger key gap with wider key spacing. HP has specifically widened the key gap from 1.5mm to 3mm for improved accuracy. Once you get used to this, typing on the keyboard is a very fun experience. My favourite keyboard is the ThinkPad-style keyboard found on Lenovo laptops, and this new design from HP is right up there. Now I have two favourite styles of keyboards. The biggest thing to note about the keyboard is the deeper key dish with deeper key curvature for a more comfortable fingertip fit. The key dish now ranges from 0.1mm to 0.25mm. The cherry on the cake is that the typeface on the keyboard is also pleasing to look at. HP is using its modern, geometric "HP Progress Typeface". As someone who has used a bunch of keyboards with different typefaces, this is something you will notice and appreciate almost immediately.

Moving over to the trackpad, it is large and easy to navigate with support for multi-gestures. The trackpad is relatively smooth, almost as smooth as the ones found on MacBooks, and that's a very good thing. The trackpad now supports new gesture controls, allowing you to slide up or down to quickly adjust screen brightness and volume.

Overall, the build of the laptop is robust. It has a rectangular design with smooth, rounded edges for a comfortable typing and carrying experience.

Moving to connectivity, the left of the laptop houses 1 USB-A port, an HDMI port, 1 Thunderbolt port, and a headphone/mic combo jack on the left. The right has the second USB-A port and one more Thunderbolt port. The mix of HDMI and USB-A ports is great, as in the few meetings I went to, it was easy to connect to a projector, and the USB-A port worked seamlessly for a mouse + using an external drive to transfer data. I do wish the device had an SD card slot to round out the package. However, it was a breath of fresh air not to rely on a dongle for day-to-day use. It's also highly convenient that the USB-C ports are dual-sided (one on either side), keeping your desk untangled.

Display: A 3K OLED Canvas that truly pops

The first thing that will stand out when you use this display is how vibrant it is. I use this laptop on my desk, which has a direct light source reflecting off the display. I used it in a cab on my way to a meeting, and even in a pitch-dark room at night when the kids were asleep, and damn, oh damn, I've said it too many times now—once you go OLED, there is no going back.

The display looks crisp and sharp, no matter what you do on it. 3K + OLED = pixel-perfect performance. Yes, outdoor visibility under hard sunlight will take a hit, and there are times when a direct light source on the display will make it reflective, but the viewing angles are spectacular, so you can just tilt it away in the right direction. In a pitch-dark room, reducing the brightness does not result in a "dim" experience as you would find on an LCD panel. No blooming or halo effects either when watching movies in a dark room, something which has plagued LCDs on laptops for a very long time. The 120Hz VRR refresh rate is the cherry on top.

This isn't a gaming laptop, but scrolling through long documents, reading a book on the Kindle app (yes, I am one of the few who does that on a laptop as well, and it worked brilliantly on this laptop using the touch screen), or simply scrolling through family photos—the display is sublime. The panel also features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for added durability and scratch resistance, as well as HP Eye Ease to reduce blue light without compromising the true 100% DCI-P3 colour accuracy.

Audio: Good, but leaves room for a bass boost

Ok, this is a confession. I jumped onto the HP OmniBook X 14 after spending two weeks with the 2026 Dell XPS 14, which has phenomenal speakers. That laptop is also way more expensive than the HP I have here today. So when I say I am slightly underwhelmed by the performance of the HP OmniBook X 14, the reference for a point of comparison is much more expensive. It is about in line with what you'll get on a MacBook Air M5, so the speakers aren't bad by any means.

The laptop has two down-firing speakers. They are placed on the D-cover, offering a sleeker, minimalist look. For video calls, they get loud and clear, and I found myself limiting the volume to 70% when working from my fortress of solitude at home, which doesn't have any ambient noise. However, at the office, 80-100% volume was used to take calls. Watching movies and TV shows, the dialogue clarity is clean, but the mixed audio of bangs and thuds in action movies is nothing to write home about. The speakers lack bass and, at full volume, lack depth. It is worth noting, however, that HP has integrated DTS:X Ultra and Poly Studio tuning to help enhance the audio.

Performance: The Intel Core Ultra beast unleashed

Let's get down to the belly of the beast: the performance of the HP OmniBook X 14! Below is a look at some synthetic benchmarks of the HP OmniBook X 14 compared to similarly priced laptops, including the ASUS ZenBook S16 powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 465, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo B2HMG powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED UX3405CA-PZ164WS powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. It should be noted that HP is offering you the latest generation Intel chip, and the laptops we've reviewed in this price range have Intel's previous-gen chips powering them. Below is a look at how the HP OmniBook X 14 (2026) stacks up against the competition in synthetic benchmarks.

