Vivo V50e has been launched in India on Thursday. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset paired with 8GB RAM. It packs a 5,600mAh battery with support for 90W wired fast charging. It is equipped with a 50-megapixel dual rear camera setup alongside a 50-megapixel selfie shooter. The phone is claimed to meet IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance. It joins the standard Vivo V50, which was unveiled in the country in February.
Vivo V50e Price in India, Availability
Vivo V50e price in India starts at Rs. 28,999 for the 8GB + 128GB option, while the 8GB + 256GB variant is marked at Rs. 30,999. The phone is offered in Pearl White and Sapphire Blue colourways. It will be available for purchase via Amazon, Flipkart and the Vivo India e-store starting April 17. Pre-booking for the handset is currently open in the country.
Vivo V50e Features, Specifications
The Vivo V50e sports a 6.77-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,392 pixels) quad-curved AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate, up to 300Hz touch sampling rate, 1,800nits of peak brightness level, a 2,160Hz PWM dimming rate, SGS low blue light certification, HDR10+ support and Diamond Shield Glass protection.
The handset is powered by a 4nm octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS2.2 onboard storage. The Vivo V50e runs on Android 15 with FuntouchOS 15 skin on top. It will receive three years of major OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
For optics, the Vivo V50e is equipped with a dual rear camera unit including a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 primary rear sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an f/1.79 aperture alongside an 8-megapixel ultrawide angle shooter with a 116-degree field-of-view and an f/2,2 aperture. It is accompanied by an Aura Light feature as well. The phone gets a 50-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls.
The Vivo V50e is backed by a 5,600mAh battery with 90W wired fast charging support. For security, it carries an in-display fingerprint sensor. The phone is claimed to meet IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, OTG, GPS, and a USB Type-C port.
Vivo V50e's Pearl White variant measures 163,29x76.72x7.39mm in size, while the Sapphire Blue version has a 7.61mm profile. Both options of the handset weigh 186g.
Asus has partnered with Swiggy Instamart to provide doorstep delivery of its accessories in India. The Taiwanese manufacturer announced its association with the instant delivery platform on Wednesday. With this partnership, shoppers in select Indian cities can order different Asus accessories, including keyboard, mouse, and chargers, on Swiggy Instamart. Products, including the Asus Marshmallow Keyboard, Silent Ergo Mouse, and 65W Type-C GaN chargers, are now available alongside daily essentials on Swiggy Instamart. Notably, in January, Asus partnered with Zepto to make select computer peripherals available on the quick-commerce platform.
Asus Accessories to Be Delivered by Swiggy Instamart in Minutes
In a press release, Asus announced that it has teamed up with Swiggy Instamart to launch 10-minute delivery of its accessories in select cities. Asus keyboard, mouse, and chargers will be available on the instant delivery platform for doorstep delivery in cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Pune.
The Asus 65W Type-C universal adapter (Black) and 65W Type-C GaN universal adapter (Black) are currently available for quick delivery on Swiggy Instamart. Keyboards like the KW100 Marshmallow keyboard (Beige) and the CW100 wireless keyboard (Green) and mouse combo are also offered for sale. Further, Asus is selling its MD102 Silent Ergo mouse, MW103 Wireless Silent mouse, MD100 Marshmallow multi device Wireless mouse and more on the quick commerce platform. They are advertised to be delivered in 10 minutes of receiving the order.
Meanwhile, Asus has also been associated with Zepto since January this year and sells some of its keyboards and mice in select Indian cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
Swiggy Instamart had recently started doorstep delivery of smartphones from brands like Apple, Samsung, OnePlus, and Redmi to customers in select locations, including Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Faridabad, Noida, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Pune. The service is confirmed to roll out to additional cities soon. Instamart's rival Blinkit also offers similar smartphone delivery services in several Indian cities.
Redmi Turbo 4 Pro is expected to join the vanilla Redmi Turbo 4, which was unveiled in China in January. The Pro version could be unveiled later this month. A senior Redmi executive confirmed that a new Redmi handset will arrive with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC soon. This will likely be the Redmi Turbo 4 Pro. Previous leaks and reports have suggested several key features of the purported smartphone. Notably, the Redmi Turbo 4 comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra chipset.
Redmi Turbo 4 Pro Launch
Redmi General Manager Thomas Wang said in a Weibo post that an upcoming Redmi handset will launch soon with the recently unveiled Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 SoC. The 4nm octa-core chipset supports up to 24GB LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 onboard storage. It is claimed to deliver up to 31 percent improved CPU performance over the preceding Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC.
Although Wang did not explicitly mention the name of the smartphone, his reply to user comments on his original post suggests that the phone is the anticipated Redmi Turbo 4 Pro and it may launch in China in April. A Weibo user commented "Turbo 4 Pro looks better (translated from Chinese)" and asked if it could be expected "this month." Wang responded to this in the affirmative.
The Redmi Turbo 4 Pro has previously been tipped to get a 1.5K resolution display. It is said to pack a battery with a capacity larger than 7,000mAh. It is said to bring flagship-level colour, material, and finish (CMF) to the midrange series and may have a glass body with a metal middle frame. Globally, including in India, it may launch as the Poco F7.
Redmi Turbo 4 features a MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra SoC, a 6,550mAh battery with 90W wired fast charging support, a 6.67-inch 120Hz 1.5K OLED display, a 50-megapixel dual rear camera setup, and a 20-megapixel selfie shooter. The price of the handset starts in China at CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 23,500) for the 12GB + 256GB option.
iPhone 17 series is expected to launch in September. It is rumoured to include four models — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air (or Slim), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The phones are likely to come with iOS 19, which Apple will showcase at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Recently, a leaked video had suggested the design changes expected to come to iOS 19. As per the video, iOS 19 is said to bring a new camera feature exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro models.
iOS 19 Could Bring Dual Camera Recording Feature
In a video posted to the Front Page Tech YouTube channel, tipster Jon Prosser offers a detailed look at Apple's upcoming iOS 19 update. Apart from talking about the design changes in iOS 19, the YouTuber states that a new camera app is coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with the update. The new functionality will allow users to record video from the rear camera and front-facing camera at the same time.
This rumoured dual video recording feature is likely to benefit content creators. However, Samsung debuted this feature back in 2013 in its Galaxy S4 and it has been available in several Android phones since.
iOS 19's new design is said to be inspired by Apple's visionOS. The upcoming iPhone operating system could include rounded icons, new animations resembling the Dynamic Island animation, and a redesigned Tab View.
Apple is expected to preview iOS 19 in June during its annual WWDC, which is set to kick off on June 9 with free attendance for all developers. The event will conclude on June 13. Besides iOS 19, Apple is also expected to tease next-generation software updates for iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and the Vision Pro. The company could release the iOS 19 stable update in September with the launch of the iPhone 17 series.
