The POVA 8 is one of those phones that try to grab your attention before you've even switched it on. It's bold, a bit chunky, and very clearly taking inspiration from Nothing's design language, a look that wants to feel a bit more "designed" than the usual offerings in the mid-range segment.

And to be fair, that is what's doing most of the heavy lifting here. In a market where hardware upgrades have slowed to a crawl and spec sheets don't quite look like they used to, Tecno seems to be betting big on design to carry the POVA 8 forward.

But the catch? It's also priced higher than you'd expect, which makes that bet feel a lot riskier. In this review, I'll share my thoughts on the device based on my experience so far, supplemented by a lot of data, to see if the phone justifies its value.

Short Verdict

The POVA 8 has a bold design, a large battery, and cameras that do well enough for everyday use. It also feels smooth in normal use and has a playful character. But the LCD panel is a missed opportunity, storage options are limited, and the pricing feels a little ambitious. Taken as a whole, the phone may not be an easy recommendation, but it has enough charm.

Design: an all-new aesthetic

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Tecno's POVA 8 goes all in on attention-grabbing design, with a transparent-style back, geometric detailing, and a circular rear display that makes it stand out instantly. The "Alive Matrix Display" adds a playful, Glyph-like twist, but the phone is a little chunky at 225g and 8.8mm thickness.
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Tecno is very clearly chasing attention with the POVA 8, and to be fair, it works at first glance. The transparent-style rear panel, sharp geometric accents, and that circular secondary display sitting next to the camera module immediately set it apart from the usual mid-range crowd. The phone definitely makes you look twice, even if you're not entirely sure how you feel about it yet.

It does carry similarities to Nothing's design language, from the exposed aesthetic to the way the back is meant to feel interactive. Tecno calls the secondary display "Alive Matrix Display", and it's essentially their take on turning the rear panel into a visual playground. You get multiple lighting elements, notification cues, and what are essentially Glyph-style features.

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Once you get past the visual flair, however, the POVA 8 weighs in at 225 grams and 8.8mm thick. The phone is a little on the heavier, chunkier side, but that is because it has such a large battery. It does have a refined in-hand presence, and you get used to the weight in time. The phone's design is meant to be bold, a bit loud, and unapologetically trying to be the centre of attention.

Tecno seems to be making a clear statement: this phone is meant to be seen as much as it is used.

Display: things could be better

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The POVA 8's display feels like a bit of a compromise at this price. With rising costs pushing more OEMs towards LCD panels in this segment, the move is understandable, but it still does not feel as satisfying as AMOLED. Even so, an OLED screen would have been nicer, especially since the Tecno Curve 2 already offers one.
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The display is one area where the POVA 8 does miss the mark a bit. At this price, not having an AMOLED panel is a clear disadvantage, especially when AMOLED has become the more expected choice in this segment.

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The colours do not look like what you get on rival phones with OLED panels, so this is not the most satisfying screen for watching videos or scrolling through photos. The brightness is also lacking outdoors, making it hard to see in harsh lighting. It does get the job done, but it lacks that bit of punch you'd expect at around Rs 30,000.

The 144Hz refresh rate helps keep things feeling smooth, but it's not implemented across the board. From what I've seen, that higher refresh rate is limited to just a handful of system apps like Messages, Phone, and Settings, and games do not seem to support it yet. So while it sounds impressive, the actual experience is a little more restrained than you'd hope. With time and future OTA updates, the phone is likely to have improved support for 144Hz in games and other third-party apps.

Alive Matrix Display

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The Alive Matrix Display is one of the POVA 8's most unique, playful touches. It is easy to customise, lets you choose from different patterns or even draw your own, and adds a bit of character to the phone. The shake-to-launch toys are fun, though not always perfectly controlled.
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The real talking point here is the Alive Matrix Display, which can be configured in the settings. Under the badge "Status light" in settings, you can dig into the customisation options, tweak the matrix display, and play around with the phone's more playful side. Right now, there are only two toys available: a rotating microphone mode that works a bit like a flip-the-bottle game and a lucky number pull, both of which can be triggered by shaking the phone three times.

[gallery link="file" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" size="large" columns="7" ids="706185,706184,706182,706183,706181,706180,706179,706178"]

It is an interesting idea, but the implementation is not quite as polished as what I've seen on Nothing Phone (3) (review). There, the rear-panel interaction felt more intentional because you had to physically press a button to activate the toys. Here, the shake-to-launch approach is easy to access, but I did run into situations where it triggered randomly in my pocket or during an auto ride. That takes away some of the charm.

On the plus side, you do get plenty of customisation, whether that means choosing from a wide range of matrix patterns or even drawing your own image, and the brightness controls are easy to use and keep the rear display quite visible.

Battery: an easy 1.5 days of use

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POVA 8's battery is one of its biggest strengths. The 8,000mAh cell easily lasts around 1.5 days in normal use, and the bundled 45W charger tops it up from 20 to 100 percent in a little over an hour. It is not the most efficient under heavy load, but the overall endurance is still great.
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One of POVA 8's biggest strengths is, without a doubt, its massive 8,000mAh battery, and in day-to-day use, it lives up to the promise. In my testing, it comfortably pushed through around 1.5 days with roughly 5 hours of screen-on time each day, which is pretty good if you are a fairly casual user. More demanding users will still get good endurance, but realistically, you are looking at closer to a full day of use.

[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="41996,41782,41949,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

That is mostly because the battery efficiency is a little lacking here. During heavier tasks like gaming, the battery drain becomes more substantial, with around 8 percent gone in 30 minutes. If you play games often, you'll feel the pinch. The PCMark result also reflected that, although it was still decent at 17.5 hours.

Charging, however, is a pleasant surprise. I expected a battery this large to take a fair bit longer, but the bundled 45W charger gets the phone from 20 to 100 percent in a little over an hour, which is very impressive. So while the battery is not flawless in terms of efficiency, the overall experience is still very good for most users.

[comparative-benchmark type="4000" products="41996,41782,41949,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

POVA 8: middling performance, decent OS

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The POVA 8 runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It handles everyday tasks well enough, but it does not feel especially quick and the lack of a higher storage option or microSD expansion makes it less flexible for long-term use.

The phone also warms up under stress, especially during gaming. However, the gaming experience is still decent, and HiOS remains one of the better parts of the package, feeling clean, responsive, and nicely polished in daily use.
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The POVA 8 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7100, paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. In recent launches, brands have generally been a bit more measured with their processors to keep costs in check, and this phone follows that trend. For casual use, it does the job well enough, handling browsing, social media, and light multitasking without much fuss, but it does not feel especially quick or polished all the time.

[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="41996,41782,41949,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

What also hurts its appeal is the lack of a higher storage option. You only get the 6+128GB and 8+128GB variants, which feels a bit limiting when there is no microSD card expansion either. That may not bother everyone on day one, but it is something that becomes more relevant if you plan to keep the phone for a while. If you want a more performance-focused device with better storage options, the OnePlus Nord CE6 Lite (review) and Motorola Edge 70 Fusion (review) are better choices under Rs 30,000.

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Thermals are another area where the phone could have done better. It does get quite warm under load, with temperatures rising by more than 8 degrees Celsius in around 30 minutes of gaming.

[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="41996,41782,41949,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Gaming performance itself is decent, though, and Tecno seems to have done a fair job of tuning the software for popular titles. So while the hardware is not particularly exciting, it does hold up better in games than the specs might suggest.

HiOS is one of the better parts of the POVA 8 experience. It feels clean, responsive and nicely put together in day-to-day use, with Tecno's refreshed Glow Space design language giving the interface a more polished look across key areas like quick settings, first-party apps, and call screens. It also brings a decent set of AI tools, along with useful customisation options.

[comparative-benchmark type="3000" products="41996,41782,41949,," pias="46,41,68,,"][/comparative-benchmark]

Although there are some things I wish to improve. A few first-party apps still do not fully match the new design language, which makes the experience feel a little uneven in places. The software update policy could also be better, but despite that, HiOS still does enough to earn praise at this price point.

Cameras: great colours, low detail

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The POVA 8's camera setup is one of the weaker parts of the package. It has a 50MP main camera with an auxiliary lens at the back and a 13MP selfie camera up front, but for the price, it feels a bit limited without OIS or an ultrawide lens.

Its actual performance, however, is pretty decent. In daylight, the main camera does a good job with colour and keeps tones looking fairly natural. The trade-off is detail, which is only average and becomes even more obvious in low light. The selfie camera is also decent, especially outdoors, but it softens images a little too much once the light drops.
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The POVA 8's camera setup is one of the weaker parts of the package. You get a 50MP main camera with an auxiliary lens at the back and a 13MP selfie camera up front, but for the price, that feels a bit underwhelming, especially without OIS or an ultrawide lens to give the setup some proper flexibility.

In daylight, the main camera actually does a decent job. Colours look natural, and Tecno seems to have kept the output fairly close to what you see in real life, which I appreciate. The problem is that details are soft, and that softness becomes more obvious once the light drops. Low-light shots lose quite a bit of texture once you zoom into the images, so this is not the camera for anyone expecting strong night performance.

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The selfie camera is fairly similar. It handles daylight reasonably well, with pleasing colours and decent facial detail, but once you move indoors or into dimmer light, it starts smoothing things out a bit too much, and detail takes a hit.

To get a better idea, I compared the phone's cameras against the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion (review). Check it out below:

Daylight

In regular daytime images, the POVA 8's advantage lies in its colour reproduction, which is a lot more faithful to the actual scene compared to the Edge 70 Fusion. Where it falls behind, however, is in terms of details. The Edge 70 Fusion's image is a lot sharper and more detailed.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/POVA-8-daylight-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Moto-Edgde-70-Fusion-daylight-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="POVA 8" after="Motorola Edge 70 Fusion"]

Portrait

The portrait shots from both phones come out looking fairly good, with the POVA once again dominating in terms of colour accuracy. The Edge 70 Fusion does better in terms of details and has better edge detection, cleanly separating the subject from the background.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/POVA-8-portrait-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Moto-Edgde-70-Fusion-portrait-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="POVA 8" after="Motorola Edge 70 Fusion"]

Selfie

The selfie camera is where the POVA 8 absolutely outperforms its peers. Its detail level is a lot better, and it doesn't beautify the image to make it look more appealing. The handset offers better skin colour rendition and facial details, making it the clear winner.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/POVA-8-selfie-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Moto-Edgde-70-Fusion-selfie-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="POVA 8" after="Motorola Edge 70 Fusion"]

Low light (night mode)

This is an aspect where the POVA 8 struggles a little since it is unable to capture as many details. However, it does have better exposure and lens flare control compared to the Edge 70 Fusion, while also leading in terms of colour accuracy.

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/POVA-8-nightmode-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Moto-Edgde-70-Fusion-nightmode-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="POVA 8" after="Motorola Edge 70 Fusion"]

Final Verdict

The POVA 8 has some clear strengths, and its design is one of the first things that stand out. It looks distinctive, draws attention, and the battery life is capable enough to handle a full day and then some. Even the cameras are fairly good for everyday use, which makes the phone more rounded than it first appears.

At the same time, there are a few compromises that are hard to overlook. The LCD panel feels like a miss at this price. The lack of a 256GB variant is another limitation, since storage expansion is also missing, and that can affect long-term use. Pricing also feels a little ambitious for what the phone offers overall.

Compared with the Motorola Edge 70 Fusion (review), the POVA 8 finds it harder to justify itself on value alone. The Motorola may not be as eye-catching, but it does many things well: the design is still good, the camera system is more versatile, the battery life is decent, the phone is thinner, and performance is stronger, all at a lower price. That makes it the more complete option for most buyers.

And then there is the Nothing Phone (3) (review), since Tecno's design clearly borrows some cues from it. The Phone (3) usually sells for around Rs 43,000-45,000 during sales, which does make it look like a more compelling bargain. So while the POVA 8 has personality and some very strong points, its value depends on whether you prioritise design above everything else.

Editor's Rating: 7.8/10

Reasons to buy

• Eye-catching design that clearly stands out from the crowd.
• Battery life is strong and easily lasts through the day.
• Cameras are surprisingly decent for everyday daylight use.
• Software feels smooth, clean, and fairly well optimised.

Reasons not to buy

• LCD display feels misplaced for a phone at this price.
• No 256GB storage option makes future use less comfortable.
• Pricing feels high for the overall package.

Why we chose it

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (review) is one of our top choices for a flagship smartphone powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. In fact, Samsung goes a step further by putting the 'Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy' on the smartphone, which features an overclocked 4.7 GHz Oryon CPU, whereas the standard 8 Elite Gen 5's CPU is limited to 4.6 GHz. The extra uptick in clock speeds allows the Galaxy S25 Ultra to churn out slightly higher scores in benchmarks, even though the real-world difference is negligible.

Speaking of which, in our in-house tests, the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivered single-core and multi-core Geekbench scores of 3,733 and 11,407, respectively, and an AnTuTu total score of 39,05,605, indicating absolute top-notch performance. In real-world use, such as gaming, the Galaxy S26 Ultra ran Call of Duty: Mobile at 'Max' graphics and 'Ultra' frame rate settings, achieving an average frame rate of 116.6 and only a 4-degree Celsius increase in temperature after a 40-minute gaming session.

[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="41205,41607,41259,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

[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="41205,41607,41259,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Similarly, in Battlegrounds Mobile India, at 'Ultra HDR' graphics with 'Max' frame rates, the device delivered 88.8 FPS on average with only a 2.2-degree temperature rise when running the game for 40 minutes. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy not only delivers high frame rates in CODM and BGMI but also helps keep thermals in check even during continuous gameplay. Furthermore, with the One UI 8.5 software on board, the day-to-day operations are snappy and smooth.

Key specifications

• Smartphone name: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
  
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
  
• Fabrication process: 3nm
  
• RAM: Up to 16GB
  
• RAM type: LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: Up to 1TB
  
• Storage type: UFS 4.0

OPPO Find X9 Ultra - Best Battery Life Among Snapdragon 8 Elite Phones

Why we chose it

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra (review) is another of our top smartphone choices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, thanks to its excellent benchmark numbers, large vapour chamber, and ultra-smooth day-to-day performance. Speaking of which, in our lab tests, the Find X9 Ultra outputted tremendous scores of 40,33,382 AnTuTu, while in Geekbench's single-core and multi-core tests, it delivered 3,522 and 10,574, respectively.

In terms of gaming performance, the device can run CODM at 144 FPS. During our tests, the Find X9 Ultra saw a temperature rise of just 3.2 degrees from 25.6 degrees after playing the game for 40 minutes in 'Max' frame rate and graphics settings. It delivered a similar experience in BGMI, with the temperatures rising just 3 degrees. Furthermore, thanks to the massive 7,050mAh battery, the Find X9 Ultra clocked over 17 hours in our PCMark battery drain test, the highest we've achieved so far on a premium flagship phone.

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The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset delivers sufficient performance for fast camera processing, which proves especially useful when capturing RAW images. It also powers ColorOS 16 to deliver exceptionally fluid animations, smooth transitions, and highly responsive touch performance during daily use.

Key specifications

• Smartphone name: OPPO Find X9 Ultra
  
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  
• Fabrication process: 3nm
  
• RAM: 12GB
  
• RAM type: LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: 512GB
  
• Storage type: UFS 4.1

Vivo X300 Pro - Best Dimensity 9500 Phone in India

Why we chose it

Rivalling the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, an equally great flagship processor built for high-end gaming, fast AI processing, and advanced camera capabilities. Currently, since there are only a few options available with this chipset, the Vivo X300 Pro (review) remains our top choice running Dimensity 9500.

In AnTuTu, the X300 Pro scored 35,36,552, while in Geekbench's single-core and multi-core tests, the handset posted scores of 3,452 and 10,279, respectively. On the gaming front, the device comfortably runs COD Mobile at an average FPS of 57.7 in 'Max' graphics and frame rate during a 30-minute gaming session, with a 5.2-degree temperature rise. When it comes to BGMI, it didn't perform as efficiently as its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 counterparts, as it raised temperatures by 7 degrees Celsius while delivering an average FPS of 39.2.

In terms of day-to-day performance, the Vivo X300 Pro is just as smooth to operate as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra thanks to OriginOS 6's revamped animation framework compared to Funtouch OS 15. Furthermore, you get a wide range of AI features, customisation options, and productivity tools with the software.

Key specifications

• Smartphone name: Vivo X300 Pro
  
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9500
  
• Fabrication process: 3nm
  
• RAM: Up to 16GB
  
• RAM type: LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: Up to 512GB
  
• Storage type: UFS 4.1

OPPO Find X9 Pro - Best Value Flagship Processor Phone

Why we chose it

Trailing behind the Vivo X300 Pro is the OPPO Find X9 Pro (review), a solid flagship smartphone pick for anyone seeking appealing camera outputs, strong battery endurance, and most importantly, flagship-grade performance to run even the most intensive tasks out there. The Dimensity 9500 in the Find X9 Pro, paired with its massive 7,500mAh battery, delivered around 16 hours in our PCMark battery test, placing it just behind the Find X9 Ultra while still offering exceptional runtime in this synthetic benchmark.

In benchmarks, the Find X9 Pro scored 34,06,260 on AnTuTu. In Geekbench tests, it achieved 2,826 in the single-core test and 7,811 in the multi-core test. Playing games on the Find X9 Pro is a breeze since in a 30-minute session of CODM, the handset managed to run the game at an average of 59.9 FPS in the 'Max' frame rate and graphics settings, while in BGMI, it achieved 39.4 FPS in the 'HDR + Ultra' configuration. In both games, the temperatures stayed lower than the Vivo X300 Pro by at least 2 degrees Celsius.

Just like the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, the Find X9 Pro offers an excellent software experience, handling everyday tasks with outstanding UI smoothness and refined details. On top of that, the Dimensity 9500's ISP is well integrated with OPPO's software, delivering sharp images with near-perfect dynamic range.

Key specifications

• Smartphone name: OPPO Find X9 Ultra
  
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9500
  
• Fabrication process: 3nm
  
• RAM: Up to 16GB
  
• RAM type: LPDDR5X
  
• Storage: Up to 512GB
  
• Storage type: UFS 4.1

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - Best Single-Core Performance and Efficiency

Why we chose it

Apart from Qualcomm and MediaTek, Apple's proprietary A-series mobile processors are what you get if you opt for an iPhone. That said, the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max (review), featuring the A19 Pro chipset, continues the tradition of offering exceptional power efficiency, class-leading single-core performance, and seamless integration with iOS.

Delivering a total AnTuTu score of 25,21,699, the iPhone 17 Pro Max falls behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Dimensity 9500, but pulls ahead in Geekbench, where it gained 3,834 and 9,921 in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively. The efficiency in games is as good as that of others, since it saw under 4.5 degrees Celsius rise in temperatures in both CODM and BGMI after 30-minutes of gameplay each.

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What makes the latest 'Pro Max' iPhone stand out is the new vapour chamber, which genuinely made a difference during our use, offering high levels of sustained performance. Furthermore, the phone remained cool even while charging or shooting images and videos outdoors. 

Key specifications

• Smartphone name: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
  
• Processor: Apple A19 Pro
  
• Fabrication process: 3nm
  
• RAM: 12GB
  
• Storage: Up to 1TB

Conclusion

Given our hands-on experience with all top-of-the-line smartphones running on the latest-gen flagship processors, it's safe to say that the performance levels have reached a new height. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, with its overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, nails gaming and top benchmarks, while the OPPO Find X9 Ultra with the same Snapdragon chipset offers exceptional battery life and all-around balance. On the other hand, the MediaTek Dimensity 9500-powered Vivo X300 Pro and OPPO Find X9 Pro stand tall by delivering strong efficiency and camera capabilities. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max leads with its class-leading single-core performance, ecosystem benefits, and efficiency. Overall, each device delivers outstanding real-world results.

Ultimately, the best processor for you depends on your priorities, raw power and gaming for Android enthusiasts, battery endurance and software polish for heavy daily users, or ecosystem integration and efficiency for Apple users. No matter which one you pick from this list, you're getting a future-proof device capable of handling demanding tasks.

FAQs

Which phone has the best processor in India in 2026?

Given the technical specifications, in-house test results, and our hands-on experience, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy currently offers the best processor performance available in India. The phone crosses the 3.9 million mark on AnTuTu, the second-highest we've recorded so far, while in Geekbench's multi-core test, it surpasses every other flagship with an 11,000+ score. In games, the heating is minimal compared to its rivals, while in everyday use, the phone flies through every use.

Is Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 better than Dimensity 9500?

Both the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen and the Dimensity 9500 deliver flagship-level smoothness and power by 2026 standards. On paper, both chipsets are based on a 3nm fabrication process and boast ultra-fast CPU clock speeds. Even though the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 yields slightly higher benchmark scores, one can't go wrong with the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 either, since these chipsets deliver competitive real-world performance, excellent efficiency, and strong capabilities in camera processing and AI tasks.

Which smartphone offers the best gaming performance?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and OPPO Find X9 Ultra, both running on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, are strong contenders for delivering the best mobile gaming experience. In our tests, the Galaxy S26 Ultra achieved 116.6 FPS in COD Mobile and 88.8 FPS in BGMI, with excellent thermal control, while the OPPO Find X9 Ultra reached up to 144 FPS in CODM. The OPPO flagship also benefits from stellar battery life, ensuring you can game longer without reaching for the charger. In more intensive games, such as Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves, both smartphones should be able to sustain high frame rates for several minutes on a stretch.

Which flagship smartphone has the best battery life?

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra stands out with its massive 7,050mAh battery, delivering over 17 hours in the PCMark battery test. Similarly, the OPPO Find X9 Pro, with its 7,500mAh battery, also performed strongly, delivering around 16 hours of battery life. Both OPPO flagships deliver around 1.5 to 2 days of battery on a single charge, which is impressive for a performance-hungry flagship.

Which phone is best for day-to-day smoothness and software experience?

Given the meticulous attention to detail in software optimisation, all flagship smartphones deliver excellent smoothness. However, if you're to pick the absolute best, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra and Find X9 Pro stand out for their refined animations and fluid experience on ColorOS, while the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts an expansive list of features, customisation options, and AI functions. The Galaxy S26 Ultra also promises 7 years of software support, which is among the longest for a flagship, alongside the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The OnePlus Nord Buds 4 have been launched in India at Rs 3,299. Aimed at the crowd who seek an enjoyable listening experience with a strong focus on ANC and battery life, these TWS cut down on several aspects found on the Nord Buds 4 Pro (review), such as LHDC and advanced tuning. So, how do the Nord Buds 4 perform in real-world use? Find out in this review, where I used them as my daily drivers for over a week.

What's inside the box

Kicking off the review with unboxing the OnePlus Nord Buds 4, upon pulling out the tray from the box, you're greeted with the charging case with the earbuds inside wrapped in a plastic sheet. Below the case sit the user guide and safety manual, ear tips of different sizes, and an orange sticker.

Unlike the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro, the Buds 4's box doesn't include a Type-C charging cable, likely due to its affordable pricing.

A familiar design

The OnePlus Nord Buds 4's case highly resembles the OnePlus Buds 4 Pro, meaning you get a pebble-shaped design with curved side edges. It features a soft-touch matte finish with a freckle-like pattern that feels nice in the hand and resists fingerprints well. Up front, there's a 'OnePlus' branding along with a charging indicator, while the bottom of the case houses the Type-C port and pairing button. The Nord Buds 4 come in two colourways: Astral Teal, which we received for review, and Stellar Black.

Thanks to the solid hinge, the lid offers a satisfying click when opening and closing it. Further, the earbuds don't fall out of the case that easily. Coming to portability, the case with the buds included weighs 42.5g, making it lighter than its predecessor, the Nord Buds 3, which weighed 46.2g. Apart from that, at just 22.6mm thick, the charging case is slim enough to comfortably fit into the watch pocket of most jeans.

Coming to the earbuds, the stem features a lean design and an adequately wide indent for touch-based controls, such as a single tap to play or pause, a double-tap to switch to the next track, touch and hold to activate ANC, and more. In my experience, the touch controls worked as expected and always triggered the associated actions. With an IP55 rating, the earbuds should be well-protected against sweat and moisture, making them safe for workouts and running.

Comfortable to wear with a strong fit

Wearing the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 isn't a hassle, even for hours on a stretch. The earbuds fit snugly and securely in the ears, with no sensation that they might loosen or fall out during walking or running. I used the default-sized eartips that come pre-attached, and they fitted my ears perfectly.

The only issue I came across with the earbuds is their finish. It is too slippery, so taking them out of the case can often be challenging if not held firmly. Similarly, holding them with a pinch grip feels risky, as they can easily slip from your fingers.

Straightforward app with adequate features

The key specifications of the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 include a 12mm titanium-coated dynamic driver, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) of up to 52dB using three mics on each earbud, 47ms ultra-low latency (using Gaming mode), and OnePlus 3D Audio. For easy connectivity, the TWS feature Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, while technical aspects include 5,000Hz ultra-wide frequency range, Bluetooth v6.1, SBC and AAC codecs.

In order to control and play around with the settings of the Nord Buds 4, users can download the HeyMelody app from the Play Store and App Store on their non-OnePlus smartphones. As for OnePlus users, they can access all the app functions through the Bluetooth settings within the 'Earbuds function' section. Thankfully, unlike Realme Link, HeyMelody requires no sign-up or login and features a clean, straightforward user interface.

Here are some of the key features found on the app, along with my experience of using them:

OnePlus 3D Audio: This is OnePlus' version of Spatial audio, which claims to create an immersive sound experience by outputting sound from all directions. I found this feature to create hollowness in the songs I listened to; therefore, I didn't use it for the most part.

Sound Master EQ: By default, the buds feature three sound profiles: Balanced, Serenade, and Bass. Let's explore these settings in depth in the ‘Sound' section of this review.

AI Translate: When paired with a OnePlus phone with the AI Translate app installed, the Nord Buds 4 can serve as a real-time translator by simply double-tapping the touch area on the earbuds. While I didn't get the chance to use this feature, it could turn out to be handy when travelling abroad.