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Considering its flagship nature, it's no surprise that the HP OmniBook X 14 holds its own quite well when compared to the competition. Sure, there are benchmarks where the HP outshines the competition and vice versa, but the ballpark real-world performance is what you'd expect—buttery smooth and ready to handle any task you throw at the machine.

The laptop even ran GTA 5 at an 87FPS average, making it great for casual gaming! To keep this performance sustained, HP has equipped the laptop with a new dual-fan design featuring Special Liquid Crystal Polymer (SLCP) blades and a pure copper CPU cooling plate, delivering a 63% increase in airflow compared to traditional single-fan setups.

We are also reviewing this laptop at a time when we have access to GeForce Now, so playing games like Pragmata, Baldur's Gate 3, Forza Horizon 5, and more was a treat on this machine. With a stable internet connection, you can play games at maxed-out settings and enjoy them on this beautiful OLED display. We are in for a treat over the next few years if GeForce Now continues down this road in India.

You aren't going to buy this laptop for its benchmark and gaming performance, so let's move over to some real-world performance. I could easily get through a 9-hour workday on this laptop with ease and still have close to 15% battery left based on my workload. This included almost an hour of video calls in the day, as well as some Netflix during lunch. During my time, I worked on a bunch of presentations, did some Excel work, wrote a part of this review, wrote another review, replied to emails, presented some PPTs, and had Google Meets calls, all while having my 40-odd tabs open in Chrome. HP claims an impressive battery life of up to 29 hours of video playback, powered by a 4-cell, 70 Wh battery, so light workloads will sip power throughout the day.

From setup to day-to-day tasks and even enjoying some cartoons on the laptop with kids, it's a great overall machine that marries productivity and play!

AI: Smart Features for the future-proof freelancer

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AI is still in its nascent days on the PC, and we have started running Geekbench AI as a benchmark. You can see the results below as compared to the same competition mentioned above. Beyond synthetic benchmarks, the built-in NPU powers practical features like the 5MP IR camera's HDR auto switch and temporal noise reduction, as well as 'Look To Move', which instantly shifts your cursor to the active screen by detecting your head movement.

Verdict: A Premium powerhouse worth the premium price

I haven't really said anything negative about the laptop (apart from the speakers) throughout the review, and that's because, for the price of almost 1.7L, it is giving you the flagship thin-and-light experience you'd expect. It has an immersive 3K OLED touchscreen, is super lightweight, portable, and super ergonomic for use on the go, and the keyboard is sublime to type on. It's a perfect package. However, if I had to nitpick, I'd say that Windows still isn't fully optimised for a touchscreen-only experience, and the audio output could be better.

One special mention goes to the 100W USB Type-C GaN charger that comes in the box with this laptop. It is as compact as a smartphone charger, making it easy to carry and use. Because it is USB-C, you can carry it to charge your phone as well. It's a small touch, but a compact charger makes all the difference for those who travel a lot for work.

Editor's Rating: 8.8/ 10

Pros:

• Stunning 14-inch 3K OLED 120Hz VRR display
• Exceptional keyboard
• Fantastic build quality with plenty of ports
• Compact, pocket-sized 100W GaN charger included

Cons:

• Audio performance lacks bass and depth compared to some high-end competitors
• No built-in SD card reader

The Vivo X300 FE (review) has officially been launched in India and is set to go on sale starting May 14th. But who exactly should consider buying this smartphone? That's precisely what this article aims to answer. The latest addition to Vivo's X300-series lineup succeeds the X200 FE (review) with several notable upgrades, including a newer chipset, faster memory and storage, a larger battery, and the addition of wireless charging. However, it also arrives with a fairly hefty price tag, especially considering the standard Vivo X300 is currently available at a lower starting price.

So, without any further ado, let's take a closer look at who the Vivo X300 FE makes the most sense for, and who should probably skip it.

Reasons to buy Vivo X300 FE

Compact flagship, distinct design

The Vivo X300 FE retains the same compact 6.31-inch footprint as the standard X300, making it one of the few genuinely one-hand-friendly premium smartphones in the segment. Despite its smaller size, the phone doesn't feel compromised, offering a premium glass-and-aluminium build, IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance, stereo speakers, and an upgraded ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that is both fast and dependable.