OnePlus 13T is expected to launch in China in April. The company has yet to announce the exact launch date but senior OnePlus executives have shared teasers about the upcoming handset. Now, a company official has shared that the upcoming smartphone will be available in three colour options. Previous teasers suggested the OnePlus 13T would be compact and have a smaller flat screen than the standard OnePlus 13, which has a 6.82-inch 120Hz Quad-HD+ LTPO 4.1 ProXDR display.
OnePlus 13T Colour Options
The OnePlus 13T will arrive in three colours, OnePlus China President Louis Lee claimed in a Weibo post. While Lee did not confirm the colourways, he did claim that there is a "very special colour" among the three that is "very popular" among the youth. We can expect official renders of the handset to break covers soon and reveal the shades.
Notably, the base OnePlus 13 model launched in Arctic Dawn, Black Eclipse, and Midnight Ocean colour options in India, while the OnePlus 13R arrived in Astral Trail and Nebula Noir shades. The company has yet to confirm the India launch of the upcoming OnePlus 13T.
In an earlier teaser, Lee suggested that the OnePlus 13T will come with a compact and flat screen. Based on previous leaks, the handset is said to sport a 6.3-inch OLED panel with 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The senior OnePlus official also confirmed that the phone will include a customisable shortcut key which will be placed on the left edge in place of the alert slider.
The OnePlus 13T is expected to get a Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC paired with up to 16GB RAM and up to 512GB onboard storage. It will likely ship with Android 15-based ColorOS 15. For optics, it could pack two 50-megapixel rear sensors including a telephoto shooter. It may be backed by a 6,200mAh battery with 80W charging support.
Motorola Edge 60 Fusion sale in India begins today (Wednesday). The phone made its debut on April 2 as the successor to the Motorola Edge 50 Fusion and comes with an IP68 +IP69-rated dust and water-resistant build along with MIL-810H certification for durability. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM. Motorola Edge 60 Fusion sports a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup and a 32-megapixel front camera.
Motorola Edge 60 Fusion Price in India, Offers
Motorola Edge 60 Fusion price in India starts at Rs. 22,999 for the base 8GB + 256GB storage option while the 12GB + 256GB variant costs Rs. 24,999. It can be purchased starting today (Wednesday) at 12:00 pm IST on Flipkart and the Motorola India website.
It is offered in Pantone Amazonite, Pantone Slipstream, and Pantone Zephyr colour options.
Buyers can get an instant discount of Rs. 2,000 on transactions carried out with Axis Bank and IDFC First Bank Credit cards. Alternatively, they can opt for an additional Rs. 2,000 off on exchange. Flipkart also offers a 5 percent instant discount on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit card purchases.
Motorola Edge 60 Fusion Specifications
The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion sports a 6.7-inch 1.5K (1,220x2,712 pixels) quad curved pOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,000 nits peak brightness. It has up to a 300Hz touch sampling rate, and comes with Water Touch 3.0 technology and HDR10+ support. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection on top.
It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 SoC, paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 onboard storage. Its graphics are handled by an Arm Mali-G615 MC2 GPU. Running on Android 15-based Hello UI, Motorola claims up to three years of OS and four years of security updates.
For optics, the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is equipped with a triple rear camera unit, comprising a 50-megapixel Sony LYT700C primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilisation (OIS) support, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens with an f/2.2 aperture, and a dedicated 3-in-1 light sensor at the back. It also gets a 32-megapixel front camera with an f/2.2 aperture for selfies and video calls.
Connectivity options on the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion include 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, AGPS, LTEPP, SUPL, GLONASS, Galileo, NFC, and a USB Type-C port. It packs a 5,500mAh battery in the Edge 60 Fusion with support for 68W wired charging.
Moto G Stylus (2025) was launched in the US and Canadian markets on Tuesday. One of its most notable features is the in-built stylus which now has an improved design, enabling users to take notes, sketch ideas, and navigate through apps. As per Motorola, the phone features a 6.7-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Moto G Stylus (2025) also brings several artificial intelligence (AI) features like Sketch to Image and Google's Circle to Search.
Moto G Stylus (2025) Price
Moto G Stylus (2025) price in the US starts at $399 for the sole 8GB + 256GB storage variant. It is offered in Gibraltar Sea and Surf the Web Pantone colourways with a leather finish. The phone can be purchased starting April 17 via Amazon, BestBuy, and the brand website.
Additionally, it will also be made available at Metro by T-Mobile, Verizon, Visible, Total Wireless, Straight Talk, AT&T, Cricket, Spectrum Mobile, Consumer Cellular, UScellular, Xfinity Mobile, Google Fi Wireless, Optimum Mobile, and Boost Mobile in the coming months.
In Canada, the Moto G Stylus (2025) will be available starting May 13 on the brand website as well as select carriers and national retailers.
Moto G Stylus (2025) Specifications
Moto G Stylus (2025) sports a 6.7-inch Full HD+ (2,712 x 1,220 pixels) pOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,000 nits peak brightness. The phone draws power from a 4nm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset, which is paired with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card. It runs on Android 15.
For optics, the Moto G Stylus (2025) is equipped with a dual rear camera unit, comprising a 50-megapixel camera with a Sony LYTIA LYT-700C sensor and optical image stabilisation (OIS) and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens with macro capabilities. It also has a 32-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls. The camera capabilities are complimented by a Photo Enhancement Engine which is claimed to automatically analyse multiple frames, blend exposures, and preserve colours and details to deliver a professional-grade image.
Motorola says its newest phone in the US gets support for various AI features. With the in-built stylus, users can take advantage of the Sketch to Image feature while it also comes with Google's Circle to Search visual lookup tool.
The phone packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 68W (wired) and 15W (wireless) charging. Connectivity is handled by 5G, dual 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4, and USB Type-C. The Moto G Stylus (2025) measures 162.15 × 74.78 × 8.29 mm and it tips the scales at 191 grams. It gets MIL-STD-810H certification for durability and IP68 rating against dust and water ingress.
Nothing Phone 3a series launched last month and one of its standout features was Essential Space. Activated via the new dedicated Essential Key, it acts as a one-stop solution to gather all sorts of data such as screenshots, photos, and voice notes, and recall them using AI. While this feature was a nifty addition which was appreciated by users, a social media post suggests that some of them are running into monthly processing limits for the feature.
Essential Space's Monthly Processing Limit
User @AlphaDaemon1999 expressed their frustration over the discovery of the monthly processing limit on a post on Reddit. The post says that the user used the feature as intended; to save content ideas, set reminders, and track their daily expenses, before they hit the limit. The user emphasised that they read through all of the terms and conditions but did not find a reference to the maximum processing cap anywhere.
Other users also expressed their disappointment over this development, especially since it is a hardware inclusion and one of the most advertised features of the Nothing Phone 3a series. One user commented, “Never expected this. That's the USP of the product. When they have a cap on the USP, then there's no point in advertising as a unique feature.”
