Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro were launched in China on Thursday alongside the Xiaomi 15 Ultra handset. The TWS earphones also get a Wi-Fi variant, which offers high-resolution lossless audio transmission, alongside the standard Bluetooth version. They support active noise cancellation (ANC) of up to 55dB, call noise reduction features, spatial audio and aptX Adaptive codec. The earphones come with audio tuned by Harman and are claimed to offer a battery life of up to 40 hours along with the charging case.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Price, Availability
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro price in China starts at CNY 1,299 (roughly Rs. 15,600) for the Bluetooth option, while the Wi-Fi variant is priced at CNY 1,499 (roughly Rs. 18,000). They are currently available for purchase in the country via the Xiaomi China e-store.
The Wi-Fi version of the TWS earphones come in a Mirage Black shade, while the Bluetooth edition is offered in Snow Mountain White and Titanium Gold colour options.
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Features, Specifications
The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro come with a traditional in-ear design and are equipped with a dual amplifier and triple driver system including 11mm titanium-plated woofers alongside 10mm ceramic tweeters. The earphones support audio tuned by Harman AudioEFX and offer Spatial audio experience with dynamic head tracking. They are said to support up to 55dB ANC and up to 100dB call noise reduction. The TWS earphones have in-ear detection features as well as touch controls.
Xiaomi confirms that the latest Buds 5 Pro earphones support Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and offer AAC, SBC, aptX Lossless, and aptX Adaptive LC3 audio codec support. Meanwhile, the Wi-Fi variant supports aptX Adaptive 4.2M codec, which is said to offer up to 4.2Mbps lossless audio transmission. The earphones are IP54 rated for dust and splash resistance.
Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi variants of the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro are claimed to offer a total playback time of up to 40 hours, including the case. The earphones are said to offer a battery life of up to 8 hours for the Bluetooth version and up to 10 hours for the Wi-Fi version on a single charge. The earphones carry a 64mAh cell each, while the charging case, with a USB Type-C port, has a 570mAh battery. Each earbud weighs 5.6g and the case, along with the earphones, weighs 53g.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra was launched in China on Thursday (February 27), joining the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro in the company's flagship smartphone lineup. It arrives ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona as the successor to last year's Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, like the other phones in the Xiaomi 14 series, is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and ships with the new HyperOS 2user interface.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Price
Xiaomi 15 Ultra price starts at CNY 6,499 (roughly Rs. 78,000) for the 12GB + 256GB storage configuration, while the 16GB + 512GB and 16GB + 1TB variants are priced at CNY 6,999 (roughly Rs. 84,000) and CNY 7,799 (roughly Rs. 93,000), respectively.
The phone is offered in multiple colourways — classic black and silver, pine and cypress green, black, and white. Along with the handset, Xiaomi also offers a Professional imaging kit as an accessory which retails for CNY 999 (roughly Rs. 12,000).
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Specifications
The dual SIM (Nano) Xiaomi 15 Ultra runs on the company's Android 15-based HyperOS 2 operating system (OS). It sports a 6.73-inch (1440 x 3200 pixels) LTPO AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,200 nits peak brightness. The panel is claimed to offer a 300Hz touch sampling rate and support for HDR 10+ as well as Dolby Vision.
It is powered by Qualcomm's flagship octa-core 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset having a maximum clock speed of 4.32GHz under the hood, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage, and Adreno 830 GPU.
For optics, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is equipped with a quad rear camera system placed within a centred, circular module. It comprises a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony LYT900 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and a fixed f/1.63 aperture, a 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 sensor with f/1.8 aperture, 3x optical zoom, and 75mm focal length, a 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP9 telephoto sensor with 100mm focal length, and f/2.6 aperture, and a 50-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera with f/2.2 aperture and 115-degree field-of-view (FoV). The phone is capable of recording videos in up to 8K/30fps or 4K/60fps. It also gets a 32-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture for selfies and video calls.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra packs a 6,000mAh battery with 90W (wired) and 80W (wireless) fast charging. It also supports reverse wireless charging. Connectivity options on the smartphone include 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC, and USB Type-C. For security, it is equipped with an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor. The handset also has an IP68 rating for dust and splash resistance.
