OnePlus 13R — the purported successor to the OnePlus 12R that arrived earlier this year — could soon be launched by the company, and the smartphone has been spotted on a benchmarking website. The company has already introduced the flagship OnePlus 13 in China, and the handset is expected to debut in global markets in the coming months. We now have a good idea of what to expect from the OnePlus 13R, which is expected to arrive alongside the company's high-end smartphone.
OnePlus 13R Specifications (Expected)
A handset with the model number "OnePlus CPH2645" has been listed on Geekbench (via MySmartPrice). This smartphone is expected to debut as the OnePlus 13R, which is yet to be announced by the company. Over the past few years, the company has released two smartphones — a flagship model and a less expensive model with slightly less premium specifications.
The listing for the purported handset om Geekbench reveals that the smartphone is equipped with a motherboard named "pineapple", which suggests that the OnePlus 13R will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This is the same processor that powered the current generation OnePlus 12 model.
According to the Geekbench listing, the OnePlus 13R will be equipped with at least 12GB of RAM. Just like the OnePlus 13, it is expected to arrive with Android 15, with the company's OxygenOS 15 skin running on top. The benchmark result also shows the phone running the same version of Android.
The benchmark scores for the purported OnePlus 13R also give us an idea of what to expect from the handset in terms of performance. The phone scored 2,238 points in the single-core test and 6,761 points in the multi-core test. These results are slightly higher in comparison to the OnePlus 12 on Geekbench.
Five Canadian news media companies filed a legal action on Friday against ChatGPT owner OpenAI, accusing the artificial-intelligence company of regularly breaching copyright and online terms of use.
The case is part of a wave of lawsuits against OpenAI and other tech companies by authors, visual artists, music publishers and other copyright owners over data used to train generative AI systems. Microsoft is OpenAI's major backer.
In a statement, Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada said OpenAI was scraping large swaths of content to develop its products without getting permission or compensating content owners.
"Journalism is in the public interest. OpenAI using other companies' journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It's illegal," they said.
A New York federal judge dismissed a lawsuit on Nov. 7 against OpenAI that claimed it misused articles from news outlets Raw Story and AlterNet.
In an 84-page statement of claim filed in Ontario's superior court of justice, the five Canadian companies demanded damages from OpenAI and a permanent injunction preventing it from using their material without consent.
"Rather than seek to obtain the information legally, OpenAI has elected to brazenly misappropriate the News Media Companies' valuable intellectual property and convert it for its own uses, including commercial uses, without consent or consideration," they said in the filing.
"The News Media Companies have never received from OpenAI any form of consideration, including payment, in exchange for OpenAI's use of their Works."
In response, OpenAI said its models were trained on publicly available data, grounded in fair use and related international copyright principles that were fair for creators.
"We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt out should they so desire," a spokesperson said via email.
The Canadian news companies' document did not mention Microsoft. This month, billionaire Elon Musk expanded a lawsuit against OpenAI to include Microsoft, alleging the two companies illegally sought to monopolize the market for generative AI and sideline competitors.
Chinese scientists are reportedly racing against time to protect potatoes, a vital global food crop, from the adverse effects of climate change. Research conducted under the International Potato Center (CIP) in Beijing is said to have revealed alarming reductions in potato yields when exposed to higher temperatures. Potatoes grown in simulated conditions, replicating future climate scenarios, were found to weigh less than half of typical varieties in China, underscoring the urgent need for adaptation strategies.
Research Findings Highlight Urgency
The study, published in Climate Smart Agriculture journal and detailed in a Reuters report, detailed a three-year project led by molecular biologist Li Jieping. Potatoes cultivated under temperatures 3 degree-Celcius above the current average in Hebei and Inner Mongolia saw a yield reduction of over 50 percent. Li Jieping told the publication that the accelerated tuber growth came at the cost of size and weight, raising concerns about future food security in China, the world's largest potato producer.
Climate Challenges Threaten Production
Farmers in Inner Mongolia are already witnessing climate change impacts, including erratic rainfall that delays harvests and exacerbates crop diseases. Wang Shiyi, a manager at Hebei Jiuen Agricultural Development Company, reported that heavy rain this year slowed down harvesting efforts significantly.
Yakeshi Senfeng Potato Industry Company's general manager, Li Xuemin reportedly said that diseases such as late blight, which thrives in warm and humid conditions, are becoming more resistant to traditional control measures..
Developing Climate-Resilient Solutions
To address these challenges, Chinese researchers are reportedly employing advanced techniques such as aeroponics and genetic studies to develop heat-tolerant and disease-resistant potato varieties, as per sources. At a research facility in Yanqing, Beijing, workers are said to be propagating potato plantlets under controlled conditions. Li Jieping told the publication that changes in farming practices, including shifting planting seasons and moving to higher altitudes, may be necessary within the next decade to mitigate yield losses.
The researchers reportedly claim that without immediate interventions, both farmers' livelihoods and potato prices may be severely affected as global temperatures continue to rise.
Canada's Competition Bureau is suing Alphabet's Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in online advertising, the antitrust watchdog said on Thursday.
The Competition Bureau, in a statement, said it had filed an application with the Competition Tribunal seeking an order that, among other things, requires Google to sell two of its ad tech tools. It is also seeking a penalty from Google to promote compliance with Canada's competition laws, the statement said.
Google said the complaint "ignores the intense competition where ad buyers and sellers have plenty of choice and we look forward to making our case in court."
"Our advertising technology tools help websites and apps fund their content, and enable businesses of all sizes to effectively reach new customers," Dan Taylor, VP of Global Ads, Google said in a statement.
The Competition Bureau opened an investigation in 2020 to probe whether the search engine giant had engaged in practices that harm competition in the online ads industry, and expanded the probe to include Google's advertising technology services earlier this year.
The investigation found that Google is the largest provider across the ad tech stack for web advertising in Canada and it "has abused its dominant position through conduct intended to ensure that it would maintain and entrench its market power," the bureau said on Thursday.
The case follows the US Justice Department's effort to show Google monopolised markets for publisher ad servers and advertiser ad networks.
Google has argued that the US DOJ is ignoring the company's legitimate business decisions and that the online advertising market is robust. The company also says the US government had cherrypicked a narrow slice of the online market and did not account for aggressive competition.
The closing arguments in the US case were made on Monday.
Earlier this year, Google offered to sell the ad exchange to end an EU antitrust investigation but European publishers rejected the proposal as insufficient, Reuters first reported in September.
Vivo S20 series has been launched in China comprising of two models — Vivo S20 and S20 Pro. It arrives as the successor to the Vivo S19 lineup which debuted in May. The new smartphones boast some common features such as 1.5K AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate, a 50-megapixel primary camera, and dual-SIM capabilities. The Vivo S20 and S20 Pro have an IP64-rated build against dust and water ingress and come with an in-display fingerprint sensor for security.