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Game mode: This is where the 47ms ultra-low latency kicks in. I manually set the double-tap on the left earbud to trigger ‘Game mode', and while it did activate, the difference was negligible in games like Brawl Stars. Though OnePlus claims the mode is supported only in certain games, without providing the exact names.

Sound Space: Similar to the O-Relax app on OnePlus and OPPO phones, this mode offers a variety of sounds and music to help calm your mind when needed.

Other features: Some other settings found in the HeyMelody app include Find my earbuds, dual connection, auto-play/pause upon removal of earbud, earbud fit test for the perfect seal, and adjusting the alert sound volume.

Bass-focused sound and strong ANC

As stated above, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 support three sound profiles: Balanced, Serenade, and Bass. Below these options, the section features ‘BassWave' to control the amount of bass you wish to experience. One can also control the lows, mids, and highs using the custom equaliser within this setting.

Sound quality

Coming to the sound experience, while I was satisfied with the bass output in the ‘Default' preset, many may find it slightly overpowering. And if you think the bass isn't enough, enabling the ‘BassWave' setting significantly boosts the lows, which was honestly too overwhelming at the maximum setting.

If you're someone who prioritises vocals and treble, the heavy bass is instantly noticeable during the initial few seconds of playing Starboy by The Weeknd. As for the vocals, they were clear and sharp, but they lacked the crispness found in higher-end TWS earbuds, including the older OPPO Enco Air3 Pro.

When listening to the ‘Serenade' preset, the Nord Buds 4 diminish most of the bass in favour of keeping vocals upfront, and the instruments are also not as impactful as the Default preset. This is prominently evident when listening to Nemesis by RYLLZ, a bass-heavy track. Lastly, the ‘Bass' preset offers little benefit, as the Nord Buds 4 already deliver a prominent bass response by default, making this preset the least favourable to me.

Personally, boosting the last three frequencies in the custom 10-band EQ delivered the most balanced and enjoyable sound for my taste, which made the trebles and instruments more impactful.

ANC

The 52dB active noise cancellation (ANC) lives up to the expectation. While it doesn't completely isolate you in your own space, the six microphones in total do a decent job of blocking distant noises in traffic, metro trains, parks, and other public places. Indoors, when listening to media with the air conditioner (AC) and fan running at full blast, the TWS shuts most of the sound.

Given that it costs Rs 700 less than the Rs 3,999 worth OnePlus Nord Buds 4 Pro, which bears 55dB ANC, the Nord Buds 4 won't disappoint with its ANC performance in most listening scenarios. As for Transparency mode, it worked as intended by allowing ambient sound to pass through without sounding overly robotic.

Superb battery endurance

The charging case carries a 530mAh battery, while the earbuds' battery capacity stands at 62mAh. OnePlus claims the case and earbuds can deliver 54 hours of battery in AAC mode with ANC turned off at 50 percent volume.

During my use, the charging case lasted an entire week on a full charge, with the earbuds being used for listening to music and watching YouTube videos or shows on Amazon Prime Video.

When the charging case was fully drained, I plugged it into OnePlus's 100W charger, which topped up the battery from 1 to 100 percent in about 45 minutes. Knowing that the case and earbuds combo will last at least five days on nominal use, a full top-up in just 45 minutes is quite impressive.

Verdict

Priced at Rs 3,299, the OnePlus Nord Buds 4 deliver strong value in the budget segment. With excellent ANC performance, impressive battery life, quick charging, and a comfortable, lightweight design, they check most of the boxes for everyday use.

The sound signature offers clear vocals and impactful instruments, though the heavy bass tuning might not appeal to everyone who prefers a more neutral profile. The lack of LHDC support is a minor drawback compared to some rivals, such as the Realme Buds Air 8, but it doesn't take away from the overall experience.

The bottom line is that if you prioritise strong ANC, comfort, and battery life in an affordable package, the Nord Buds 4 stand as a great pick for most at this price point.

Editor's rating: 8.4/10

Pros

• Clear vocals and fairly impactful instrumental tunes
• Excellent ANC performance
• Tried and tested, lightweight design
• Great battery life, impressively quick charging speeds

Cons

• Slippery finish of the earbuds
• May sound too bassy to some
• No LHDC support like its rivals

No matter how advanced rear camera systems become, with their versatile lenses, larger sensors, and ever-growing list of features, the front camera remains just as important for many smartphone users. However, the best selfie phones in 2026 are no longer defined solely by megapixel counts. What makes a good selfie camera ultimately depends on individual preferences and usage patterns. Some users prioritise accurate skin tones and natural-looking images, while others prefer sharper selfies with punchier colours that are ready to share on social media.

There is a specific smartphone for all such use cases. To help you find the right device, we have compiled a list of the best selfie smartphones that you can buy right now.

How we tested the selfie camera

Before diving into the list, it's worth noting that we tested each smartphone across a range of real-world scenarios, including daylight selfies, indoor shots, group photos, and front-camera video recording. We then evaluated the results on colour-accurate monitors, comparing them against competing devices to determine which smartphone excels in:

• Skin tone accuracy
• Facial detail and texture retention
• Dynamic range performance
• Portrait mode quality
• Front-camera video recording
• Social media readiness

Winners at a glance

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra - Best overall selfie phone

Starting price: Rs 1,39,999

Why we chose it

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (review) ships with a 12MP front-facing camera with f/2.2, dual-pixel PDAF, and up to 4k@60fps video recording. The combination ensures one of the most complete selfie experiences available on a smartphone today. There might be competitors offering better performance in individual scenarios, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra stands out for its consistency.

Whether shooting outdoors under harsh sunlight, indoors under artificial lighting, or recording a quick video for social media, the handset rarely disappoints. The selfies turn out detailed with excellent dynamic range and exposure. This could also be attributed to the phone's HDR processing, which helps preserve details in bright backgrounds without overprocessing the subjects. Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra tones down its tendency to over-sharpen facial features, resulting in a natural-looking shot.

Video recording is another strong point. The front camera delivers stable footage with reliable autofocus and consistent colours, making it suitable for everything from video calls to content creation.

If you're looking for a selfie phone that excels in nearly every scenario without major compromises, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is currently the safest recommendation.

Key specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, anti-reflective
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Charging: 60W wired, 25W wireless
• Camera: 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP periscope + 10MP telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 12GB / 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Xiaomi 17 Ultra - Best for skin tones

Starting price: 1,39,999

Why we chose it

Many smartphones prioritise punchy colours and aggressive beauty processing, often at the expense of realism. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra (review) takes a different approach by focusing on natural-looking results and accurate skin tone reproduction. The handset features a powerful 50MP selfie camera, backed by a f/2.2 aperture lens, auto focus, and 4K video recording support at 60 fps.

During testing, the phone consistently delivered flattering selfies without making subjects appear overly smoothed or artificially brightened. Facial textures remain intact, helping images retain a more authentic look. This becomes particularly noticeable when photographing people with different skin complexions, where colour consistency remains one of Xiaomi's strongest traits.

The phone also performs well in difficult lighting situations, maintaining realistic colours while preserving details in both shadows and highlights. That said, its video quality looks relatively underwhelming, with less stable shots while walking or in challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, some users may find the images less vibrant or social-media-ready compared to phones that apply more aggressive sharpening, skin smoothing, and colour enhancement by default.

If natural-looking selfies matter more than social-media-ready processing, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the phone to beat.

Key specs

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• Display: 6.9-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
• Battery: 6,000mAh
• Charging: 90W wired, 50W wireless
• Camera: 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP periscope + 10MP telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 16GB/ 1TB

iPhone 17 Pro Max: Best for video and vlogging

Starting price: Rs 1,49,900

Why we chose it

While many smartphones can capture excellent selfies, few can match the iPhone 17 Pro Max (review) when it comes to front-camera video recording with its 18MP front-facing camera. The camera has a relatively larger f/1.9 aperture lens. Similar to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, the iPhone also offers autofocus and 4k video recording at 60 fps.

The handset manages to outperform its rivals when it comes to capturing videos. The 17 Pro Max leads with dependable autofocus, excellent exposure control, and industry-leading stabilisation. Whether you're filming a vlog while walking, recording reels, or attending virtual meetings, the front camera consistently delivers sharp footage with natural colours and balanced exposure. Moreover, instead of standard HDR, the smartphone supports Dolby Vision, resulting in rich colours, bright highlights, and deep shadows for a more "lifelike" look.

Another major advantage is colour consistency between the front and rear cameras. This makes it easier for creators to switch between lenses without noticeable shifts in colour or white balance. While the iPhone 17 Pro Max's front camera captures admirable selfies, they aren't class-leading, with facial details occasionally appearing softer than on some rivals.

Content creators, vloggers, and users who frequently record themselves will find the iPhone 17 Pro Max difficult to beat.

Key specs

• Processor: A19 Pro
• Display: 6.9-inch FHD+ Super Retina XDR, 120Hz
• Battery: 4,832
• Charging: 40W wired, 30W wireless
• Camera: 48MP main + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP periscope + 18MP telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 12GB, 256GB/ 512GB/ 1TB/ 2TB

Vivo V70 Elite: Best value selfie phone

Starting price: Rs 58,999

Why we chose it

The Vivo V70 Elite (review) can be your pick if you want a good selfie smartphone without the premium tag. The handset sports a 50MP f/2.2 front-facing camera with auto focus and 4K video recording support.

The sensor is capable of capturing detailed selfies with pleasant colour reproduction and reliable portrait mode performance across lighting scenarios. On top of that, Vivo's image processing is tuned to produce attractive social-media-ready images without becoming overly aggressive. The wide field of view also makes the phone suitable for group selfies and travel photography.

While it may not match flagship devices in challenging conditions and video quality, the gap is smaller than many users might expect.

For buyers seeking the best balance between price and selfie performance, the Vivo V70 Elite is an easy recommendation.

Key specs

• Processor: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
• Display: 6.59-inch FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz
• Battery: 6,500mAh
• Charging: 90W wired
• Camera: 50MP main + 8MP ultrawide + 50 periscope + 50MP telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 8GB/ 12GB, 256GB/ 512GB

FAQs

What to look for in a selfie phone in 2026?

Before buying a selfie-focused smartphone, pay attention to more than just megapixel counts. Features such as HDR processing, sensor size, video capabilities, and colour science often have a greater impact on image quality than resolution alone.

Moreover, if you are a content creator, prioritise a smartphone that delivers excellent video quality and stabilisation from the front camera. Selfie lovers, meanwhile, should look for a smartphone that delivers natural skin tones and realistic facial details.

Which phone has the best selfie camera in India?

Currently, that title goes to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which strikes an excellent balance between still photography and video performance. However, if you prioritise natural skin tones over all-around performance, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is worth considering, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max remains the top choice for creators and vloggers.

Which phone is best for Instagram creators?

While Android phones are catching up, the iPhone 17 Pro Max remains the safest bet for Instagram creators. Besides its excellent stabilisation, reliable autofocus, and true-to-life colours, the handset benefits from strong app optimisation, resulting in consistently dependable video quality across Stories, Reels, and feed posts.

Which phone has the most natural skin tones?

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra tops this list with near-accurate selfies without making subjects appear overly smoothed or artificially brightened. It is followed by iPhone 17 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Is autofocus important for selfies?

Absolutely. Autofocus helps keep the subject sharp without requiring you to manually tap on the screen. A good selfie smartphone should be able to lock onto the subject automatically and maintain focus, even when the frame is in motion.

Which budget phone takes the best selfies?

If you are looking for a good selfie camera phone in the budget segment, the iQOO Z11x and Moto G96 are worth exploring in the under Rs 25,000 segment. Both phones ship with a 32MP front-facing camera and can capture decent selfies in good lighting conditions.

The most direct answer to the Oura Ring 4 yet, Ultrahuman Ring Pro goes a step further with a titanium unibody, dual-core chip, a charging case that warrants its own review and an AI-assistant called Jade to make sense of all the data it keeps collecting from your digit. After a month of daily wear, mostly against an Apple Watch Series 11 on the same hand, the picture that emerges is excellent hardware sitting on top of software that occasionally overpromises.

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Design & Build 9.5/10

Swapping the Ring Air's part-titanium, part-resin shell for a proper unibody build, the Ring Pro gets a "fighter jet-grade titanium" wrap, with resin kept to a small window over the PPG sensor. The four available finishes (Raw Titanium, Aster Black, Bionic Gold, Space Silver) can be specified in sizes 5 to 14, weighing 3.3 to 4.8 grams depending on size, with a free sizing kit shipped ahead of the ring itself.

Water resistance is rated to 100mts and even in terms of emergency safety, the Ring Pro comes with a ProRelease feature that lets the ring be cut off quickly should your finger be swollen beyond recognition. As long as you order it in the right size, it's a pretty comfortable all-day wearable, but call it muscle memory, I had an easier time leaving the Apple Watch on than the Ring Pro. It's never intrusive enough to wake you up, though, and that is the real win for smart rings over watches, which could have a tendency to get entangled in duvets, blankets or hair, depending on the strap type. At 2.65mm it's only marginally thicker than the Air's 2.4mm, but feels more substantial thanks to its build.

Tech & Sensors 9/10

The lower inner-half of the ring houses a redesigned PPG sensor, a 6-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit) and a temperature sensor. A more powerful dual-core chip with on-device machine learning helps with faster processing of real-time data and is a big step up from the Ring Air's single-core variant. One of its strongest attributes is sleep tracking. You can review sleep stages (Awake, REM, Light, Deep), heart rate variability, restfulness, tosses and turns through the night, and a morning alertness score, folded into a Sleep Index that goes well past just hours slept.

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Time in Bed as a number means little on its own, since almost nobody falls asleep the moment they lie down, and Ultrahuman wisely leans harder on sleep efficiency instead. Nap detection triggers reliably without any input, and it was convenient when I was trying to make up for the sleep debt. Although I would've also liked auto Workout detection, it isn't supported, and Jade confirmed it needs manual intervention. Cardiovascular and metabolic data arrive as derived scores like Ultra Age (built from Brain, Pulse and Blood Age), Dynamic Recovery and Stress Rhythm rather than raw figures, elegant when it works and a touch opaque when it doesn't.

The real flex here, though, is the charging case. Designed and built to resemble a storage device for a world-saving vaccine that Ethan Hunt is coming for, it doubles as a 45-day power bank too. It packs a built-in speaker for chimes and Find My-style proximity tracking, an LED strip for charge status, and holds a year of ring data if you forget to sync for a while. It latches onto the ring through magnetic pogo pins, which keep it both convenient and secure during firmware updates, and those updates now route through the case's direct connection rather than Bluetooth, with a reset button if one fails. The ring itself is rated for 12 days in Turbo Mode and 15-plus days in Chill Mode, and in the month during testing, it is turning out to be accurate because I haven't charged the charging case yet and already for two charges for the Ring Pro in Turbo mode.

App and Data 7.5/10

Let's start with the good news first: there is zero subscription cost attached to the Ring Pro so if the upfront asking price feels steep, there is at least a silver lining. Instead, they give users the autonomy to buy add-ons dubbed "Power Plugs" which act like plugins, unlocking specific data sets for your use case scenarios such as GLP-1 tracking, advanced cycle monitoring, or mapping your personal caffeine windows.

The app is enormous, arguably too enormous, throwing sleep tags (based on food, alcohol, mood, dozens more), recovery scores, stress rhythm and metabolic markers at you fast enough to tip from informative into overwhelming if you're the obsessive type. Jade AI exists largely to triage this and it can make sense of studying endless data points. Just ask it what's going on and it'll summarise weeks of data into something resembling a conversation, with a deeper research mode pulling from the ring, the M1 glucose monitor and Blood Vision biomarkers. It's a smart fix for a problem the app created for itself.

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Accuracy is the bigger issue. Sleep scores came in consistently kinder than the Apple Watch's, which felt far more willing to dock points for a rough night. Step counts were stranger still with an hour of genuinely active housework around the house once logged as four steps, which isn't a rounding error so much as the ring being somewhere else entirely. It syncs to Apple Health, but only to display that readout inside its own app, not to cross-reference the two, so don't expect the ecosystems to actually talk to each other. And the MacOS app simply refused to load for the entire testing month, an unforced error for a company this far along.

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The wider ecosystem is where the real ambition of Ultrahuman shows. Pair the ring with the M1 continuous glucose monitor, and workout goals start talking to blood sugar trends. Pair it with the Ultrahuman Home device on the nightstand, and sleep data gets weighed against air quality, UV, blue light, humidity and noise in the room itself. None of it needs a monthly subscription. Ultrahuman sells individual Power Plugs (AFib detection, cycle tracking, migraine prediction, even a Tesla driving-habits add-on) rather than gating the whole experience behind a recurring fee the way Oura does. For anyone tired of subscription creep on a piece of jewellery, that's worth something on its own.

Verdict

On paper, the Ring Pro is close to unbeatable with its titanium build, the best charging case in the category, an app stuffed with more data than most people know what to do with, and zero subscription tax. In practice, a month of wear turned up real gaps between claim and measurement, particularly on steps and activity, against a watch that's stayed accurate across ten generations. If you want sleep tracking with minimal intrusion and simply can't wear a watch to bed, or you're an athlete whose coach will actually use this volume of data, it earns its Rs. 44,999 price tag. For someone chasing eight hours of sleep and a few workouts a week, though, it's a lot of ring for not a lot of extra clarity, and the data alone can send an overthinker into a spiral if they let it.

Editor's Rating: 8.5 / 10

Pros

• Genuinely brilliant 45-day charging case
• Zero subscription fees
• Deep, genuinely useful sleep data

Cons

• Inconsistent step and workout tracking
• App can feel genuinely overwhelming
• Pricier than most key rivals

The iQOO 15R launched in India earlier this year as the brand's performance-focused sub-flagship smartphone. Its biggest highlight was being the most affordable smartphone powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, delivering flagship-grade performance at a competitive price.

Four months later, the smartphone is now Rs 5,000 more expensive, with its price now starting at Rs 49,999 due to rising component and memory costs across the industry. So, with the price increase and a highly competitive market, does the iQOO 15R (review) still make sense in 2026? Here's our long-term review.

Design and the sweet spot for size

iQOO has largely stuck to a clean and understated design language for its flagship lineup, and the 15R follows the same philosophy. The standout Triumph Silver colour variant features a tiled pattern on the rear panel. While the design certainly grabs attention, it may not appeal to everyone and can resemble bathroom tiles at first glance. The Dark Knight variant, meanwhile, offers a more classic and understated black finish.

What impressed me far more than the design was the phone's size. The 6.59-inch display hits a sweet spot between compact and large-screen devices. It's comfortable to hold, easy to use with one hand, and still offers an immersive experience for watching videos, scrolling through social media, and gaming. The slim bezels further enhance the viewing experience and make the device feel more premium.

Performance remains a strong selling point

The iQOO 15R is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset, paired with the in-house Supercomputing Chip Q2, LPDDR5X Ultra RAM, UFS 4.1 storage, and a large 6,500mm2 vapour chamber cooling system. Even after four months of usage, performance remains one of the phone's biggest strengths. Whether it's streaming content, multitasking, browsing social media, gaming, or everyday productivity, the iQOO 15R handles everything with ease.

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Benchmark scores remain competitive against rivals such as the OnePlus 15R and Motorola Signature, both of which are priced higher. While it doesn't quite match the raw power of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite found in flagship devices, the difference is negligible in day-to-day use. For most users, there's more than enough performance on offer here.

Outstanding battery life

Battery life continues to be one of the iQOO 15R's standout features. The phone packs a massive 7,600mAh battery with support for 100W FlashCharge and bypass charging. In real-world usage, the phone consistently delivers close to two full days of battery life with moderate use, including video streaming, social media, casual gaming, hotspot usage, and messaging. Even power users should comfortably get through a full day without reaching for the charger.

When you do need to top up, the 100W fast charger takes the battery from empty to full in roughly 45–50 minutes, which is impressive considering the battery's size. What's even more remarkable is that iQOO has managed to fit such a large battery into a device that still feels relatively compact and comfortable to use.

Good cameras, but not the main attraction

Cameras aren't the primary focus of the iQOO 15R, but they are more than capable for casual photography and social media use. The phone features a dual-camera setup comprising a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens, while selfies are handled by a 32MP front camera.

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While the hardware is solid, the absence of a dedicated telephoto or periscope lens limits the phone's zoom capabilities and portrait photography compared to some rivals in the segment. That said, the 50MP primary camera performs well, capturing punchy colours and plenty of detail in both indoor and outdoor lighting conditions. You can also switch to the full-resolution 50MP mode for sharper images when needed.

Although the camera system lacks the versatility offered by more photography-focused smartphones, it delivers reliable results for everyday shooting, social media uploads, and casual content creation. If you want a more versatile camera setup, then the Motorola Edge 70 Pro+ (review) is an option as it offers a 3.5x telephoto lens and is also more affordable at Rs 47,999.

OriginOS 6: smooth but not perfect

The iQOO 15R runs Android 16-based OriginOS 6 and is currently on the May 2026 security patch. OriginOS 6 offers a polished and smooth UI, making the whole experience of using the phone a delight. Animations are fluid, the interface feels responsive, and there is plenty of room for customisation.

Features such as Origin Island, iQOO's take on Dynamic Island, add a layer of convenience and visual appeal. However, the feature still needs some refinement. While using music apps, Origin Island occasionally struggles to switch correctly to the active app, resulting in an inconsistent experience. It's a minor issue, but one you'll likely encounter regularly if you use the feature often.

Speakers could be better

One area where the iQOO 15R left me wanting more was audio output. The stereo speakers offer a decent listening experience, but they require higher volume levels before they start sounding truly loud and impactful. The issue isn't immersion or audio quality itself; rather, the speakers lack the punch and power seen on some competing devices. A similar observation applies when using Bluetooth and wired earphones, where the volume output could have been stronger.

iQOO 15R vs competition

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If your priorities are performance, battery life, and everyday usability, the iQOO 15R remains an easy recommendation even months after its launch. However, recent market shifts and aggressive rival pricing have shaken up the segment. Enter the POCO X8 Pro Max (review). This performance-focused competitor offers a massive 9,000mAh battery. While its chipset isn't as powerful as the iQOO 15R's, it still handles intensive tasks with ease. If you're looking for a wallet-friendly alternative, the POCO is a compelling choice, just keep in mind that its colossal battery comes with a much bulkier form factor.

The iQOO 15R also remains more affordable than its closest competitor, the OnePlus 15R (review), at least when comparing the 8GB + 256GB variant, which the former doesn't have. For most users, this configuration offers more than enough performance, making it an excellent value proposition. Things get more interesting with the 12GB + 256GB models, as both phones are now priced identically.

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Even so, the iQOO 15R continues to stand out thanks to its superior performance, more compact design, and larger battery capacity. The OnePlus 15R does have an edge with its 165Hz display, which can deliver higher frame rates in select games. However, the real-world difference is unlikely to be noticeable for most users unless gaming is a top priority. As a result, even at the same price, the iQOO 15R still appears to be the more compelling choice overall.

Still worth purchasing?

Four months later, the iQOO 15R continues to be one of the strongest value-for-money performance smartphones in its segment. Despite the Rs 5,000 price hike, it still delivers excellent performance, class-leading battery life, fast charging, and a comfortable form factor. The speakers could be louder, and Origin Island still needs a few refinements, but these are relatively minor compromises in an otherwise well-rounded package.

Whether you're upgrading from a two-year-old device, switching from iOS to Android (or vice versa), buying your first flagship, or hunting for the best value under a fixed budget, this article has a clear recommendation for you. It covers phones across all major price segments, with specific picks for camera quality, battery life, gaming performance, and a clean software experience.

We tested and compared over 50 smartphones across flagship, mid-range, and budget segments this year to identify the best phones currently available in India. Our rankings are based on real-world usage, benchmark performance, camera consistency across lighting conditions, battery endurance, display quality, software experience, and long-term value for money. You can read more about our testing methodology here.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is our best overall Android pick for its class-leading camera system, display, and 7-year software support, among other things. The iPhone 17 remains the top choice for iOS users and video creators looking for the best value-for-money iPhone. The OnePlus Nord 6 wins on battery life with its massive 9,000mAh cell, the Vivo X300 Ultra and OPPO Find X9 Ultra are tied for the camera-first crown; the Nothing Phone (4a) is the strongest value pick under Rs 40,000, while the Motorola Edge 70 is a perfect all-rounder under Rs 30,000.

Winners at a glance

*Winners and prices as of June 24, 2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra - Best Overall Android Phone in India

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (review) is the most complete Android smartphone you can buy in India right now. Across every metric we tested - camera versatility, sustained performance, display quality, and software reliability - it consistently led or matched the best in each category rather than excelling at one and compromising on another.

Its quad-camera system, anchored by a 200MP primary sensor, produced sharp, colour-accurate results in daylight, low-light, portrait, and telephoto scenarios across our testing. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip delivered top-tier benchmark scores and maintained stable thermal performance even during extended gaming sessions. Samsung's 7-year OS update commitment also makes this a safe long-term purchase in a segment where software longevity matters.

If you want one phone that handles everything without a significant weakness, this is the default recommendation.

Key Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• Display: 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, anti-reflective
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Charging: 60W wired, 25W wireless
• Camera: 200MP main + 50MP ultrawide + 50MP periscope + 10MP telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 12GB / 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

Test Data:

• AnTuTu score: 3,905,605
• PCMark battery: 14 hours 26 minutes
• Charging test (20-100%): 37 minutes

iPhone 17 - Best iPhone in India

You might wonder why I haven't mentioned the iPhone 17 Pro Max here. While that is the absolute best iPhone in terms of features, the base iPhone 17 is the best value-for-money iPhone for the masses. On the latest base iPhone, Apple has added a few Pro-level features that make it more appealing than ever, including a 120Hz ProMotion display, upgraded ultrawide and front cameras, a slightly larger battery, and faster charging.

For most people looking for a reliable iPhone, the iPhone 17 checks far more boxes and makes far fewer compromises than the iPhone 16 did last year. As I said in my review back in October, "the 120Hz ProMotion display makes it as smooth and premium as its Pro siblings, the dual 48MP cameras deliver consistent results across lighting conditions, and the new 18MP selfie camera is genuinely delightful to use. The A19 chip continues Apple's streak of class-leading performance, and despite only modest battery gains, efficiency remains solid with faster charging to sweeten the deal."