In terms of dimensions, the black and white variants of the phone measure 161.3mm x 75.3mm x 9.35mm and weigh 226g. Meanwhile, its other variants have an increased 9.48mm thickness and 229g weight.
Google's Pixel 9a is anticipated to hit stores next month. While Google is yet to announce a launch date for the new Pixel A series phone, several leaks have surfaced recently and showcased the hardware, design and US pricing of the Pixel 8a successor. A new leak now suggests that the Pixel 9a will be available at similar pricing as its predecessor. The upcoming Pixel phone is expected to feature a Tensor G4 processor and a 48-megapixel dual rear camera unit. It could be launched in 128GB and 256GB storage options.
Google Pixel 9a Price Details Leaked
As per a report by Android Headlines, the Pixel 9a will cost GBP 499 (roughly Rs. 55,000) in the UK and $499 (roughly Rs. 43,000) in the US for the 128GB storage variant. The 256GB storage model will be reportedly priced at $599 (roughly Rs. 52,000). This corroborates previous price leaks. The Pixel 8a was also priced the same in the US.
In countries like Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain the Pixel 9a will cost EUR 549 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for the base variant and EUR 649 for the 256GB storage option. The handset is said to cost CAD 679 (roughly Rs. 42,000) and CAD 809 (roughly Rs. 50,000) in Canada for 128GB and 256GB storage models respectively. In Ireland, it will reportedly be priced at EUR 559 (roughly Rs. 50,000) for 128GB and EUR 659 (roughly Rs. 60,000) for 256GB.
Google is rumoured to launch the Pixel 9a on March 19 and pre-orders could open on the same day. It is expected to go on sale on March 26.
Google Pixel 9a Specifications (Rumoured)
As for the specifications, previous leaks suggested that Pixel 9a will sport a 6.28-inch display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is said to run on the Tensor G4 processor, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It will reportedly boast a dual rear camera unit including a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide camera. It is said to ship with Android 15 and Google is likely to provide seven years of OS updates for the phone.
The Pixel 9a is likely to pack a 5,100mAh battery with 23W wired charging and 7.5W wireless charging support. It is said to come with IP68 rating for water resistance and dust resistance.
Nothing Phone 3a series is scheduled to debut in India and globally on March 4. Ahead of its anticipated launch, the British original equipment manufacturer (OEM) has now showcased the design of base model in the series dubbed the Nothing Phone 3a. While it shares several design elements with the Phone 3a Pro such as the Glyph interface, the handset's rear camera module has a distinctly different appearance, giving the Phone 3a a more uniform look.
Nothing Phone 3a Design Revealed
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nothing shared a glimpse of the upcoming Phone 3a's design. Unlike the Nothing Phone 3a Pro which features a large circular rear camera module with irregularly-placed lenses, the base model in the lineup will sport a pill-shaped unit horizontally placed at the back. It features three camera lenses.
Meanwhile, the rest of the design is identical to the high-end model. The Nothing Phone 3a comes equipped with a Glyph interface surrounding the camera module — a feature that has become synonymous with Nothing smartphones.
This development comes following the design reveal of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro on Monday and its unboxing carried out by 1X Technologies' Neo Gemma humanoid.
Nothing Phone 3a Specifications (Expected)
As per past reports, the Nothing Phone 3a is expected to be offered in black and white colour options and reportedly carries the model number A059. It may be equipped with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC and a 6.72-inch AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate.
For optics, the phone is speculated to sport a triple rear camera unit, comprising a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle shooter at the back. It is also tipped to feature a 32-megapixel sensor at the front for selfies and video calls.
The phone is likely to pack a 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging support.