Vivo S20, Vivo S20 Pro Price
Vivo S20 price starts at CNY 2,299 (roughly Rs. 27,000) for the base 8GB + 256GB model. It is available in a total of four variants with the top-most 16GB + 512GB configuration priced at CNY 2,999 (roughly Rs. 35,000).
Meanwhile, the Vivo S20 Pro is priced at CNY 3,399 for the 12GB + 256GB configuration. It is also available in 16GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB variants. Both handsets can be pre-ordered starting today in China.
Vivo S20, Vivo S20 Pro Specifications
Both models in the Vivo S20 series are equipped with a 6.67-inch (1260 x 2800 pixels) 1.5K AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, peak brightness of 5,000 nits, and HDR10+ support. The base model gets a flat display while the Pro variant comes with a quad-curved panel. Both handsets run on OriginOS 5 based on Android 15.
The Vivo S20 is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 2.2 storage. On the other hand, the Vivo S20 Pro gets a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ SoC under the hood, which is paired with Arm's Immortalis-G720 GPU, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
For optics, the Vivo S20 comes with a dual rear camera unit, comprising a 50-megapixel OV50E sensor and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. It also gets a 50-megapixel front-facing selfie camera. Meanwhile, the Vivo S20 Pro sports a triple rear camera setup which consists of a 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, and a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. It gets the same selfie camera as the base model.
The phones have (nano + nano) dual-SIM support, IP64 splash and dust resistance rating, in-display fingerprint sensor, and aura light. For connectivity, the phones offer Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.4.
The Vivo S20 is backed by a 6,500mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging. It measures 160.35×74.18×7.19mm in terms of dimensions and weighs 186g. The Vivo S20 Pro packs a 5,500mAh battery with 90W fast charging support and measures 160.56×75.02×7.43mm in terms of dimension and weighs 193g.
Amazon has announced its first-ever Black Friday Sale in India which went live at midnight November 28. During the sale period, customers can avail of exciting discounts on a wide range of items such as smartphones, TVs, home appliances, gaming consoles, fashion and beauty products, and more. Further, the e-commerce platform has partnered with several leading banks to offer instant discounts and cashback on transactions made with credit and debit cards. The Amazon Black Friday Sale ends on December 2.
Amazon Black Friday Sale 2024
During the Amazon Black Friday Sale, one of the most notable deals is on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G. The handset usually retails for Rs. 1,24,999 but can be purchased for as low as Rs. 74,999 during this period. The e-commerce giant has rolled out offers on smartphones from leading brands such as Apple, iQOO, OnePlus, Realme, Redmi, and Tecno, with discounts of up to 40 percent.
Another notable deal is available on the Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020). The laptop has a list price of Rs. 89,900 but is currently listed for Rs. 59,990 on the e-commerce platform.
Buyers can get home appliances and smart TVs with up to 65 percent off. The PlayStation 5 has a flat discount of Rs. 7,500, while products from Amazon brands can be purchased with a minimum 50 percent price reduction during the Black Friday Sale. The sale also offers a minimum 50 percent discount on premium kitchen appliances such as robot vacuum cleaners, and up to 25 percent off on Amazon Alexa and Fire TV devices.
In addition to price cuts, Amazon says buyers can also take advantage of an instant discount on up to 10 percent with select debit and credit cards from leading banks such as Bank of Baroda, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank, and OneCard. Amazon Prime members can get a flat 5 percent cashback on transactions carried out with Amazon co-branded cards.
Global foldable smartphone shipments fell by 1 percent year-on-year (YoY) in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, according to a market research firm. The market is reported to have experienced a dip for the first time after six consecutive quarters of growth. Samsung had the largest market share in the foldable smartphone market globally, followed by brands such as Honor, Huawei, Motorola, and Xiaomi. The latter recorded the highest YoY shipment growth among foldable brands courtesy of its foldable smartphone launches outside of China.
Global Foldable Smartphone Shipments
According to a report by Counterpoint Research, Q3 2024 marked the first-ever decline in global foldable smartphone shipments. Samsung's poor performance of its flagship Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 is attributed as one of the possible causes behind this decline. Despite this, the South Korean technology conglomerate had a market share of 56 percent — shipping more devices than its rivals by a massive margin.
The data comes from Counterpoint Research's Global Foldable Smartphone Market Tracker.
Global Foldable Smartphone Shipments in Q3 2024 Photo Credit: Counterpoint Research
However, by its own standards, Samsung's unit shipments witnessed a 21 percent YoY decrease. Its decreasing numbers in China, courtesy of the emergence of various brands and products, resulted in the company having only an 8 percent market share in the country. It is also reported to be facing strong competition in North America from Motorola's newest Razr series, while Honor's foldable smartphones are also said to be giving it a tough fight in the Western European market.
Huawei was reported to be the second-biggest player in the global foldable smartphone market with a 15 percent share, up from 13 percent compared to the same period last year. Although it launched several experimental models such as the Nova Flip and the Mate XT Ultimate Design which saw lower shipments, the company aims to drive growth with the launch of the Mate X6 this month.
Honor and Motorola grabbed the third and the fourth spots in the list with 10 percent and 7 percent market shares, respectively. Counterpoint notes that both brands were among the fastest growing in Q3 2024 courtesy of flagship smartphone launches in recent months. Xiaomi recorded the highest YoY shipment growth among foldable brands at 185 percent. It also had a 6 percent market share — its highest since entering the foldable smartphone market in Q1 2021.
Redmi K80 series was launched in China on Wednesday. Xiaomi's latest smartphone lineup comprises two models — Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro. Both handsets are equipped with flagship Snapdragon chipsets and boast 120Hz AMOLED displays. The Redmi K80 Pro benefits from an additional 50-megapixel floating telephoto lens with 2.5X optical zoom, which the base model does not get. The Redmi K80 series comes with an IP68+IP69-rated build against dust and water ingress and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for security.
Redmi K80, Redmi K80 Pro Price
Redmi K80 price starts at CNY 2,499 (roughly Rs. 29,000) for the 12GB + 256GB model. It is offered in four other configurations with the 16GB + 1TB variant priced at CNY 3,599 (roughly Rs. 42,000). The handset is available in four colourways — Mountain Green, Mysterious Night Black, Snow Rock White, and Twilight Moon Blue.
Meanwhile, the Redmi K80 Pro starts at CNY 3,699 (roughly Rs. 43,000) for the base 12GB + 256GB variant. It is also available in a total of four RAM and storage configurations, with the top-end 16GB + 1TB variant priced at CNY 4,799 (roughly Rs. 56,000). Xiaomi has also introduced a Redmi K80 Pro Champions Edition model which sports the ‘Automobili Lamborghini Racing Team' branding, costing CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 58,000).
The Redmi K80 Pro can be purchased in Mountain Green, Mysterious Night Black, and Snow Rock White colourways.