For buyers who prioritise platform stability, seamless device integration, and long-term OS updates over raw spec comparisons, the iPhone 17 represents one of the safest purchases available at this price point in India.

Key Specs

• Processor: A19
• Display: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion
• Battery: 3,692mAh
• Charging: Up to 50 percent in 20 minutes
• Camera: 48MP Fusion primary + 48MP Fusion Ultrawide
• Storage: 256GB, 512GB

Price: Rs 82,900

Vivo X300 Ultra and OPPO Find X9 Ultra - Best Camera Phones in India

Deciding a clear winner between the Vivo X300 Ultra (review) and OPPO Find X9 Ultra (review) is tough. Both flagships are among the best camera phones in India today, but the choice comes down to the kind of colour tuning and professional-grade setup you're looking for. I reviewed both devices, so trust me when I say that there is no wrong choice here.

Vivo X300 Ultra

The X300 Ultra's three-lens system delivers class-leading consistency across focal lengths. 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. For professional photographers, Vivo takes it up a notch by offering a ZEISS Telephoto Extender Kit, which includes 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 cost a whopping Rs 2,10,000, though you can buy the lenses separately if you don't need both.

Vivo X300 Ultra Key Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• Display: 6.82" LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz
• Battery: 6,000mAh
• Charging: 90W wired
• Camera: 50MP + 200MP Zeiss Periscope + 50MP ultrawide
• RAM/Storage: 16GB/512GB

OPPO Find X9 Ultra

OPPO's flagship also offers an excellent quad-camera system too, but with one main difference: it doesn't need an additional telephoto lens kit. OPPO has built the teleconverter directly into the phone. The 10x lens uses a 1/2.75-inch JNL sensor customised alongside Samsung, making it the largest sensor ever used at 10x zoom. The result is that you can shoot at 230mm without carrying a separate lens, without a setup process, and without committing to a specific shooting style in advance.

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Overall, the Find X9 Ultra (review) delivers a stellar camera system across a range of lighting conditions. The primary camera delivers attractive colours, wide dynamic range, and impressive detail retention. Hasselblad's colour science leans towards contrasty and saturated shots, compared to the X300 Ultra's more true-to-life colour tuning.

OPPO Find X9 Ultra Key Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
• Display: 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED, 144Hz
• Battery: 7,005mAh
• Charging: 100W wired
• Camera: 200MP primary, 200MP 3x telephoto, 50MP ultrawide, 50MP 10x telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 12GB/512GB

OnePlus Nord 6 - Best Battery Life Phone in India

The OnePlus Nord 6 (review) is the answer if battery anxiety is your primary concern. Its 9,000mAh cell is one of the largest shipped in a mainstream smartphone in India, and it delivered over two days of moderate-to-heavy usage in our testing without requiring a top-up, a meaningful differentiator in a market where daily charging is the norm.

The Nord 6 lasted just over 20 hours from 100-20 percent in the PCMark battery test, which simulates real-world usage non-stop. This is the best time yet for a phone under Rs 40,000.

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Importantly, OnePlus achieved this capacity without making the phone unwieldy. It weighs around 217 grams and is about 8.5mm thick, which is decent for phone with such a large battery. The Nord 6 also carries an IP69K rating, offering strong protection against dust and high-pressure water exposure. OxygenOS 16 remains one of the cleaner Android implementations available in the mid-range segment.

Key Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
• Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 165Hz
• Battery: 9,000mAh
• Charging: 80W SuperVOOC (charger included)
• Camera: 50MP main + 8MP ultrawide
• RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB

Test Data:

• AnTuTu score: 2,366,913
• PCMark battery: 20 hours 46 minutes
• Charging test (20-100%): 65 minutes

POCO X8 Pro Max - Best Gaming Phone Around Rs 40,000

The POCO X8 Pro Max offers the closest thing to flagship gaming performance available around Rs 40,000 in India. Running on the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s, it posted an AnTuTu score of over 3 million, comparable to phones priced over Rs 70,000, and sustained those performance levels across extended BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile sessions without significant thermal throttling.

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Not only that, but it also features a massive 9,000mAh battery, which performed extremely well in our PCMark test, nearly on par with the Nord 6. For competitive mobile gamers who want stable FPS performance and top-tier processing headroom without flagship pricing, this is the strongest option currently available in this segment.

Key Specs:

• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9500s
• Display: 6.83-inch AMOLED, 120Hz
• Battery: 9,000mAh
• Charging: 100W (charger included)
• Camera: 50MP main + 8MP ultrawide
• RAM/Storage: 12GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB

Test Data:

• AnTuTu score: 3,022,675
• PCMark battery: 21 hours 21 minutes
• Charging test (20-100%): 65 minutes

Nothing Phone (4a) - Best Phone Under Rs 40,000

The Nothing Phone (4a) (review) is the strongest all-round choice under Rs 40,000 in India, despite a recent price hike. Nothing OS is one of the cleanest Android implementations in the budget segment, free of aggressive bloatware, fast in day-to-day use, and backed by a credible software update track record relative to competitors at this price. The new Glyph Bar interface remains a genuinely distinctive design feature rather than a gimmick

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Overall, the Nothing Phone (4a) stands out with its unique design, clean software experience, capable performance, and genuinely useful telephoto camera.

Key Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 4
• Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz
• Battery: 5,400mAh
• Charging: 50W (charger included)
• Camera: 50MP main + 8MP ultrawide + 50MP telephoto
• RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB, 12GB/512GB

Test Data:

• AnTuTu score: 1,176,492
• PCMark battery: 14 hours 42 minutes
• Charging test (20-100%): 71 minutes

Motorola Edge 70 - Best Phone Under Rs 30,000

Fortunately, the Motorola Edge 70 (review) hasn't seen a price increase since its launch, so it's still available starting at Rs 29,999. At this price point, the Edge 70 is one of the most well-rounded smartphones you can buy. Its highlight is its slim, lightweight build, which makes it one of the best-designed phones in the segment. Additionally, the phone offers a vibrant display, full-day battery life, fast charging, and capable cameras.

The Edge 70 might not be the fastest phone in the segment, with faster alternatives like the OnePlus Nord 5 and even Motorola's own Edge 60 Pro. But they are a year older now. The Motorola Edge 70 is best suited to those who prioritise comfort, style, and a balanced device rather than raw performance.

Key Specs:

• Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
• Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED, 120Hz
• Battery: 5,000mAh
• Charging: 68W (charger included)
• Camera: 50MP main + 50MP ultrawide
• RAM/Storage: 8GB/256GB

Test Data:

• AnTuTu score: 14,02,932
• PCMark battery: 11 hours 13 minutes
• Charging test (20-100%): 44 minutes

FAQs

Which is the best phone in India right now?

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best overall Android phone in India in 2026, offering the strongest combination of camera performance, display quality, processing power, and long-term software support. For iOS users, the Apple iPhone 17 is the top recommendation for its Pro-grade features and value-for-money.

Which phone has the best camera in India?

The Vivo X300 Ultra and OPPO Find X9 Ultra are our top picks for camera performance, thanks to their stellar camera systems, which include impressive telephoto lenses for long-distance shots and portraits. The X300 Ultra gives you the option for attaching additional telephoto lenses, while the Find X9 Ultra features a built-in 10x telephoto lens.

Which phone has the best battery life in India?

The OnePlus Nord 6, with its 9,000mAh battery, delivered the longest endurance of any phone we tested in its segment, consistently crossing two days of moderate to heavy usage. It's the clear pick if battery life is your primary buying criterion.

What is the best phone under Rs 40,000 in India?

The Nothing Phone (4a) at Rs 37,999 is our top recommendation under Rs 40,000. It offers a clean, bloatware-free Android experience, a capable 50MP dual-camera system, and a distinctive design.

What is the best gaming phone around Rs 40,000 in India?

The POCO X8 Pro Max offers the strongest gaming performance around Rs 45,000, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500s with sustained FPS stability in titles like BGMI.

Do phones in India come with chargers in the box?

It depends on the brand. OnePlus, Vivo, and POCO typically include fast chargers in the box. Samsung, Apple, and Google do not. You should budget an additional Rs 2,000–3,000 for a compatible fast charger if you choose one of those brands.

If TVs delivered truly immersive audio, there would be little reason to invest in a separate home theatre system. No matter how much manufacturers increase their audio power output, most televisions, especially in the mid-range segment, still fall short of delivering a cinematic sound experience. While there are plenty of sound systems available in the market, the choices narrow considerably if you're looking for something suitable for a compact living space.

That's where the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C comes in. This 5.1-channel home entertainment system aims to bring surround sound to smaller rooms without demanding a hefty investment, making it one of the more compact and affordable options in its segment. After using the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C for over two weeks, here are my thoughts on the soundbar and what it brings to the table.

Specifications checklist

• Power output: 380W (165W soundbar + 150W woofer + 55W satellites)
• Channels: 5.1
• Connectivity: Bluetooth v5.4, HDMI ARC, Optical In, AUX, USB
• Audio technology: Dolby Audio
• Dimensions (W x D x H):
  • • Soundbar: 40.6 x 9.8 x 6.1 cm
    • Subwoofer: 15.2 x 18.6 x 32 cm
    • Satellites: 9 x 6.6 cm (Dia x H)

Design

The compact design is one of the standout features of the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C. Beyond its space-saving form factor, I was particularly impressed by how well the system has been put together. The matte finish does an excellent job of masking the plastic construction, giving the setup a far more premium appearance than its price suggests. Branding has also been handled tastefully, with subtle white lettering on the soundbar and subwoofer, while the satellite speakers feature the Zebronics logo. The overall aesthetic is clean, understated, and surprisingly elegant for a budget-friendly audio system.

The two cylindrical satellite speakers are not wireless and remain connected to the soundbar via long cables measuring approximately 20 metres. This gives you the flexibility to place them at the far end of the room for a more immersive surround-sound experience. The Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C soundbar and satellite speakers can be placed on a table or mounted on a wall using the supplied mounting accessories. The subwoofer, however, is best positioned on the floor to deliver optimal bass performance.

Connections & setup

All connectivity ports are located at the rear of the soundbar. These include dedicated inputs for the satellite speakers and subwoofer, along with a power connector, 3.5mm AUX input, USB Type-A port, optical input, and HDMI ARC. For wireless connectivity, the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C supports Bluetooth 5.4. These are all the essential wired and wireless options most users could have asked for in a sound system.

While there seems to be very little clearance at the rear of the soundbar for a wall-mounted setup, accessories have been provided in the box to make it easier to connect the subwoofer and satellite speaker cables, along with bulkier connectors such as HDMI cables and USB drives.

The Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C features basic controls on the soundbar, including an option to power it on/off, select the sound source, and adjust volume. For basic usage, these controls seem more than sufficient. There is even a small display, behind the grille, at the front of the speaker, to check the status. However, I wish the display were better utilised, which I'll get to in a bit.

Controls

For users who prefer more precise control from a distance, Zebronics bundles an IR remote with the Juke Bar 9300C. However, the required batteries are not included in the box, so you will need to purchase two AAA cells before using it. The remote itself is compact and ergonomically designed, featuring rounded edges and a slight curve in the middle that makes it comfortable to hold. It also keeps things simple with a limited number of buttons, making navigation and day-to-day operation intuitive.

In addition to the basic controls, the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C lets you adjust the EQ settings. There is a dedicated EQ button for this, and you get three presets out of the box: Music, Movie, and Game. Furthermore, users can customise the sound experience by adjusting the bass, mids, and treble levels using the settings button and the plus/minus keys on the purple keypad of the remote.

While the controls are comprehensive, the display can be slightly confusing, especially during the initial setup. Zebronics could have made better use of the display by showing a clear power status instead of just two horizontal lines when the soundbar is in standby mode. I initially assumed the system was ready to use as soon as it was plugged in, only to realise it was still on standby and required me to press the power button first. A simple "ON" or "OFF" indicator would have made the experience far more intuitive.

Similarly, the EQ implementation could have been more user-friendly. The sound profiles are displayed simply as EQ1, EQ2, and EQ3, without indicating which preset corresponds to Music, Movie, or Game mode. Users will have to memorise these modes from the user manual first.

The Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C delivers a total audio output of 380W. Of this, 165W comes from the soundbar itself, which houses three front-firing drivers of equal output. The two satellite speakers also feature drivers with the same output capacity as each individual driver in the soundbar. The remaining 150W is delivered by the 13.33cm down-firing subwoofer.

Performance

The system adopts a 5.1-channel configuration and does not include dedicated upward-firing drivers. As a result, while it can deliver a convincing surround-sound experience, it cannot match the immersion of a 5.1.2-channel setup, which uses additional height channels to create a more expansive, three-dimensional soundstage. That said, expecting such a setup from a budget-oriented home theatre system would be unrealistic.

The Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C, however, comes with Dolby Audio support. While this should not be confused with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio processing improves dialogue clarity and overall sound separation, making vocals easier to distinguish on supported content.

It was indeed the case with Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C in general as well.

Design & vocal clarity

I listened to a variety of content through the speaker setup, including podcasts, movies, TV shows, and sports broadcasts. Throughout my testing, dialogue remained crisp and easy to follow, even during complex scenes. This was particularly evident while watching the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 3, where conversations remained clear and intelligible without being drowned out by the background score. The soundbar did a commendable job of maintaining vocal presence, ensuring that important lines retained their impact. You could clearly hear the character of Sharako Lohar's command, "Hold the course and f***ing row!", despite the surrounding chaos and ambient effects in the scene.

The experience was equally impressive while watching the first episode of India's Got Latent Season 2. Despite the constant laughter, audience reactions, and on-stage banter, punchlines and offhand remarks were easy to catch. In comparison, I often found myself rewinding scenes when using my MacBook's built-in speakers or a pair of budget earphones, particularly when trying to make out quieter background comments.

The cricket commentary follows a similar observation. Switching between the respective sound profiles for music, movies, and sports enhances the experience, but the soundstage still feels constrained.

Bass & soundstage

While the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C delivers impressive vocal clarity, it fails to reproduce the finer details that can draw you into the scene, such as the battle sequence on House of the Dragon. Effects such as swords clashing, boats colliding, and ropes straining under tension did not sound as crisp or distinct as they could have. Part of this can be attributed to the absence of dedicated tweeters or height channels, which limits the system's ability to reproduce high-frequency details and create a more expansive soundscape. As a result, while the overall presentation remains enjoyable, it falls short of delivering the level of immersion offered by more premium home theatre setups.

The subwoofer performs well for its size and has no trouble filling a room measuring around 10x12 feet. During testing, it capably reproduced the low-frequency elements of intense movie soundtracks and bass-heavy tracks such as Diljit's "Case". The bass tuning is more balanced than aggressive, and there is enough depth and punch to let you feel the impact of drums, basslines, and other instruments, making music enjoyable without sounding overpowering.

Now, the Zerbronics Juke Bar 9300C performs its optimum at 70-80 percent volume level, which should be plenty to fill the room it is designed for. There is a slight distortion at maximum volume.

Verdict

Currently retailing for under Rs 10,000 on Amazon.in, the Zebronics Juke Bar 9300C is a solid choice for small rooms and TVs up to 50 inches. Its compact design, powerful audio output, and budget-friendly pricing work strongly in its favour. There are competing options from more established audio brands, such as Sony's HT-S20R and JBL's Cinema SB190, which offer a more refined and immersive listening experience with better sound separation and finer detail retrieval.

However, those alternatives are either more expensive or less compact than Zebronics. While the Juke Bar 9300C cannot match the immersion of premium home theatre systems, its 5.1-channel setup does a commendable job of delivering a surround sound experience that makes movies, TV shows, and music more engaging.

Editor's rating: 8.5/10

Pros

• Compact and well-built design
• Clear dialogue reproduction
• Convincing surround effect
• Good connectivity options, including HDMI ARC

Cons

• Display & EQ indicators are not intuitive
• Slight distortion at maximum volume
• Limited high-frequency detail

Nearly 20 years ago, I went out and purchased the Bose AE2 (Around-Ear) headphones. They were 3.5mm headphones and a one-stop solution to my music, movies, and gaming needs. Since then, I have shared a relationship with numerous headphones, both wired and wireless, but none of them struck the charm, charisma, and feel of using the AE2. There are a couple of reasons I loved those headphones: lightweight, easy to wear, breathable material for my ears, and comfortable to wear with glasses. They weren't noise-cancelling, which I appreciated, as it meant that I could wear them for hours on end. Since then, I've used some amazing pairs of headphones, but the Bose AE2 felt like the long-lost love that wouldn't return. I'm glad to say that all changes today.

I have with me the Sony InZone H6 Air Open-back headphones, built on the components that made the Sony MDR-MV1 a favourite for those who used it. They are wired, which means no Bluetooth or dongle support. They sound too good to be true and, apart from one minor gripe, are perfect for those like me looking for one pair of headphones for gaming as well as entertainment needs. Let's dive in.

Floating on Air: Build, Design, and That 199g Magic

Sony says that the InZone H6 Air is "Made with aluminium and a Graduated Hole Design, INZONE H6 Air is our lightest gaming headset yet, with an ultra-lightweight of only 199g without the detachable mic." And boy oh boy, are they light. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking the earcups are plastic, when they in fact aren't.

The ear cushions are also very comfortable, and the clamp pressure from the headband is almost nonexistent, which is great for those of you who wear glasses. This means that there is no noise cancellation, and the open-back nature means there is a lot of sound leakage. But that's okay, as these aren't designed to be noise-cancelling. Considering the sweltering heat in Delhi, while my ears did get sweaty, I did not mind wearing these headphones, playing games, and consuming content for hours on end without feeling the nauseating vacuum that comes with using noise-cancelling headphones. Furthermore, the ear pads are replaceable, ensuring long-term longevity if the original cushions ever wear out.

The headband, too, has this braided, sturdy finish with thicker bead padding, adjustable for a comfortable fit. In black, these headphones not only look stealthy but are quite attractive as well, thanks to the "Graduated Hole Design."

The mic is detachable, which is great, and if you leave the mic in, there is a physical mute button on the left earcup, the only physical button there is. Apart from that, you have a volume wheel, the port for the 3.5mm cable, and the mic port. That's it.

It comes with a really long 6.6-foot cable with a simple tie in case you need to reduce the length, very thoughtful. However, it is worth noting that the cable can sometimes produce slight microphonics (cable noise) if it rubs aggressively against your clothing. There is also a 3.5mm to USB-C DAC in the box, which makes a difference when consuming content via a PC or smartphone.

Overall, the build of the headphones is near perfect. My only gripe is that it doesn't come with a carrying case, which is a bit of a bummer.

Levelling Up the Immersion: Gaming and Mic Performance

Since these are gaming headphones, let's start with their gaming performance.

I played games on my PS5 and Xbox Series X by connecting the 3.5mm cable to the respective controller, and via the PC using the included DAC. On the PS5, I played the following games: Marvel's Spider-Man 2, DiRT 5, Gran Turismo, Ratchet & Clank, and Resident Evil Requiem. On the Xbox, I played Doom: The Dark Ages, Gears 5, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. On the PC, I was limited to Forza Horizon 6 and 007: First Light.

One tip before we get into the performance: keep the system volume (be it either of the consoles or the PC) at full volume and use the dial on the headphones to control it. It gave a much better experience that way.

In all the games, the sound output of the headphones was phenomenal. Because of the open-back design, the soundstage is remarkably wide, giving you a true sense of physical space and distance that closed-back headphones struggle to replicate. Before one of the big sequences in 007, when the signature 007 tune plays, all the brass instruments kick in with superb clarity, keeping a very good separation between the action, dialogue, and music. Phenomenal performance. It was the same in racing games like DiRT 5, Gran Turismo, and Forza, offering impressive grunt for the audio of the vehicles as well as channel separation that is very clear when cars are overtaking each other.

Even the background score in a game like Doom: The Dark Ages, which is challenging on most headphones, sounded sublime without feeling unbalanced on these headphones. And the emotional soundtrack of Ori is one to behold. Grace's breath in my ears levelled up the fear of playing Resident Evil Requiem. I cannot emphasise how "neutral" and well-balanced these headphones sound when gaming! They also do a fantastic job of highlighting directional audio, making enemy footsteps and environmental cues incredibly accurate.

My only advice is don't go into the InZone app to change the profile or enhance the bass, as that does more damage than good to the performance of the headphones. Leave them as they are out of the box. Pretend the app doesn't exist. You'll thank me for this one!

I am not big into multiplayer gaming, so the performance of the mic was serviceable for me. It did pick up my kids screaming, but to be fair, they were standing 6 inches away from my face. The audio is clear and clean from the mic, featuring a pickup pattern that attempts to isolate your voice, though it clearly has its limits in loud environments.

Beyond the Controller: Cinematic Music and Entertainment

I listened to the following tracks on my M1 MacBook Pro as well as my Pixel 10 smartphone via YouTube and Apple Music: "Dracula" (JENNIE Remix), "Bad Dreams" by Teddy Swims, a lot of Daft Punk, some Coke Studio, a bunch of classic Bollywood, and some of my favourite tracks from Dhurandhar Parts 1 and 2. For movies, there is the race at the 11-minute mark in Ready Player One, a lot of the dogfights from Top Gun 1 and 2, The Batman trilogy, and some Lord of the Rings as well. Most of the content was consumed via the Apple TV app on my Mac with the headphones connected via the USB-C DAC.

The channel separation, dialogue clarity, and well-balanced bass are all noteworthy. The drivers deliver a surprisingly punchy but controlled bass response, which is a rare treat for open-back headphones of this weight. The channel separation is especially noticeable when an inverted plane goes right-side up, and the entire left and right channel perspective changes in Top Gun. The same applies to the race in Ready Player One, where the channel separation and directional audio of the race, along with all the mayhem, completely surround you. I only wish I could connect these headphones to my Apple TV box to enjoy the movies on the big screen. The closest I came was connecting them to the 3.5mm port on the PS5 and using the Apple TV and Netflix apps to consume content on the big TV.

In the past, I've said that there are gaming headphones that sound good enough for music and movies, and multimedia headphones that sound good enough for gaming. But here I am saying that if you are okay with a wired solution, the H6 Air is a dream for those looking for one pair of headphones to do everything without having to rely on an "app" to tweak settings for different use cases.

The mic is serviceable for taking calls as well. I attended a few online meetings using this mic, and while I was told my audio sounded muffled at times, I would like to think there were network issues involved there as well. I went for a walk wearing these headphones, connected to my phone, and took a few calls. This is the only use case I wouldn't recommend for these headphones: taking calls outdoors. Going for a walk and listening to music is enjoyable, but the absolute lack of passive noise isolation means traffic, wind, and ambient city noise will easily bleed into your audio experience - something I was OK with.

Verdict: Should You Buy the H6 Air?

Priced at about Rs 18,000 as of me writing this review, the headphones aren't cheap. But whether they are value for money for you is something you will need to judge based on your use case. What the InZone H6 Air has going for it is very good sound output, a very lightweight and comfortable design, a long 3.5mm cable, and a DAC in the box. However, the open-back nature of the headphones means your colleague sitting next to you in the office can eavesdrop on what you are listening to, and I wish the headset came with a carrying case. But apart from these points, if a wired pair of headphones for gaming and entertainment is what you are looking for, you can't go wrong with the H6 Air.

Editor's Rating: 9 / 10

Pros

• Exceptional Comfort
• Ultra-lightweight
• Wide Soundstage
• Plug-and-Play Excellence
• Generous 6.6-foot cable and 3.5mm to USB-C DAC in the box

Cons

• An open-back design means zero noise isolation
• The mic struggles to block out ambient noise
• No carrying case

ASUS has spent years trying to bridge that gap with its Zephyrus lineup, and the new ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) is perhaps its most refined attempt yet. What's interesting is where this laptop sits within ASUS' own ecosystem. The company already has the ROG Strix series for hardcore gamers chasing maximum performance and the ProArt lineup for creators who prioritise colour accuracy and professional workflows. The Zephyrus G16 sits right in the middle, aiming to offer the best of both worlds without leaning too heavily in either direction.

Powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra 9 386H Panther Lake processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) packs serious gaming and content creation capabilities into a chassis that weighs under 2kg. On paper, it ticks all the right boxes, but with a price tag of around Rs 4.5 lakhs, the real question is whether its blend of performance, portability, and premium features is worth the asking price.

Design and Build Quality

ASUS hasn't dramatically changed the Zephyrus formula for 2026, and honestly, that's perfectly fine. The Zephyrus G16 remains one of the best-looking gaming laptops available today.

Unlike many gaming-focused machines that rely on aggressive styling and excessive RGB lighting, the G16 takes a far more mature approach. It looks equally comfortable in a gaming setup, an editing studio, or a corporate boardroom. That said, the signature Slash Lighting element returns on the lid, adding a touch of personality without making the laptop look overly flashy.

What continues to impress me most is just how portable this machine feels. Despite featuring a 16-inch display and high-end internals, the laptop never feels large or cumbersome. At 1.95kg, it's surprisingly easy to carry around, making it a practical option for creators and professionals who frequently travel.

More importantly, the chassis feels even sturdier than before. During my usage, there was no noticeable flex in the keyboard deck, no creaking when lifting the laptop from a corner, and no concerning movement in the display lid. The CNC-machined aluminium construction feels exceptionally solid, and ASUS' military-grade durability certification should provide additional confidence for users who frequently work on the move.

Port selection remains excellent, too. ASUS has managed to include everything most users could ask for, including USB-A ports, USB-C connectivity, HDMI, a headphone jack, and most importantly, a full-sized SD card reader. For photographers and videographers, that's a genuinely useful addition that eliminates the need for an external dongle.

Display and Audio

If there is one area where the Zephyrus G16 immediately justifies its premium positioning, it's the display.

The laptop features a 16-inch 2.5K OLED ROG Nebula HDR display with a 240Hz refresh rate, G-Sync support, and excellent factory colour calibration. Quite simply, this is one of the best laptop displays available right now. Whether I was gaming, editing photos, grading videos, or simply binge-watching content, the panel consistently impressed. Colours look vibrant without appearing oversaturated, contrast is exceptional thanks to OLED technology, and blacks are as deep as they come.