Amazon Prime continues to be a one-stop solution for digital entertainment and online shopping in India. The service offers a variety of membership plans tailored to meet diverse user needs. These plans come with a plethora of benefits, including access to exclusive content, faster deliveries, and special deals. Additionally, several telecom operators provide prepaid plans bundled with Amazon Prime benefits, enhancing the value proposition for subscribers. So, if you are looking for in-depth information about Amazon Prime membership plans, then you have to the right place. In this article, we will talk in detail about Prime membership, its price in India, benefits, and more.
Amazon Prime Membership Plans 2025
Amazon Prime offers multiple subscription tiers in India, each designed to cater to different user preferences and budgets.
Rs 299 Monthly Subscription Plan
The Rs 299 monthly subscription combines entertainment, convenience, and savings. Enjoy ad-free streaming, fast delivery and exclusive discounts. Get free shipping, access to premium content, free games and eBooks—all in one affordable plan. It is perfect for frequent shoppers and entertainment lovers, offering exceptional value with multiple premium services.
Rs 599 Quarterly Subscription Plan
The Rs 599 quarterly subscription plan offers all the benefits of the monthly plan while saving you Rs 298 over three months when compared to the monthly subscription. The plan is Ideal for those looking for uninterrupted entertainment and shopping perks and don't want to pay monthly subscription fee.
Rs 1,499 Yearly Subscription Plan
The Rs 1,499 yearly subscription plan offers the best value, saving you Rs 2,089 compared to the monthly plan. Perfect for long-term users, it ensures uninterrupted access to premium entertainment, fast and free delivery, exclusive discounts, free games and eBooks. This cost-effective option maximises savings while providing year-round benefits.
Rs 999 Prime Lite Yearly Subscription Plan
The Rs 999 Prime Lite yearly subscription offers a budget-friendly alternative, saving Rs 500 compared to the standard yearly plan. With this plan, customers can access to Prime Video (with limited ads), ad-free music, and free standard delivery. It provides Prime Video, Prime Music and free delivery at a lower cost, making it ideal for value-conscious users.
Prime Video: Streaming access with limited advertisements, available in HD.
Prime Music: Ad-free music and podcast access.
Free Delivery: Standard shipping on eligible products.
Amazon Prime Subscription Benefits
Subscribing to Amazon Prime unlocks a host of advantages that enhance both shopping and entertainment experiences:
Saves Money: Free shipping, exclusive discounts, and bundled services help reduce overall spending.
Time-Efficient Shopping: Faster deliveries mean no waiting for essentials or last-minute purchases.
Uninterrupted Entertainment: No need to spend on movie tickets or rentals with unlimited streaming.
Enhanced Music Experience: Ad-free music ensures an uninterrupted and enjoyable listening experience.
Access to More Content: Prime Reading and Prime Gaming offer free books and games, expanding entertainment options.
Better Deals: Early access to discounts helps secure the best prices before they sell out.
Convenience for Families: Special savings on essentials make managing household expenses easier.
It's important to note that starting January 2025, Prime Video will introduce limited advertisements. An ad-free viewing option will be available for an additional fee, with pricing details to be announced.
Best Prepaid Plans with Amazon Prime Benefits
Several telecom operators in India offer prepaid plans that include Amazon Prime subscriptions, providing added value to their customers.
Airtel Prepaid Plans with Amazon Prime Benefits:
Rs 838 Plan:
Data: 3 GB per day
Validity: 56 days
Calls: Unlimited local and STD
SMS: 100 SMS per day
Amazon Prime Membership: 56 days
Additional Benefits: Access to 22+ OTT platforms via Airtel Xstream Play, Apollo 24/7, and FASTag.
Rs 1,199 Plan:
Data: 2.5 GB per day
Validity: 84 days
Calls: Unlimited local and STD
SMS: 100 SMS per day
Amazon Prime Membership: 84 days
Additional Benefits: Access to 22+ OTT platforms via Airtel Xstream Play, Apollo 24/7, and RewardsMini Subscription.