Redmi K80, Redmi K80 Pro Specifications
Both models in the Redmi K80 series come with a 6.67-inch (1,440 x 3,200 pixels) 12-bit AMOLED display with a 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The displays sport a peak brightness of 3,200 nits, a 2160Hz instant touch sampling rate, and offer HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support. The base model is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, while the Pro gets Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC.
The Redmi K80 and Redmi K80 Pro come with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 onboard storage. They run on the latest Xiaomi HyperOS 2.0.
For optics, the Redmi K80 is equipped with a dual rear camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel Light Hunter 800 primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. The Redmi K80 Pro features the exact same camera setup as the base model but adds a third 50-megapixel floating telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom.
In terms of connectivity, both handsets come with a USB Type-C port, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 7, 5G, and 4G VoLTE support. They also get an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, an infrared sensor, and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support.
The Redmi K80 is backed by a 6,000mAh battery with 120W (wired) and 50W (wireless) fast charging support, whereas the K80 Pro packs a 6,550mAh battery with support for 90W fast charging.
Magnetic vortices descending from Jupiter's ionosphere into its deep atmosphere are believed to trigger the formation of ultraviolet-absorbing anticyclonic storms, according to a study published on November 26 in Nature Astronomy. These storms, appearing as dark ovals, span the size of Earth and have been observed primarily in Jupiter's polar regions. The phenomenon was first detected in ultraviolet (UV) light by the Hubble Space Telescope in the 1990s and later confirmed by NASA's Cassini spacecraft in 2000.
Research Unveils Tornado Dynamics
The study, published in the Nature journal, was led by Troy Tsubota, an undergraduate researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, in collaboration with Michael Wong from UC Berkeley, Amy Simon of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and others.
The findings suggest these dark ovals are formed by swirling magnetic tornadoes generated due to friction between Jupiter's immense magnetic field lines and those in its ionosphere. These tornadoes are thought to stir aerosols, creating dense patches of UV-absorbing haze in the stratosphere.
The Role of the Io Plasma Torus
The study highlights that Jupiter's magnetic field, among the strongest in the solar system, interacts with the Io Plasma Torus — a ring of charged particles released by volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon Io. This interaction generates friction, potentially initiating magnetic vortices that descend into the planet's atmosphere.
The exact mechanism remains unclear, with researchers debating whether these tornadoes dredge up material from deeper atmospheric layers or create the hazes independently.
Regular Observations Confirm Patterns
The Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) project, which captures annual images of Jupiter using the Hubble Space Telescope, played a pivotal role in the discovery. Between 2015 and 2022, dark ovals were observed at the south pole in 75% of images but were significantly rarer at the north pole. These formations typically appear over a month and dissipate within two weeks, resembling a magnetic “tornado alley.”
Streambox Media has launched its latest range of QLED TVs called Dor in India, the company announced on Tuesday. The Indian startup, which is backed by Micromax Informatics, Nikhil Kamath, and Stride Ventures, offers the TV with a subscription-based service which negates the upfront cost of the QLED TV in favour of a TV-as-a-service model. However, an activation fee is charged initially. Streambox Dor QLED TV comes in multiple sizes and is powered by the company's proprietary operating system dubbed DorOS.
Streambox Dor QLED TV Price in India
Streambox Dor QLED TV comes in 43-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch options. The most affordable option is the 43-inch QLED TV whose subscription is priced in India at Rs. 799 per month for the first 12 months. Customers will be required to pay Rs. 10,799 upfront as an activation fee which also includes the first month's tariff. They can also customise their plans when renewing subscriptions, starting as low as Rs. 299 per month.
It can be purchased starting December 1 on Flipkart. However, the company says that the larger 55-inch and 65-inch variants will be available next year.
The TV comes with a four-year warranty and is claimed to get four DorOS software updates. Post 12 months of usage, Streambox Dor TV users have the option of returning the device to the seller and can avail of up to Rs. 5,000 for it.
Streambox Dor QLED TV Specifications
Streambox Dor QLED TV comes with up to a 65-inch screen with a 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz. It has multiple picture modes such as Sport, Cinema, and Vivid, and gets 40W down-firing speakers with Dolby Audio. The TV is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor operating at 1.1GHz, paired with a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU, 1.5GB of RAM, and 4GB of onboard storage. It runs on DorOS.
For connectivity, it supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and features HDMI, USB Type-C, ethernet, 3.5mm headphone jack, AV input, and coaxial ports.
The company says DorOS provides access to up to 24 popular OTT apps in India such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema, SonyLIV, FanCode, and Discovery+, as well as over 300 live TV channels — all integrated into a single subscription. However, Netflix isn't a part of the company's OTT suite as of now.
Streambox Dor QLED TV's other features include customisable home screen layouts and colour schemes, built-in voice assistant for search and control, a solar-powered remote control, support for various media formats, parental controls for restricted access, and claimed regular security updates and software patches.
Realme's GT Pro smartphones are indeed a rare breed. Since the brand came to be in 2018, Realme announced just a handful of powerful smartphones, and only two made it to India. The last time around, it was the Realme GT 2 Pro in 2022, which offered flagship performance at a premium price tag of Rs. 49,999.
But a lot has changed in the past two years. These days, having 8GB of RAM on a flagship device is no longer sufficient, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) features that have only increased in number since 2024. Priced from Rs. 59,999 for the base 12GB + 256GB variant, Realme's latest GT 7 Pro debuts a top-notch processor and comes with little compromise in every other area, making it a serious and practical contender in the premium segment.
*Please note that we received the Chinese model of the Realme GT 7 Pro. This model has a 6,500mAh battery versus the 5,800mAh capacity of the Indian model. However, this is the only change between the two models.
Realme GT 7 Pro Design: Captivating
Dimensions - 162.45mm x 76.89mm x 8.55mm
Weight - 220.2 grams
Durability - IP69
The GT 7 Pro differentiates itself from the Realme GT 2 Pro and other GT smartphones in the company's lineup. It has a very mature design philosophy with clean lines, flat sides, and a very slim overall appearance thanks to its 3D-curved glass screens used for its display and its rear panel.
The Realme GT 7 Pro's design sure is a departure from the tacky and racing-inspired designs of past GT smartphones
I received the vibrant Mars Orange finish, but Realme offers a subtle Galaxy Grey finish. Both finishes have a matte-finished rear panel, but the Mars Orange colourway gets the contrasted (almost lustrous) orange finish, which also has a wavy pattern that appears like a gradient terrain layer of a map. The metallic bronze colour, along with the vibrant matte orange back, gives it a very sci-fi sort of appearance. I also like the slightly raised camera module, which has a neatly designed off-sided bevelled border around it.
The Realme GT 7 Pro has an IP69-rated design for dust and water resistance
Given its sheer size, metal frame, and sizeable battery inside, I expected the phone to feel heavy. Still, it's not too heavy and lends a premium heft to the device.