For content creators, colour accuracy is excellent, making the panel suitable for professional workflows. At the same time, the 240Hz refresh rate and near-instant pixel response times make it equally appealing for competitive gaming. This is one of those rare displays that genuinely excels at both creation and entertainment.

The display is stunning, but the six-speaker setup deserves equal applause. Audio is loud, detailed, and surprisingly punchy, with enough bass to make movies, music, and games genuinely enjoyable without reaching for headphones. In fact, it's one of the few Windows laptops that can comfortably go toe-to-toe with a MacBook Pro, making the Zephyrus G16 an absolute multimedia powerhouse.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The Zephyrus G16 continues to offer a comfortable typing experience. The keyboard feels responsive and well-spaced, making it suitable for everything from long writing sessions to gaming marathons. Key travel remains satisfying, while the large glass touchpad is smooth, accurate, and among the best you'll find on a Windows machine.

That said, there are a couple of decisions that feel slightly odd. The first is the continued use of single-zone RGB lighting. While this won't bother everyone, some buyers spending this much money may have expected per-key RGB lighting or at least a more advanced implementation. My bigger complaint, though, is the arrow key layout.

This is a 16-inch chassis that doesn't even include a numpad, yet ASUS still opted for half-height up and down arrow keys. There's more than enough space available to accommodate full-sized arrow keys, making this feel like a design choice driven by aesthetics rather than practicality. Will it bother everyone? Probably not. But if your workflow relies heavily on navigation keys, it's something worth keeping in mind.

Performance

Under the hood, the Zephyrus G16 packs Intel's new Core Ultra 9 386H processor alongside NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU with 12GB of GDDR7 memory. Rounding things off is 32GB of LPDDR5X-8533 RAM and a spacious 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, which is about as flagship as laptop specs get in 2026. Unsurprisingly, performance is excellent across the board.

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The real star of the show, however, is Intel's new Panther Lake architecture. To put its improvements into perspective, I've compared the laptop against last year's Zephyrus G16 as well as the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 10. The results speak for themselves. Whether it's synthetic CPU benchmarks, everyday productivity workloads, or creator-focused tasks, the new G16 consistently pulls ahead of its predecessor while putting up a respectable fight against the much bulkier Legion.

The GPU story is equally interesting. On paper, moving from last year's RTX 5080 to an RTX 5070 Ti might sound like a step backwards, but that's only half the story. The previous-generation model ran its GPU at a relatively conservative 120W, whereas the new Zephyrus pushes the RTX 5070 Ti up to 140W, putting it in the same league as the Legion Pro 5i. As a result, the laptop delivers strong graphics performance across demanding 3DMark workloads and modern games alike, while the 12GB GDDR7 framebuffer also provides a welcome boost for newer AAA titles.

Of course, a thicker gaming laptop like the Legion still has an advantage when it comes to brute-force performance. But that's also missing the point. The Zephyrus G16 isn't trying to win benchmark charts at any cost; it's trying to deliver as much performance as possible without turning into a 2.5kg desktop replacement. And when you consider that ASUS has managed to squeeze this level of performance into a sub-2kg chassis, the achievement becomes a lot more impressive. In many ways, that's the Zephyrus G16 in a nutshell: a laptop that prioritises performance per kilogram rather than performance at all costs.

Thermals and Battery Life

Packing a Core Ultra 9 processor and an RTX 5070 Ti into a chassis this slim is a bit like fitting a V8 engine into a hatchback: something's bound to get loud. Under heavy loads, temperatures can cross the 85°C mark, and the fans certainly make their presence known. However, ASUS deserves credit for keeping the heat away from the areas that matter. While the internals are working overtime, the keyboard deck and palm rests remain surprisingly comfortable, with most of the warmth confined to the area above the keyboard.

More importantly, real-world usage is less dramatic than synthetic benchmarks suggest. During gaming, the laptop remains composed and delivers consistent performance without excessive throttling. Similarly, content creation workloads such as timeline editing, colour grading, and asset management are handled effortlessly. The fans mostly become noticeable during exports and rendering workloads, where sustained performance matters most.

Battery life is another area where Panther Lake makes a strong case for itself. The biggest upgrade this year isn't immediately visible on a spec sheet. It's the fact that the Zephyrus G16 feels far more comfortable being used as an everyday laptop rather than just a gaming machine that occasionally leaves the desk. For creators and professionals who spend as much time working as they do gaming, that's a meaningful improvement.

Verdict

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) is the kind of laptop that makes a fantastic first impression and somehow keeps getting better the longer you use it. From the gorgeous OLED display and powerful speakers to the premium build quality and impressive portability, it's one of the rare machines that feels equally at home rendering videos, crushing deadlines, or running the latest AAA games.

The catch, however, is the price. At around Rs 4.5 lakh, the G16 finds itself competing not just with rival gaming laptops, but also with its own predecessor. Last year's Zephyrus G16 with an RTX 5080 can be found for Rs. 3.5 lakhs, which translates to savings of almost a lakh. On the other hand, even cheaper options like the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i offer more raw horsepower if portability isn't a priority.

That said, ASUS has done enough to make the new G16 feel like a genuine upgrade. Panther Lake brings meaningful efficiency gains, performance remains excellent, and the overall experience is about as polished as gaming laptops get. It's not the fastest laptop in its class, nor the best value-for-money option, but if the goal is to own a premium machine that can seamlessly switch between creator laptop and gaming powerhouse, the Zephyrus G16 makes a compelling case for itself.

The asking price remains steep, though ASUS does soften the blow with offers such as instant discounts, no-cost EMI options for up to 18 months starting at Rs. 11,111 per month, and extended warranty plans. While these won't make the laptop any cheaper, they do make stepping into ASUS' flagship ecosystem a little easier on the wallet.

Editor's Rating: 8.5 / 10

Pros:

• Premium design that's both portable and practical
• Best-in-class multimedia experience
• Excellent balance between gaming and content creation
• Strong all-round performance with improved efficiency

Cons:

• Very expensive compared to alternatives
• Fan noise can get aggressive under heavy loads
• Limited upgradeability

Lenovo V15 has always been a straightforward business laptop rather than a fashionable one, and that is still the point of the 2026 configuration. This is a machine built for office work, long browser sessions, spreadsheets, video calls, and all the unglamorous tasks that make up most real laptop use. 

The specific configuration reviewed here is priced at Rs 64,200 on Amazon. The Lenovo V15 G4 packs in a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor, integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 8GB DDR4 memory, and 512GB NVMe storage.

That defines the V15 neatly. This is not a creator laptop or a sleek ultrabook but more of a dependable work machine with a few genuinely useful strengths, especially in performance and connectivity. The important question is whether those strengths outweigh the compromises. Here is our complete review.

Built for work, not for show

The Lenovo V15 takes the standard business-laptop route and does not deviate from it. The design is plain, black, and highly functional. Lenovo lists the chassis at 359.2 x 235.8 x 19.9mm with a starting weight of 1.65kg, which places it firmly in the large mainstream 15.6-inch category rather than the ultra-portable one. The body uses PC-ABS construction, which is entirely expected in this class. It is not metal, but it does not feel flimsy either. Lenovo also treats this as a utilitarian product, and the physical design reflects that. 

There is a certain honesty to the build. No unnecessary surface drama, no decorative cutouts, no fake luxury cues. The texture on the shell helps hide handling marks better than glossy plastics usually do, and the overall look is professional enough for office environments without trying too hard. The Lenovo V15 is the kind of laptop that disappears into the background, which is often exactly what a business machine should do.

Connectivity is where the V15 earns some real points. Lenovo gives it a useful mix of legacy and modern ports: one USB 2.0, one USB 3.2 Gen 1, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 with data, Power Delivery, and DisplayPort 1.2 support, HDMI 1.4b, Ethernet, a 3.5mm combo jack, a round-tip power connector, and a Kensington Nano security slot. That is a very practical spread for office users because it means you can plug in a mouse, storage, external display, wired network, and charger without constantly reaching for dongles.

There is also the less glamorous but more important business-laptop stuff: firmware TPM 2.0, a camera privacy shutter, and the option to drive up to three displays, including the native panel. Lenovo also lists Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support for this platform. In other words, the V15 is not flashy, but it is built with the basic realities of office life in mind.

A display that prioritises function over flair

The display is the weakest part of the package, and there is no way around that. The V15 configuration here uses a 15.6-inch Full HD TN panel with 250 nits of brightness and anti-glare coating. With 45% NTSC colour coverage and a 60Hz refresh rate, this is definitely not a machine for creative users. Viewing angles are also typical TN territory, with much narrower vertical headroom than an IPS panel.

That spec sheet tells you almost everything you need to know. The panel is fine for office work, web browsing, documents, and spreadsheets, but it is not a display you buy for visual pleasure. Colours are restrained, contrast is modest, and off-axis viewing is limited. If you tilt the lid too far back or share the screen with someone sitting beside you, the image starts showing its TN limitations pretty quickly.

The upside is that the anti-glare coating does help in a bright room, and the panel is at least honest about what it is. It is not pretending to be a creator display or a media-first screen. For the use case this machine targets, that matters. You would rather have a plain panel that behaves predictably than a glossy but awkward one that looks better in a product photo than on a desk. Lenovo does offer IPS options on the wider V15 G4 IRU platform, but the unit you shared is clearly the entry TN configuration.

Familiar Lenovo ergonomics with a few compromises

The keyboard is functional, with a 6-row spill-resistant keyboard with multimedia function keys, a numeric keypad, 1.3mm key travel, and no backlight. The lack of backlighting is the bigger annoyance here than the key feel itself. On a laptop meant for office use, not having a backlit keyboard makes late-evening work or dim conference rooms more awkward than they need to be. 

The numpad is useful if you spend your day in sheets, billing software, or data entry, and the 1.3mm travel is enough to keep typing from feeling flat. Still, this is a typing deck that prioritises utility over comfort.

The trackpad is modestly sized at 62 x 104mm and uses a buttonless Mylar surface with Precision TouchPad support. It is accurate enough for standard productivity work, but it does not feel like a standout feature. That is fine, because Lenovo clearly expects most users to rely on a mouse in this class anyway. On a desk, that makes sense. On the move, it is serviceable, not memorable.

Surprisingly capable everyday performance

The V15's Core i5-13420H is not a decorative spec. It is a genuine H-series processor with enough headroom to separate this machine from basic office laptops running lower-power chips. Intel rates it at 45W base power and up to 115W maximum turbo, which is a strong clue that it is meant to burst hard under load rather than run forever at a low fixed wattage.

In our testing, the V15 delivered 8,539 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,733 in single-core. Geekbench 6 returned 2,243 in single-core and 5,788 in multi-core. PCMark 10 landed at 6,078, while PCMark 10 Extended reached 4,605. Those are sensible numbers for a budget office machine with an H-series processor. The important thing is not that the V15 is a record-breaker. It is that it feels meaningfully quicker than the cheaper, lower-wattage machines that usually populate this category.

That difference shows up in day-to-day use. Browser-heavy workflows, office apps, light local multitasking, document work, spreadsheets, and video calls all feel more composed than they do on entry-level U-series machines. The processor has enough room to handle short bursts confidently, which is exactly what most productivity users need. You are not buying this laptop for sustained rendering or workstation-style workloads. You are buying it because you want a machine that does not slow down when your day becomes busy.

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The integrated Intel UHD graphics are the other half of the story, and they establish a very clear ceiling. Fire Strike Ultra scored 466, Fire Strike Extreme 872, and Night Raid 8,798 in our testing. Geekbench GPU scores came in at 8,257 in OpenCL and 9,378 in Vulkan. That is enough for standard desktop acceleration, basic media work, and everyday UI use, but not enough for anything resembling serious gaming or creative GPU work. A game like Battlefield V at 1440p Ultra is simply outside the V15's comfort zone.

That limitation is not a flaw so much as a reality check. This is a productivity laptop, and the graphics hardware behaves like it.

RAM limits, upgrade paths, and thermal behaviour explained

This is the section that really determines whether the V15 feels merely adequate or actually well thought-out.

The first thing to say is that 8GB of RAM is the biggest limitation on the machine if that is the configuration being used. In 2026, 8GB is enough for light office work, but it gets tight quickly once you start stacking browser tabs, Office apps, video calls, and background tasks. Windows itself is no longer especially forgiving about memory pressure, and the moment you push this laptop into heavier multitasking, the system starts leaning more on storage as virtual memory. That is when responsiveness can begin to soften.

The good news is that Lenovo has not created a dead-end platform. The V15 G4 IRU uses one soldered memory module plus one DDR4 SODIMM slot, and there are 16GB and even up to 24GB options available, depending on how the soldered and slot memory are arranged. The platform is also dual-channel capable when configured appropriately. That means RAM upgrades are very much part of the story here, and anyone buying the base model should treat a memory upgrade as the first post-purchase move.

Storage is less dramatic but more predictable. The platform supports one M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot on 45Wh battery models, and Lenovo lists M.2 SSD options up to 1TB on this platform family. The 512GB SSD in this unit is fast enough, but capacity will become the practical bottleneck long before speed does.

Also, the thermals deserve a careful reading since Lenovo is using a 45W-class H-series chip inside a 1.65kg office chassis with a plastic shell. That combination tells you the cooling system is going to prioritise reasonable office acoustics and safe sustained operation rather than all-out performance headroom. Based on Intel's 45W base power and 115W turbo spec, this chip is clearly capable of brief high-power bursts, but in a chassis like this, it is reasonable to expect the laptop to dial back once the load becomes prolonged.

In plain English, the V15 is likely to feel responsive in everyday work and warm, not cool, under extended CPU-heavy use. That is not a problem for the target audience. It does mean this is not a machine for rendering projects, long video exports, or extended compute-heavy tasks. For office work, the thermal behaviour should be perfectly acceptable. For sustained heavy workloads, it is not the right tool.

Workday Audio and Dependable Battery Life

The audio setup is as modest as the rest of the laptop's non-performance hardware. Lenovo uses stereo speakers rated at 1.5W x2 with Dolby Audio, backed by a Realtek ALC3287 codec. The two-mic array and 720p webcam with privacy shutter make the laptop serviceable for meetings, calls, and online classes, but not especially rich in media playback.

That speaker setup is enough for voices, podcasts, and casual YouTube. It is not the sort of system that gives music much body or movie soundtracks much depth. There is very little reason to expect bass from a chassis like this, and indeed that is exactly how it behaves. For office work, this is perfectly acceptable. For entertainment, headphones will be the better choice almost every time.

Battery life is respectable rather than impressive. In our PCMark 10 Video test, the laptop lasted 7 hours 45 minutes from 97% down to 3%. That is a sensible result for a 15.6-inch H-series Windows laptop with a basic display and a mainstream battery. Lenovo also supplies a 65W round-tip adapter, with USB-C charging support listed as an option on the platform. That is useful because it keeps the charging story simple. 

Final Verdict

The Lenovo V15 is exactly the kind of laptop that many people actually need, even if it is not the kind they most enjoy shopping for. It gives you a proper H-series Intel processor, fast enough storage, useful connectivity, Ethernet, a numeric keypad, and a chassis that feels built for office duty. That makes it a sensible business laptop rather than a decorative one.

Its weaknesses are just as clear. The TN display is the biggest compromise by far, the keyboard should have been backlit, and the speakers are basic. But none of those issues are surprising in a budget 15.6-inch office laptop. The real question is whether Lenovo spent the limited budget on the right things. For the most part, it did. The CPU performance is strong, the port selection is practical, and the chassis is easy to live with.

If your priority is a no-nonsense Windows machine for office work, browsing, spreadsheets, calls, and general productivity, this one does the job with very little drama. If you care about display quality, media consumption, or a more premium daily feel, you will notice the compromises quickly.

Editor's Rating: 7.8 / 10

Pros:

• Strong Core i5-13420H performance for office and multitasking
• Useful port selection with USB-C, HDMI, RJ45, and USB-A
• Fast NVMe SSD and solid everyday responsiveness
• Practical business-laptop design with privacy shutter and TPM 2.0

Cons:

• TN display has limited viewing angles and modest colour
• The keyboard is not backlit
• Basic speakers with little bass
• No card reader or fingerprint reader

Budget laptops have always come with an unspoken rulebook: cut corners here, compromise there, hope the buyer doesn't notice. The Acer Aspire 3 A324-53 doesn't quite play by those rules.

Usually priced under Rs 55,000, this 14-inch machine goes up against a crowded field of similarly spec'd contenders. On paper, it looks like just another U-series Intel laptop with a plastic chassis and a modest display. But spend a week with it, and a slightly different story starts to emerge, one that involves surprisingly fast storage, a battery that genuinely goes the distance, and a keyboard that punches well above its price tag.

Is it perfect? No. Are there compromises? Absolutely. But the more interesting question is: do those compromises matter for the person this laptop is actually built for? Let's find out.

Design and Build: Not Pretty, Not Ugly, Just Right

First things first, the steel grey colour? Chef's kiss. Put it under any sort of lighting condition, and it genuinely shines. Look closely enough, and you'll notice a very subtle, grainy texture running across the entire chassis. It adds a quiet elegance to what is otherwise a straightforward design. Weighing just under 1.5 kg and measuring just 19.4mm thin, this is a genuinely portable machine. The kind you can throw into a backpack without giving it a second thought.

That said, not everything about the build is flawless. The lid can't be opened with one hand, which hints at slightly uneven weight distribution. On the flip side, the 180-degree hinge is a legitimately useful feature. It only recently occurred to me just how handy it is when you don't have a height-adjustable desk. As someone who likes working standing up, I could simply lay the screen flat and carry on, though fair warning, don't make a habit of that for long hours unless you want your neck to file a formal complaint.

There's minor keyboard flex and slight screen wobble too, but nothing that would genuinely bother you. The all-plastic build might feel a little underwhelming at times, but don't get me wrong, this laptop is surprisingly robust. Meanwhile, the minimalist design keeps things clean and professional.

Display and Audio: Fine for Excel, Not for Movie Night

I'll keep this simple: it's a perfectly adequate display for this kind of laptop. The Aspire 3 packs a 14-inch 1080p non-reflective panel. It means whether you're working under harsh office lighting or out in direct sunlight, you won't constantly be repositioning the screen just to see what's on it. That said, yes, you may occasionally notice some glare when watching dark content. But for the Excel and Mail crowd? This display is just fine.

Viewing angles are decent, colours are okayish thanks to a 45% NTSC colour gamut, and the 60Hz refresh rate gets the job done. On the brightness front, the display is perfectly comfortable indoors. However, it gets a little tricky under very harsh lighting. But the non-reflective panel handles most of the reflections well enough.

As for the audio, the Aspire 3 features two upward-firing stereo speakers. The output is nothing to brag about, but it's not bad enough to be written off either. Let's put it this way: the speakers sound better than most laptops in this price range, but they're nowhere near the MacBook Airs of the world. For meetings or college classes, they'll hold up fine. But I'd still recommend keeping a pair of earphones handy. Don't expect this laptop to fill a room even during a casual Netflix and chill session.

The built-in 2MP webcam works for the most part, delivering a usable output. The same goes for the microphones. We have seen better in Acer's own budget lineup, specifically the Acer Aspire 14 AI, but for the price, it's passable.

At the end of the day, the display and audio on the Aspire 3 will comfortably handle basic office chores and college tasks. Just don't expect it to double as your entertainment setup.

Keyboard and Trackpad: You'll adapt quickly

This is where I have to hand it to Acer. For the price, you're getting a genuinely solid keyboard. It leans more towards the clicky side rather than the mushy side, which most people tend to prefer for extended typing sessions. Key travel is good, and whether you're coming from a full-sized keyboard or a tenkeyless, you'll adapt quickly. The backlight is a nice cherry on top.

The trackpad, however, is a little cramped. I found myself occasionally clicking just outside the trackpad area, which does take some getting used to. Meanwhile, Acer has added a slight texture to it, not sure what that's about, but it's there.

Ports and Connectivity: Every Port You Actually Need

For its size and price, the port selection here is genuinely impressive. You won't need to carry any dongle, and I mean that. On the left side, you get two USB-C ports, one of which doubles as the charging port, which means one cable can handle both your laptop and other Type-C devices. You also get a USB 3.0 Type-A port and an HDMI port.

On the right, there's a headphone jack, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, a microSD card slot, and a Kensington lock slot for added security.

On the wireless side of things, unlike most competitors in this price segment, you're getting Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. A notable upgrade that makes a real-world difference in connectivity speed and reliability.

Performance and Battery Life: Gets you through 

Here's where the trade-offs start to show. This is clearly where the price cut has been made, and it does show, but not as dramatically as you'd expect.

The Aspire 3 runs on the Intel Core i5-1334U. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad processor, far from it. But the U-series designation tells you everything: this chip is built for efficiency, not raw muscle. Meaning, in real-world terms, juggling 15+ Chrome tabs alongside light photo editing won't be a problem at all. For everyday office and college use, this laptop holds up very well. Just don't expect it to run Black Myth: Wukong or Cyberpunk 2077 at even medium settings; this one is built for light gaming.

GTA V and Valorant are still manageable at decent frame rates with a few settings tweaks. That said, and credit where it's due, Acer has paired it with 16GB of RAM (expandable to 32GB) and a 512GB Gen 4 SSD, which honestly blew my mind when I benchmarked it using CrystalDiskMark. 7,000+ MB/s read speeds and 5,000+ MB/s write speeds at this price point? That's genuinely impressive.

For more context, I compared this laptop against a few similarly priced alternatives with comparable specs. Acer Aspire 15 AS15-42 (review), Lenovo ThinkBook 16 21MWA0AJIN (review), Infinix Air Pro Plus XL434 (review), Acer Aspire 14 AI A14-11M NX.JP3SI.001 (review). Much like the Aspire 3, most budget alternatives in this segment rely on U-series chips either from Intel or AMD, trading peak performance for longer battery life. We ran our full benchmarking suite on performance settings: Geekbench 6, Geekbench AI, PCMark 10, Cinebench, 3DMark, and CrossMark, to see how they stack up.

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On the battery front, the Aspire 3 surprises. Its 45Wh battery may look standard on paper, but the power-efficient i5-1334U stretches it further than you'd expect. In the PCMark 10 Video Loop benchmark, it lasted 7 hours and 25 minutes. This is roughly twice what most budget alternatives manage. For a typical day of web browsing, emails, and streaming, you'll get through comfortably on a single charge. Charging is handled by the included 65W USB-C power delivery adapter, which also conveniently tops up your other Type-C devices. For hybrid professionals or students on the go, this is a genuinely low-maintenance setup.

Verdict

The Acer Aspire 3 A324-53 is a hard laptop to dismiss. It's not the fastest thing at this price, and it won't win any design awards. But it's genuinely well-suited for the audience it's built for: students, hybrid professionals, and everyday users who need a reliable, portable machine that doesn't demand constant attention.

The Aspire 3 goes up against some solid competition, and depending on what you value, any one of its rivals could make a stronger case. It gives some ground on build quality, display, and raw performance. What keeps it in the conversation is mostly the price it comes at.

One more thing worth flagging before you make a decision: laptop prices in India have risen sharply over the last few weeks, and the Aspire 3 hasn't been spared. It's currently listed at over Rs 57,000 on platforms like Flipkart, which makes it a tough sell at that price. I've personally seen it drop as low as Rs 43,000 during sale events. Though with the way the market is behaving right now, expecting that kind of deal again would be a "holy smokes" kind of situation. But this laptop does find itself around the Rs 50,000 mark fairly regularly. At that price point, the Acer Aspire 3 genuinely becomes a no-brainer, one of the best laptops under Rs 50000.

That said, if you're looking for a no-drama, all-day work companion under Rs 55,000, the Aspire 3 makes a very strong case for itself. Just keep your expectations calibrated; this is a productivity-first machine, not a powerhouse.

Editor's Rating: 7.5/10

Pros:

• Light and slim enough to forget it's in your bag
• No dongle needed, ever
• Clicky, satisfying keyboard
• Chews through everyday multitasking easily

Cons:

• Display colours are just okayish
• Subpar Audio and webcam

If you have been putting off a new PC build because you assumed Rs 2 lakh would only get you a half-decent setup, it is time to revisit that assumption. Right now, with the right combination of components, this budget gets you a Ryzen 7 or Intel Core Ultra 5 processor paired with an RTX 5070, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a full terabyte of fast NVMe storage. That is a properly capable gaming and productivity machine, not a compromise build.

We have put together two configurations here, one built around AMD and one around Intel, both centred on the same GPU.

Understanding the Rs 2 Lakh PC Sweet Spot

One thing that might get overlooked at this price point is frame consistency, not just peak FPS. It's easy to focus on headline numbers like "120 FPS" or "144 FPS," but what actually affects your experience is how stable those frame rates remain during heavy scenes.

Modern engines like Unreal Engine 5 can introduce sudden dips due to CPU spikes, asset streaming, or shader compilation. This is where a stronger CPU and faster DDR5 memory combination can make a big difference. You're not just buying performance for today's games, but also for how upcoming titles behave.

Also, you need to think about the minimum FPS. A system that averages 100 FPS but drops to 55 FPS during intense sequences will feel noticeably worse than one that stays consistently above 75 FPS. Both the AMD and Intel builds that we have are designed to avoid those dips by maintaining strong CPU overhead alongside GPU performance.

At this budget, a well-built PC should comfortably deliver high-refresh 1440p gaming along with solid productivity performance. In modern AAA titles, you can expect frame rates in the 80–120 FPS range at 1440p using high or ultra settings. Competitive games like Valorant, CS2, and Apex Legends will easily push past 200 FPS, often going well beyond 300 FPS depending on settings.

On the productivity side, this tier handles 4K video editing timelines smoothly, accelerates rendering in Blender, and supports efficient streaming through modern GPU encoders. 

The key takeaway is simple: you're no longer building for "playable performance." You're building for consistency, stability, and long-term usability.

The GPU Both Builds Are Built Around: RTX 5070 12GB

Both our recommended configurations in this guide use the RTX 5070 with 12GB of GDDR7 memory. This is the card that makes the most sense at this budget tier in India right now. It runs on Nvidia's Blackwell architecture, supports DLSS 4, and comes with a 192-bit memory bus feeding that 12GB frame buffer at high bandwidth.