Jio Prepaid Plan with Amazon Prime Benefits:
Rs 1,029 Plan:
Data: 2 GB per day
Validity: 84 days
Calls: Unlimited
SMS: 100 SMS per day
Amazon Prime Lite Subscription: 84 days
Additional Benefits: Access to JioTV, JioCinema, and JioCloud services.
Vi Prepaid Plans with Amazon Prime Benefits:
Rs 996 Plan:
Data: 2 GB per day
Validity: 84 days
Calls: Unlimited
SMS: 100 SMS per day
Amazon Prime Lite Subscription: 84 days
Additional Benefits: Binge All Night, Weekend Data Rollover, and Data Delights.
Rs 3,799 Plan:
Data: 2 GB per day
Validity: 365 days
Calls: Unlimited
SMS: 100 SMS per day
Amazon Prime Mobile Edition Subscription: 365 days
Additional Benefits: Binge All Night, Weekend Data Rollover, and Data Delights.
These plans cater to various user preferences, combining essential telecom services with the added advantage of Amazon Prime memberships.
Safeguarding your personal information on social media platforms has become a necessity. Facebook, being one of the most widely used platforms, offers a feature called "Profile Lock" to enhance user privacy. This feature allows you to control who can view your content, ensuring that only your friends have access to your personal information. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore what Facebook Profile Lock is, how to enable it on mobile and desktop devices, the benefits of using it, and how to unlock your profile if needed.
What is Facebook Profile Lock?
Facebook Profile Lock is a privacy feature designed to give users more control over their profiles. When activated, it restricts the visibility of your photos, posts, and other personal information to people who are not on your friends list. This means that only your friends can view your full-size profile picture, cover photo, stories, and new posts. Additionally, any posts you've shared in the past with the public will be changed to friends-only. This feature is particularly useful for individuals who wish to protect their personal information from strangers or potential stalkers.
How to Lock Your Facebook Profile on Mobile
Locking your Facebook profile using a mobile device is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:
Open the Facebook App on your Android or iOS device and log in to your account.
Tap on your profile picture or the three horizontal lines (menu) and select your name to access your profile page.
On your profile page, tap the three dots next to the "Add to Story" button to open the profile settings menu.
Select "Lock Profile"
A screen will appear explaining the features of Profile Lock. Tap "Lock Your Profile" to enable the feature.
Once completed, your profile will be locked, and only your friends will have full access to your content. This process is consistent across both Android and iOS devices.
How to Lock Your Facebook Profile on Desktop
If you prefer using Facebook on a desktop or laptop, you can lock your profile by following these steps:
Open your preferred web browser, navigate to facebook.com, and log in to your account.
Click on your profile picture or name at the top right corner to access your profile page.
Click on the three dots next to the "Edit Profile" button to open a dropdown menu.
From the dropdown options, select "Lock Profile."
A prompt will appear detailing what Profile Lock entails. Click on "Lock Your Profile" to activate the feature.
After completing these steps, your profile will be locked, ensuring that only your friends can view your detailed information and posts.
Benefits of Locking Your Facebook Profile
Utilising the Profile Lock feature offers several advantages:
Enhanced Privacy: By locking your profile, you prevent strangers from accessing your personal photos.
Controlled Audience: Only your friends can see your full-size profile and cover photos, stories and new posts, allowing you to share content more securely.
Protection Against Misuse: Reducing the visibility of your information decreases the chances of your content being misused or shared without your consent.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your personal information is shielded from unknown individuals can provide a sense of security and peace.
It's important to note that while Profile Lock enhances privacy, it doesn't make your account completely invisible. Your name, profile picture, and cover photo will still be visible to everyone, but they will appear in a reduced size, and only friends can view them in full size.
How to Unlock Your Facebook Profile
If you decide to unlock your profile and make your content more accessible, you can do so easily:
On Mobile Devices:
Open the Facebook app and navigate to your profile page.