Its IP69 rating is currently the highest possible durability rating a device can get. The ‘6' stands for excellent protection against fine dust; the ‘9' applies to pressurised water and even steam cleaning, meaning this phone can withstand the elements, immersion, and all types of rainy weather without any problems. This IP rating also comes in handy when using this phone underwater, as it also packs a special underwater photography mode.
Always remember that these ratings and seals are meant to protect your phone in such environments and that warranty coverage will not cover damage caused by using it in such conditions.
Realme includes a soft-feel silicon case in the box, which feels premium
Realme GT 7 Pro Display: As good as it gets
Display size - 6.78-inch, 2780 x 1,264 pixels
Display type - AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling
Display protection - Gorilla Glass 7i
The Realme GT 7 Pro easily offers one of the best display's in its segment. The company claims a maximum peak brightness of 6,500 nits from its special display, which was codeveloped with Samsung. Realme also claims that this energy-efficient ECO display, along with its LTPO 8T technology, lets users gain an extra 500mAh of battery life, which is impressive. While these are manufacturer claims, we did find the results of our battery test to be equally impressive, as you will see in the Battery section of this review.
The Realme GT 7 Pro's quad-curved display glass can be distracting outdoors
In terms of colour reproduction, the display produces subtle and natural colours. You can also crank things up to get some punchy hues by heading into Settings> Display & brightness> Screen colour mode and selecting the Vivid colour profile.
The company claims it offers a quad-curved display, which provides a more immersive viewing experience, but the 3D-curved glass, apart from being aesthetic, did not feel special and shows some distracting reflections around the edges when viewing video outdoors. Regardless, I liked the skinny and uniform bezel.
The display glass is a proper smudge magnet
Realme GT 7 Pro Software: The usual with a splash of AI
Software version - Android 15
Software - Realme UI 6.0
Software commitment - 3 years of software + 4 years of security
Realme seems to have made some conscious efforts when it comes to cutting down the number of third-party apps. The phone comes pre-loaded with only three third-party apps—Amazon, Myntra, and Facebook—all of which are uninstallable.
Over the past year, AI has gained popularity, and Realme has experimented with lighter AI applications through software updates. With the GT 7 Pro, Realme has finally delivered a complete suite of AI tools.
The Realme GT 7 Pro with Realme UI 6.0 offers plenty of AI tools, but these do not perform as expected
The Photos app within the image editor packs a majority of new AI-enabled features. The AI UnBlur tool does a passable job of removing blur from photos or moving kids or pets, but the resulting image looks far from perfect or what one would expect from such a tool. The same applies to the AI Eraser, which has a Remove people option. While the AI Eraser successfully identified every person in the scene, the results are not as impressive as those we've seen on Google's Pixel devices. Despite its capabilities, the sketch-to-AI tool encountered several "failed to generate" messages.
Realme UI 6.0 offers plenty of lock screen customisation options
The new Live Alerts feature, which mimics Apple's Dynamic Island feature, improves on Realme's Mini Capsule, which was completely ineffective on its budget C55 smartphone. Mini Capsule evolved into Fluid Cloud (a bubble to the left of the selfie camera) across ColorOS forks (OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme) and has now turned into Live Alerts, which finally copies what Apple does on its iPhones (with a bubble overlapping the selfie camera) but with lesser functionality. The feature still supports only Swiggy and Zomato for third-party notifications but can now also show music playback, game timer, personal hotspot, and screen recording activities in its bubble.
Realme GT 7 Pro Performance: Downright impressive!
Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM - 12/16GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage - 256/512GB (UFS 4.0)
There have also been some unusual applications of AI. Realme claims to have used AI to improve both gaming performance and quality.
AAA mobile titles like Genshin Impact worked flawlessly even with the Gaming Super Frame AI mode switched on
AI Gaming Super Resolution can bump up the resolution of a game from the usual 720p to up to 1.5K. AI Gaming Super Frame, when turned on in the slide-out console after launching a game does crank up the FPS. So you can enjoy flawless MEMC-enhanced framerates in games like Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail. And it works as advertised. I was able to play Genshin Impact at 120fps at the Highest graphics setting when the feature was switched on. The phone did not overheat during the gameplay either.
Even without the Super Resolution feature, the Realme GT 7 Pro impressed me by offering a steady 60fps at the highest graphics setting. 120fps Super Resolution enhanced gaming is currently supported for select games, and this short list includes Free Fire, BGMI and Honor of Kings (HOK).
The table below shows how impressive the benchmarks were thanks to the Realme GT 7 Pro's Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Also included are some benchmark results from our Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review for the sake of comparison.
Benchmark
Realme GT 7 Pro
iQoo 12
Samsung Galaxy S24
iPhone 16 Pro Max
AnTuTu v10
27,15,106
19,83,471
14,80,582
1,58,7059
PCMark Work 3.0
25,876
13,320 (3.0)
16,910
NA
Geekbench 6 Single
2,953
2,225
1,845
3,203
Geekbench 6 Multi
9,094
6,726
5,771
7,846
GFXB T-rex
60
143
119
59.4
GFXB Manhattan 3.1
60
143
119
59.7
GFXB Car Chase
60
127
109
59
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
NA
3DM Slingshot
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
NA
3DM Wild Life
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
8,942
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
24,042
Maxed Out
13,576
NA
Realme GT 7 Pro Cameras: Well-equipped
Primary camera - 50-megapixel, f/1.8, OIS
Telephoto camera - 50-megapixel, f/2.65, OIS
Ultrawide camera - 8-megapixel, f/2.2, no AF
Selfie camera - 16-megapixel, f/2.45, no AF
Realme GT 7 Pro primary camera samples. (Tap to expand images)
The primary camera produces vibrant photos with deep contrast, and it does this without skimping on dynamic range, ensuring plenty of detail in the shadows. These photos come out sharp, but at times I did feel that the system overdoes the HDR processing, adding unnecessary detail. However, these instances were occasional. In low light, the camera produces impressive detail, but the noise processing tends to flatten textures, which you will notice only when you pixel peep.
Realme GT 7 Pro 3X (optical) camera samples (Tap images to expand)
Realme GT 7 Pro 6X (digital) camera sample (Tap image to expand)
The 3X optical zoom telephoto camera is also a performer in daylight, and images captured at 6X zoom offer enough detail to be usable. In low light, the photos captured by this camera still appear sharp but with a minor drop in detail. The 2X magnification, which is a crop of the primary camera, stands out like a sore thumb, managing images that are soft in daylight but show a severe drop in overall quality in low light.
Realme GT 7 Pro ultrawide camera samples (Tap to expand images)
The ultra-wide-angle camera is low-resolution, and as expected, it did not produce quality results. Daylight photos appear soft and lack texture and detail. Low-light photos appeared defocused.