On pricing, you can find genuine RTX 5070 cards starting from around Rs 58,000 and climbing into the Rs 80,000 range depending on the cooling solution, factory overclock, and brand. For a build like this, anything in the Rs 65,000 to Rs 72,000 zone gets you a solid, well-cooled variant without paying a premium for RGB lighting or a triple-fan shroud you do not need. We are budgeting Rs 70,000 for this build, which sits comfortably in that range and leaves room to pick from several brands without scraping the bottom of the barrel.

For 1440p gaming, which is where this card is most at home, you are looking at strong, consistent frame rates across the board. DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation gives the RTX 5070 a significant edge in newer titles that support it, and the card handles ray tracing more effectively than its previous generation's equivalent tier. If you game at 1080p, you will have frames to spare. If you are eyeing a 1440p 165Hz monitor, this is exactly the card that pairs well with it.

Average FPS Across Popular Titles (1440p High/Ultra)

Build 1: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X

This is the build for anyone who wants a clean, no-nonsense gaming rig without spending extra on a platform they do not need. The Ryzen 7 9700X is AMD's current-generation 8-core processor, and on the AM5 socket, you are buying into a platform that still has a few years of upgrade life left in it.

Recommended Components

Total build cost: ~ Rs 1,95,000

Why This Build Works

The Ryzen 7 9700X is built on AMD's Zen 5 architecture, with 8 cores and 16 threads, a base clock of 3.8 GHz, and a boost clock that climbs to 5.5 GHz. It runs on the AM5 socket, which means DDR5 memory support is native, and you are not stuck choosing between RAM generations the way you sometimes are on older platforms. Current pricing for this chip sits in the Rs 28,000 to Rs 32,000 range, depending on the retailer and ongoing offers, so budgeting Rs 30,000 is realistic.

For the motherboard, a B650 chipset board is the right call here. You do not need B650E or X670E for this build since the RTX 5070 does not saturate PCIe 5.0 bandwidth, and you would just be paying extra for a feature you are not using. A solid B650 board with Wi-Fi, dual M.2 slots, and DDR5 support comfortably fits in the Rs 15,000 to Rs 22,000 range across brands like ASUS, Gigabyte, and ASRock.

For memory, a 32GB kit running at 5600MHz across two sticks is the sensible default. This leaves you running dual-channel, which matters more for performance than chasing higher MHz numbers on a single stick. AMD's EXPO profiles work cleanly with most 5600MHz DDR5 kits on B650 boards, so you get the full rated speed without manually tuning timings.

The Ryzen 7 9700X runs noticeably cooler than the previous generation's flagship 8-core chip, but a proper dual-tower air cooler is still the right move here rather than relying on a basic stock cooler, particularly if you want quiet, sustained performance under extended gaming sessions.

Build 2: Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF

If you would rather go the Intel route, the Core Ultra 5 245KF is the chip to build around at this budget. It belongs to Intel's newer Core Ultra Series 2 desktop lineup, drops the integrated graphics since you are running a discrete GPU anyway, and lands on the newer LGA1851 socket.

Recommended Components

Total build cost: ~ Rs 1,85,000

Why this combination works

The Core Ultra 5 245KF carries a hybrid core layout with 6 Performance-cores and 8 Efficiency-cores, totalling 14 cores and 14 threads, with boost clocks reaching up to 5.2 GHz. Intel's Thread Director handles the job of routing tasks to the right core type in real time, which in practice means demanding games and applications get prioritised on the Performance-cores while background processes sit on the Efficient-cores without you having to think about it. The chip currently sells for roughly Rs 20,000 to Rs 21,000, which is genuinely good value for what you get on the processing side.

The K and F in the name both matter here. The K means the multiplier is unlocked, so overclocking is on the table if that interests you. The F means there is no integrated graphics on the chip, which keeps the price down and is irrelevant since the RTX 5070 is doing all the graphics work regardless.

This is also where the build diverges meaningfully from the Ryzen option on platform cost. Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 processors use the new LGA1851 socket, which means you need a board built on the 800-series chipset family. A B860 board is the practical choice here, since it gives you everything this build needs without paying extra for Z890's overclocking headroom. These boards run from around Rs 13,000 to Rs 18,000 depending on brand and form factor, and at the lower end of that range, you are still getting DDR5 support, dual M.2 slots, and Wi-Fi.

What is worth noting is that this build ends up roughly Rs 10,000 cheaper than the AMD configuration, primarily because the processor itself costs less while still offering more total cores. If your workloads lean toward anything multi-threaded outside of gaming, like video exports or compiling code, the extra E-cores on the 245KF genuinely help.

So Which One Should You Pick

Both of these builds are running the identical GPU, so your actual gaming frame rates are not going to swing dramatically between the two. What you are really deciding between is platform cost, core count, and where you want your money to go.

The Ryzen 7 9700X build costs more upfront, largely because the AM5 platform and the 9700X itself sit at a higher price point than their Intel counterparts right now. What you get in return is a socket that AMD has confirmed will carry forward into future Ryzen generations, so a CPU-only upgrade down the line without a full motherboard swap is realistic.

The Core Ultra 5 245KF build saves you close to Rs 10,000 while handing you six additional threads. If your day-to-day use involves anything beyond gaming, that extra thread count adds up in real, measurable ways. The trade-off is that LGA1851 is a newer socket, and how far Intel extends support on it before the next architectural shift is still an open question.

Neither answer is wrong. If you are purely optimising for gaming and want the platform with a longer confirmed upgrade runway, go AMD. If you want more cores for less money and do not mind a newer, less proven socket, go Intel.

Prebuilt vs DIY: What Should You Do?

Sourcing every component individually, checking compatibility, and assembling the system yourself is not for everyone, and there is no shame in that. If you would rather skip the process entirely, system integrators like EliteHubs sell fully assembled, tested desktops with comparable specifications, often built around this exact Ryzen 7 9700X or Core Ultra 5 series and RTX 5070 combination. 

You will pay a bit more than sourcing components yourself, but you get a working system out of the box, a single point of contact for warranty issues, and none of the risk that comes with a first-time build, like a bent CPU pin or a missed power cable.

If you do go the pre-built route, it is still worth checking the exact component list before paying. Some pre-built listings substitute a lower-tier PSU or a generic case to hit a price point, and those are corners worth knowing about before you commit.

Final Thoughts

A genuinely capable PC build under Rs 2 lakh is absolutely achievable in India right now, provided you are buying from retailers that price components honestly and you are not getting talked into brand premiums that do not translate to real performance gains. Both builds here get you an RTX 5070, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a full terabyte of fast Gen4 NVMe storage, the kind of specification sheet that would have cost considerably more not too long ago.

Pick AMD if platform longevity and a slightly more established socket matter to you. Pick Intel if you want more cores for less money and do not mind being an early adopter on the newer chipset. Either way, you are walking away with a build that handles 1440p gaming comfortably and has enough headroom to stay relevant for the next several years.

Picking a laptop in 2026 should be simple. It is not. Every price band now has credible options from at least four or five brands, and the difference between a great buy and a regrettable one often comes down to details that spec sheets do not mention. This guide cuts through the noise with hands-on tested recommendations across four non-gaming price tiers, so you can stop second-guessing and start using.

Our Testing Process

Every laptop in this guide was tested with a consistent benchmark suite and real-world usage patterns. We run Cinebench R23 and R24 for CPU performance across both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, PCMark 10 and PCMark 10 Extended for productivity and creative performance, and Geekbench 6 for cross-platform comparisons. Battery runtimes are recorded using PCMark's Video Loop test at 80% brightness on Balanced mode.

Beyond the numbers, each machine goes through extended daily use to assess build quality, thermals, keyboard feel, display accuracy, and port layout. A laptop that looks good on paper but throttles under load or runs uncomfortably hot does not make the cut.

Each price tier has one Ultimate Champion with the full breakdown, and two Quick-Fire Alternatives for different priorities or budgets.

Best Non-Gaming Laptops Across Price Ranges

Under Rs 50,000: Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 (21MWA0AJIN) - Rs 46,990

The sub-50K non-gaming segment is littered with 15-watt processors stuffed into plasticky chassis that feel designed to hit a price point, not to be used. The Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is different. It runs the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS at a 45W TDP, which is significantly higher than most competitors at this price, and it produces benchmark results that genuinely reflect that. Cinebench R23 multi-thread came in at 9,393 with a single-thread score of 1,463. Cinebench R24 multi-thread was 519. PCMark 10 scored 5,779. Geekbench 6 returned 2,002 single-core and 8,072 multi-core.

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Those numbers matter because this is a laptop you will actually feel the difference on. Multitasking with twenty browser tabs, running spreadsheets with heavy formulas alongside Teams calls, handling local media work, the ThinkBook 16 does not hesitate the way cheaper machines do. The HS-series chip has genuine headroom where U-series alternatives do not.

The 16-inch IPS display in a 16:10 aspect ratio is a meaningful productivity upgrade over standard 16:9 panels. You get more vertical screen real estate for documents, code, and content, and the chassis carries the display without flex. Build quality here punches above the price as the ThinkBook series has always leaned professional, and Gen 7 continues that. The dual RAM and dual SSD slots deserve a specific mention: at under Rs 50,000, the ability to upgrade your machine as your needs grow is a rare and practical advantage.

Battery life from the 45Wh cell came to 9 hours in our test. Respectable, though not class-leading. The display brightness is average, and colour accuracy is not going to impress anyone doing colour-critical work, but for document editing, productivity, and general use, it is fine. The chassis is heavier than 14-inch alternatives, which is the trade-off for the larger screen.

For anyone who wants the strongest performing laptop available under Rs 50,000 and is willing to carry a little extra weight, the ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 is the clear answer.

Pros:

• Strongest CPU performance in the sub-50K non-gaming segment
• Spacious 16-inch 16:10 display with genuine productivity benefit
• Dual RAM and dual SSD slots for upgradability
• Professional build quality that justifies the ThinkBook name

Cons:

• Average display brightness and colour accuracy
• Heavier than 14-inch alternatives
• 45Wh battery is adequate but not a standout

Performance Rating: 8.4/10

Quick-Fire Alternatives

• Acer Aspire 14 AI (NX.JP3SI.001) — Rs 43,999 (7.3 / 10)

• Acer Aspire 3 A324-53 (UN.34RSI.004) — Rs 40,990 (7.5 / 10)
  

Non-Gaming Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 Lakh: ASUS Vivobook 16 AMD (M1607KA-MB109WS) - Rs 75,990

The Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh non-gaming bracket in 2026 has genuine depth, and picking the right machine requires being clear about what you actually need from it. For most users, whether they are students, professionals, content consumers, or anyone running a mix of productivity and creative applications, raw CPU throughput delivered consistently is the most important single metric. On that basis, the ASUS Vivobook 16 AMD is the top pick in this segment.

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The AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 at 28W TDP delivered Cinebench R23 multi-thread of 14,035 and single-thread of 1,937. Cinebench R24 multi-thread reached 773 and single-thread 111. PCMark 10 scored 6,820. Geekbench 6 single-core was 2,814, and multi-core came in at 10,968. Those are strong numbers across the board, and the Ryzen AI 7 350 is built on AMD's newest mobile architecture with NPU cores for AI-accelerated workloads. The Radeon 860M integrated GPU is a meaningfully capable chip for light creative work, significantly ahead of what Intel's integrated options can manage at this price.

As for the rest of the machine, the 16-inch IPS panel at 60Hz gives you a large canvas for productivity. 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of Gen 4 NVMe storage are appropriately specced. The chassis is well-built without being precious about it. Clearly, this is a laptop designed to be used and put through the wringer. Battery life from the 42Wh cell came to 7 hours 51 minutes. That is the honest limitation: the battery is smaller than you would ideally want for a 16-inch machine, and if portable untethered use is a priority, you should have a look at the alternatives section. For users who work near a charger and want the most raw performance at this price, the trade-off is easy to accept.

At Rs 75,990, no other reviewed laptop in this band comes close to this level of multi-threaded CPU performance.

Pros:

• Highest CPU performance in the Rs 50K to Rs 1L non-gaming segment
• AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 with strong integrated Radeon 860M graphics
• 16-inch display with good productivity real estate
• Competitively priced at Rs 75,990

Cons:

• 42Wh battery limits all-day portable use
• 60Hz IPS display is functional but unremarkable
• No OLED option at this price

Performance Rating: 9.3/10

Quick-Fire Alternatives

• ASUS Vivobook 16 Intel (X1607CA-MB139WS) — Rs 70,990 (8.0 / 10)

• Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51, NX.J2HSI.002) — Rs 89,990 (7.8 / 10)
  

Non-Gaming Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 1.5 Lakh: MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo B2HMG - Rs 1,50,000

There is a shift that happens around the Rs 1 lakh mark. Below it, you are mostly choosing between CPU platforms and accepting display compromises. Above it, the best machines stop making you choose. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo B2HMG is exactly that kind of laptop. It is a laptop where performance, build, display, and battery have all been treated as requirements rather than variables.

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The Intel Core Ultra 9 285H at 45W TDP is the strongest Intel non-gaming mobile processor in active production, and the numbers reflect it. Cinebench R23 multi-thread came in at 17,882 and single-thread at 2,131, the highest single-thread score across all laptops in this guide outside the over-1.5L segment. Cinebench R24 multi-thread was 1,015 and single-thread 126. PCMark 10 scored 8,183, and PCMark 10 Extended 8,303. Geekbench 6 single-core returned 2,931 and multi-core 17,538. These are workstation-adjacent scores in a portable chassis.

The battery is where this machine makes its clearest statement. The 99.9Wh cell is the largest allowed in passenger aircraft carry-on under IATA regulations, and our measured runtime was 14 hours 13 minutes. For a 16-inch laptop with a Core Ultra 9 processor and an OLED display, that endurance is genuinely unusual. The Prestige 16 is designed for hybrid professionals who move between office work, travel, and extended sessions without wanting to think about battery anxiety.

The 16-inch OLED panel is a proper display, rich and accurate in a way that IPS panels at this price cannot match. The 32GB LPDDR5x and 1TB Gen 4 NVMe are matched to the class. Intel Arc 140T integrated graphics handle light creative work without complaint. The port layout, including dual Thunderbolt 4 and an SD card reader, covers professional connectivity. The 60Hz refresh rate is the one area where the panel feels conservative for a laptop at Rs 1,50,000, and the rear-positioned ports require adjustment for desk setups. Neither is a dealbreaker.

If you are spending in this range and need a large display, powerful CPU, and exceptional battery life in one package, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo earns its place at the top of this segment decisively.

Pros:

• Core Ultra 9 285H delivers the highest single-thread scores in this segment
• 99.9Wh battery with 14+ hour runtime is exceptional for a 16-inch machine
• OLED display with strong accuracy and rich colour
• Comprehensive connectivity with dual Thunderbolt 4 and SD card reader

Cons:

• 60Hz panel refresh rate feels conservative at this price
• Rear-facing ports require some adjustment for desk users
• Keyboard feedback is adequate but not the best in class

Performance Rating: 9.2/10

Quick-Fire Alternatives

• ASUS Vivobook S 14 (M5406WA-PP962WS) — Rs 1,04,990 (7.5 / 10)

• HP OmniBook X 14 (B91BSPA) — Rs 1,43,499 (7.5 / 10)

Non-Gaming Over Rs 1.5 Lakh: Dell Pro Max 16 Plus (MB16250) - Rs 9,00,000

Most laptops at this price are very good. The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus is something different. It is a professional workstation that happens to be portable, and it makes no attempt to disguise that. In one sentence, it's the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX at 55W, NVIDIA RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell, 128GB CAMM2 RAM, and Gen 5 NVMe storage in a 16-inch chassis. That is a platform specification you would expect to find in a tower. It is priced comparably to a tower as well, with the budget that can be allotted to a small hatchback in India.

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The benchmark results match the hardware. Cinebench R23 multi-thread reached 36,274, by far the highest CPU score in this guide, with single-thread at 2,199. Cinebench R24 multi-thread was 1,982, again the highest here. PCMark 10 scored 8,430 and PCMark 10 Extended came in at 11,599. Geekbench 6 single-core was 3,008 and multi-core 20,962. The RTX Pro 5000 is not a gaming GPU. It is a professional graphics card with certified drivers for workstation applications. The kind of setup used by engineers, architects, and visual effects professionals running simulation, rendering, and compute workloads, where reliability and accuracy under sustained load matter more than peak frame rates.

The 4K Tandem OLED display is among the best panels available in any laptop currently on the market. The modular architecture allows for RAM, storage, and port expansion in ways that consumer laptops do not permit. The 96Wh battery is reasonable given the hardware it supports. It runs hot under full load, and it is not light, and at Rs 9 lakh it occupies a completely different purchasing category from everything else in this guide.

The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus is not a laptop you buy to cover your bases. It is a laptop you buy when your work genuinely demands it, and when it does, nothing else in this guide can substitute.

Pros:

• Highest CPU performance in this guide by a significant margin
• RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell for professional GPU workloads
• 128GB CAMM2 RAM and modular expansion architecture
• 4K Tandem OLED display is exceptional
• Enterprise build quality and durability

Cons:

• Runs very hot under sustained load
• Significant weight for a portable workstation
• Rs 9,00,000 price point is a specific professional investment

Performance Rating: 9.4/10

Quick-Fire Alternatives

• Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Ultra — Rs 3,00,000 (8.5 / 10)

• ASUS ExpertBook Ultra — Rs 3,49,990 (8.0 / 10)
  

Computex 2026 will likely be remembered as the show where two things happened simultaneously: the budget end of the laptop market got genuinely interesting, and the high end got genuinely strange.

Apple's MacBook Neo forced Windows OEMs to show up with affordable, well-built machines for the first time in years. And NVIDIA's RTX Spark changed what "high performance laptop" even means, pulling the conversation away from discrete GPU specs into unified memory, Arm cores, and local AI compute. Here is every laptop worth knowing about from this year's show.

Acer Swift Air 14 - MacBook Neo Competitor

When Apple launched the MacBook Neo earlier this year, starting at $599 (Rs 69,900 in India), Windows laptop makers had a problem. The Neo was cheap, looked great, and worked well. The Acer Swift Air 14 is Acer's most direct answer to that problem.

The Swift Air 14 starts at $699 in the US and runs Intel's Core Series 3 processors, topping out at a Core 7 350. It weighs 1.25 kg, measures 12.9 mm at its thinnest point, and comes in four pretty unique colours of sage green, frost blue, blossom pink, and lilac purple. The 14-inch display runs at 1920x1200 in a 16:10 aspect ratio at 120Hz, and the 70Wh battery is rated for up to 19 hours of video playback, and fast charging brings it to 50 percent in 30 minutes.

The Swift Air 14 is not a performance machine. The Core Series 3 chip with its 17 TOPS NPU is positioned well below Copilot+ territory, and the ceiling of 16GB RAM and 512GB storage reflects its budget-conscious position. What it is, is a machine that finally makes the Windows ultraportable argument with deliberate design and real portability credentials rather than by cutting corners everywhere. A quad-speaker setup with DTS:X Ultra adds something most laptops at this price skip entirely.

Acer Aspire Go 15 - World's First Snapdragon C Laptop

The Acer Aspire Go 15 has a distinction no other laptop currently holds: it is the first device ever announced with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon C processor. That makes it historically interesting even before you look at the rest of the spec sheet.

The Snapdragon C platform is Qualcomm's entry into the budget PC market, targeting devices at $300 and up. The Aspire Go 15 runs Windows 11 Home on this new ARM chip, with the Adreno GPU on board, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage. The 15.6-inch Full HD display has narrow bezels, and the 53Wh battery is positioned for all-day use.

However, the Go 15 is a machine with a few constraints. The 8GB RAM ceiling means this is firmly a web browsing, documents, and streaming device, and the Snapdragon C chip is a new, largely unproven platform.

Acer has not confirmed pricing or a launch date for the Indian market yet. But as the first commercial device on Snapdragon C, the Aspire Go 15 represents something important: Qualcomm's attempt to bring Arm-based Windows laptops to the price range where most people actually buy computers.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026) - 20th Anniversary Flagship

This is ROG's 20th anniversary, and the company chose to celebrate it by building what it calls the most powerful laptop it has ever made.

The ROG Strix Scar 18 (2026) is configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, and it runs at a maximum total system power of 320W in Manual mode, with 175W available to the GPU and up to 145W for the CPU.

The display is the headline spec: it is the world's first 18-inch 4K 240Hz Mini LED laptop panel, featuring ROG Nebula ELMB (Extreme Low Motion Blur) with over 2,000 dimming zones, 1,600 nits of peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and AGLR (anti-glare, low reflection) technology that ROG claims enhances contrast by 4.5x over standard glass. Storage scales up to 8TB across dual PCIe Gen 5 M.2 slots, and RAM can reach 128GB of DDR5-6400 across dual upgradeable slots.

Cooling is extensive: a 20% thicker vapor chamber than the previous generation, Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU, and a new tri-fan design that ROG claims improves total airflow by 91% over the prior Scar 18.

The Scar 18 launched as part of the wider ROG Edition 20 anniversary showcase at Computex and is already listed on the ASUS US website, making it one of the few Computex announcements with immediate availability.

ASUS ProArt P16 and P14 - RTX Spark Creator Machines

The ASUS ProArt P16 and P14 are among the first laptops in the world powered by NVIDIA's new RTX Spark superchip, and they represent perhaps the most complete implementation of the platform announced at this show.

RTX Spark integrates a 20-core NVIDIA Grace CPU with a Blackwell-architecture RTX GPU carrying 6,144 CUDA cores and fifth-generation FP4 Tensor Cores, all connected via NVIDIA's NVLink-C2C chip-to-chip interconnect and backed by up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X memory. The platform is said to deliver up to 1 petaflop of AI compute and can run 120B-parameter language models locally with up to 1 million tokens of context.

The ProArt P16 doesn't skimp at all in the display department with a 16-inch 4K 120Hz Lumina Pro OLED touchscreen with NVIDIA G-Sync, Delta E under 1 colour accuracy, anti-reflection coating, and 1,600 nits of peak brightness.

ASUS also bundles its ProArt Creator Hub software, along with AI-assisted tools including MuseTree and StoryCube. Availability begins in fall 2026 in select regions, with pricing not yet announced.

Dell XPS 13 (2026) - MacBook Neo Competitor

Dell's answer to the MacBook Neo may be the most compelling one at Computex. The XPS 13 (DX13260) starts at $699 for regular buyers and $599 for students during the back-to-school period, matching the MacBook Neo's pricing while offering a different feature set.

It launches with Intel's "Panther Lake" Core 5 320 processor, with a more powerful Core Ultra 7 355 option coming post-launch. The chassis weighs 0.9 kg and measures 12.7 mm thin, making it the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop Dell has ever built. It is constructed from CNC-machined aluminium. The base configuration includes 8GB LPDDR5x RAM and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 storage, with options scaling up to 32GB RAM and 1TB storage.

Where the XPS 13 pulls ahead of the MacBook Neo on paper is connectivity and features. It has dual USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 on Core Ultra models, Wi-Fi 7 versus the Neo's Wi-Fi 6E, a quad-speaker array with 8W output and Dolby Atmos versus the Neo's two-speaker system, a 1080p webcam with IR for Windows Hello face unlock, a 120Hz display, and a backlit keyboard. The Neo has no keyboard backlight, although the tradeoff is that the XPS 13 has no headphone jack.

HP OmniBook Ultra 16 and OmniBook X 14 -Thinnest RTX Spark Laptops

HP's entry into the RTX Spark wave comes with a specific claim: these are the thinnest laptops in the world powered by the platform, and HP has the measurements to back it up. The OmniBook Ultra 16 comes in at a rear height of 15.73 mm, and the OmniBook X 14 at 13.53 mm, verified against HP's internal analysis of comparable RTX Spark machines at the time of announcement.

Both laptops are built around NVIDIA's RTX Spark superchip with its 20-core Grace CPU, Blackwell RTX GPU with 6,144 CUDA cores, and support for up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X memory delivering up to 1 petaflop of AI compute. HP has designed these machines for creators, developers, and AI-focused workflows, positioning them as pre-configured platforms with OpenClaw-based starter kits and support for agent frameworks, reducing setup time for developers who need local AI environments.

The OmniBook Ultra 16 is HP's bid for the creative professional market, targeting users who need a 16-inch machine that does not feel like a desktop replacement. The OmniBook X 14 sits in the portable productivity tier, where the existing Snapdragon X Elite version of the OmniBook X already had a strong reputation for efficiency and endurance. Full specifications, pricing, and availability details have not been disclosed. Both are expected to launch later in 2026.

Lenovo Yoga Pro 9n - RTX Spark for Creators

Lenovo named it cleanly: the Yoga Pro 9i is the Intel version, and the Yoga Pro 9n is the NVIDIA one. The 9n is Lenovo's first laptop built on RTX Spark, and from what Computex attendees saw on the show floor, it follows the Yoga Pro 9i's established design language while adapting its internals and port configuration to the new platform.

The RTX Spark chip at its core combines a 20-core Grace CPU with 10 Cortex-X925 performance cores and 10 Cortex-A725 efficiency cores, paired with a Blackwell GPU carrying 6,144 CUDA cores and fifth-generation Tensor Cores. The system supports up to 128GB of unified memory and 1 petaflop of AI compute. The chassis is 15 inches, built in aluminium in Thunder Grey, with a Yoga aesthetic and a large rear exhaust area indicating thermal headroom for sustained RTX Spark performance.

Unlike the Yoga Pro 9i with its proprietary charging connector, the 9n moves to USB-C charging, consistent with RTX Spark's Arm-based architecture. Lenovo cites all-day battery life. Pricing and launch date have not been announced.

Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra - RTX Spark's Flagship Statement

Microsoft called the Surface Laptop Ultra the most powerful Surface device it has ever built, and the specification behind that claim is straightforward: it is the first Surface laptop to run on NVIDIA silicon since the Tegra-powered Surface RT in 2012.

The Surface Laptop Ultra is powered by RTX Spark, delivering a 20-core Grace CPU, a Blackwell RTX GPU with 6,144 CUDA cores (NVIDIA equates this to approximately RTX 5070 performance at the platform's power envelope), and up to 128GB of unified LPDDR5X memory.