Tap the three dots next to the "Add to Story" button.
From the options, tap on "Unlock Profile."
A screen will detail what unlocking your profile entails. Tap "Unlock Your Profile" to proceed.
On Desktop:
Log in to Facebook and go to your profile page.
Click on the three dots next to the "Edit Profile" button.
From the dropdown menu, select "Unlock Profile."
A prompt will appear explaining the changes. Click "Unlock Your Profile" to confirm.
Unlocking your profile will revert your privacy settings to their previous state, making your content more accessible to people beyond your friends list.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What happens to profile pictures, cover photos, posts, photos, and albums when the profile is locked?
When you lock your Facebook profile, only your friends can view your full-size profile picture and cover photo. Your posts, photos, and albums are also restricted to friends only. Any public posts you've made in the past will be changed to friends-only. This ensures that your personal content is protected from unauthorised access.
Who can see a locked Facebook profile?
A locked Facebook profile limits the visibility of your content to your friends. Strangers or users who are not on your friends list will only see a limited version of your profile, which includes your name, reduced-size profile picture, and cover photo. They won't have access to your posts, stories, or full-size photos, ensuring your personal information remains private.
Are locked Facebook accounts visible?
Yes, locked Facebook profiles are still visible in search results. However, the information displayed to non-friends is minimal. While your profile can be found, the content within remains inaccessible to those not on your friends list, maintaining your privacy.
Jio, one of India's leading telecom providers, offers users the flexibility to choose a special or fancy mobile number through its Jio Choice Number service. Whether you want a number that matches your birth date, vehicle registration, or simply an easy-to-remember sequence, Jio makes it convenient to get one. This service caters to both prepaid and postpaid users, ensuring that everyone can personalise their mobile experience. Here's everything you need to know about Jio Choice Numbers, including how to buy one through different methods.
What Is A Jio Choice Number?
A Jio Choice Number is a customised mobile number that users can select based on their preferences. Instead of being assigned a random number, customers can pick a fancy number with a unique combination, such as repeated digits, a specific pattern, or a number that holds personal significance. This service is ideal for individuals who want an exclusive identity, businesses looking for an easy-to-recall contact number, or those who prefer a number similar to their vehicle registration.
Jio offers a variety of fancy numbers, including:
VIP Numbers: Premium numbers with unique patterns or repeated digits.
Lucky Numbers: Numbers based on birth dates, anniversaries, or personal preferences.
Business Numbers: Easy-to-remember combinations for professionals and enterprises.
How to Get a Jio Choice Number?
Jio provides multiple ways for customers to obtain a choice number. Whether you prefer an online method or an offline purchase, the process is seamless. Below are the different ways you can get a Jio Choice Number.
How To Buy Jio Choice Number Online via the Jio Website
Go to www.jio.com and navigate to the “Choice Number” section.
Use the search feature and select your preferred number:
Enter your existing contact number to receive an OTP for verification.
Once verified, select the number and proceed to checkout.
You can either opt for home delivery or pick up the SIM from a nearby Jio store.
Provide the required identity and address proof to complete your KYC and activate the new number.
Once verification is complete, the new SIM with your choice number will be issued.
How To Buy Jio Choice Number via My Jio App
Download and open the My Jio App from the Play Store or App Store.
Use your existing Jio number or create a new account.
In the app menu, look for the ‘Fancy Number' or ‘Choice Number' section.
Check availability and choose your preferred combination.
Enter your mobile number and authenticate the request with an OTP.
Some VIP numbers may require an additional fee.
Choose your preferred method to receive the SIM card.
Provide the required documents and complete the verification process.
How To Buy Jio Choice Number From Jio Store
Visit your nearest Jio store using Google Maps or the My Jio App.
Ask for available choice numbers
The store executive will provide a list of available fancy numbers.
Choose the number that suits your preference.
Carry a valid Aadhaar card, passport, or driving licence for verification.