Selfie camera sample (Tap image to expand)
Selfies look sharp and have near-accurate edge detection in daylight. In low light, the level of detail drops significantly, but the results are still usable, provided there is some ambient lighting in the vicinity.
Video quality is average for a smartphone at this price point. Shooting 4K video at 30fps showed very little detail because of the camera's aggressive noise reduction. Stabilisation is good, but I did notice some minor flickering.
4K 60fps video offers the smoothest framerate and detail in daylight. 8K video recordings captured at 24fps are a gimmick and not usable. In low light, 4K 60fps mode managed the best quality. One detail to note is that the ultrawide-angle camera does not offer 4K video recording because of its low-resolution sensor.
Realme GT 7 Pro Battery: Fantastic!
Battery capacity - 6,500mAh (5,800mAh on the India model)
Charging rate - 120W SuperVOOC (wired)
Wireless charging - NA
There are large batteries, and there is what Realme calls a “Titan” battery. And the branding sure makes sense, as this energy-dense battery is the biggest we have tested on a flagship smartphone to date. And it's all about the numbers. It managed a very impressive 27 hours and 35 minutes in our video loop battery life test.
The phone also charges up quickly thanks to SuperVOOC wired charging tech that manages a 56 percent charge in just 15 minutes, a 99 percent charge in 30 minutes and completes the charging process in 40 minutes. And this is downright impressive given that it is charging a 6,500mAh battery.
The Realme GT 7 Pro's 6.500mAh (in our Chinese unit) charges quickly
As expected, given Realme's already impressive battery optimisations, the phone lasted me 2 whole days on a single charge with moderate usage, which also included minor camera usage and some 3D gaming apart from the usual social media scrolling and video streaming. Indeed, it is a perfect fit not just for road warriors but also for gamers, as this phone packs a very powerful processor. To give you an idea about how well this battery (and Realme's optimisations) work. I spoke for an hour on 5G on a full battery, and it did not even budge from 100 percent.
Sadly, Realme has only managed to include a 5,800mAh battery in the Indian model due to certifications, which we did not have access to for review. This should drop the usage figures we mentioned above, as there is a very noticeable difference between the two. However, Realme claims the lower capacity lets it charge from 0-100 percent in 30 minutes. Indeed, these are Realme's claims, but given the speeds we have experienced on the 6,500mAh model, we don't find this difficult to believe.
Realme GT 7 Pro Verdict
After a two-year gap, it does feel that Realme has done its research and came well-prepared to take on the competition that exists in this segment. Realme has managed to deliver a very capable device. And in doing so, it has finally established itself well in the premium segment.
The Realme GT 7 Pro's IP69-rated design, performance (as seen from the performance chart above), and battery life can easily crush some of the high-end premium flagships that retail at a much higher price tag, making it an excellent value-for-money proposition.
It fumbles a bit when it comes to its cameras (especially video recording), but there's still room for some updates that could improve its performance for the better. If you are searching for better cameras at this price point, the OnePlus 12 (Review) is definitely a better choice. And if you aren't in a hurry, the OnePlus 13 is just on the horizon. The upcoming iQoo 13 should also be a good candidate for those solely interested in performance or gaming.
The GT 7 Pro's AI tools are far from what's available on a Pixel or a Samsung smartphone, both in terms of polish and capability. So, if you are looking for an AI buffet, this is not the right phone.
While the Indian model's battery usage figures remain a mystery, Realme has played its numbers game well, offering a flagship phone with a sizeable battery, fast charging, and impressive raw performance. This makes it difficult to ignore—at least until the Snapdragon 8 Elite starts showing up in other premium devices. And once that happens, a price cut could make it a very attractive proposition.
After over a decade of research, the H.E.S.S. Observatory in Namibia has recorded the most energetic cosmic ray electrons ever detected, according to reports. These high-energy particles, comprising electrons and positrons, are believed to originate from intense cosmic phenomena such as supernova explosions, neutron stars, and black holes. The discovery suggests that the sources of these particles are likely to be within a few hundred light-years of the solar system.
High-Energy Electron Detection Challenges
The study, as per a Space.com report, highlights that these findings shed light on extreme cosmic processes. Dr Mathieu de Naurois, Deputy Director of the H.E.S.S. collaboration and a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, stated that understanding these cosmic rays allows us to unveil big particle accelerators in the universe that are often associated with the most violent phenomena.
The research indicates that detecting these particles is particularly challenging due to their rarity and the difficulty in distinguishing them from other cosmic rays. Reports state that the H.E.S.S. Observatory utilised a vast telescope array designed to capture Cherenkov radiation, a phenomenon occurring when high-energy particles collide with Earth's atmosphere. This innovative approach enabled the detection of electrons with energy levels surpassing several teraelectronvolts, which exceed the capabilities of Earth-based particle accelerators.
Nearby Cosmic Accelerators
According to the study, the team identified a sharp energy spectrum break at 1 TeV, indicating rapid energy loss by electrons within the Milky Way. Dr Mathieu de Naurois told Space.com that this points to nearby sources, possibly involving supernova remnants or pulsars. The analysis suggests that these phenomena serve as powerful particle accelerators, producing the highest-energy electrons ever observed.
The findings provide crucial data for understanding cosmic rays and will serve as a benchmark for future studies, as noted by researchers involved in the project. This discovery adds to ongoing efforts to explore the universe's most energetic processes and their implications.
Redmi Note 14 series is scheduled to launch in India on December 9, nearly three months after its debut in China. The smartphone lineup making its way to India is speculated to comprise three models including a base, a Pro, and a Pro+ variant. Ahead of its anticipated unveiling, Xiaomi India has teased several specifications of the top-of-the-line Redmi Note 14 Pro+, hinting at features such as a curved AMOLED screen and a 50-megapixel camera — similar to the Chinese variant.
Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Specifications (Confirmed)
Xiaomi India has created a dedicated microsite detailing the various specifications of the Redmi Note 14 Pro+. The upcoming handset is confirmed to sport a curved AMOLED screen, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. It is teased to come in black and purple colours, with the latter sporting what looks like a vegan leather finish.
For optics, the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ will be equipped with a triple rear camera setup, headlined by a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS). It will also feature an IP68-rated build against dust and water ingress. The company also highlights that its upcoming smartphone will have over 20 artificial intelligence (AI) features although the details are yet to be revealed.
In terms of design and specifications revealed so far, the handset appears identical to its Chinese counterpart.
Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Specifications in China
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ Chinese variant comes with a 6.67-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB onboard storage.
For optics, the smartphone features a triple rear camera unit, comprising a 50-megapixel Light Hunter 900 primary sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, and an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. The handset boasts a 20-megapixel OmniVision OV20B sensor on the front for selfies. It packs a 6,200mAh battery with 90W fast charging support.