The monthly processing limit on the Essential Space suggests that the company could introduce a paid subscription for offering unlimited usage. However, this is not the first time that this has been hinted towards.
Following a teardown of the latest version of the Essential Space app, Android Authority discovered multiple strings that referenced "free trial" and "AI credits". The former suggests that users may be able to try out certain Essential Space features before a subscription fee is required, while the latter indicates that they would be able to spend money on credits to access certain AI features.
One of the strings read "start 1 year free trial", which suggests that the British OEM could offer a one year free subscription to the AI space before charging users for it.
Samsung's rollout of its Android 15-based One UI 7 operating system (OS) is yet to reach completion but the company is said to already have plans for an early release of its next iteration. According to a report, One UI 8 based on Android 16 will be offered out-of-the-box with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 foldables, which are said to be in the works and expected to debut some time later this year.
One UI 8 on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7
Citing insider sources, SamMobile reports that Samsung is planning to launch its next generation foldable smartphones — the purported Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 — with One UI 8 out-of-the-box. This potentially means that the handsets may come running on the Android 16-based firmware at launch.
The South Korean technology conglomerate's next generation foldable phones are speculated to debut in July this year, keeping up with the launch timelines of its previous iterations.
Notably, Samsung is said to have already begun testing its next OS. A tipster recently spotted One UI 8's internal test build on the company's server officially listed as a “newfound test firmware”. It is reported to come with S938BXXU1BYC1/S938BOXM1BYC1/S938BXXU1BYC1 as the build version for the flagship Galaxy S25 series. This suggests that Samsung is likely to have kicked off the development of its next-generation OS two months prior than its usual timeline.
With regard to its release date, the successor to Android 15 has already been confirmed by a Google official to release in June 2025. It could be moved to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) on June 3, following which original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Samsung can create custom variants of the OS catering to their respective devices and port it for the release.
There is no official word yet about the features included or the availability of Samsung's One UI 8 update. More information is likely to be revealed in the coming months leading up to the Android 16-based OS' release.
The Poco M7 5G was launched in India last month as the latest entry-level smartphone from Xiaomi's performance-focused subsidiary. The handset is priced under the Rs. 10,000 mark, and it features an octa-core Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, 128GB of built-in storage, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and runs on Android 14. It will compete with similarly priced smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy F06 5G, Redmi A4 and Redmi 14C 5G from Xiaomi, Infinix Hot 50 5G, Tecno Spark 30C, and Lava Blaze 3 5G.
The base model of the Poco M7 5G is priced at Rs. 9,999, while the 8GB variant costs Rs. 10,999. Poco sells the smartphone in three colourways. But is this the best budget smartphone you can buy today? Read our Poco M7 5G review to find out.
Poco M7 5G Design: Hard to Spot the Differences
Dimensions - 171.9×77.8×8.2 mm
Weight - 205.4g
Colours - Mint Green, Ocean Blue (Featured in this review), Satin Black
The Poco M7 5G has a 6.88-inch display and a considerably big phone. The lower half of the handset's rear panel has a matte finish, while the upper portion (which also houses the 50-megapixel rear camera) has a smooth finish. The rear panel and the raised camera island are made of plastic, and the latter glitter when held at various angles.
Poco M7 5G has half-matte and half glossy rear design
If you've looked at the Redmi A4 from last year or the Redmi 14C 5G, the new Poco M7 5G should feel very familiar. All three phones have the same display size and dimensions, while the Poco M7 5G and the Redmi 14C 5G both weigh 204.5g. At a glance, the only way to identify Poco's handset among these three models is to look for the half-matte, half-glossy design on the rear panel.
On the front, the Poco M7 5G sports an LCD screen with thick bezels at the top, left and right edges, and an even thicker chin. A waterdrop-style notch at the top houses the selfie camera, and the front of the smartphone is identical to the aforementioned Redmi phones.
The edges of the Poco handset are made of plastic, and there's a volume rocker and power button on the right side, a USB Type-C port at the bottom, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the top edge. The review unit we received did not include a screen protector or a cover. You get a 33W power adapter, a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, and a SIM ejector tool.
Poco M7 5G Software: Older Android Version, Preinstalled Apps
Software - HyperOS
Version - Android 14
Latest security patch - January 1, 2025
The Poco M7 5G runs on Android 14, with Xiaomi's HyperOS skin on top. It's a little disappointing to see it ship with this version six months after Google released Android 15. The company says that the Poco M7 5G will receive two Android OS updates (which means its last major update will be Android 16) and four years of security updates.
The Poco M7 5G comes with a handful of preinstalled apps (Tap to expand)
The HyperOS skin seems to be optimised to run on the Poco M7 5G, and switching to the previous app and back feels smooth. The unit we received had 6GB of RAM, with a memory extension feature turned off by default.
Like other smartphones in this price segment, the Poco M7 5G includes a few preinstalled apps and games. These include Spotify, Snapchat, LinkedIn, WPS Office, Facebook, Word Scenery: Crossword, Jewels Blast, Tile Fun, and a couple of bubble shooter games.
They are located in folders called “More apps” and “Games” that also prompt you to install apps like Junglee Rummy, Ludo Supreme, MPL, and Dream11. These apps can be uninstalled, and the folders disappear after their contents are emptied. You will also need to disable advertisements on various system applications to prevent full-screen ads from showing up while opening these apps.
Poco M7 5G Performance: Good Value for Money
Processor - Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
Memory - Up to 8GB LPDDR4x
Storage - 128GB UFS 2.2
There's a 4nm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip inside the Poco M7 5G — the same processor powers the Redmi 14C, and it comprises two Cortex-A78 cores (2.2GHz) and six Cortex-A55 cores (1.95GHz), along with an Adreno 613 GPU. The chipset is slightly more capable than the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 SoC on the Redmi A4, and it can handle popular apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
The Poco M7 5G delivers performance on par with similarly priced smartphones (Tap to expand)
Games like Temple Run 2 and Asphalt Legends Unite run on the default settings without any issues. I also ran Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), which ran fine on Smooth settings with the Ultra framerate option. The phone doesn't have a gyroscope, so you'll need to make adjustments while moving your character around in the game.
We also ran benchmark tests to see how the Poco M7 5G performs against rivals like the Redmi A4 5G, Moto G35, and the more expensive HMD Fusion, which also features the same chipset.