Complete KYC and pay any applicable charges.
The store will issue your SIM, which will be activated after verification.
Benefits of Fancy Jio Number
Personalised Identity: Stand out with a unique number tailored to your preference.
Easy to Remember: Useful for businesses and individuals who want a simple and catchy number.
Enhanced Brand Value: Professionals and businesses can benefit from an exclusive number that strengthens brand identity.
Ideal for Special Occasions: Choose a number that reflects a meaningful date or lucky combination.
VIP Treatment: Premium choice numbers may come with added perks, making them more valuable.
FAQs
Do I need a new SIM Card when choosing a Jio Choice Number?
Yes, opting for a Jio Choice Number requires a new SIM card. Your existing number cannot be converted into a fancy number. Once the new SIM is issued, you can use it after completing the KYC process.
Is Jio Choice Number prepaid?
Jio Choice Numbers can be used for both prepaid and postpaid connections. During the booking process, you will be given the option to select your preferred plan type.
Will I get a new SIM by opting for a Jio Choice Number?
Yes, once you purchase a Jio Choice Number, you will receive a new SIM card linked to that number. You must activate it by following the standard verification process.
Can I book multiple series numbers that are similar to those of my family/friends?
Yes, Jio allows customers to book multiple numbers with similar patterns, making it convenient for families and businesses to have matching or sequential numbers.
I have a vehicle with a VIP number, so can I use a similar number as my mobile number?
Yes, Jio Choice Number allows you to select a mobile number that matches your vehicle registration number, provided it is available. This is a popular option for those who prefer a consistent numeric identity.
Realme 14 Pro series debuted in India last month and its global launch has now been confirmed. The company has announced that its lineup, comprising the Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro+, will be launched at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona. The event takes place between March 3-6 in the aforementioned nation. This also confirms the company's participation at one of the world's biggest technology showcases of the year. Realme has also reportedly teased an Ultra variant that could join the lineup as a new offering.
Realme 14 Pro Series Global Launch Confirmed
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Realme shared a short video clip which confirms that it will launch a smartphone with a “DSLR-level” smartphone camera at MWC Barcelona. While it did not officially reveal its name, it is widely believed to be the Realme 14 Pro series based on its appearance. Both models, the Realme 14 Pro and Realme 14 Pro+, are expected to have similar features and specifications as their Indian counterparts.
This includes a cold-sensitive colour-changing technology that reacts to temperature changes. The phone's back cover claims to change from pearl white to blue when the temperature drops below 16 degrees Celsius. It will return to its original shade when the ambient temperature increases. Other specifications include AMOLED 120Hz screens, 50-megapixel cameras with optical image stabilisation (OI)S, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection, and IP66+IP68+IP69 rating.
Meanwhile, Realme has also reported to have teased a new “Ultra” variant which might join the Realme 14 Pro series at the upcoming MWC Barcelona. It is said to have a camera sensor “larger” than other flagship models, although it remains unclear which devices the company is referring to here. The teaser shows a phone's silhouette featuring a large, circular camera module which occupies the entire top-half of its back panel.
Realme 14 Pro Series Price in India
Realme 14 Pro 5G price in India starts at Rs. 24,999 for the 8GB+128GB model, while the 8GB+256GB variant is priced at Rs. 26,999. It is available in Jaipur Pink, Pearl White, and Suede Grey finishes.
The Realme 14 Pro+ 5G is priced at Rs.29,999 for the 8GB+128GB version, and an is8GB+256GB costs Rs. 31,999. A 12GB+256GB storage model is available for Rs. 34,999. It is sold in Bikaner Purple, Pearl White, and Suede Grey colourways.
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e as the latest entry-level model from Apple, the focus has now shifted to the flagship iPhone 17 lineup which is slated to debut later this year. According to claims by a seasoned journalist, Apple is aiming to improve the camera capabilities of the iPhone 17 Pro models but it will not just stop at still photography. The Cupertino-based technology company is also expected to emphasise on improvements related to video recording this time around.