One of the most intense cosmic shockwaves has been observed in Stephan's Quintet, a group of galaxies located approximately 290 million light-years from Earth. The event was triggered by the galaxy NGC 7318b colliding with four neighbouring galaxies at an estimated velocity of two million mph (3.2 million kmph). The collision produced a shock front likened by researchers to the sonic boom of a jet fighter. These findings, which could illuminate the complex processes shaping galaxies, have been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Stephan's Quintet and the Collision's Impact
Stephan's Quintet, named after 19th-century French astronomer Édouard Stephan, consists of five galaxies engaged in a series of gravitational interactions. The latest collision involved NGC 7318b slamming into the system, creating a turbulent debris field, as per a Science Live report.
Dr Marina Arnaudova, an astrophysicist at the University of Hertfordshire, told the publication that the aftermath as "a massive intergalactic field of plasma and gas debris re-energised by the collision." According to her, this activity has illuminated the plasma at radio frequencies and may have initiated star formation in the region.
Observations and Research Techniques
The event marked the first use of the WEAVE spectrograph, mounted on the William Herschel Telescope in La Palma, Spain. By analysing light from the system, researchers tracked debris patterns, ionised gas trails, and nascent stars stirred by the shockwave. These findings are anticipated to provide insights into the role of collisions in the formation and evolution of galaxies.
Implications for Understanding Galactic Evolution
The violent encounter within Stephan's Quintet offers a rare opportunity to observe galaxy collisions in real-time. Researchers have indicated that such interactions, which were frequent during the universe's early history, significantly shaped the galaxies observed today. While the ultimate outcome of this particular collision may not occur for billions of years, the data gathered is expected to enhance understanding of processes linked to the formation and merging of galaxies.
This research highlights the dynamic and often chaotic nature of the universe, providing astronomers with vital information on the interconnected evolution of stars, galaxies, and cosmic phenomena.
Honor 300 Ultra could be in the works, according to details shared by a tipster. The Chinese smartphone maker has already confirmed that it will launch the Honor 300 and 300 Pro — preorders for the two handsets are now live in China — but there has been no mention of an Ultra model. Two images of the purported Honor 300 Ultra have been leaked on Weibo, the Chinese microblogging website, giving us a look at its design and colour options.
Honor 300 Ultra Design (Leaked)
In a post on Weibo, tipster Digital Chat Station (translated from Chinese) has leaked the design of the purported Honor 300 Ultra. It's worth noting that there has been no previous mention of the handset, while the company has confirmed the arrival of the Honor 300 and Honor 300 Pro in China. It could be launched by the company as part of the series, or arrive at a later date.
Honor 300 Ultra design Photo Credit: Weibo/ Digital Chat Station
The leaked images of the Honor 300 Ultra suggest that it will bear a striking resemblance to the Honor 300 Pro, which also includes a triple rear camera setup, housed in a hexagonal camera island. The smartphone appears to sport a curved display, and its rear panel is shown in black and white colour options — the latter has a paint-like texture.
Honor 300 Series Specifications (Expected)
While not much is known about the specifications of the Honor 300 Ultra, details of the Honor 300 and Honor 300 Pro have previously leaked online. Digital Chat Station recently claimed that the Honor 300 series will be equipped with 1.5K OLED screens, while the Pro model is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
The Honor 300 Pro is tipped to feature a 50-megapixel periscope camera, according to the tipster. Honor is also expected to equip the Honor 300 series with support for 100W wired charging, while the handsets could also arrive with wireless charging support.
At the time, the tipster said that it was unclear whether the Honor 300 lineup would be equipped with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, but more details about the Honor 300 and Honor 300 Pro are expected to arrive in the coming days leading up to their debut in China.
Nubia V70 Design has been launched as the latest V-series handset from the ZTE subsidiary. The smartphone is equipped with a 6.7-inch LCD screen and comes with a Live Island 2.0 feature that resembles Apple's Dynamic Island feature. The Nubia V70 Design is equipped with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it packs a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 22.5W, according to the company. It runs on Android 14, with the company's MyOS 14 skin on top.
Nubia V70 Design Price, Availability
Nubia V70 Design price is set at PHP 5,299 (roughly Rs. 7,600) and the smartphone is available to pre-order in the Philippines, in Citrus Orange, Jade Green, Rose Pink, and Stone Gray colour options. It will go on sale in the country via Lazada, Shopee and other retail channels on November 28.
Nubia V70 Design Specifications, Features
The dual-SIM (Nano+Nano) Nubia V70 Design runs on Android 14-based MyOS 14. It sports a 6.7-inch IPS LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is equipped with a 12nm octa core Unisoc T606 chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM.
Nubia has equipped the V70 Design with a triple rear camera setup led by a 50-megapixel primary camera. However, the company has yet to provide information on the second and third cameras. On the front, there's a 16-megapixel camera that handles selfies and video calls.
You get 256GB of inbuilt storage on the Nubia V70 Design. Connectivity options include 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. The handset is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 22.5W. It also offers a Live Island 2.0 feature for notifications.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Saturday that global collaboration and cooperation in technology will continue, even if the incoming U.S. administration imposes stricter export controls on advanced computing products.
President-elect Donald Trump, in his first term in office, imposed a series of restrictions on the sale of U.S. technology to China citing national security concerns - a policy broadly continued under incumbent President Joe Biden.
"Open science in global collaboration, cooperation across math and science has been around for a very long time. It is the foundation of social advancement and scientific advancement," Huang told media during a visit to Hong Kong.
Global cooperation is "going to continue. I don't know what's going to happen in the new administration, but whatever happens, we'll balance simultaneously compliance with laws and policies, continue to advance our technology and support and serve customers all over the world."
Earlier on Saturday Huang told graduates and academics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology that "the age of AI has started" in a speech after receiving an honorary doctorate degree in engineering.
The head of the world's leading maker of chips used for artificial intelligence applications received the award alongside actor Tony Leung, Nobel Prize for Chemistry winner Prof. Michael Levitt and Fields Medallist Prof. David Mumford.
"The age of AI has started. A new computing era that will impact every industry and every field of science," said Huang.
He said Nvidia has "reinvented computing and sparked a new industrial revolution," 25 years after inventing the graphics processing unit.
"AI is certainly the most important technology of our time, and potentially of all times."
Huang, 61, also told graduates that he wished he had started his career at this time.
"The whole world is reset. You're at the starting lines with everybody else. An industry is being reinvented. You now have the instruments, the instruments necessary to advance science in so many different fields," Huang said.
"The greatest challenges of our time, unimaginable challenges to overcome in the past, all of a sudden seem possible to tackle."
In the afternoon, Huang will participate in a fireside chat with the university's Council Chairman Harry Sham, teachers and students.
Amazon.com pumped another $4 billion into OpenAI competitor Anthropic, as the e-commerce giant goes up against Big Tech rivals in a race to capitalize on generative artificial intelligence technology.