Benchmarks
Poco M7 5G
Motorola G35
HMD Fusion
Redmi A4 5G
Geekbench Single
923
1,012
937
839
Geekbench Multi
2,195
2,403
2,245
1919
PCMark Work 3.0
8,030
13,920
8,503
8,782
AnTuTu v10
4,33,660
4,94,364
4,48,378
3,87,157
GFXB T-rex
57
70
70
55
GFXB Manhattan 3.1
36
33
37
28
GFXB Car Chase
16
18
17
15
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
Failed to run
2,590
1,775
1,560
3DM Slingshot
Failed to run
3,379
2,712
2,409
3DM Wild Life
668
Not supported
673
647
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
666
Not supported
669
Failed to run
The 6.88-inch HD+ (720×1640 pixels) IPS LCD screen on the Poco M7 5G has a 120Hz refresh rate. While there's an automatic mode that switches between 60Hz and 120Hz, you can also select one of the two manually. I enabled the Standard colour scheme in the display settings, which offered improved colour accuracy.
The display on the Poco M7 5G is bright enough for most outdoor scenarios
Poco says that the handset's display has a peak brightness of 450nits (and 600nits in high brightness mode). The screen gets bright enough while outdoors during the day, except if you're using the phone when it's extremely sunny outside.
Poco M7 5G Cameras: Decent Daytime Photos
Main camera - 50-megapixel (f/1.8), PDAF, up to 1080p/ 30fps video
Selfie camera - 8-megapixel
A 50-megapixel primary camera on the Poco M7 5G with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and an f/1.8 aperture. This camera delivers bright and sharp photos during the day, and colours are reproduced accurately. Images captured with the rear camera have a lot of detail, even when you zoom in.
Top to bottom: Samples from primary rear camera, 2x zoom, Portrait (Tap to expand)
The primary camera has a 2x in-sensor crop option, which allows you to zoom in on subjects that are further away. When there's enough natural light, this mode can deliver decent photos of subjects that are slightly further away.
While shooting images with the Poco M7 5G, I noticed that the camera app is quick to capture images in the default mode. Unlike some other budget phones that take a moment to capture each shot, the Poco M7 5G saved each image as soon as I tapped the shutter button.
If you're shooting images in low light scenarios, I recommend using the default photo mode (wherever possible) unless your subject is perfectly still or your surroundings are very dark. Images of animals and other moving subjects taken with the default mode have more detail (and more noise), but it's preferable to the softening on images captured when Night mode is enabled.
Low light samples (Tap to expand)
The default camera app has two other modes — 50MP and Portrait. The former captures very detailed images and takes a moment to save before the camera is ready to take another shot. However, if you want to capture images with a lot of detail and don't mind the extra storage required by these photos, I recommend using the 50-megapixel mode.
Without support for image stabilisation, the Poco M7 5G captures shaky videos during the day and night when using the rear camera or the front-facing camera. If you have a handheld gimbal, you might be able to mitigate this. You can record up to 1080p at 30fps using the rear camera and the selfie shooter.
Poco M7 5G Battery: A Day and a Half on One Charge
Battery Capacity - 5,160mAh
Wired Charging - 18W (USB Type-C)
The combination of the 5,160mAh battery and the efficient Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC on the Poco M7 5G is enough to deliver over a day and a half of battery life. This included a mix of calls and texting (with WhatsApp in companion device mode), some light gaming, browsing Instagram and X, and streaming videos on YouTube.
Poco M7 5G doesn't ship with a case in the box
On our HD video battery loop test, the Poco M7 5G lasted for 23 hours and 10 minutes. Keep in mind that this is a synthetic test, so that the real world will vary based on actual usage. The phone ships with a 33W charger, but the handset can only be charged at 18W. It took around 1 hour and 50 minutes for a full charge.
Poco M7 5G: Final Thoughts
At Rs. 9,999, the Poco M7 5G is one of the most value-for-money offerings currently available in India. It offers support for 5G connectivity and has a familiar-looking design, and offers decent camera performance during the day. Battery life and charging speeds are also on par with other similarly priced smartphones.
It's disappointing to see the Poco M7 5G launch with Android 14 when Android 15 has been out for several months when its biggest rival — the Samsung Galaxy F06 5G — ships with the latest version and is slated to receive four Android OS version upgrades. Other alternatives to the Poco M7 5G include the Redmi A4 (Review), Redmi 14C 5G, and the Moto G35 (Review).
Bats fly out of caves in large numbers every night. Even though they fly in huge numbers they do not collide. Scientists have observed this for years. The ability of bats to navigate without crashing remains an area of study. Many species rely on echolocation to sense their surroundings. They emit calls and listen to echoes. When many bats use echolocation at the same time, interference should occur. Scientists refer to this issue as jamming. This raises the question of why bats do not collide when leaving caves in large groups.
How Bats Navigate Without Collisions
According to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from Tel Aviv University examined greater mouse-tailed bats in Israel's Hula Valley. The study was conducted over two years. Small tracking devices were placed on multiple bats. These trackers recorded their locations and sounds. Some of these devices contained ultrasonic microphones. The mics were there to capture the auditory scene. Since bats were tagged outside the cave, data at the opening of the cave was not available. A computational model developed by Omer Mazar was used to simulate the missing data. This model recreated the entire sequence of bat emergence.
Findings on Echolocation Adjustments
As per the findings, 94 percent of echolocations were jammed when bats exited the cave. Within five seconds, jamming decreased significantly. Two behavioral adjustments were noted. First, bats moved outward from the dense group while staying in formation. They changed their echolocation strategy. Calls became shorter, weaker, and at a higher frequency. Scientists expected bats to avoid jamming by dispersing. The change in frequency was unexpected.
Reason Behind Echolocation Changes
Omer Mazar, a researcher involved in the study, explained this shift. He stated in an interview with Phys.org that bats prioritise detecting the nearest barrier. In this case, the obstacle is another bat. They did this by changing the method of echolocation. They gather precise information about their immediate surroundings. This reduces the risk of collisions
Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, is planning to go public this year. The US-based crypto firm recently filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). If approved, Circle's stocks will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as “CRCL”. As part of the listing process, Circle has filled SEC's S-1 form – which is a registration statement that firms planning to go public need to submit to the SEC. It essentially provides key details about the firm and their businesses to the SEC as well as the investor community.
The filing shows that Circle plans to introduce three classes of common stock -- Class A (one vote per share), Class B (five votes per share, capped at 30 percent voting power), and Class C (non-voting). Despite the founders' voting power, Circle said it will not be classified as a “controlled company” under the NYSE rules.
As of now, Circle has not disclosed how many shares it plans to offer and what its IPO target price would be.
Key Details Circle Mentioned in the S-1 Form
Circle claimed in its filing that assets under its management reached the valuation of approximately $1.6 billion (roughly Rs. 13,694 crore) as of December 31, 2024.
The company also informed investors that between 2022 and 2024, its stablecoin-related reserves rose from $735.9 million (roughly Rs. 6,299 crore) to $1.7 billion (roughly Rs. 14,554 crore). While 99 percent of Circle's revenue last year came from its stablecoin reserves, the firm also churns a portion of its income via yield-bearing Treasury bills, the filing shows.
Explaining its decision to the public, Circle stated that the move seeks to enhance transparency and accountability while engaging with the investor community.