It can run 120B-parameter AI models locally. The display is a 15-inch mini-LED PixelSense Ultra touchscreen at 2,880x1,920 resolution with a 3:2 aspect ratio and up to 2,000 nits of peak HDR brightness, which is apparently the brightest display Microsoft has ever shipped in a Surface.

What makes the Surface Laptop Ultra significant is the combination of what it represents architecturally and who makes it. This is Microsoft building its flagship professional laptop on NVIDIA's first consumer PC processor platform, effectively endorsing RTX Spark as the direction Windows on Arm should go. Pricing has not been announce and it launches in fall 2026.

MSI Prestige N16 Flip AI+ - RTX Spark's Most Versatile Form Factor

MSI holds the distinction of building the world's first 16-inch 2-in-1 convertible powered by NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform. That combination of a large professional display, a 360-degree hinge, and unified AI compute in a single machine is genuinely new.

The Prestige N16 Flip AI+ features a 16-inch UHD+ Tandem OLED touchscreen with a dual-layer emissive structure that stacks two OLED panels to share light output, resulting in over 1,000 nits of peak brightness with improved panel longevity and power efficiency over standard OLED. Touch and pen input via the MSI Nano Pen are included while the 360-degree hinge enables laptop, tablet, tent, and presentation modes.

At its core is RTX Spark: 20-core Grace CPU, 6,144 Blackwell CUDA cores, up to 128GB of unified memory, and 1 petaflop of AI compute. MSI frames this machine for creators who want to work locally with large models and creative pipelines without sacrificing portability, and for gaming when needed, the full RTX feature set including DLSS, G-Sync, and Reflex is present. No launch date or price has been set globally.

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Vincent van Gogh Edition - Art Meets Performance

The MSI Artisan Collection returned at Computex 2026 with its boldest entry yet. The Prestige 14 Flip AI+ Vincent van Gogh Edition draws from two of van Gogh's most recognisable night paintings, The Starry Night and Starry Night Over the Rhône, rendered across the lid in two distinct variants.

MSI has not simply printed artwork onto a lid. The finish uses layered materials and light-reactive treatments to echo the texture and movement of van Gogh's brushwork, with the MSI logo integrated seamlessly into both compositions. Last year's Prestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e Edition sold out and now resells for up to $3,000, which explains the ambition behind this successor. The bundle accompanying the Van Gogh Edition includes a wireless mouse, two art-inspired mousepads, a keyboard cover, ID badge, sleeve bag, and Van Gogh-themed packaging.

Underneath the artwork is a capable machine. The Prestige 14 Flip AI+ runs Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, specifically the Core Ultra X9 378H with Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics, with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 NVMe storage. Pricing has not been announced.

MSI Katana Series - Confirmed for India

The MSI Katana Series makes a return to India, which matters to Indian buyers because the Katana line has historically been one of the most practical pathways into mid-range gaming laptop territory.

The 2026 Katana 15 HX targets mainstream gamers with up to an Intel Core i9 or i5 HX processor paired with up to a full-powered NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU at up to 170W of combined CPU and GPU power. The display is a 15.6-inch FHD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, and the chassis carries a customisable 4-zone RGB keyboard. MSI is positioning this as the accessible entry point into RTX 50 Series gaming performance, for users upgrading from older systems or entering PC gaming for the first time.

The Katana remains deliberately positioned: this is not a thin machine, and it does not try to be. The trade-off for the mainstream GPU power and full-wattage configurations is a thicker chassis that handles thermals without compromise. India pricing and exact availability dates will be announced through official MSI India channels.

MSI Crosshair 16 HX - Mainstream Gaming with Serious Performance

The MSI Crosshair 16 HX sits in an interesting position in MSI's 2026 gaming lineup. It is the machine for mainstream gamers who want more than the Katana but do not need the flagship Raider or Titan hardware.

The 2026 Crosshair 16 has been made substantially thinner at 21.9 mm, which MSI says represents a 14.3 percent reduction from the previous generation, while delivering up to 200W of combined CPU and GPU power, a 17.6 percent improvement. The standard Crosshair 16 HX uses Intel Core i9-14900HX and Core i7-14650HX processors paired with RTX 5070, 5060, or 5050 Laptop GPU options, all with 8GB GDDR7. The display on the standard Crosshair 16 HX is a 2.5K 240Hz IPS-level panel. Cooling comes from MSI's Cooler Boost system with dual fans, five heat pipes, and four exhaust vents. An 80Wh battery is standard across the Crosshair 16 range.

The more premium Crosshair 16 Max steps up to Intel Core Ultra 200HX Plus processors and an RTX 5070 GPU, with a 2.5K 165Hz OLED panel instead of IPS. Ports on both models include three USB-A, two USB-C (one Thunderbolt 4 on the Max), HDMI, and Ethernet. For the Indian market, MSI India confirmed that Computex 2026 products will reach India, with pricing and dates to follow through official channels.

Battery life has always been one of the most important laptop specs. At least for non-gaming machines. It is not the flashiest number on a spec sheet, and it rarely gets the same attention as a faster processor or a brighter OLED display, but it is the one feature that decides whether a laptop actually fits into your day. A machine can look premium, benchmark well, and still become annoying the moment you leave the charger behind. That is why a strong battery result matters so much. It changes how you work, where you work, and how often you have to think about power management.

This list is built around laptops we have personally tested over the last 18 months, not around claimed endurance numbers from marketing pages. That distinction matters. A laptop with a big battery is not automatically a long-lasting laptop. Display type, processor platform, efficiency tuning, and even how the laptop behaves in Balanced mode all influence real-world runtime. In practice, this year's list is interesting because it shows two clear trends. First, Qualcomm-powered Windows laptops have made a serious push into endurance. Second, ASUS has quietly built one of the strongest battery-life lineups in the market, across clamshells, convertibles, and premium ultrabooks.

Note: This is a living list built from laptops we have personally tested over the last 18 months. New models will be added when they earn a place here.

How We Test Laptop Battery Life

To keep the results consistent, we use the PCMark 10 Video Loop battery benchmark. It is a simple but useful test that loops video playback until the laptop shuts down from a full charge. The point is not to recreate one perfect workload but to have a repeatable baseline that gives us an honest sense of how long the laptop lasts in a light, real-world scenario.

Every laptop is tested in Balanced power mode, with brightness fixed at 80 percent, and battery-saving or sleep features turned off. Fan modes stay on Auto wherever possible. That means the results are not inflated by aggressive low-power settings that most people would never actually use in daily life. It also means the numbers are easier to compare across platforms, because the same method is applied to each machine.

That testing approach is important here because battery life does not exist in isolation. A laptop that lasts 20 hours but feels sluggish or awkward to use is not automatically better than one that lasts 16 hours but gives you a better screen, stronger performance, or a more practical keyboard. In other words, battery life is only part of the story. The best machines on this list are the ones that combine endurance with enough polish to make the rest of the experience worthwhile.

Top 5 laptops with the best battery life we've tested

1. ASUS Vivobook S16 S3607QA-SH079WS

Battery life tested: 26 hours 18 minutes
Battery capacity: 70Wh

The ASUS Vivobook S16 is still the standout here, and not by a small margin. A tested runtime of 26 hours and 18 minutes is outstanding for any Windows laptop, and even more so for a 16-inch machine with an OLED display. In practical terms, this is the kind of laptop that changes your habits. You stop hovering around charging points. You stop carrying a charger everywhere. You stop mentally tracking battery percentage in the middle of the day.

That level of endurance is not accidental. Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform plays a big role here, but so does ASUS' decision to position this as a productivity-focused machine rather than a performance-first one. The Vivobook S16 is clearly meant for users who spend most of their time in browsers, documents, meetings, email, and media. It feels like a laptop built for modern hybrid work, where you may start the day on a desk and end it on a sofa, in a café, or in a meeting room.

The large OLED panel is one of the reasons the S16 feels premium, but it also explains part of the battery balancing act. OLED gives you excellent contrast and vibrant colours, which makes the display more pleasant for long viewing sessions. At the same time, the 1200p resolution is not especially crisp at this size. That is one of the few compromises you notice if you sit close to the screen. ARM compatibility is the other obvious caveat. Most users will be fine, but anyone relying on niche legacy software should still be aware of the platform shift.

Even so, none of those limitations undo the main achievement here. The Vivobook S16 is the laptop on this list that most effectively removes battery anxiety from the equation. That is why it sits at the top.

Pros

• Exceptional battery life
• Lightweight 16-inch form factor
• Vibrant OLED display
• Stylish Salvia Green design

Cons

• ARM architecture quirks
• 1200p resolution is not very crisp

2. ASUS Vivobook 14 Flip TP3407SA-QL025WS

Battery life tested: 23 hours 25 minutes
Battery capacity: 70Wh

The Vivobook 14 Flip takes the same endurance-first approach and packages it into a more flexible body. At 23 hours and 25 minutes, it is one of the few convertibles that genuinely feels ready for all-day use without forcing a charger into your bag as a permanent accessory. In a 2-in-1 this is pretty good than in a standard clamshell, because convertible laptops are usually expected to do more. They need to work as a laptop, a tablet, a media stand, and occasionally a presentation device. Battery life becomes even more critical when a single machine is expected to handle all of that.

What makes the 14 Flip appealing is not just the number, but the way it fits into real usage. It is practical both as a laptop and as a tablet, accomplishing tasks like browsing and note-taking. In tent or stand mode, it becomes a good companion for streaming and presentations. The battery endurance means you can actually use those modes freely instead of treating them as short novelty sessions that have to be timed around a charger.

The review pointed out a few things that make the laptop easier to live with. The keyboard is comfortable, the build quality is solid, the display is good, and features like Windows Hello and the camera shutter add real-world convenience. That said, it is still not a performance monster, and the reflective panel can become annoying in brighter environments.

This is the sort of laptop that makes sense for students, travellers, and office users who like the idea of a single machine that can shift roles throughout the day without dying halfway through.

Pros

• Fantastic battery life
• Good build with a comfortable keyboard
• Great display with convertible form factor
• Windows Hello with camera shutter

Cons

• Raw performance is not class-leading
• Reflective display

3. HP OmniBook X 14-ka0068TU

Battery life tested: 19:59
Battery capacity: 70Wh

HP's OmniBook X 14 is the first laptop on this list that starts to feel like a genuinely premium daily driver rather than a battery endurance specialist. At 19 hours and 59 minutes, it still clears the kind of runtime most people would happily take on a work laptop, but what makes it more interesting is how complete the rest of the package feels.

This is a compact 14-inch machine, which immediately gives it a portability advantage. It is easier to carry than the larger 16-inch Vivobooks, and it feels more suited to users who move around frequently. The 3K OLED display adds a real premium touch, because the sharper panel makes the laptop feel more expensive the moment you start using it. Text looks cleaner, visuals pop more, and the panel quality adds a sense of polish that many thin-and-light laptops still fail to deliver.

Our review has framed it as a freelancer-friendly machine, and that is a pretty accurate way to think about it. It has a strong keyboard, sturdy build quality, and enough ports to avoid the usual ultrabook frustration. The battery life helps reinforce that sense of practicality as this is not just about being able to keep going. It is about doing so while still feeling like a capable work machine.

There are a couple of trade-offs. The audio could be fuller, and the lack of a built-in SD card reader will matter to some creators. Still, the OmniBook X 14 earns its place because it balances endurance, portability, and a premium display better than almost anything else in its class.

Pros

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

Cons

• Audio performance lacks bass and depth
• No built-in SD card reader

4. ASUS Zenbook A14 OLED UX3407QA-QD259WS

Battery life tested: 19:57
Battery capacity: 70Wh

The Zenbook A14 is the lightest-feeling laptop in this group, and that gives it a very different kind of appeal. As such the machine is not the biggest, the fastest, or the most dramatic machine here, but it is trying to be the easiest one to carry and use for long stretches. At 19 hours and 57 minutes, it lands almost exactly on the HP OmniBook X 14 in battery life, which makes the portability story even more convincing.

This is a laptop that makes sense for users who spend a lot of time away from a desk. Just toss the machine into a backpack without a second thought, take it to meetings, move between rooms, or carry it across a campus or office floor without feeling burdened. This practicality is a big part of its appeal. The keyboard and touchpad are both strong and when a laptop is this light, every part of the typing and navigation experience has to be good, because there is less physical heft to hide any flaws.

In our review, the biggest compromise is the display. The 60Hz 1200p panel does not match the premium nature of the rest of the machine. Storage is another limitation, since 512GB can start to feel tight if you keep a lot of media, projects, or large software installs on the machine. But the upside remains compelling. Battery life is excellent, portability is excellent, and the build feels sturdy enough to last through heavy daily use.

The Zenbook A14 is not the most exciting laptop on paper. It is just one of the easiest to actually live with.

Pros

• Exceptional battery life and portability
• Solid everyday performance
• Durable build quality
• Great keyboard and touchpad

Cons

• 60Hz 1200p display feels outdated
• Only 512GB storage offered
• Not for performance enthusiasts

5. ASUS Zenbook S 16 UM5606WA-RJ310WS

Battery life tested: 16:27
Battery capacity: 78Wh

The Zenbook S 16 is the most performance-oriented machine on this list, and that changes how you should think about its battery result. At 16 hours and 27 minutes, it is not chasing the same extreme longevity as the top two entries, but it is doing very well for a machine with heavier hardware and a much more ambitious overall design.

That approach is visible everywhere. The display is a 3K 120Hz OLED touchscreen, which immediately gives the laptop a more upscale feel than the typical productivity machine. The performance is strong enough to handle demanding multitasking and creative work comfortably, and the build quality is clearly aiming at the premium end of the market. In use, it feels like a laptop for people who want one machine that can do a bit of everything, without looking or feeling like a compromise.

Its place on the list is important for another reason too. It shows that battery life is not only about efficiency-driven hardware like Qualcomm chips. It also depends on how well a manufacturer tunes a more powerful, more feature-rich design. The Zenbook S 16 is proof that you can have strong performance, a premium OLED panel, and still avoid the kind of battery collapse that used to be common in this class.

It is expensive, no question. But it is also the most rounded option here for users who care about power as much as endurance.

Pros

• Premium build quality
• Impressive battery life
• Great performance
• Gorgeous 3K 120Hz OLED display with touch support

Cons

• Quite expensive

Final Takeaway

Battery life is no longer just a supporting spec. On the best laptops, it is a core part of the experience. It determines whether a machine feels flexible or fragile, whether it can travel with you comfortably, and whether it turns into a laptop you enjoy using or one you keep checking for a charger.

What this list makes clear is that there is no single formula for great battery life. Some laptops get there through ultra-efficient processors, some through careful tuning, and some by simply balancing a lot of expensive hardware more intelligently than most. The ASUS Vivobook S16 is the endurance leader. The Vivobook 14 Flip is the most versatile. The HP OmniBook X 14 and Zenbook A14 are the strongest portable all-rounders. The Zenbook S 16 is the premium choice for users who want a more powerful machine without giving up too much runtime.

That is the real story here. Good battery life is no longer about compromise. It is about freedom. And these five laptops deliver more of it than most of the market.

Wzatco is a familiar name in the budget projector segment. You can sense its popularity from the sheer number of mostly positive reviews across e-commerce platforms. However, the Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra isn't positioned in the budget space. Its Rs 17,990 sticker price positions it in a relatively premium category and demands higher expectations in return.

On paper, it appears to justify the asking price with features such as Google TV, built-in battery support, autofocus, keystone correction, and native Full HD resolution. The Yuva Go Ultra also promises the convenience of a portable entertainment system that can be carried almost anywhere. But in a market crowded with capable smart projectors, specifications alone are not enough.

After spending time with the Yuva Go Ultra as my primary entertainment device for movies, shows, sports, and casual gaming, here's whether it truly delivers an experience worthy of its price tag.

Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra specs

• Display projection: 40-inch to 200-inch
• Resolution: 1080p native with HDR10+
• Brightness: 13,000 lumens
• Viewing angle: 360-degree
• Audio: 5W built-in output
• OS: Android 14
• Keystone correction: 4-point digital keystone, auto
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.0, 1x HDMI, 1x USB, 1x Aux
• Other features: auto focus, digital focus
• Dimensions & weight: 22 × 24 × 7 cm, 1.4 kgs

Design

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra can be placed on a flat surface, such as a table, or mounted on a stand (sold separately). Thanks to its innovative 360-degree rotating frame, the projector offers multiple positioning options regardless of how it is installed. The frame provides enough resistance to securely hold the projector at various angles without slipping. It also features anti-skid pads for added stability on flat surfaces, along with a threaded mounting point for stand installation.

Apart from its flexible positioning options, the Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra also impresses with its design. Its squarish form factor with rounded corners makes it compact, roughly the size of a diary, and lightweight enough to carry around with ease. While the projector features a plastic body, the matte finish lends it a premium look and feel, allowing it to blend seamlessly into not just a bedroom setup but also a living or drawing room.

My only gripe with the device is its power cable. For a projector designed for home use and intended to be positioned at least a metre away from the wall for an optimal projection setup, the included roughly one-metre cable feels short. It limited the placement options, even in a room like mine, where there is a power socket on nearly every wall.

After several attempts, I was able to find a sweet spot for the projector where the image fit comfortably within the wall without overshooting its boundaries. In my case, that ended up being a table in the living room, paired with a power extension board. The setup didn't look clean, and for most users, this is how it is going to be. If you want a slightly cleaner setup, then mounting the projector might be a better solution.

Controls & remote

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra features just a single physical button, located at the rear alongside all the connectivity ports. This button is solely used to power the projector on or off. For everything else, you'll need to rely on the bundled IR remote, which is compact and styled similarly to the remotes found with modern Android TVs.

The remote includes dedicated hotkeys for popular streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video, along with a Google Assistant button for voice commands. Instead of traditional channel-switching controls, it features dedicated focus adjustment buttons for quick image tuning. The rest of the layout is straightforward and intuitive, making the remote easy to use from the outset.

The remote works reliably even from a reasonable distance. However, since it uses IR rather than Bluetooth, it performs best when pointed directly at the projector with a clear line of sight and minimal obstructions in between.

Software

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra's software experience feels instantly familiar. Running Google TV based on Android 14, it delivers the intuitive interface users have come to expect. The home screen highlights personalised content recommendations at the top (if enabled), followed by a row of neatly arranged circular app icons for quick access. As a Google TV device, the projector also gives you access to a vast library of applications through the official Google Play Store, allowing you to customise the experience to your liking.

While the software is generally intuitive and easy to navigate, it isn't without its shortcomings. Minor stutters are noticeable during the initial boot-up process, and the interface occasionally feels sluggish when the projector is connected to an external speaker. Certain elements, particularly the Settings menu, also appear dated compared to the more polished interfaces found on newer Google TV devices. Additionally, the dedicated Disney+ button on the remote has not been updated to launch JioHotstar following the service's rebranding in India.

Audio

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra features dual 5W built-in speakers, with the speaker grilles positioned along the side edges. Given the modest power output, the audio performance is fairly basic and lacks the clarity and richness needed for an engaging entertainment experience. In my usage, the speakers were adequate for following commentary during live sports, such as IPL matches. At maximum volume levels, the projector can fill an entire room, but the soundstage is very limited, resulting in flat audio.

The projector does offer several preset sound profiles, including Movie, Sports, Music, and others, allowing you to tailor the audio to different types of content. However, these modes only bring marginal improvements. Even with the most suitable profile selected, the built-in speakers struggle to deliver the depth and immersion that films and shows deserve. If audio quality matters to you, pairing the projector with a dedicated soundbar or external speaker system is highly recommended.

I paired the Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra with the Zebronics Juke Bar 9710C over Bluetooth, but there was noticeable audio latency. The delay was particularly evident while watching videos, where dialogue and on-screen action were not perfectly in sync. I even tried it with the Xiaomi Sound Outdoor Speaker, but ended up facing the same problem.

The projector includes a 3.5mm Aux output for wired audio connections, which should ideally eliminate latency altogether. However, during my testing, the aux port failed to output any sound, preventing me from verifying its performance with external speakers. As a result, the audio experience remained one of the more disappointing aspects of the Yuva Go Ultra.

Performance

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Keystone-Correction-Wzatco-Yuva-Go-Ultra-e1782187934494.jpeg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Auto-Focus-Wzatco-Yuva-Go-Ultra-e1782187823268.jpeg" offset="0.5" before="Auto Keystone Correction" after="Auto Focus"]

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra takes a little time to start up, as it also analyses focus and keystone alignment before projecting an image. The process is impressively accurate, automatically adjusting both focus and keystone correction to deliver a sharp, well-aligned picture. The projector repeats this process every time it is moved or nudged, ensuring the image remains straight and properly aligned. I barely had to dig into the settings to manually adjust the focus and alignment.

Video quality

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra does a respectable job when it comes to image projection. While it performs best in a pitch-dark room, where it delivers a crisp, bright, and contrast-rich picture, the image remains surprisingly watchable even in dimly lit environments across its supported screen sizes from 40 to 200 inches. During my testing, I primarily used the projector at a screen size between 60 and 170 inches (measured diagonally), and its native 1080p resolution proved sufficient to keep text sharp and easily readable while also providing a reasonably cinematic viewing experience.

The colours look vibrant, with warm, saturated tones that many casual viewers will appreciate. There are several picture modes to play around with, such as Sports, which offers punchier tones than the Movie profile and is ideal for action content. Gamers can also plug their consoles into the Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra, which supports the segment's standard 60Hz refresh rate.

But like other projectors in the segment, the Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra's 13,000-lumen brightness doesn't hold up well even in a moderately lit environment. The picture quality looks washed out, although watchable, with a window open in daylight.

Verdict

The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra is a viable option for smaller spaces. Its compact footprint and flexible mounting options make setup hassle-free, while its large projection range delivers a cinematic viewing experience without requiring a dedicated media room. In dark environments, the projector produces a sharp, vibrant image with pleasing colours, which is one of its strongest attributes. The audio quality also feels respectable, if not impressive, for tight spaces.

However, it is far from being a TV alternative. The Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra's picture quality feels underwhelming in brighter environments, and its speaker lacks a wide soundstage for an immersive experience. Furthermore, Bluetooth audio suffers from noticeable latency, and the Aux output failed to work during testing. Software performance is acceptable but not particularly polished.

While there is room for improvement, the Wzatco Yuva Go Ultra remains a capable portable smart projector with good image quality and hassle-free setup.

Editor's rating: 8/10

Pros

• Compact, lightweight
• Reliable auto focus and keystone correction
• Sharp visuals in dark rooms

Cons

• Audio quality could have been better
• Noticeable Bluetooth latency

The Shark 2 5G is the Lava's answer to the recent new 5G releases under Rs 15,000. Launched at Rs 11,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, the Shark 2 5G takes on the Ai+ Nova 2 5G and HMD Vibe 2 5G by offering one of the most aggressive prices in a segment heavily hit by rising memory costs. While this has led to newer phones coming with noticeably inferior hardware compared to last year's models, are Lava's core strengths, such as offering clean software and free home service, enough to beat the competition? Find out in this detailed review where I used the Shark 2 5G for over a week

Quick verdict

The Lava Shark 2 5G is a strong option under Rs 15,000, offering an appealing gaming-inspired back design, a decent display, clean software, and excellent battery life for daily use. However, its cameras fall short of the competition, and charging speeds feel underwhelming.

Design: flaunts gaming-inspired accents

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The smartphone integrates several intricate gaming-inspired elements into the back panel, giving it a distinct and modern appearance.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The Lava Shark 2 5G sports a boxy polycarbonate build with a glossy rear panel. For a distinct appeal, Lava has integrated several intricate elements into the panel, including a large mesh-like portion, an orange triangle in the bottom-right corner, and a reflective camera module. When all the elements are combined, they give the phone a gaming-inspired accent.

Much like the HMD Vibe 2 (review) and Ai+ Nova 2 (review) that I recently reviewed, the Lava Shark 2 5G is a large phone that may feel bulky to hold at first. However, most users should get used to it with time. The handset features a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom and a dedicated microSD card slot on the SIM tray. For added durability, the Shark 2 5G is rated IP64 for dust and water resistance. In my brief use, the camera module has endured micro scratches, so if you wish to keep the back panel clean, make sure to use the bundled TPU case.

[comparative-benchmark type="1000" products="42191,41905,41369,41754," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Display: serviceable panel for everyday use

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The 720p display outputs adequate saturation and contrasty tones for an LCD panel, while the YouTube video watching experience is assisted by 4K resolution playback.
[/pdp-expert-review]

Next up is the display. Just as when I thought the viewing experience would be average, given the 720p resolution, the hardware onboard allows the Shark 2 5G to play YouTube videos at up to 4K quality. Even though the video isn't rendered in 4K, selecting a higher resolution delivers a higher bitrate, resulting in sharper details. However, beyond YouTube, the detail levels on OTT apps may not be as impressive.

Coming to technical specifications and colour output, the 6.75-inch HD+ LCD display with a U-shape cutout up top delivers adequate saturation and contrasty tones. Given the technology, the display's colours fade away when tilting or viewing the phone from the sides. With a 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling through the UI and apps was fairly smooth, except for times when the performance takes a hit due to multiple apps running in the background.

Although the phone came with a pre-installed screen protector, I removed it on day one. Even after using the phone without it, the display remains completely free of scratches and scuffs, mainly because I always keep it in a pocket without any other items like coins, keys, or a wallet. Lastly, just like other budget phones, the screen gets sufficiently bright indoors, while outside, viewing the screen becomes challenging, especially under sunlight.

[comparative-benchmark type="2000" products="42191,41905,41369,41754," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Performance: needs slight improvement

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While it handles basic tasks smoothly, games like Call of Duty: Mobile stutter during extended gaming sessions.
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The Unisoc T8200 powers the Lava Shark 2 5G, providing it enough performance prowess for handling basic to medium-level tasks. The phone comes in a single storage configuration of 4GB LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB UFS 2.2 storage. In benchmark tests such as AnTuTu and Geekbench, the phone delivers scores similar to other Unisoc T8200-powered devices and slightly behind the Dimensity 6300.