This doubles Amazon's investment in the firm known for its GenAI chatbot Claude, but it remains a minority investor, the startup said on Friday. Similar to Amazon's previous $4 billion investment, it comes in the form of convertible notes and comes in phases, first at $1.3 billion.
Anthropic is also in talks with additional investors to raise more capital on the back of Amazon backing, sources added, who requested anonymity for discussing private matters. Anthropic declined to comment.
Amazon, which has gradually established itself as Anthropic's primary cloud partner, is fiercely competing with Microsoft and Alphabet's Google to offer AI-powered tools for its cloud customers. AWS is bringing significant revenue to Anthropic as a major distributor of its latest models.
"The investment in Anthropic is essential for Amazon to stay in a leadership position in AI," said D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria.
The e-commerce company's increased investment in Anthropic underscores the billions of dollars funneled into AI startups over the past year, as investors look to cash in on a boom in the technology, which became popular with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022.
Microsoft-backed OpenAI raised $6.6 billion from investors last month, which could value the company at $157 billion and cement its position as one of the most valuable private companies in the world.
Anthropic plans to train and deploy its foundational models on Amazon's Trainium and Inferentia chips. The intensive process of training AI models requires powerful processors, making securing pricey AI chips a top priority for startups.
"It (partnership) also allows Amazon to promote its AI services such as leveraging its AI chips for training and inferencing, which Anthropic is using," Luria said.
Nvidia currently dominates the market for AI processors and counts Amazon among its long list of so-called hyperscaler customers.
Still, Amazon has been working to develop its own chips through its Annapurna Labs division, which Anthropic said it was "working closely with" to aid in developing processors. Amazon has also been trying to build its own AI model code-named “Olympus,” which it hasn't released.
Anthropic, co-founded by former OpenAI executives and siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, said last year it had secured a $500 million investment from Alphabet, which promised to invest another $1.5 billion over time.
The startup also uses Alphabet's Google Cloud services as part of its operations.
2024 is the year Google finally introduced its entire range of Pixel devices in India, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. In short, this year, consumers have plenty of Pixel devices to choose from, depending on the budget. Starting at Rs. 79,999 for the base Pixel 9 and going all the way to Rs. 172,999 for the book-style Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
On paper, the Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL might only differ in terms of display size and battery, but the real difference lies in everyday use. One is compact to fit in the smallest pockets and convenient to use with one hand, while the other is huge at 6.8 inches. This year, Google added one phone to its Pixel lineup, which is the Pixel 9 Pro, which we will review here. Much like how Apple brought all the bells and whistles from its Pro Max model to Pro this year, Google also tries to fit all the firepower in the compact body of the Pixel 9 Pro. So, who should exactly buy this one or consider an alternate flagship? I try to answer this in my review.
Google Pixel 9 Pro Design: Compact form wins
Dimensions - 152.8mm x 72mm x 8.5mm
Weight - 199 grams
Durability - IP68 dust and water resistance
The Pixel 9 series finally ditches the bar-style rear back that housed the camera in a way that was loved and hated by some. The good news is that there's a new island placement on the rear for cameras, and it looks mature. It is easy on the eyes and makes the new Pixels shine in a crowded market with no distinct design except the iPhones.
The Pixel 9 Pro comes in four colour choices
I like the matte back panel and glossy frame finish on the Pixel 9 Pro. Thanks to the matte treatment, the back isn't a fingerprint magnet; however, it is a slippery phone. I accidentally dropped it twice during this review, but thankfully, the 9 Pro survived both drops without scratches. Unlike the iPhone 16 Plus (Review), the Google Pixel 9 Pro doesn't wobble on a flat surface mainly because the centre-aligned island at the back keeps it even.
The Pixel 9 Pro packs a 4700mAh battery
Over the years, the Pixels have developed their design language, and the new 9 series somehow maintains that in a good way. The polished finish metal frame feels solid in the hand, and Google has added additional protection by using Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both front and back panels.
At under 200 grams, the Pixel 9 Pro is a handy phone with an even weight distribution. The 8.5mm thickness is also decent. There's IP68 dust and water resistance on board for peace of mind.
It weighs 199 grams
The Pixel 9 Pro beats the 9 Pro XL in convenience. The compact form factor is easy to use and something that's easier to live with every day. I would pick this over most big phones because of the one-hand usage as well, and it nails the basics quite comfortably—the ease of checking notifications, typing, dialling numbers, and doing everything with just one hand. Everything else in design is minimalistic, which will grow on you.
In terms of colours, Google has always offered different shades, and this year, the lineup is interesting. The Pixel 9 Pro is available in Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian, and Porcelain - the one I got for the review. Overall, the Pixel 9 Pro feels like a solid device and a premium one, too.
The Pixel 9 is a compact device that's convenient to use with just one hand
Google Pixel 9 Pro Display: Flagship-grade
Display - 6.3-inch, 1280x2856 pixels, 1Hz - 120Hz
Display Type - Flat, LTPO, OLED
Display protection - Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front and rear panels)
The smartphone has an excellent display offering crisp, accurate and natural colours. The Pixel 9 Pro, compared to the Pixel 8, packs a bigger display - 6.3 vs 6.2 inches. The bezels around the display also seem slim, and the claimed screen-to-body ratio stands at 87 percent. I liked the overall colour rendering, and you will love watching HDR videos on the display. With a peak brightness of 3000nits, the Pixel 9 Pro is bright outdoors, and sunlight legibility is never a problem.
The phone offers a peak brightness of 3000nits
Thanks to the compact size, the Pixel 9 Pro is one of my preferred devices for multimedia usage and offers a decent 495PPI pixel density. With Widevine L1 certification, Pixel 9 Pro streamed Full-HD resolution Netflix shows on demand. This year, Google has shifted to an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, which is quick and almost flawless for everyday use. The punch hole for selfies is almost non-distracting while watching videos or playing games.
The bezels around the display are narrower compared to the Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro Performance: Hits and misses
Google Tensor G4
Titan M2 security coprocessor
16GB RAM and 256GB storage
In terms of raw performance, the Pixel 9 Pro doesn't offer the absolute best, and you guessed it right, it won't beat phones in the same price bracket. Google Tensor G4 is good for browsing, multitasking, and running Google's suite of AI apps. However, when it comes to gaming or even graphic-intensive image or video editing, the Pixel 9 Pro disappoints. But I'm not surprised, as the Pixels have never been advertised as gaming or performance-driven devices. During my review, the Tensor G4 handled light image editing and could run AI features without stutters. The Pixel 9 Pro doesn't get hot during intensive tasks thanks to excellent heat optimisations. Like during our synthetic benchmark tests, the Pixel 9 Pro handled tests well and below are the results for your reference.