“Operating as a US-listed public company represents our continued dedication to transparency and accountability, as we will become subject to the reporting, corporate governance, and other requirements that are applicable to a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange,” the company said in its filing.
As per reports, Circle's IPO could go live between April and June.
Data by CoinGecko shows that Coinbase, Galaxy Digital, and Mara Holdings are among the top ten largest blockchain firms by market cap as of February 4.
Associated Risks
Now that Circle is planning its IPO, it has compiled a list of risk factors that the investors should beware of.
“Stablecoins may face periods of uncertainty, loss of trust, or systemic shocks resulting in the potential for rapid redemption requests (or runs). Extreme scenarios, such as market shocks that affect the value of USDC's reserves may lead to redemption delays and USDC reserves being insufficient to meet all redemption requests,” the firm explained.
The company acknowledged its exposure to credit risks and cautioned that its compliance and risk management strategies may be ineffective. It also warned investors that purchasing Class A common stock carries significant risk.
Circle's Journey So Far
Circle launched as a peer-to-peer payments technology company in October 2013 by Jeremy Allaire and Sean Neville. Over the last twelve years, the USDC supply has swollen to over 60 billion tokens. According to CoinMarketCap, USDC is the seventh largest crypto by market valuation.
In September 2024, Circle partnered with Sony to expand the USDC ecosystem through the Soneium blockchain. Under the deal, the USDC stablecoin was finalised as a key token within the Soneium network.
Ahead of its planned IPO, USDC received an approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) for use within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This allows all firms operating in the DIFC to integrate the USDC token into their daily economic activities.
Telugu political drama Racharikam is arriving on Lionsgate Play on April 11. Directed by Suresh Lankalapalli, the film is set in the 1980s and revolves around love and political turmoil in the village of Rachakonda. Bhargavi Reddy and Shiva find themselves entangled in a conflict that stems from family, politics, and social hierarchies. With themes of male power and caste oppression, the narrative explores the complexities of political ambition and personal relationships.
When and Where to Watch Racharikam
Racharikam will premiere exclusively on Lionsgate Play on April 11. Viewers with an active subscription can watch the film on the streaming platform.
Official Trailer and Plot of Racharikam
The trailer shows the intense political rivalries which causes emotional struggles. Among all of this is a love story set against a backdrop of these very power struggles. The plot follows Bhargavi Reddy who is an aspiring politician and Shiva who is a youth leader from the Mana Sakthi Party. Bhargavi's and her brother, Vivek Reddy's political ambitions gets tangles with her father's opposition to her love story. Political motivations are shown intertwining with personal relationships, as tensions arise. All of this ends up leading to a dramatic confrontation.
Cast and Crew of Racharikam
The film stars Apsara Rani and Vijay Shankar in lead roles. The film has Varun Sandesh, Srikanth Iyengar, Vijay Ram Raju, Esshwar and Hyper Aadi in supporting roles. The music has been composed by Vengi.
Reception of Racharikam
Upon its theatrical release on January 31, Racharikam received strong reviews, with an IMDb rating of 9.3/10. The film's storytelling, performances, and political themes were well received.
China has reportedly witnessed a significant decline in glacier area over the last six decades. As per a new study published online, the country has lost nearly 26 percent of its total glacier coverage since the 1960s. The study claims that the lost of such glacier area might be due to the rapid increase in global temperatures around the globe. Official data confirmed that close to 7000 small glaciers have entirely vanished from the landscape. The shrinking of glacier masses has been observed to accelerate over the past few years as warming trends continue to intensify.
Glacier Loss Confirmed by Chinese Academy of Sciences
According to a study released by the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences it was recorded that China's glacier area had reduced to nearly 46000 square kilometres by 2020. The total number of glaciers was stated to be around 69000 at that time. This marked a steep fall from an earlier figure of approximately 59000 square kilometres reported between 1960 and 1980 when glacier count stood at roughly 46000.
Impact of Glacier Retreat on Water Security and Environment
The melting of glaciers has raised concerns over freshwater availability across several regions. Environmental agencies have cautioned that the loss of glacier mass may result in higher competition for water resources in the years to come. The Tibetan Plateau which hosts a large portion of these glaciers has been referred to as the Third Pole owing to the vast ice reserves it holds.
Efforts to Slow Glacier Melting
Attempts have been made by Chinese authorities to slow the melting process through technological interventions. Artificial snow systems and snow blankets have been deployed as part of these initiatives.
Greenland's melting glaciers have exposed 1,620 kilometers of previously ice-covered coastline in the last 20 years. Arctic marine-terminating glaciers have significantly receded, according to satellite imagery from 2000 to 2020, exposing new land to the elements. This change illustrates the continued effects of global warming as the region's geography is altered by shrinking ice flows. The newly exposed areas now face environmental changes, such as possible ecosystem shifts, sediment displacement, and new opportunities for scientific exploration.Over the past two decades, glaciers melting in Greenland have revealed 1,620 kilometres of previously ice-covered coastline. Satellite imagery from 2000 to 2020 has shown a significant retreat in Arctic marine-terminating glaciers, exposing new land to the elements.
Satellite Data Tracks Greenland's Changing Landscape
According to a study published in Nature Climate Change, researchers examined satellite images to map changes in the northern hemisphere's glacier coverage. The study found that 2,466 kilometres of coastline have been revealed in the Arctic over 20 years, with Greenland accounting for 66 percent of the total. Glacial retreat has been most pronounced at Zachariae Isstrom, where 81 kilometres of coastline have been exposed—twice as much as any other Arctic glacier.
Newly Exposed Islands and Potential Territorial Claims
The discovery of 35 islands larger than 0.5 square kilometers, 29 of which are in Greenland, and 13 of which are not shown on any maps, is another result of the retreat of ice. The study further suggests that these 35 islands might be in danger as multiple nations might claim it for its natural resources. Researchers also pointed out in the study that these islands may have significant scientific value. The report adds that the new landscapes might provide new insights into Arctic geology and marine ecosystems.
Newly Exposed Islands and Potential Territorial Claims
The discovery of 35 islands larger than 0.5 square kilometers, 29 of which are in Greenland, and 13 of which are not shown on any maps, is another result of the retreat of ice. These islands' unexplored status raises the possibility of future territorial claims by nations looking to access unexplored natural resources. Researchers point out that these emerging landscapes may have scientific value, providing new insights into Arctic geology and marine ecosystems.
Environmental Implications of Glacier Loss
Long-term environmental effects are yet unknown as Arctic ice continues to melt. Researchers caution that the loss of ice affects global climate patterns by causing sea levels to rise and ocean currents to shift. Local governments, communities, and environmental researchers face both opportunities and challenges as a result of the recently exposed coastline.
Dhanush's Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam (NEEK) has finally been released on OTT after its theatrical run. The film is written and directed by Dhanush. The movie also marks the debut of Pavish Narayan. Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam follows the story of a young man who attends his former lover's wedding. The film also shows his journey on how he moves on and embraces his arranged marriage.