Moving on, unlike the standard X300's large circular camera module, the X300 FE adopts a sleeker pill-shaped camera layout that feels cleaner and more modern. For buyers who prefer a subtler, less bulky-looking design, the FE arguably looks more refined. The new Urban Olive and Lilac Purple finishes also give the phone more personality than the relatively conservative X300 colourways.

Reliable all-around performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 SoC may sit below true flagship silicon, but the real-world experience remains consistently smooth. App launches, multitasking, gaming, and sustained workloads are all handled well, while thermals remain impressively controlled. The FE strikes a good balance between efficiency and performance rather than chasing benchmark numbers.

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Paired with 12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.1 storage, the handset also feels fast and responsive during heavy multitasking, while offering ample room for large apps, 4K videos, and extensive photo libraries.

Strong portrait photography & support for Telephoto Extender Gen 2 lens

The Vivo X300 FE packs a Zeiss-backed triple camera system, which features a 50MP Sony IMX921 f/1.57 OIS sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP Sony IMX882 f/2.65 OIS telephoto lens that offers 3x optical zoom. The front camera is also a 50MP Zeiss sensor for selfies and video calling.

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The setup excels at producing detailed portraits with natural skin tones, convincing edge detection, and pleasing background blur. Dynamic range is also dependable across most lighting conditions, while the Zeiss tuning gives images a vibrant, social-media-friendly look that many users will appreciate. That's not all, the X300 FE gains compatibility with Vivo's upgraded telephoto extender kit.

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The kit, now in Gen 2 and more compact and lightweight than ever before, allows users to capture DSLR-style compressed shots and long-range images with much greater flexibility. For photography enthusiasts, this accessory, sold separately with a sticker price of Rs 15,999, adds genuine versatility beyond standard smartphone zoom capabilities.

Excellent battery life and convenient charging options

Battery life is one of the biggest strengths of the Vivo X300 FE. Despite being compact, the handset packs a 6,500mAh battery - bigger than the standard Vivo X300. Speaking of real-world performance, the handset comfortably lasts over a day and often stretches into a second day with moderate usage. Internal testing also showed slightly better endurance than the X300 during gaming and PCMark battery tests. For users prioritising longevity over outright power, this is a meaningful advantage.

Vivo has also managed to combine strong endurance with convenience. The X300 FE supports 90W wired FlashCharge and 40W wireless charging, both of which are increasingly valuable in day-to-day use. The included wired charger also helps justify the premium positioning.

Excellent multimedia experience

The Vivo X300 FE's 6.31-inch LTPO AMOLED display remains one of the better compact panels available. It offers vibrant colours, excellent brightness, HDR10+ playback, smooth refresh rate transitions, and good eye-care features. Combined with loud stereo speakers, the overall content consumption experience is strong.

Reasons to skip Vivo X300 FE

Cameras have some inconsistencies

Compared to the primary and telephoto sensors, the Vivo X300 FE's 8MP ultrawide lens feels noticeably less capable. Detail levels are lower, low-light performance is weaker, and the lack of 4K recording further limits its usefulness. The ultrawide sensor is restricted to 1080p recording. Furthermore, colour consistency between lenses, particularly on the telephoto camera, can be uneven.

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As for the still photography, the X300 FE tends to favour punchy contrast and boosted saturation, which look appealing to the eyes but lack realistic colour science. This may not go well with users who are looking for more natural image reproduction over Vivo's aggressive tuning.

Vivo X300 is cheaper and more power-packed

This is arguably the X300 FE's biggest problem. With its starting price of Rs 79,999, the FE is more expensive than the standard Vivo X300, which, other than the battery, offers a superior camera setup and a more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 9500 SoC. Even the higher-storage variants favour the X300, which also offers a 16GB+512GB option at a lower price than the FE's 12GB+512GB model in the current scenario.

This makes the Vivo X300 FE a harder recommendation unless you specifically prioritise its design or larger battery.

To conclude

Unless Vivo raises the price of the standard Vivo X300 or phases it out entirely, the Vivo X300 FE will likely remain a niche compact flagship. The handset makes a strong case for users seeking a premium compact smartphone with excellent battery life, reliable performance, and a capable camera system. However, it loses out on value when compared against similarly-priced phones, such as Vivo X300 and OnePlus 15 (review).