Ameya Dalvi
Technology Editor
Latest News Articles
31 Jul 2023
Wireless EarphonesCostar Mateband Champion LE01 review: Wireless neckband with unreal battery-life
Earlier this year, we reviewed the Costar Mateband N300 wireless neckband earphones and found it to be a good value for money product. It had all the basics covered like acceptable sound quality for the segment, ingress protection, good battery backup, USB-C charging and the works. What more can one expect for a price tag under Rs. 700? A couple of months back, the company approached us with its second wireless audio product, the Costar Mateband Champion LE01.
26 Jul 2023
Fitness and HealthCrossbeats Armour Dive review: Rugged smartwatch with basic fitness tracking
Just last month we reviewed the Fire-Boltt Sphere, a rugged fitness watch with a shock-proof exterior, large AMOLED display and Bluetooth calling. We now have something similar from another brand that we have been noticing quite a bit lately, Crossbeats. The Armour Dive watch from the company takes the ruggedness quotient further up by adding military-grade certification and a swim-proof body, something that was missing in the Fire-Boltt.
11 Jul 2023
OnePlusOnePlus Nord Buds 2r review: Nord Buds 2 without ANC
OnePlus's first Nord Buds seemed like a basic pair of TWS earbuds, but it was the first from the company to offer an option to create custom sound profiles through the companion app, thanks to the Sound Master EQ. Add to that, a solid battery backup and a striking design that has now become a staple for the series. It got the basics right and was a decent option in the sub-Rs. 3,000 TWS segment in India.
26 Jun 2023
Fitness and HealthFire-Boltt Sphere Watch review: Rugged build, average accuracy, impressive battery-life
Toward the end of last year, we had our first encounter with the brand Fire-Boltt when we reviewed the Hulk, a fitness watch that frankly had no relatable traits of the legendary superhero. While it was packed with features, it had a handful of bugs and the accuracy wasn't up to the mark. The company has been launching a new watch every second week since, and we have lost track of which model is which. And then came the Sphere.
05 Jun 2023
Wireless EarphonesPortronics Auto One review: Neat multi-utility device for your car
A lot of us are still stuck with relatively older audio systems in our car that lack some modern features like Bluetooth connectivity. Some don't even have a USB port for music playback. For that matter, the preinstalled music players in some of the newer cars aren't too feature-rich either. One of the options is to replace the audio player with a newer one, but that's not a cost-effective solution. The other option is to use one of the Bluetooth receivers.
27 May 2023
Smart TVViewsonic M2e portable projector review: 100-inch screen in tiny box
Typically when someone says projector, the first image that comes to mind is a conference room or some office space. While that has been their primary use case, they have been vying for a spot in your living room for the past few years as an entertainment device. Their ability to project a large screen or simply turn your wall into one hasn't been lost on anyone. Price, minimum distance, size and weight of the projector itself have served as a deterrent over the years.
16 May 2023
OnePlusOnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite review: Better camera, nothing else
OnePlus started the year with the launch of the fantastic OnePlus 11 5G, arguably their best phone in years. A couple of months later, the company has jumped straight to the other end of the spectrum, which happens to be a Nord phone with too many suffixes. While we liked the Nord and Nord 2 phones as they were good additions to the company's midrange portfolio, we weren't impressed with those with a CE suffix, and even less with those with Lite added after it.
11 May 2023
OnePlusOnePlus Nord Buds 2 review: Affordable earbuds packed with features
OnePlus's first Nord Buds was a basic pair of TWS earbuds, but one that offered sound customizations through the companion app; something not available on OnePlus earbuds till then. In addition to that, it featured an unusual design that was polarizing to an extent in terms of likeability but unique for sure. It got most of the basics right and was a decent option in the crowded segment, though nothing special.
26 Apr 2023
AppleApple iPhone 14 Pro review: Oh so Pro and more
Apple launched its new iPhone 14 series in India a while ago. While the iPhone 14 seemed pretty much a rebadged iPhone 13, the Pro model does offer a few novelties. Well, the 14 Pro may look like its predecessor in terms of aesthetics, and it does borrow a lot of other elements from it too, but there are quite a few enhancements in several departments that add up to give this phone its unique identity.
06 Apr 2023
GoProGoPro 11 Black review: Not just an awesome action camera
Our previous review was about a music player whose name has become synonymous with portable audio over the decades. What we have for review today has done the same to portable action cameras for a little over a decade. Yes, we are talking about GoPro's latest 11 Black that now strives to go beyond action videography with some useful and thoughtful additions to cater to the current generation of content creators.
28 Mar 2023
SonySony Walkman NW-A306 review: A modern-day avatar of the legend
If the word Walkman doesn't mean anything to you, it either means you are born on this side of the millennium or lived under a rock on the other side or simply over 75 years old. For the rest, the word was synonymous with a portable music player in the '80s and '90s. Toward the end of the last century, it shifted from being a cassette player to a portable CD player or a Diskman as it was commonly known. Then came the Apple iPod and other 'MP3 players' and things started to change drastically.
21 Mar 2023
OnePlusOnePlus 11 5G review: Almost a Pro without the suffix
It wouldn't be wrong to say that OnePlus had an underwhelming 2022. For some reason (or the lack of it) there was no OnePlus 10 at all. Eventually, the company launched the 10T which was nothing special-a stripped-down version of the 10 Pro with the same SoC, at best. If you think about it, there hasn't been a proper non-Pro/non-R phone from the brand since the OnePlus 9.