When and Where to Watch Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
NEEK premiered in theatres in February. The film is now available for streaming on Prime Video. The film caters to a younger audience, reflecting modern relationships and emotions.
Official Trailer and Plot of Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
The official trailer of the movie reveals the struggle the protagonist deals with his unresolved emotions he attends his ex-lover's wedding. The story talks about his internal struggle, which creates moments of humour, drama, and introspection. The film focuses on different angles of love, heartbreak, and new beginnings.
Cast and Crew of Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam
Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam features Pavish Narayan, Anikha Surendran, Matthew Thomas, Priya Prakash Varrier, Rabiya Khatoon, Ramya Ranganathan, and Venkatesh Menon in their pivotal roles. The movie also features senior actors R. Sarathkumar, Naren, and Saranya Ponvannan. The music has been composed by GV Prakash Kumar, while Dhanush has backed the project under Wunderbar Films.
Google is expected to bring the Pixel 10 series to market in the second half of this year. Like the current Pixel 9 series, the upcoming lineup is expected to include four models — Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. Most recently, the first set of renders purportedly depicting the upcoming Pixel 10 Pro Fold have leaked online. The foldable device appears to have a similar design as its predecessor.
Pixel 10 Pro Fold Looks Similar to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Android Headlines, in association with tipster Onleaks, has shared alleged renders of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold showcasing its design. The renders depict a familiar design language in a cream colour option, and this could be marketed as the same Porcelain colour as its predecessor. The images suggest that the new phone will continue to feature a similar rectangular camera module to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The lenses are arranged vertically in a dual-stage design, and the phone is likely to retain the 48-megapixel rear camera unit of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The alleged Pixel 10 Pro Fold seems to have a hole punch cutout on the external display. The bezels on the display appear to be thick and symmetrical. The internal screen has a hole punch cutout on the right corner. The foldable phone is seen with rounded corners.
Google's Pixel 10 Pro Fold could be slightly thicker than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, measuring 155.2x150.4x5.3mm when unfolded. The existing model measures 155.2x150.2x5.1mm.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is said to be in the works with the codename Rango. It is likely to go official in August this year alongside the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL models. The phone is expected to come with a Tensor G5 processor with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It could pack a MediaTek T900 modem and run on Android 16 OS.
Apple on Monday released its highly anticipated iOS 18.4 update for iPhone. It adds to the list of Apple Intelligence features including Priority Notifications and the availability of Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro models. With the update, the Cupertino-based technology giant also expands its AI suite to include India and other regions, which eliminates the need to set the device and Siri language to English (US) to access the features.
There are new features, new toggles in the Control Centre, new emojis, and an app to customise the Apple Vision Pro features as part of the update.
iOS 18.4 Update for iPhone: Availability
Apple says iOS 18.4 update expands Apple Intelligence features to include support for Chinese (Simplified), English (India, Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish languages. Thus, iPhone users in India can now gain access to the AI features without having to change the device language.
iOS 18.4 Update for iPhone: Features
A key new addition with the update is the support for Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Initially introduced with the iPhone 16 models in September, it is a visual lookup tool which leverages Apple Intelligence to help users learn about objects and places instantly. It can summarise text, translate it between languages, and detect phone numbers or email addresses and add them to contacts. Further, users can also enable web search to look up a product they like, solve a math equation, or simply ask ChatGPT to provide more information.
While this feature takes advantage of the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 lineup, iPhone 15 Pro users may be able to toggle it via the Action button and a dedicated Control Centre toggle.
Building upon the previous announcement, the iOS 18.4 update introduces an Apple Vision Pro app for iPhone. It enables users to download apps and games for the Vision Pro via the App Store, discover films and shows tailored for the mixed reality (MR) headset, get tips, and access other information. There's also a new feature which Apple calls Review Summaries. As the name suggests, it compiles information from individual reviews left by users on an app or a game on the App Store to create a comprehensive summary, enabling others to quickly get an idea about the app without having to scroll through the entire list.
Another addition is the new toggles for two existing functionalities — talk to Siri and Visual Intelligence. Meanwhile, the company also introduces an Ambient mode toggle which enables users to play ambient soundscapes in the background. With iOS 18.4, the Apple News+ app shows recipes from global recipe publishers along with a catalogue which they can browse through to find the perfect dish. The Image Playground app now provides Sketch as an additional style option alongside animation and illustration.
A new model has been proposed that challenges the long-standing belief that black holes contain a singularity, a region where space and time break down. This theory suggests that black holes could exist without this problematic feature, reshaping our understanding. If accurate, this research could bridge the gap between general relativity and quantum mechanics, two fundamental yet conflicting theories of physics. The findings offer a fresh perspective on one of the most mysterious objects in the universe, potentially altering how black holes are studied.
The Issue with Singularities
According to a study published in Physics Letters B in February 2025, researchers modified Einstein's field equations to prevent the formation of a singularity at the centre of a black hole. According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, black holes form when massive stars collapse under their own gravity. It creates regions of space with extreme curvature. This leads to the formation of a singularity, where all known laws of physics break down.
Robie Hennigar, a researcher at Durham University in England, told Space.com that the singularity is the most mysterious and problematic part of a black hole. He said that it is where our concepts of space and time literally no longer make sense.
Revising Einstein's Equations
In general relativity, gravity is described by Einstein's field equations, which successfully predict the motion of planets, the expansion of the universe, and the formation of black holes. However, these equations also predict singularities, which many physicists view as a sign that general relativity is incomplete.
Pablo Antonio Cano Molina-Niñirola, a physicist at the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona, explained to Space.com that their approach modifies Einstein's field equations to account for extreme gravitational conditions. Instead of relying on a complete theory of quantum gravity, the team uses an “effective theory” to approximate the missing physics.
Molina-Niñirola stated that this is a classical theory of gravity that is supposed to capture the effects of an assumed theory of quantum gravity. The model suggests that when space-time reaches extreme curvature, gravity behaves differently, preventing the formation of a singularity.
What Lies at the Core of a Black Hole?
With singularities removed from the equation, the next question is: what actually exists at a black hole's center? According to Hennigar, the answer is a stable, highly curved region of space-time. Molina-Niñirola explained that in their model, the space-time collapse stops, and the singularity is replaced by a highly warped static region that lies at the core of the black hole.
Potential Implications for Cosmology
The findings may have significant implications for theoretical physics, particularly in the search for a unified theory of gravity. If black holes do not have singularities, they could serve as a bridge between general relativity and quantum mechanics.
One possibility explored by the study is that matter falling into a black hole could eventually exit through a white hole, potentially in another universe or a different part of our own.
The absence of singularities might leave an imprint on the early universe, detectable through gravitational wave observations. Molina-Niñirola noted that if dark matter turned out to be composed of tiny black holes, this would be an indirect proof in favour of the absence of singularities.