[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="42191,41905,41369,41754," ][/comparative-benchmark]

[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="42191,41905,41369,41754," ][/comparative-benchmark]

While the phone initially handled basic tasks smoothly, such as chatting on WhatsApp and scrolling through Instagram Reels, occasional stutters started appearing as soon as I installed and used more apps, such as running Google Health and Realme Link in the background. If you're someone who resorts to basic phone use, the Lava Shark 2 5G should be able to keep up, but beyond that, the performance may feel sluggish.

Moving on, I tried playing Call of Duty: Mobile's Multiplayer mode on the Lava Shark 2 5G. For the initial few minutes, the handset delivered consistently high frame rates, but noticeable stutters cropped up after a couple of matches. Since the processor is 5G enabled, I had no issues browsing social media, web pages, or YouTube videos on mobile data, since it delivered reliable internet speeds.

Battery and charging: strong backup, slow top-up speeds

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The Lava Shark 2 5G's battery is capable of easily lasting a full working day from morning to night, while the charging speeds are quite slow.
[/pdp-expert-review]

The Lava Shark 2 5G runs on a fairly sized 6,000mAh battery, which is particularly more optimised than the same cell found on the HMD Vibe 2, per our in-house tests. Just like every other device that comes in for review, we put the Shark 2 5G through the PCMark Battery drain test, which mimics real-world use cases, such as browsing webpages, playing and editing videos, opening documents, and more. In the test, the device clocked 13 hours of runtime.

[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="42191,41369,41801,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

When carrying out light workflows on the Lava Shark 2 5G, the handset delivered a screen on time of five hours over a course of three days, with 17 percent battery remaining. During this period, the usage included WhatsApp chatting, doomscrolling on Instagram, playing YouTube videos, checking stats on Google Health, and playing a few matches of CODM. As for heavy use cases, the phone should easily last a full working day from morning to night, given my experience with the device.

Coming to charging, the device took a sluggish 3 hours and 14 minutes to go from 20 to 100 percent. This is relatively slow, especially when compared to many phones with larger batteries that charge noticeably faster.

[comparative-benchmark type="4000" products="42191,41369,41754,," ][/comparative-benchmark]

Camera: outputs modest results

[pdp-expert-review]
While the primary camera delivers vibrant images, it falls behind the competition in dynamic range and highlight control.
[/pdp-expert-review]

Even though the camera module displays two lenses, the Shark 2 5G houses a single 13MP main camera, while the U-shape notch within the display carries a 5MP selfie shooter. Given that it's a budget smartphone, one can expect modest camera outputs with a bare minimum of processing.

While the main camera outputs sufficiently vibrant colours, the high dynamic range is almost always a miss when the sky accumulates a major part of the background. The selfie camera shows similar characteristics, where the background tends to be blown out. Such flaws can be fixed with minor editing touch-ups, though. For a 13MP sensor, the details are serviceable.

At night, the images turn out soft and blurry, even if you capture the shots with steady hands. On the other hand, the highlight control of light sources is average, which is to be expected given the phone's price.

Now, let's see how the cameras of the Lava Shark 2 5G fare against the HMD Vibe 2:

[smartslider3 slider=2143]

Daylight

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Right off the bat, it's evident that the HMD Vibe 2 delivered a more realistic shot of the scene, with superior dynamic range over the Lava Shark 2 5G. In detail, too, the HMD handset does a better job; however, if you prefer vibrant results, the Shark 2 may appeal to you more.

Portrait

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The Lava Shark 2 5G turns the result in its favour in portrait by capturing near-accurate and appealing tones and colours. Even though the highlight control is inferior to the HMD Vibe 2, it doesn't add a greenish tint to the overall image and also preserves the details around the subject's edges.

Selfie

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In selfies, the HMD Vibe 2 produces more natural skin tones while delivering better contrast and clarity in both face and background. It's also less overexposed than Shark 2 5G's image.

Night mode

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Lava-Shark-2-night-mode-scaled.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/HMD-Vibe-2-nightmode-scaled.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Lava Shark 2 5G" after="HMD Vibe 2"]

While at first glance both images may seem on par, the HMD Vibe 2's shot preserves better clarity when zoomed in. It's also advantageous in highlight control and colour accuracy.

Software: departure from stock Android

[pdp-expert-review]
Unlike previously launched Lava phones, the Shark 2 5G runs a custom Android skin that moves away from stock Android
[/pdp-expert-review]

Unlike previous Lava releases from last year, I could easily identify that the smartphone doesn't sport a stock Android-like user interface. Instead, the software was more in line with the likes of HMD Vibe 2 and Ai+ Nova 2. For instance, the quick settings panel houses vertical sliders for adjusting media volume and brightness, along with two big rectangular toggles beside them.

If it were running stock Android, it would have featured pill-shaped toggles like those on Pixel UI or Hello UI with a horizontal brightness slider. Similarly, the Settings app lays out small colourful menu icons, which are not seen on stock Android skins based on Android 16.

On the positive note, the software continues to be devoid of third-party applications, theme stores, and marketplaces out of the box. However, you do get apps like Clean Assistant, Game Space, and Phone Clone, which were not present on older Lava smartphones. While there's no information on the number of major Android upgrades the Shark 2 5G is set to receive, the phone will get two years of security patches.

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Final verdict: Is the Lava Shark 2 5G worth your money for Rs 11,999?

The Shark 2 5G's closest competitor, HMD Vibe 2 5G, is selling at Rs 12,999 on Flipkart. The Lava Shark 2 5G, meanwhile, with its Rs 11,999 sticker price (unless the gap widens due to price hikes), delivers an identical display, software, battery, and performance experience.

Meaning, you get a decent display for watching videos and browsing, a processor that's good enough for engaging in basic to medium-level tasks, and strong battery life that'll last at least one working day. While I would have preferred a stock Android experience to maintain distinction, the Shark 2's software experience is similar to the Vibe 2, with minimal third-party apps out of the box. On the other hand, if cameras somewhat matter to you under Rs 15,000, the HMD smartphone tends to produce better primary and selfie camera results over the Shark 2 5G.

As for the Lava Shark 2 5G, it remains a competitively priced smartphone that remains a reliable companion for the most part, except for the cameras.

Editor's rating: 7.9/10

Reasons to buy the Lava Shark 2 5G

• Good-looking gaming-inspired design.
• Display delivers a decent content viewing experience for the price.
• Fairly clean software devoid of theme stores and app marketplaces.
• Offers enough battery endurance for a full working day.

Reasons to skip the Lava Shark 2 5G

• Takes almost three hours for a full charge.
• Cameras aren't on par with the competition.

The OPPO Reno 16 5G series is set to launch in India as the latest premium mid-range lineup from the brand. It will succeed the Reno 15 series, which was launched in India earlier this year. OPPO follows a bi-annual launch cycle for its Reno lineup. The new Reno 16 continues with the compact design of its predecessor, the Reno 15 (review), and a striking design as well. OPPO has always been known for its charming aesthetics, especially in the Reno series, and the same strategy has been applied to the latest Reno 16. 

Ahead of the India launch, and with more details to be revealed about the Reno 16, we got to experience the phone and talk about its design. Here are our first impressions of the Reno 16. 

Same compact feel, striking design 

The Reno 16, like the Reno 15, has a compact body, perfect for those who like smaller phones. The colour variant that we received is the Starry White version. The handset has a 3D design of what's supposed to portray a planet-like aesthetic. OPPO calls it its exclusive HoloVerse 3D. Personally, the 3D effect feels a little too strong. You also get a bit of sparkle, adding to the overall aesthetic.

Keeping aside the fact that it might make your head feel heavy, the 3D effect on the Reno 16 is actually quite impressive and would make the phone stand out, at least in terms of design. The Reno 16 is confirmed to launch in Twilight Violet and Stellar Purple colour variants as well. 

Design remains subjective, and personally, the sparkly bow pattern on the Reno 15 series feels and looks much prettier.

The form-factor and in-hand feel stay premium and highly ergonomic. One-handed use is pretty easy on the Reno 16, thanks to its compact size. This means you can scroll through the phone, switch between apps, and type out messages with just one hand. The display might feel small for some users who are used to a large 6.7-inch display, but with very thin bezels, the Reno 16 still offers a sizeable screen that should be comfortable enough for watching videos, social media scrolling, and playing games.

The OPPO Reno 16 series debuts a new AI Snap Key, located on the top-left corner of the phone. Like the AI Plus Key on OnePlus phones, this one works similarly to save on-screen content to Mind Space, so users can find important details organised properly. The phone also doesn't feel heavy in your hands, and the buttons, especially, give a good tactile feel. It's quite slim, measuring 8.22mm in thickness and weighing 182g. At the bottom, the Reno 16 houses a Type-C port, a speaker grille, and the SIM tray. The earpiece on top doubles as a speaker. 

The Reno 16's 6.32-inch display feels crisp and vibrant with ColorOS 16 running in the background. The display offers a FHD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 1,800 nits. The handset is also confirmed to get IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K certifications for dust and water resistance. 

It's too early to comment on the phone's performance, as it's something we can determine only after using it extensively. The Reno 16 is still expected to deliver capable performance for regular to moderate usage, as the series isn't focusing on power users. 

What to expect from the OPPO Reno 16

We're yet to learn about the Reno 16's specifications, but leaks suggest a triple camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra-wide sensor. Up front, too, the smartphone is tipped to house a 50MP selfie camera. The Reno 16 is also expected to launch with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset and a 6,000mAh battery in India, which would be different from the Chinese variant. 

OPPO has also teased the Bubble accessory in India, which is a magnetic circular display that sticks to the back of the Reno 16. It's designed to work as a selfie screen, letting you use the rear cameras for selfies. You can also customise the display with different wallpapers and use the OPPO Bubble as a bag charm. This accessory should make using the Reno 16 more fun, especially since the phone's cameras are a big part of its selling point. 

The Reno 16 series is expected to stand out as a premium compact option offering capable performance, versatile cameras, and a sizeable battery. If you prioritise a compact phone with good cameras, the Reno 16 might be worth considering, but Reno 15 users might want to compare properly before upgrading. Stay tuned for our full review for performance details.

Back in December last year, I reviewed the BenQ MOBIUZ EX271Q and walked away impressed. It was a well-sorted gaming monitor that delivered solid value for the asking price. Now it is the turn of a similar-sounding yet drastically dissimilar EX271QZ, which operates in a completely different league. With a QD-OLED panel and absurdly high refresh rate of 500Hz, this monitor is built for a very particular kind of gamer. I've spent a good while with it, so let me break down exactly what it gets right and where it gets complicated.

First, let's get the pricing out of the way. The BenQ MOBIUZ EX271QZ retails for ₹84,998 in India, which lands it in distinctly premium territory. At that price, it has plenty to prove, and not just against rival brands. As you'll see in the verdict, its toughest competition comes from inside BenQ's own cupboard.

Specs

• Panel type: 26.5″ QD-OLED, glossy finish
• Curved: No
• Resolution: 2,560 × 1,440 (16:9)
• Refresh rate: 500Hz
• Response time: 0.03 ms (GtG)
• Brightness: 300 nits (typical); 1,000 nits (peak HDR)
• HDR: VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500
• Native contrast: 1,500,000:1
• Colour coverage: 99% DCI-P3
• PPI: 110
• Ports:
  • 2 × HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC)
  • 1 × DisplayPort 1.4
  • 1 × USB-C upstream (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps, data only)
  • 1 × USB-C downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps, 7.5W)
  • 2 × USB-A downstream (USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5 Gbps, 4.5W)
• Audio: 3.5mm headphone jack (no built-in speakers)
• Stand adjustments: Height (100mm), tilt, swivel
• In the box: Remote control, calibration report, cleaning cloth, cables

Instantly recognisable design

If you've used a BenQ MOBIUZ monitor before, the EX271QZ will feel like familiar ground. The design sticks to the brand's established formula, pairing matte white plastic with solid metal for a look that feels premium without trying too hard. The white finish dominates the rear, broken up by a dark, hexagonal ventilation pattern and the MOBIUZ logo tucked into the corner. There's even a subtle 'Pixsoul Engine' marking running along the stand, a small touch that adds a bit of character.

The bezels are fairly narrow on all sides, which keeps your focus where it belongs, on the QD-OLED panel and its glossy coating. The stand is sturdy and supports up to 100mm of height adjustment along with tilt and swivel, so dialling in a comfortable viewing position is easy. BenQ also bundles a remote control in the box, which makes hopping between colour modes and tweaking settings far less fiddly than poking at OSD buttons.

Flip the monitor around, and the generous port selection becomes evident. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports (one of which supports eARC), a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C upstream port for data, a USB-C downstream port rated at 7.5W, and two USB-A downstream ports at 4.5W. On the audio front, there's a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the eARC-enabled HDMI lets you route sound out to a soundbar or AV receiver. As with most gaming-focused OLED panels, there are no built-in speakers here, so factor that into your setup.

Tuning takes the display from great to stunning

Straight out of the box, the EX271QZ looks very good. But spend a little time tuning it, and the experience climbs to an entirely different level. This is where the 2K QD-OLED panel flexes its muscles. The inky blacks, punchy colours, and wide viewing angles combine to deliver a picture that very few monitors can match. Because each pixel lights itself, there's no backlight bleed to muddy the darker scenes, and the 1,500,000:1 contrast figure isn't just a number on a spec sheet, you can actually see the difference.

The panel covers 99% of the DCI-P3 colour space, so colours land with the right amount of saturation rather than looking artificially boosted. As you might expect, BenQ's Color Shuttle app acts as the cherry on the top and lets you download game-specific colour profiles directly from BenQ, and loading them up made a real difference. Each profile tuned the visual output to match the creator's intent, and once I'd seen a game the way it was meant to look, going back to a generic preset felt like a clear downgrade.

Where 500Hz earns its keep

A 500Hz refresh rate sounds like overkill on paper, so I spent time testing a range of titles to work out which ones could actually make use of it. The answer became obvious the moment I loaded up competitive shooters.

In Valorant and Counter-Strike 2, the responsiveness is hard to put into words. Flicks feel instant, tracking is impeccable, and the motion clarity is so sharp that it borders on handing you an unfair edge over the competition. That's a slight exaggeration, of course, but only just. Paired with the 0.03ms response time, this is about as fast as displays get right now.

Console gaming on PS5

I also hooked up my PS5 to see how the monitor handles more relaxed, casual sessions, and it sailed through the test. Single-player titles like Black Myth: Wukong, 007 First Light, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 looked superb.

The QD-OLED panel brought out the detail and depth in every scene, and the visual experience was consistently top-notch. Console gaming won't push the panel anywhere near its 500Hz ceiling, since the PS5 tops out at 120Hz, but the sheer image quality more than makes up for it.

HDR that creators can rely on

HDR is an area where most monitors overpromise and underdeliver, so I'm pleased to report the EX271QZ does no such thing. It performed exceedingly well across the HDR content I tested, helped along by the DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits.

Highlights pop, shadow detail holds up, and the overall image carries weight. Beyond gaming, this also makes the monitor a strong pick for creators who edit their videos in HDR, as the colour accuracy and brightness headroom give you a reliable canvas to work on.

OLED care options that make you feel at ease 

There's no getting around it, burn-in is the one concern that hangs over every OLED purchase, so I was glad to see BenQ pack the EX271QZ with a proper set of protection tools to keep the panel healthy over the long haul.

The first line of defence is Pixel Refresh, a maintenance cycle that recalibrates the panel and clears out any uneven wear before it has a chance to settle in. You can set a reminder to run it at 8-hour, 16-hour, or 24-hour intervals, depending on how heavily you use the monitor, which takes the guesswork out of routine upkeep.

Then there's Pixel Shift, which nudges the entire image by a tiny amount at regular intervals so that no single pixel is stuck displaying the same content for too long. You get fast, medium, and slow settings to control how often it kicks in, and the movement is subtle enough that you won't notice it during normal use. It's a simple trick, but an effective one for spreading wear evenly across the panel.

Rounding things off are the Idle Dimmer and Logo Dimming features. The Idle Dimmer automatically lowers brightness when the screen has been sitting on a static image, easing the strain on pixels during those idle stretches. Logo Dimming, on the other hand, targets the bright, static elements that tend to linger on screen (game HUDs, taskbars, or channel logos, for instance) and dims them specifically so they don't end up etched into the panel. Taken together, these safeguards meant I never found myself fretting about the long-term health of the display.

A stellar monitor that sits in a niche

At ₹84,998, the positioning of the BenQ MOBIUZ EX271QZ could be a bit tricky. If you're chasing pure competitive performance, BenQ has its Zowie range, which pushes refresh rates as high as 600Hz. And if you want a more balanced package, the EX271UZ (review) sits in roughly the same price bracket with a QD-OLED panel, 4K resolution, and 240Hz refresh rate, which is arguably the sweet spot for anyone who wants high resolution and a fast panel without fully committing to either extreme.

That overlap makes the EX271QZ slot into a niche of its own. Judged purely on its own merits, though, this is a brilliant piece of kit. If you specifically want a blistering 500Hz refresh rate combined with the visual richness of a QD-OLED panel, there's very little out there that does it better. It could be a niche product, but for the people in that niche, it absolutely delivers.

Editor's Rating: 8.4 / 10

Pros:

• Gorgeous QD-OLED panel
• Blistering 500Hz refresh rate
• Excellent HDR performance
• Color Shuttle app support

Cons:

• Premium price tag
• Overlaps awkwardly with BenQ EX271UZ
• Niche appeal

The recently launched Redmi Turbo 5 is now on sale in India. Redmi's first performance-focused smartphone has been competitively priced, starting at Rs 37,999, and largely delivers on its promise. However, as observed in our Redmi Turbo 5 review, there are a few areas where the handset could have done better to appeal to a wider audience in the segment. As a result, buying this smartphone requires careful consideration.

So, should you buy the Redmi Turbo 5? Here are the reasons why it may or may not be the right smartphone for you.

Reasons to buy Redmi Turbo 5

Excellent choice for gamers

The Redmi Turbo 5 remains the only viable option for gaming, following the OnePlus Nord 6 price hike. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra, the smartphone handles demanding workloads and high-end gaming with ease. During our testing, the handset consistently delivered 120fps gameplay in BGMI and COD: Mobile, ensuring a fluid and responsive experience.

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More importantly, the Redmi Turbo 5 sustains its performance well under prolonged loads, as reflected in its strong Burnout benchmark results. While rivals such as the OnePlus Nord 6 may manage heat slightly better, the Redmi Turbo 5 holds a slight advantage when it comes to maintaining peak performance over extended periods.

Battery that lasts long and also recharges quickly

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Battery life is another area where the Redmi Turbo 5 shines. The smartphone packs a huge 7,540mAh battery, which comfortably lasts a full day even with relatively heavy usage involving gaming, video streaming, and social media. While the OnePlus Nord CE6's larger 8,000mAh battery delivers slightly better endurance figures, the Redmi remains among the strongest performers in the segment. The inclusion of 100W fast charging further strengthens the package, taking the battery from 20 percent to 100 percent in just 51 minutes.

For users who spend long hours away from a charger, the combination of a large battery and fast charging makes the device particularly appealing.

Vibrant display for gaming and entertainment

The Redmi Turbo 5 features a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display that ticks most of the right boxes. The panel delivers vibrant colours, excellent viewing angles, and strong outdoor visibility, while the 120Hz refresh rate keeps animations and scrolling smooth. HDR support on compatible streaming platforms adds richer contrast and improved highlights when watching content. The display is also highly responsive thanks to its high touch sampling rate, which benefits gaming. Combined with slim bezels and stereo speakers, the Redmi Turbo 5 offers one of the more immersive multimedia experiences in its price segment.

Class-leading durability, premium build

Despite housing a massive battery, the Redmi Turbo 5 remains relatively compact and comfortable to hold. The aluminium frame and glass back give the device a premium in-hand feel that matches, and in some cases exceeds, rivals in the segment. What truly sets it apart, however, is durability. The handset comes with IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K certifications, allowing it to withstand dust, water immersion, and even high-pressure water jets. This gives it a clear advantage over competitors such as the Motorola Edge 70 Pro, which focuses more on sleekness than ruggedness.

Reasons not to buy Redmi Turbo 5

Cameras may not be its strongest suit

[gallery link="none" columns="1" size="large" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="705269,705271,705280,705276,705270"]

The Redmi Turbo 5's camera setup is functional, but it isn't among the best in its segment. The 50MP primary camera captures sharp and vibrant daylight shots, and low-light performance is reasonably good. However, the ultrawide camera produces softer images with less detail, while the selfie camera struggles with facial details and colour accuracy.

When compared with rivals such as the Motorola Edge 70 Pro, the Redmi consistently falls behind in areas like dynamic range, colour accuracy, portrait photography, and overall versatility. Buyers who prioritise photography will likely find better options elsewhere.

Thermal management is good, but not class-leading

Redmi's 3D Ice Loop Cooling system does a respectable job of controlling temperatures during gaming sessions, allowing the phone to maintain strong performance. However, the device still develops noticeable warmth around the camera module during extended gaming sessions. While this doesn't significantly impact usability, rivals such as the OnePlus Nord 6 demonstrate slightly better thermal efficiency under sustained workloads. For most users, this won't be a dealbreaker, but those sensitive to heat generation may notice the difference.

Not the cleanest software experience

The Redmi Turbo 5 runs HyperOS 3 out of the box, which brings several useful features, including AI-powered tools, refined animations, personalised lock-screen options, and broad cross-device connectivity. However, the software is burdened by a large number of pre-installed applications, with over 60 apps available out of the box, including numerous third-party offerings. In comparison, competing software experiences from brands such as Motorola feel cleaner and more streamlined. HyperOS also lacks some customisation options available on rival devices.

Final thoughts

To sum it up for you, the Redmi Turbo 5 succeeds in delivering a flagship-grade gaming performance, strong sustained output, a vibrant display, and excellent battery life, all wrapped in a premium and highly durable package. These strengths make it a compelling option for gamers, power users, and anyone who prioritises performance and endurance above all else.

Despite the badge, this is the largest Mini ever and the most affordable Countryman in India yet. Sliding right off the assembly line and into our hearts, the locally-assembled Mini Countryman C is the largest and most grown-up Mini ever made. Featuring best-in-segment height and ground clearance, a massive 1450L boot with the rear seats folded down and typical Mini design language and driving characteristics, at Rs. 47.5 lacs, it also steals the show with the aggressive pricing. If you factor in the reassurance of  66% buy back value after 3 years, it becomes an even more enticing proposition.

But Mini buyers don't buy Mini with the head but more of the heart. So while it may be based on a BMW X1 platform, its 1.5L 3-cylinder engine is tuned differently, and so is its suspension. Power comes from a TwinPower Turbo petrol unit good for 156 hp and 240 Nm, sent through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and all of that can be customised via 8 different Mini Experience Modes that channel the go-kart like handling through a sporty and direct steering wheel. Enthusiasts may lament the lack of paddle shifters, though.

Inside the cabin is where things start differentiating themselves even more than any BMW. Typical Mini quirkiness, round themes, funky textures and sustainable materials make for a unique interior that you won't mistake for anything else. Here are the five things that set it apart from anything else. 

1. Circular Screen While every rival is racing toward bigger and wider displays, MINI has gone the other way with a 9.4in circular Samsung-made OLED unit that doubles as the instrument cluster and infotainment hub. It's a deliberate callback to the original Countryman's centre-mounted speedometer, except now it animates with crisp graphics, projects wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and genuinely looks like nothing else on sale. Tap the speed readout in certain Experience Modes, and the entire display flips into a full analogue-style speedometer face. There's also a built-in AirConsole gaming layer with access to over 130 multiplayer titles playable via smartphone-as-controller while parked.

2. "Hey MINI" While BMW's voice assistant answers like a concierge, Mini's Intelligent Personal Assistant answers like it's an old friend, handling navigation, calls, and entertainment through the same wake phrase architecture as its more serious sibling, but with a noticeably cheekier script and tone. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon hi-fi system is great at more than delivering speech, though. Its Class-D DSP amplifier outputs 200 watts above Mini's standard system, and the midrange cones use a three-layer aluminium-sandwich diaphragm (ALumaprene) rather than conventional paper or polymer, chosen specifically for stiffness-to-weight ratio at speaker sizes this small.

3. 8 Experience Modes From the race-leaning Go-Kart Mode to the eco-focused Green Mode and the deliberately over-the-top Vivid Mode, these don't just retune the throttle but alter ambient lighting, the graphics on that circular screen, and the cabin sound design simultaneously. In classic Mini fashion, toggle-style switches for power and drive selector add the tactility that evokes the feeling of interacting with a living, breathing entity rather than just an all-screen layout.

4. Digital Key Plus Your phone becomes the key, transferable across users along with their personal settings, while a single Toggle Bar Island consolidates start/stop, the gear selector, parking brake, experience mode switching, and volume into one physical strip. There's even a wireless charging slot tucked beneath it. The welcome sequence as you approach the car is triggered not by regular Bluetooth but by ultra-wideband radio positioning, the same precision-ranging tech that Apple uses for Find My.

5. A 360-degree camera Parking Assistant Plus and a 360-degree camera handle the serious business of not bumping into things or other cars. Then there's the Fisheye Camera inside the cabin, built specifically to capture fun selfies and in-car moments with sound, which is a feature no 3 Series owner is getting anytime soon and exactly the kind of indulgence Mini buyers expect. The only thing that remains an eyesore is the CarPlay screen that doesn't cover the entire circular screen, but a smaller rectangle within the display.

This is a clear sign that Mini believes in platform sharing but not personality sharing. BMW's tech stack is built to disappear into the background, whereas Mini's is built to be the main character. For a brand that's spent two decades selling charm over horsepower, OS 9 might be the most on-brand piece of engineering it's shipped yet.

Over the past three or so years, smartphone makers have increasingly adopted more concrete measures to improve the durability of their offerings. What was once treated as a premium extra has slowly turned into something far more common, with better dust and water protection now showing up across a much wider range of phones.

The change came about with a mix of changing buyer expectations, tougher competition between brands, and a market where even affordable phones need to feel more dependable in everyday use. The result is a landscape where IP ratings are no longer just a flagship talking point but a feature that has steadily moved into the mainstream.