Benchmarks
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
AnTuTu v10
12,25,583
10,38,343
10,67,971
PCMark Work 2.0
13,800
11,805
12,922
Geekbench V6 Single-Core
1,872
1,629
1,944
Geekbench V6 Multi-Core
4,227
3,274
4,667
GFXB T-rex
120
120
120
GFXB Manhattan 3.1
107
85
105
GFXB Car Chase
62
48
54
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
Failed to Run
3DM Slingshot
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
Failed to Run
3DM Wild Life
Maxed Out
8,186
8,902
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
2,615
8,574
9,294
The pure Android experience is another reason many prefer Pixels over other Android devices. The Pixel 9 Pro runs Android 14 out-of-the-box and comes with Gemini (which I will talk about in a bit). Lately, Google has been pushing its AI prowess under the name Gemini, and it seems like a bigger push than what we have seen in all these years. It is greater than how Google pushed Search, but I'm not surprised. AI is the next big thing for smartphones and empowers users to do much more in less time. As expected, the software experience is fluid, and the Pixel UI is clean of bloatware, Pixel's biggest advantage over rivals.
Google Tensor G4 powers the Pixel 9 Pro
While reviewing, I downloaded the Android 15 update, which was mostly similar to Android 14, with some added features, like Theft Detection Lock and Private Space. Among all new features, the App Archiving has to be my Android 15 pick, a feature announced last year by Google that is only making its way as a system-wide option with the latest update. The feature lets users save storage on an app that's used rarely.
Thanks to the form factor, the Pixel 9 Pro is my go-to device for quickly typing emails and has one of the decent haptic motors for typing feedback. The loudspeaker is a loud one and is excellent for a mid-size room. As mentioned above, the Pixel 9 Pro was my device pick for most of my multimedia needs, thanks to the display quality and speaker output. The 9 Pro can connect to mobile networks in areas like a basement where other phones struggle to be connected to a network. The call quality is decent on the device, and we had no problems with 5G on both Airtel and Jio networks.
It features a 42-megapixel selfie camera
Google Pixel 9 Pro AI
2024 has been the year of AI push for smartphone manufacturers, so why should Google hold back? The Pixel 9 series comes with a host of AI features. The first is the Gemini assistant, which uses multimodal models with which users can interact via voice, text, or pictures. The company added an all-new Add Me feature to the camera, which will never let you miss out on group photos with the help of AI. The Super Res Zoom, a feature that has been part of Pixels ever since Pixel 3, has been improved and offers high-quality zoom up to 20x. Pixel 9 series gets the all-new Pixel Studio, an image generator app powered by what Google calls an on-device diffusion model running on Tensor G4 and Imagen 3 text-to-image model. There are more additions, like the new Weather app that gets AI enhancements, Keep Notes that integrates Gemini, and Pixel Screenshots to organise screenshots on the device. We have discussed AI capabilities on the new Pixels in our Pixel 9 Pro XL review, so you can read it here.
Pixel Studio uses generative AI to bring imagination to life
Google Pixel 9 Pro Camera: "Pixel-able"
50-megapixel primary camera
48-megapixel ultra-wide and 48-megapixel telephoto
42-megapixel selfie camera
Pixel 9 packs the same camera setup as its bigger sibling, the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Jumping straight to camera results, the daylight shots on the 9 Pro come out crisp with natural colours (true-to-life colours) and plenty of details. The dynamic range is excellent in some of the samples I captured, and skin tones are bang-on. Portraits are amazing, and blur is handled wonderfully. The telephoto camera is great and doesn't disappoint in some of the challenging situations. I managed to capture some excellent 5x photos.
Pixel 9 Pro comes with a triple camera setup
The ultrawide camera on the 9 Pro also shines. It captured some really good shots during camera tests, which you can see below. Macro lovers can take advantage of 9 Pro's ultrawide camera, though Samsung has done better in macro shots this year. The Pixels are a league apart when it comes to camera comparisons, be it with Samsung or an iPhone.
Daylight samples from the primary camera (tap images to expand)
Close-up shot using ultrawide camera (tap image to expand)
Low-light photography is another highlight of the 9 Pro. I clicked some amazing low-light shots with plenty of details, controlled noise, and keeping colours in check. Pixel's automatic night mode worked well for me. Of course, you can take things into your control and tweak settings to get better results. The portraits come out good, though, there's scope of improvement.
Low-light camera samples (tap image to expand)
Portrait shot in low light (tap image to expand)
The selfie camera on the 9 Pro is amazing; finally, the front camera upgrade has paid off—amazing skin tones captured in different light conditions. On the video front, the Pixel 9 Pro has improved greatly compared to the Pixel 8 Pro. However, it is not as good for videos as the iPhone at the moment.
Shots taken using 1x, 0.5x, 2x and 5x (tap image to expand)
Low light shots taken in 1x, 0.5, 2x and 5x (tap image to expand)
Google Pixel 9 Pro Battery: Decent
4700mAh battery
Up to 55% charging in about 30 minutes
Wireless charging support
Do not underestimate the Pixel 9 Pro just because of its sheer size. In my tests, I found the Pixel 9 Pro to be a capable device in terms of battery performance. With heavy usage, the Pixel 9 Pro lasted a whole day with 15-20 percent left till the end of the day. While with medium usage, the phone can easily last up to 36 hours.
Pixel 9 Pro comes with fast-charging support
The Pixel 9 Pro doesn't ship with a charger like modern-day flagships. It supports 27W wired charging and up to 15W wireless charging. I tested the phone with a 45W charger, and it matched the brand's claimed fast charging figures. The phone, however, takes roughly 100 minutes to charge fully.
The Pixel 9 Pro is a device that can outshine many compact flagships out there
Google Pixel 9 Pro Verdict
The Pixel 9 Pro is an excellent choice for those who want Pixel-like camera prowess. Its compact form factor is the biggest highlight, and the good thing is that Google this year hasn't kept marquee features limited to 9 Pro XL. You get all the bells and whistles of the bigger sibling at a lesser price with the 9 Pro. The battery surprised me with its backup, and it shines in most scenarios. The extended software support should give prospective buyers confidence.
The Pixel 9 Pro comes with a single 16GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration
The only downgrade is the lack of heavy-duty performance credentials, which you can experience only when gaming or editing videos or photos on the device. Long thing short, where the chipset is required to handle graphic-intensive tasks is where 9 Pro feels it remains behind the competition. It's high time that Google opts for Snapdragon or MediaTek for its chipset requirements, as Tensor cannot outrun its closest rivals.
If you want the best camera experience, you can't go wrong with the Pixel 9 Pro, but when you add gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks, I have to ask you to look another way.
At Rs. 109,999, the Pixel 9 Pro feels slightly expensive for what it offers, but you can consider it as a premium for all the top-tier Google features arriving this year, along with AI.
When talking about alternatives, the Pixel 9 (Review) is definitely the closest sibling you can consider, minus some features. The Samsung Galaxy S24+ (Review) is also closer to the Pixel 9 Pro in terms of packaging, while you can also look at the iPhone 16 Pro, which is slightly more expensive.