Looking Ahead
Molina-Niñirola concluded that ongoing and future observations of black hole mergers and cosmic background radiation may eventually provide evidence to support or refute the theory. For now, the concept of black holes without singularities remains an exciting development in the quest to understand the universe's most enigmatic objects.
A new ballet drama is set to debut on Amazon Prime Video. It brings us an intense look into the competitive world of dance. Titled Étoile, the series is created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino. The show follows two renowned ballet companies—one in Paris and one in New York—as they exchange their top dancers to revitalise public interest and attract new audiences. With themes of ambition, artistic rivalry, and the struggle to keep classical ballet relevant, the series aims to capture the high stakes of the dance world.
When and Where to Watch Étoile
Étoile will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. All the eight episodes are scheduled for release on April 24.
Official Trailer and Plot of Étoile
The trailer released in March, provided a glimpse into the challenges faced by ballet directors while trying to keep their companies afloat. Charlotte Gainsbourg's character highlights the crisis, stating that the audience and funding both are dead while the seats remain empty. The storyline takes us around the directors' decision to swap their leading dancers. They are shown hoping to inject fresh energy to draw in new audiences. It shows us the personal and professional struggles of these dancers as they navigate a demanding industry, balancing artistry with the pressure of survival.
Cast and Crew of Étoile
The series features a mix of actors and professional dancers. Emmy winner Luke Kirby, known for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, stars alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg, who recently appeared in The Pale Blue Eye. The ensemble also includes Lou de Laâge, Gideon Glick, David Alvarez, Ivan du Pontavice, Taïs Vinolo, David Haig, Simon Callow, and Yanic Truesdale.
Renowned ballet dancers will also be seen in Étoile, including Unity Phelan and Tiler Peck from New York City Ballet, along with Boston Ballet's John Lam. The involvement of real-life professionals is expected to add authenticity to the show's portrayal of the ballet world.
Dolby Atmos has been a household name in India for years. If you've recently bought a smartphone, laptop, or smart TV, it probably comes with Dolby Atmos support. The best part is that we can now experience Dolby Vision and Atmos in live sports events like the recently concluded Champions Trophy, which India lifted in 2025, and Wimbledon - transforming how fans experience live events at home. Of course, you still need a Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos-enabled device to enhance your viewing experience. At the same time, you can find over 1,000 Dolby Atmos screens and plenty of content to consume online. Dolby is already working on its next big frontier and has collaborated with Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad to bring up India's first Dolby-certified facility for cinema and home. The collaboration not only opens up new horizons for studios but also prioritises the needs of filmmakers.
Ashim Mathur, Vice President - Marketing for APAC at Dolby Laboratories, while discussing Dolby Vision, stated that the company is already working on an outreach programme that will help spread the word. Speaking on the collaboration with Annapurna Studios, Mathur added that facilities like this will help bring filmmakers' vision to life, and the right cinemas will help users consume such content the way it is intended.
Talking about technical aspects, particularly Dolby Vision and HLG, a Dolby engineer explained that Dolby Vision uses PQ, short for Perceptual Quantizer, for HDR, offering a dynamic range 40x brighter and 10x darker than the standard dynamic range. Hybrid log gamma technology, or long for HLG, developed by DVC and NHK, is suitable for broadcast and OTT platforms, but it has a lower contrast ratio when compared to PQ.
Dolby Atmos mixing unit at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad
The engineer also talked about the importance of colour correction software like Baselight and DaVinci Resolve. And the role of transfer functions in camera technology, and the benefits of Dolby Atmos for immersive audio experiences in cinemas.
Discussing peak brightness in Dolby Vision cinema projection, the Dolby engineer noted that it's 108 nits at 12 bits in cinemas and 1000 nits for Smart TVs at home. The engineer explained the concept of Atmos mixing and emphasised the importance of stage (bed) speakers and the object (atmos elements). The object element allows sound to move freely within the room, enhancing the audience's experience. The entire setup comprises 128 channels of audio, with the first four channels dedicated to the bed and the remaining channels allocated to objects. The engineer clarified that the main elements of the film, such as heavy music and dynamic sounds, are typically placed in the bed channel.
Dolby Vision projection system by Christie Digital
When asked about the difference in approach taken for theatre and OTT, the engineer explained that the mixing room is set up for theatre, while an OTT room is used for different monitoring and loudness levels. He added that each OTT platform has its norms, and the mix is adjusted accordingly to meet those requirements. However, it is important to maintain a comfortable balance that works well for both theatre and OTT releases.
The engineer added that even the blacks are always dynamically controlled by Dolby Vision, whether it is for a Dolby cinema projector. He stressed the consistency of quality across different screen sizes and the advantages of Dolby Atmos for Dolby Cinema, emphasizing the studio-grade audio quality and its transferability to exhibitions.
Much like the Dolby Atmos adoption, which steadily picked up pace, we expect the Dolby Vision to become the next big thing for filmmakers and will see more pickup in some time. Mathur said that Annapurna Studios will be a marquee example for other production houses and may follow suit.
(From left to right): Nagarjuna, actor and co-owner of Annapurna Studios, and Ashim Mathur, Vice-President Marketing for APAC, Dolby
Annapurna Studio: The legacy studio
Annapurna Studio in Hyderabad completed the 50-year milestone in 2025 and was established by veteran actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) in 1975; it was named after ANR's wife, Annapurna. The studio, initially with non-air-conditioned sound stages, has grown to 12 fully equipped air-conditioned stages, serving over 5,000 films and producing more than 60. It introduced new technologies, like Dolby Cinema, which required significant investments, especially during COVID-19.
Annapurna Studio also expanded into virtual production technology during COVID-19 and was inspired by the success of series like "The Mandalorian" on Disney+. It now offers comprehensive post-production services, handling projects from editing to visual effects, aiming to be a one-stop shop for filmmakers.
Annapurna Studios has handled mixing for popular movies like Pushpa and Pushpa 2. Gadgets 360 was among the select media that experienced the state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos mix rooms. The facility features a cutting-edge Dolby Vision projection system developed by Christie Digital Systems, a long-standing partner of Dolby.
A shooting space at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad
Dolby and Annapurna Studios collab is just the first in many
Nagarjuna Akkineni, actor and co-owner of Annapurna Studios, discussed the investments into developing a one-stop solution for filmmakers. He touched upon the importance of expanding the studio space and the potential for new stories to be told in darker settings with advanced technology like Dolby Vision. Nagarjuna stressed the benefits of technologies like Vision, which will help filmmakers bring new storytelling techniques alongside infrastructure improvements in theatres and the impact on production quality. He also talked about the passion and dedication of filmmakers to adopt advanced technology.
As an example of how extensive work goes around movie launches, Nagarjuna discussed the considerable time spent mastering trailers, which play a crucial role in movie launches.