That begs the question of how this shift took shape and what pushed phone makers to make durability a regular part of the conversation. By the end of the story, you'll have your answer and a complete picture of how smartphone durability evolved in India.  

What Are IP Ratings?

IP stands for Ingress Protection, and it tells you how well a phone is protected against common elements such as dust and water. The rating is usually denoted by a two-digit number. The first number ranges from 0 to 6 and shows dust resistance, while the second ranges from 0 to 9 and indicates water resistance. The higher the numbers, the better the protection usually is.

The most common IP ratings people come across on smartphones are IP54, IP67, IP68, and IP69. IP54 means basic dust and splash protection. IP67 means the phone can handle dust and survive brief submersion in water. IP68 means better dust protection and better resistance to deeper or longer water exposure. IP69 means the phone can withstand high-pressure water jets, which goes beyond normal everyday use.

How do IP Certifications Work

IP ratings are based on a formal standard called IEC 60529, which sets out how a device should be tested for dust and water protection. The numbers are not just marketing shorthand, as they reflect specific test results.

Brands usually have to pay for this testing, either through their own labs or through outside testing agencies. Those labs carry out controlled dust, water, and pressure tests, then issue the report that supports the claimed IP rating.

That is why an IP rating is not something a phone gets casually. It takes time, money, and proper testing to back up the claim, which is also why some phones could actually be impervious to dust and water exposure without carrying an IP badge. Testing is often voluntary rather than mandatory, but brands tend to pay for recognised third‑party reports because the certification adds credibility and keeps them on safer ground should anything go wrong.

The IP ratings timeline in India

We've collated the data for all the phones we've tested since 2024 to see whether a clear pattern emerges and how IP ratings have evolved over time.

Smartphone IP ratings across price bands in 2024:

Across the three years, the under Rs 30,000 segment saw the sharpest change: the share of higher protection ratings rose from 12 percent in 2024 to 23 percent in 2025 and 29 percent in 2026, while lower IP52/IP53/IP54 phones fell from 58 percent to 41 percent and then 36 percent, respectively.

Smartphone IP ratings across price bands in 2025: 

The Rs 30,000-60,000 bracket stayed the most balanced, but it still moved toward higher protection, with IP67/IP68/IP69 phones rising from 70 percent in 2024 to 73 percent in 2025 and 81 percent in 2026.

Smartphone IP ratings across price bands in 2026 (as of June): 

At the over Rs 60,000 level, premium protection was already common in 2024, and the mix was heavily skewed toward IP67/IP68/IP69, easing only slightly from 84 percent in 2024 to 90 percent in 2025 and 91 percent in 2026.

Smartphones with high IP protection in India

Why high IP Ratings have become common in affordable phones

For a long time, high dust and water resistance was mostly reserved for more expensive phones. It made sense then, because adding proper sealing, testing, and certification increased cost, and brands did not always see enough demand for it in their more affordable products.

In a market where many phones already offer similar chipsets, cameras, and battery life, durability has become one of the ways to make a device feel more complete. There is also a practical side to it, as phones are used in unpredictable conditions, and in markets like India, dust, sudden rain, and accidental spills are part of everyday life. Brands know this, so an IP rating gives them a way to show that a phone is better prepared for real-world use.

At the same time, the cost of adding this protection has become easier to absorb. Sealing methods, adhesives, and production processes have improved over the years, so brands can now offer better protection without pushing prices up as much as they once did.

That is a big reason why IP67, IP68, and even higher ratings have started appearing in phones that are no longer just at the top end of the market. Once a few brands started offering stronger ratings in lower price brackets, others had to follow. That is how a feature that once looked premium slowly turned into something more ordinary.

Does each phone have to have an IP rating?

Not every phone gets an IP rating, as some devices may still use seals, coatings, or stronger build choices, but the brand may choose not to go through formal testing and certification.

That can happen for a few reasons. Certification costs money, takes time, and adds another layer to the launch process. In some cases, brands may also prefer to keep the phone positioned as durable without making a formal claim that would need to be tested and defended.

There is also a difference between being resistant and being certified. A phone can be reasonably well protected in daily use and still not carry an IP badge, simply because the company did not pay for the testing or did not want to market it that way.

Some brands also focus on other durability standards instead, such as drop or shock protection. So a phone may be built to handle rough use in one sense, but still not have an official IP rating for dust and water.

Why do major brands still stick to IP68?

If you look at the way the market has moved, it is mostly Chinese OEMs that have pushed IP69 into the spotlight. Brands like OPPO, Vivo, OnePlus and Realme have used it as a clear talking point, while companies such as Samsung, Apple, Google and Nothing have mostly stayed with IP68.

That does not mean IP68 is weak. It already covers the level of protection most people actually need in daily life, from dust to rain to the odd splash or short dip in water. For the bigger brands, that has been enough to call the phone durable without going further.

There is also a simple marketing angle here, as IP69 rating gives Chinese brands a way to stand out on the specification sheet, especially in crowded mid-range and flagship segments where many phones look similar on paper. So while the standard itself is not new, the way it has been used very much is.

What IP ratings mean for Indian consumers

For most buyers, IP ratings are mainly about peace of mind. They do not make a phone indestructible, but they do give you a better idea of how it may fare against dust, rain, and the occasional spill. In India, that distinction matters quite a lot. A phone with IP67 or IP68 is safer for everyday use, especially if you travel a lot, use your phone outdoors, or just do not want a small accident to turn into a costly repair.



However, the highest rating is not always the most useful one for every person. For many users, an IP67 or IP68 rating is more than enough, while IP69 is only worth caring about if you want the extra safeguard or are regularly present in an environment where chances of mishaps tend to be greater. 

Conclusion

Overall, the data makes one change quite clear: higher IP ratings are no longer confined to premium phones. Since 2024, better protection has steadily moved down the price ladder, with the strongest momentum visible in the under Rs 30,000 segment.

That makes the trend less about waterproofing as a flagship badge and more about it becoming a mainstream expectation. In other words, IP ratings are no longer just a premium expectation and are increasingly becoming a basic part of the feature set across the market.

This matters because it shows how quickly a once-top-end spec can become widely adopted. The market is not only bringing more protected phones, it is also normalising better protection across price bands.

The Redmi Turbo 5 is an ambitious addition to the brand's portfolio, positioned just below the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. Unlike the Note series, which places greater emphasis on cameras and all-around usability, the Turbo 5 is designed with performance and endurance in mind. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra SoC and backed by a massive 7,540mAh battery, it is Redmi's most capable performance-focused smartphone yet, aimed squarely at gamers, power users, and heavy multitaskers.

How does all that come together in real-world usage? In this Redmi Turbo 5 review, we find out where it stands and compare it against some of its rivals.

Verdict

The Redmi Turbo 5 excels in the areas that matter most to power users. The handset delivers excellent gaming performance, rich visuals, and long battery life. The 100W fast charging further enhances the overall experience. The premium build and robust IP ratings are added bonuses. However, the cameras lag behind those of key rivals, and thermal management and standby battery efficiency could be improved. If performance and endurance are your priorities, the Redmi Turbo 5 is an easy recommendation.

Performance: strong gaming credentials

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The Redmi Turbo 5 delivers fast and reliable performance thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra, up to 12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM, and UFS 4.1 storage. Its advanced cooling system helps sustain 120fps gameplay in BGMI and COD: Mobile, though some warmth is noticeable around the camera module during extended sessions.
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The MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra, ticking at the Redmi Turbo 5's core, is paired with 8GB LPDDR5X/12GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 256GB UFS 4.1 storage onboard. It's the same chipset we saw on the Xiaomi 17T smartphone, but the Turbo 5 features Redmi's 3D Ice Loop Cooling system, which comprises a large 5,300 mm² stainless steel layer and a Graphite Layer that is said to offer 3x better thermal management than a traditional vapour chamber.

The setup certainly helps the smartphone deliver smooth performance for everyday usage and gaming. The handset even managed to offer 120 fps gaming consistently while playing BGMI and COD: Mobile extensively with Wild Boost enabled, ensuring a seamless gaming experience. However, the Redmi Turbo 5 needs further optimisation to be the most thermally efficient device out there. While it didn't get uncomfortably warm, I could feel the smartphone getting warm around the camera module.

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During our internal testing, the Redmi Turbo 5's surface temperature increased by 14°C after 40 minutes of BGMI and COD: Mobile. While this is lower than the lifestyle-focused Motorola Edge 70 Pro, which is powered by a similar MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset, the OnePlus Nord 6, originally launched in the sub-Rs 40,000 segment, demonstrated slightly better thermal efficiency.

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That said, our Burnout CPU throttling test shows that the Redmi Turbo 5 holds a slight advantage over the OnePlus Nord 6 in sustaining peak performance under heavy workloads. Its results in other benchmarks, including AnTuTu and Geekbench, are also among the best in the segment, reinforcing its strong performance credentials.

Battery: fast charging, excellent endurance

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The Redmi Turbo 5 packs a massive 7,540mAh battery that comfortably lasts a full day, even with heavy use. Battery endurance is good overall, although higher-than-expected standby drain prevents the phone from fully utilising its large capacity. On the upside, 100W HyperCharge support ensures minimal downtime, taking the battery from 20 to 100 percent in just 51 minutes.
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Backing the needs of power users is a massive 7,540mAh battery, one of the largest capacities in this segment. The benefits are evident in both synthetic tests and day-to-day usage. In the PCMark battery benchmark, the handset lasted 16 hours and 5 minutes, placing it slightly behind the OnePlus Nord CE6, whose larger 8,000mAh battery delivered close to 18 hours of runtime.

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In our real-world battery tests, which included 30 minutes of video streaming and 60 minutes of gaming, the Redmi Turbo 5 consumed a combined 14 percent of its charge. While not class-leading, this is a respectable result for the segment and should comfortably last a full day, even under relatively heavy use.

Users can expect upwards of seven hours of screen-on time between charges, although standby power consumption remains higher than expected, preventing the handset from fully capitalising on its massive 7,540mAh battery. As a result, its overall endurance falls slightly short of what one would typically expect from a smartphone with a 7,500mAh-plus battery, and you may need to recharge the device sooner than anticipated.

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Nevertheless, charging the Redmi Turbo 5 is a quick affair. The smartphone supports 100W HyperCharge and ships with a compatible charger in the box. In our testing, it took just 51 minutes to charge from 20 to 100 percent, which is impressive considering the sizeable 7,540mAh battery. The combination of a large battery and fast charging makes the handset particularly appealing for users who spend long hours away from a power outlet and need minimal downtime between charges.

Display: bright and immersive

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The Redmi Turbo 5 features a 6.59-inch 1.5K AMOLED display, which delivers punchy colours, excellent viewing angles, and strong outdoor visibility, while slim bezels and a centred punch-hole cutout help create an immersive viewing experience. HDR content on supported streaming platforms looks rich and dynamic, and the high touch sampling rate ensures responsive interactions during gaming.
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The Redmi Turbo 5 sports a 6.59-inch 12-bit AMOLED display that bears 1.5K resolution, up to 120Hz refresh rate, DCI-P3 colour gamut, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, wet touch support, and 3,200 nits peak brightness. The screen is also TUV triple eye protection certified and offers up to 2,560 instant touch sampling rate for a highly responsive gaming and everyday user experience.

There are slim bezels all around and a small centred punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera, helping the display feel immersive while watching videos or gaming. HDR10 support is available out of the box on YouTube and other compatible streaming platforms, delivering richer contrast, improved highlights, and a wider dynamic range for a more engaging viewing experience.

Colours also appear punchy and vibrant by default, though users can switch to a more natural colour profile if preferred. Combined with excellent viewing angles, the display offers a consistently enjoyable viewing experience across different types of content. Additionally, the display remains perfectly legible outdoors under direct sunlight.

To enhance the viewing experience, the POCO X8 Pro boasts a stereo speaker setup, which gets fairly loud but may lack crispness at maximum volume. For security, there is an optical fingerprint scanner, which isn't very intuitive owing to its positioning at the bottom of the screen, but it accurately unlocks the device.

Design: excellent durability

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Despite housing a massive 7,540mAh battery, the Redmi Turbo 5 remains relatively compact and comfortable to hold, thanks to its curved corners and flat-edged design. The combination of an aluminium frame and glass back lends the smartphone a premium feel, while the matte finish does a good job of resisting fingerprints and smudges. The customisable Pixel Matrix lighting system on the rear adds a touch of personality.
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As observed in the first impressions, the Redmi Turbo 5 feels a tad heavier in the hand at 204 grams, but it is comfortable to hold thanks to its relatively compact form factor, nicely curved corners, and flat edges. The smartphone measures 157.53 x 75.19 x 8.18mm, which is impressive for a phone with a massive battery capacity.

The smartphone also feels solid and premium with its aluminium framing and glass back. There is a matte finish on the back panel and flat edges to ward off fingerprints and smudges, while the front of the smartphone features Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection, which should survive minor drops and falls. We didn't have the heart to test that, but we did put the Redmi Turbo 5 underwater, and it survived with flying colours. The smartphone is IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K certified, which means it can withstand high temperatures and high-pressure water jets as well.

This makes the Redmi Turbo 5 more durable than most smartphones in the segment, including the Motorola Edge 70 Pro, which stands out for its sleek appearance. The Redmi smartphone attempts to stand out with its Pixel Matrix housed within the two camera rings on the back. The Matrix comes with 8 built-in colours, customisable and adjustable brightness, for gaming, notifications, call alerts, and music. The lights can also be used with any app and as a camera status indicator when taking timed or burst shots.

While I did not find it particularly useful during gaming sessions (it was only supported with COD: Mobile during my time), the lighting system proved handy for alerts and notifications when the phone was placed face down and set to silent mode.

Software: smooth and connected

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The Redmi Turbo 5 runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 and delivers a smooth, feature-rich experience with refined animations, lock screen depth effects, Hyper Island, and extensive cross-device connectivity. While an array of pre-installed apps weighs down the software and lacks some customisation options and advanced AI photo editing features found on rivals, Xiaomi's HyperAI suite remains useful for everyday tasks. The promise of four OS upgrades and six years of security updates further strengthens the package.
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The Redmi Turbo 5 boots HyperOS 3 layered atop Android 16 out of the box. It's the latest custom skin from Xiaomi, which delivers a near-identical experience to the Xiaomi 17T. The overall UI looks less user-friendly due to a plethora of pre-installed apps, including 22 third-party ones. In fact, the Redmi Turbo 5's 63 pre-installed apps are higher than I've come across within the segment.

The software also feels slightly less mature than some rival Android skins and misses a few customisation options, such as widget customisation and app folders. But other than that, HyperOS 3 feels quite good for day-to-day use, with smoother animations, a Gaussian blur effect, personalised lock screen options with depth effects, and numerous subtle visual improvements throughout the interface.

The haptic feedback could be better integrated, but there are also some fun additions, including AI pets that can live on your home screen. Furthermore, the Hyper Island, which functions similarly to Apple's Dynamic Island, previews content and expands to more details with a tap. Add to that HyperOS 3's cross-ecosystem integration, which allows seamless communication not only across all Xiaomi devices, but also with Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, and iPhones via the Xiaomi Interconnectivity and Link to Windows features. Users can now run Xiaomi phone apps directly on their iPad or Mac, thereby reducing dependency on a particular device and enhancing productivity.

The usual Xiaomi HyperAI tools are all here, including features for generating wallpapers, assisting with writing, recognising speech, translating conversations, transcribing calls, and more. The AI photo editing suite, however, feels less comprehensive than some rivals in the segment. For instance, the OPPO Reno15C offers tools such as AI Reflection Remover, AI Eraser, AI Unblur, and AI Perfect Shot, giving users more ways to refine their photos.

Hopefully, this will be addressed in a future software upgrade for the Redmi Turbo 5. The smartphone is promised to receive at least 4 major OS upgrades and six years of security updates, which is standard for the segment.

Cameras: primary camera excels

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The Redmi Turbo 5's camera system is largely carried by its 50MP primary sensor, which delivers sharp, detailed daylight shots with punchy colours. However, the ultrawide and selfie cameras offer only average image quality, while the limited feature set and inconsistent video capabilities make photography a secondary strength rather than a key highlight of the smartphone.
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For photography, the Redmi Turbo 5 features a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary camera with OIS and an f/1.5 aperture, paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens (f/2.2). On the front, it houses a 20MP selfie camera in a punch-hole cutout. The phone can record videos at up to 4K 60fps, but this capability is limited to the primary camera. The ultrawide and selfie cameras are limited to 1080p at 60 fps, resulting in an inconsistent video recording experience across the camera system.

Having said that, the cameras are not the smartphone's forte, resulting in minimal features and modes. You get mixed results with the camera system, with the 50MP primary sensor doing all the heavy lifting here. The sensor captures sharp, detailed images in daylight with slightly oversaturated tones for a visually appealing look. As for the ultrawide lens, it is average at best, with soft details and muted colours. The 20MP front camera offers similar performance, with oversaturated tones, neon-green tones, and underwhelming facial details.

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To better analyse the Redmi Turbo 5's camera performance, we compared it against the similarly priced Motorola Edge 70 Pro to see how well it stacks up against the competition in its segment.

Daylight

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Redmi-Turbo-5-daylight.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Motorola-edge-70-Pro-daylight.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Redmi Turbo 5" after="Motorola Edge 70 Pro"]

The Redmi Turbo 5 captures pleasing daylight shots with vibrant colours and good overall exposure. However, when compared side by side, the Motorola Edge 70 Pro delivers richer details, more accurate colours, and a wider dynamic range, resulting in images that look more refined and closer to reality.

Ultrawide

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Redmi-Turbo-5-ultrawide.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Motorola-Edge-70-Pro-ultrawide.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Redmi Turbo 5" after="Motorola Edge 70 Pro"]

The Redmi Turbo 5's ultrawide camera maintains colour consistency with the primary sensor; however, image details appear softer compared to the Motorola Edge 70 Pro, which produces sharper results and more accurate-looking images. Motorola also benefits from a wider field of view and improved edge correction, resulting in less distortion and more usable frame coverage.

Portrait

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Redmi-Turbo-5-portrait.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Motorola-Edge-70-Pro-portrait.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Redmi Turbo 5" after="Motorola Edge 70 Pro"]

The Redmi Turbo 5 offers a couple of focal points for portrait shots, but the results appear very overexposed and artificial, with underwhelming facial detail. The Motorola Edge 70 Pro, which offers a wider focal length range, remains a superior choice for portraits.

Selfie

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Redmi-Turbo-5-selfie.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Motorola-Edge-70-Pro-selfie.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Redmi Turbo 5" after="Motorola Edge 70 Pro"]

The Redmi Turbo 5 does a decent job with selfies. That said, if accurate skin tones and facial details matter to you, the Motorola Edge 70 Pro is worth considering. The handset also excels with better exposure to background details.

Low light (night mode)

[twenty20 img1="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Redmi-Turbo-5-low-light.jpg" img2="https://static.hub.91mobiles.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2026/06/Motorola-Edge-70-Pro-low-light.jpg" offset="0.5" before="Redmi Turbo 5" after="Motorola Edge 70 Pro"]

In low light, the Redmi Turbo 5 outperforms the Motorola Edge 70 Pro with sharper details and better control over light flare. However, it achieves this by noticeably brightening the scene, resulting in images that stray from the actual ambience.

Final verdict

Currently retailing at its starting price of Rs 37,999, the Redmi Turbo 5 delivers on its core promise. The MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra SoC ticking at its core offers excellent gaming performance and strong sustained performance. Furthermore, its vibrant AMOLED display enhances both entertainment and gaming, while its massive 7,540mAh battery, paired with 100W fast charging, strengthens its appeal for power users who prioritise endurance and minimal downtime.

Beyond performance, Redmi has also paid attention to durability and design. The aluminium-and-glass construction feels premium, while the IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings make the device one of the most rugged options in its segment. HyperOS 3 brings a feature-rich software experience and long-term software support, although the excessive number of pre-installed apps somewhat detracts from the overall experience.

Speaking of its drawbacks, the Redmi Turbo 5 also falls short on the camera front. Largely reliant on the primary camera, the setup is serviceable but lacks the capabilities that competitors such as the Motorola Edge 70 Pro (review) bring to the table. The smartphone's thermal management could also benefit from further optimisation, while standby battery drain prevents it from fully capitalising on its enormous battery capacity.

But if you have your priorities figured out, the Redmi Turbo 5 remains an easy recommendation for gamers, power users, and anyone seeking outstanding battery life and performance.

Editor's rating: 8.4/10

Reasons to buy

• The IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings make the device one of the most rugged options in its segment.
• Its vibrant AMOLED display enhances both entertainment and gaming.
• The handset offers excellent gaming performance and strong sustained performance.
• The phone should appeal to power users who prioritise endurance and minimal downtime.

Reasons not to buy

• The excessive number of pre-installed apps somewhat detracts from the overall experience.
• The smartphone's thermal management could also benefit from further optimisation.

Pitting a flat 32-inch 4K monitor against an aggressively curved 34-inch ultrawide is a bit like comparing a luxury SUV to a luxury sedan; they both get you to the same destination, but the ride is entirely different. On one hand, we have the MSI MAG 321UP (₹85,999) which is a value-oriented 31.5-inch 4K QD-OLED. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 is a premium 34-inch 1440p WOLED ultrawide (₹89,990) that demands serious desk space.
Which type of monitor should you blow your hard-earned rupees on? Good question. Let's dive in.

Tech Specs

Design, Build, and The Heat Check

First off, the shape. The Lenovo throws an absolute curveball, literally. It rocks a bonkers 800R curvature that wraps around your face like you are sitting inside a VR headset. For gaming? Bloody brilliant. You feel completely swallowed by the world. But if you try to edit photos, straight lines look like they've had a few too many Kingfishers and appear distorted. The MSI plays it much safer. It's a standard, flat chassis that won't mess with your workflow.

Under the hood, they both use custom passive heatsinks instead of fans to manage the heat generated by the OLED panels. However, having had the Lenovo Legion Monitor on my desk for 5 months now, I have to point out that it sometimes generates a wee bit more heat directly from the display than I'd like.
The MSI also has an extremely thin display chassis, while the complicated bits are inside a slightly thicker plastic housing at the back. The Lenovo is a chunky monitor by OLED standards, but both are fairly manageable on a big desk.

Display Tech: The Brightness and The Burn-in

Here is where things get spicy. I have been using this MSI OLED monitor for almost a year now, and I have not faced a single whisper of burn-in issues. The brightness on this thing is absolutely stellar and will properly spoil you when you compare it to non-OLED models. The colours are jaw-droppingly saturated, and thanks to the QD-OLED pixel arrangement, the text clarity is spot-on without the awful colour fringing that plagued older OLEDs.
The Lenovo also has a few tricks up its sleeve. It has an anti-glare coating and is one of the very few OLED monitors currently on the market to have this. It really helps with work and gaming, especially for me, because my table is facing against the window. However, Lenovo can theoretically hit a higher peak brightness of 1,300 nits, but its Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL) under SDR is quite aggressive and cannot be bypassed. Sometimes you can see it aggressively shifts brightness depending on what's on screen.
So in real-world use, the MSI is brighter in everyday usage, and if you're very particular about your whites and colour accuracy for video and photo editing, the MSI instantly wins that side of the battle.

Despite MSI being much better with its brightness levels and burn-in protections, it aggressively puts the monitor into a Pixel Refresh state. The pop-up doesn't let you cancel or postpone it. It gets really annoying when you're in a sweaty, ranked multiplayer match and cannot quit or pause for the monitor to do its thing. Having your screen hijacked mid-battle is incredibly frustrating, but I think it can be fixed with a firmware update.

Gaming and Productivity: The Goblin vs The Magician

If you are an esports fanatic, the Lenovo pushes a silky-smooth 240Hz refresh rate. The MSI, on the other hand, caps out at 165Hz. Both monitors boast a 0.03ms GTG response time. What does that actually mean for you? It means ghosting and motion blur are virtually non-existent.

Technically, the MSI MAG 321UP QD-OLED is a 4K (3840 x 2160) monitor, and the Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 has an ultrawide UWQHD resolution of 3440 x 1440. So naturally, the contents are sharper on the MSI, but the Lenovo is also equally crisp for gaming and text legibility.
But let's talk about real-world usage. The Lenovo Legion is an absolute productivity monster. I thoroughly enjoy using it for work and gaming because it's one of those rare monitors that can easily do both. You can be an Excel sheet magician by day and a gaming goblin by night; the Lenovo, or really any ultrawide monitor of this calibre, offers that flexibility incredibly well.

If you're chasing punchy colour and contrast, then the MSI has an edge over the Lenovo. The whites are pristine, and the blacks are deep. This translates to better contrast while gaming, but more importantly, it helps while colour correcting videos and photos in Adobe. So if your usage requires heavy editing, then MSI is the way to go, but if you're more of a Microsoft Office user, then the Lenovo Legion is better for productivity.

Ports and Extras: The Dongle Life

This is where Lenovo pulls ahead. The Legion Pro features a massive built-in dock packing a 140W USB-C Power Delivery port, a KVM switch, and a 2.5 GbE Ethernet port. You plug in one cable and your whole desk is sorted, making your secondary laptop dock entirely redundant. The MSI? It ships with a 15W Type-C port and completely lacks a USB upstream hub or KVM switch. You can tell where the cost-cutting happened.
The Lenovo also packs two 5W speakers, which are such a godsend for when you just want to play something without wearing headphones or turning on your expensive desktop speakers. I wish more expensive gaming monitors shipped with built-in speakers, even if they're measly 5W ones.

Verdict

Why buy either of these? Because going back to an LCD after seeing these true blacks is simply impossible. The MSI MAG 321UP gives you breathtaking, stellar 4K QD-OLED gaming without leaving your bank account utterly mullered, but that unskippable pixel refresh will thoroughly test your patience.

However, if you want a cinematic ultrawide curve and a badass all-in-one docking station, the Lenovo Legion Pro 34WD-10 is your flexible work magician-by-day, gaming goblin-by-night desk companion, provided you can look past the extra heat and lower brightness.