03 Mar 2023
AmazonAmazon Kindle (11th Gen) review: Best non-Paperwhite Kindle ever
Last year we reviewed the latest iteration of Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite, and we enjoyed the experience. Right at the end of the year, Amazon released their 11th generation basic Kindle, which the company likes to call the 'All-new Kindle,' at least for now. At times it's hard to believe that the popular ebook reader has been around for close to 15 years.
27 Feb 2023
Wireless EarphonesAudio-Technica ATH-M20xBT headphone review: Studio sound but lacks new-age features
Studio monitors or simply headphones that offer close to neutral sound signature is a niche category in India. And it's understandable because most people like thumping bass in their sound. Nothing wrong with that either, but studio monitors are exactly the opposite in a way. They don't strive to be bass-deficient, but produce sound the way it is recorded without boosting any specific frequencies; hence the name.
20 Feb 2023
OnePlusOnePlus Buds Pro 2 review: Quality earbuds under Rs. 12,000
The OPPO Enco X2 has been sitting comfortably at the top of the midrange mountain since its release. It has hardly been challenged by anything that came before or after it in the Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 12,000 range or even a little higher. Finally, a challenger has emerged, and it seems to be equipped with similar tools on paper as the Enco X2. Be it the driver configuration or codec support at launch or active noise cancellation (ANC), things seem evenly matched.
04 Feb 2023
Google Pixel 7Google Pixel 7 review: Affordable, less flashy Pixel 7 Pro
We reviewed the Google Pixel 7 Pro a couple of months back, and it was quite an enjoyable experience. From pure Android 13 to the renowned Pixel cameras, it was a great phone that we happily rated as one of the very best of 2022. Having said that, its price tag isn't something that many would find affordable. Enter Pixel 7, which isn't exactly inexpensive by any standards, but is a lot more affordable than its Pro variant, while retaining a lot of its goodness.
31 Jan 2023
Wireless EarphonesCostar Mateband N300 review: Affordable Bluetooth earphones with good sound
We have been reviewing a lot of upper midrange and high-end earphones lately. It is equally important to gauge what's going on at the other end of the spectrum as the majority of the users do not want to spend that kind of money on earphones. And honestly, you do find hidden gems under Rs. 1,000 if you look hard enough. So when Singapore-based Costar approached us for reviewing their budget wireless neckband, we thought of giving it a try.
24 Jan 2023
SennheiserSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones review: Watch out, Sony WH-1000XM5
The Momentum series of TWS earbuds from Sennheiser are considered among the best in the segment. And naturally, I was excited to try out their Momentum 4 Wireless headphones. I know, it's a completely different category but the company has been delivering some stellar audio products across different form factors. In India, when one talks about the best headphones around Rs. 30,000, the Sony WH-1000X series is the first that comes to mind.
04 Jan 2023
Realme Pad XRealme Pad X Review: 5G-ready tablet with some neat add-ons
Realme released a couple of neat tablets over the past year or so. While the Mini was decent, we truly liked the first Realme Pad. It wasn't exactly a performance topper, but it did have a sharp display and a sleek design. It was generally great for entertainment courtesy of its Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers. Despite all its goodness, like most budget tablets, it was better suited for content consumption rather than content creation.
02 Jan 2023
Pixel BudsGoogle Pixel Buds Pro review: Smart speakers in your ears
Continuing with our exploration of Google-branded products, we now have the flagship true wireless (TWS) earbuds from the company. The Google Pixel Buds Pro aims to take on the likes of Sony WF-1000XM4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro which are the best under Rs. 20,000 in India currently. On paper, it doesn't seem equipped with all the tools it would need to dislodge the two from the top.
27 Dec 2022
Google Pixel 7 ProGoogle Pixel 7 Pro review: Among the best of 2022
After a gap of several years, Google has been quite active in the past two quarters launching their Pixel phones in India. It started with the Pixel 6a in the previous quarter, which though not bad at all, seemed like a consolation prize given what the Google flagships are capable of. The following quarter, to everyone's surprise, the company decided to launch both their Pixel 7 phones here.
08 Dec 2022
SonySony WF-LS900N earphones review: Good sound, great features, but overpriced
A couple of months back we reviewed a highly unusual pair of true wireless (TWS) earbuds from Sony called the Linkbuds. Yes, those 8-shaped buds! We now have a successor for the device, but it sports a lot more traditional in-ear design. Gone are the ring drivers that stayed outside the ear canals and the extended touch zones that would let you tap your earlobe to register a touch input.
02 Dec 2022
SmartwatchesFire-boltt Hulk Watch review: High on features, low on accuracy
The budget fitness watch segment in India is packed to the brim with multiple brands plying their trade. Not long ago, Fire-Boltt claimed to be the number 1 brand in the category. I did not read the fine print but that's when I took notice of the brand for the first time. When we got an opportunity to review one of their products a couple of weeks ago, I was curious enough to try it out to see what all the buzz was about. And with a model name like Hulk, it also had my attention.
22 Nov 2022
SonySony WH-1000XM5 headphones review: Arguably the best under Rs. 30,000
The WH-1000X series of headphones from Sony have been incredibly popular over the years. I have had the good fortune of experiencing the Sony WH-1000XM4 for a considerable amount of time. It's been over two years since I reviewed it, and its successor has now arrived. Unlike smartphones, the XM4 is still available in India, and more importantly, still relevant courtesy of its excellent sound quality and category-defining active noise cancellation (ANC).
17 Nov 2022
Smart TVBlaupunkt 50QD7010 QLED TV review: Not bad; could've been better
QLED TVs seem to be gaining in popularity this festive season given the availability of several budget options. Just recently, we reviewed the Thomson Q55H1001 model and we now have one from the popular German brand Blaupunkt. While the brand licenses for both are held by Super Plastronics in India, and there are a few similarities as one would expect, there are enough differences between the two.