Nagarjuna also talked about the passion and approach some filmmakers take to perfect their projects. "I believe Mr S. S. Rajamouli is the one person who really pushed the limits at that point for the RRR movie. He went through so many iterations and corrections for RRR and was also learning on the go, but that's what passionate filmmakers think that this can be done and achieved."
Talking about the studio's early days, he recounted the challenges faced during the construction of Annapurna Studios, including an encounter with a snake.
Mathur talked about the potential for more Dolby Vision screens in India. "We believe that this facility, which is now operational and with more content being added, will serve as a valuable reference point for exhibitors who are also deciding whether to make the shift," Mathur added.
Dolby has vast plans, and we can expect to hear more from them this year, including some new collaborations for Dolby Vision.
The Poco M7 Pro was launched in India in December as a mid-range budget offering and we got to try it out recently. It's astonishing how much value modern smartphones offer at accessible price points, especially under Rs. 15,000, which is the cost of the base variant of this new Poco model. For that money, you get a large AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,110mAh battery, a capable mid-range chipset, and a dual rear camera setup with a 50-megapixel primary sensor.
Poco is highly competitive in the budget and mid-range segment while launching standout higher mid-range phones like the Poco X7 Pro. On paper, the M7 Pro also seems to be an excellent value for money, but how does it hold up in real-world usage? Read on to find out.
You get a 45W charger in the box alongside a case and the usual paperwork
The base variant is priced at Rs. 14,999 and has 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Meanwhile, the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage option will set you back by Rs. 16,999.
Poco M7 Pro Design
Poco M7 Pro has three colour options – Lavender Frost, Lunar Dust, and Olive Twilight. We received the Lunar Dust variant (8GB RAM + 256GB storage) for review, which will surely catch your eye. The phone features a dual-tone design on the rear panel with a moon dust/sandwave pattern covering one-half of the back. The other half has a matte finish. The combination is unique and, paired with the square camera module, gives the phone a premium look and feel.
The phone gets a dual-speaker setup
There's Poco branding on the camera module and a 5G logo at the bottom. The camera module doesn't stick out too much and has curved edges, which is nice. The rear panel and the frame, which also has a matte finish, are all plastic.
It has an IP64 rating
The phone weighs 190 grams, is decently light, and is only 7.99mm thick. It also gets an IP64 rating, which is an improvement over the M6 Pro's IP52. The volume rocker and power button are placed on the right side. You get a USB Type-C port, microphone, loudspeaker, and the SIM tray slot at the bottom. The top of the phone features a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, another speaker, and an IR blaster.
The phone features a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as an IR blaster
Moving over to the front, there's a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with thin bezels on the sides and a slightly thicker bezel on the bottom. Poco claims the phone offers a 92 percent screen-to-body ratio.
The bezels on the display are minimal
The display offers 2,100 nits of peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and full-HD+ resolution. Poco has used Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.
Poco M7 Pro Performance
Poco M7 Pro's display is good for viewing content and playing games. You get three colour profiles to choose from and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The phone also lets you switch between 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rate or stick to the default adaptive mode. The 2,100 nits of peak brightness translates to excellent indoor brightness, ensuring that you can read the screen even under direct sunlight.
The display offers 2,100nits of peak brightness
The phone runs Android 14 with Xiaomi's HyperOS skin on top, and there's a boatload of pre-installed apps and bloatware. Most of these apps can be uninstalled. Poco promises 2 years of OS updates, which means that the phone will not get any OS updates post-Android 16. Luckily, the phone is said to get four years of security updates. UI animations, scrolling, and software navigation were smooth throughout the review. I never faced any major lag when it came to regular usage.
You get Android 14-based HyperOS out of the box
In terms of performance, the phone performed quite well in daily usage. The Poco M7 Pro is equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset, paired with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB UFS 2.2 storage. This isn't a particularly strong chipset, but it does just fine with all kinds of day-to-day tasks and even gaming. I ran some benchmarks on the phone, and you can see the results below.
Benchmarks
Poco M7 Pro
Motorola G64
Geekbench Single
942
1,012
Geekbench Multi
2,235
2,403
PCMark Work 3.0
10,661
13,920
AnTuTu v10
4,77,196
4,94,364
GFXB T-rex
57
70
GFXB Manhattan 3.1
29
33
GFXB Car Chase
16
18
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
2,435
2,590
3DM Slingshot
3,261
3,379
3DM Wild Life
Not supported
Not supported
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
Not supported
Not supported
The phone also did well when it came to gaming. I ran BGMI and Asphalt 9 on the phone, and both ran fine without any issues in the medium settings. The touch response was also fine, and there was nothing to complain about.
You get a dual speaker setup on the M7 Pro, and the sound quality is decent. The phone gets loud, and there's no crackling at high volumes, but it does lack punchiness. The call quality was good, and I did not face any random call drops. The microphone and earpiece output were also sound.
The phone features a 20-megapixel selfie camera placed inside a hole-punch cutout
Moving on to the cameras, Poco has included a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 sensor at the back with OIS and an f/1.7 aperture. There's a secondary 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 20-megapixel selfie camera up front. The photo quality of the primary rear camera is quite good in daylight conditions. There's good detail, natural colours, dynamic range, and white balance. It performed decently well in low-light conditions and managed to preserve some details but with higher noise.
Top to bottom: Samples from Main rear camera (2), 2x zoom (2) [Tap to expand]
The 2x zoom and portrait shots were decent, with mostly accurate skin tones and edge detection. Selfies were good, with plenty of details and natural skin tones, but only in daylight conditions. Low light performance is not bad and usable when there's enough light.
Lowlight samples: Top (primary camera), bottom (2x zoom) [Tap to expand]
As for the video, the phone offers 1080p 30fps support from the main rear as well as the front camera. Video performance from the rear camera is decent, with good details and colours. However, stabilisation isn't great when there's heavy movement or fast panning. The front camera also does an okay job in daylight conditions.
Selfies come out well in daylight conditions
Now, let's talk about battery life and charging. The Poco M7 Pro packs a 5,100mAh battery, which supports 45W fast charging. You also get the charger in the box. In our HD video loop test, the phone managed to last for about 18 hours. Meanwhile, a full charge took about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Poco M7 Pro Verdict
The Poco M7 Pro, for the money, is good value. It offers several upgrades over its predecessor and is a capable performer. The large AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, good primary rear camera, and decent performance make it a top contender among other phones in the segment. The software and lowlight camera performance are probably the most annoying things about the phone. Otherwise, this is a solid budget mid-range smartphone.
As for alternatives, you could go for the Motorola G64 (Review), which offers slightly better performance and better software. There's also the iQOO Z9x (Review), which offers better performance or the Redmi Note 14 5G, which offers mostly similar specifications with a 108-megapixel main rear camera and an ultrawide sensor. However, the latter is also slightly more expensive.