Improved Video Recording on iPhone 17 Pro Models
In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman highlighted Apple's ambitions of its iPhone 17 Pro models potentially being the go-to video recording devices for the vlogging community and other video content creators. The company is reported to deliver a “significant” upgrade, especially with the top-of-the-line Pro models, with a particular stress on improving the video recording prowess.
As per Gurman, Apple wants to make sure that its iPhone 17 Pro models replace standalone cameras for creators. The company is expected to advertise these improvements during the keynote at its anticipated September event with the debut of the iPhone 17 series.
While specifications remain unconfirmed, previous reports suggest Apple will equip the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max with a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, an upgraded version of the 12-megapixel camera currently found on the iPhone 16 Pro models. The phones may also come with a 24-megapixel selfie camera as opposed to the 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera on the current lineup.
Recently surfaced renders of the smartphones also suggest they may undergo a drastic change in terms of design, with the Pro models potentially sporting a Pixel-style camera layout along with dual-toned rear panels.
However, it is worth noting that there are several months until the iPhone 17 series is launched, and these leaks are advised to be taken with a grain of salt. More details about the handsets are likely to surface in the months leading up to their debut.
Vivo, a brand known mainly for its mid-premium segment smartphones, is seeing increasing competition with every passing year. While it was difficult to find features such as a good camera and battery life in this segment a few years ago, the competition has now caught up. Xiaomi's Redmi Note 14 Pro+ (which was earlier a part of its budget series of devices) is now delivering good value priced from Rs. 30,999. And the same applies to brands like Poco and Realme, which have gotten increasingly aggressive with pricing. With Vivo now fully aware of the competition, inching closer with every passing year, it has now come up with what we believe is a tolerable successor for its mid-range V40 series. The Vivo V50 has plenty of upgrades over the previous models, and for once, some of these actually make sense.
Vivo V50 Design: Quad-curved display done right
Dimensions - 163.29 x 76.72 x 7.57mm
Weight - 199g
Durability - IP68 + IP69
Unlike its predecessors, the Vivo V50 has a slim, rounded design that looks and feels premium. The phone comes in three finishes—Titanium Grey, Starry Night and Rose Red. The glass rear panel of the Rose Red unit we received has a smooth matte finish. It's nice to see that the odd keyhole-shaped camera module does not stand out as much because it, too, has been given the matte-finish treatment. Vivo's Aura ring light has grown bigger in diameter, providing better coverage than the previous implementation.
The Vivo V50 has a smooth, satin-like finish for its rear panel but packs a solid IP69 rating for dust and water resistance
The rounded pebble-like design is very comfortable to hold, and the chrome-finished polycarbonate frame (also the chassis), apart from helping reduce weight, also makes the phone easier to grip. The phone still has a heft to it at 199 grams, but you need to keep in mind that it packs in a 6,000mAh battery.
Unlike most smartphones we have seen in the premium segment, Vivo indeed got the micro quad-curved display right with its V50. With most micro-quad-curved display panels, the deal is to make the content appear a bit immersive without the content sliding too far into the curved sides and hence appearing distorted. The upside of using this tech is that even the display border appears thinner if done right. On most premium smartphones (usually by Chinese manufacturers), micro-quad-curved panels are typically accompanied by mid-frames with flat sides, which breaks the flow of the design by pairing rounded and flat surfaces.
The Vivo V50 has well-rounded, quad-curved panels and a curved mid-frame, which lend it a very comfortable grip and hand feel.
Vivo managed to pull this off well. Thanks to its unique combination of a quad-curved rear panel, a curved mid-frame, and a quad-curved display, it has a seamless look and feel. It reminds me of the older all-metal iPhone models, such as the iPhone 6, which also had a flat front and back but rounded sides.
My only nitpick about the Vivo V50's design would be the slightly sharp cutout for the USB port and speaker grilles at the bottom.
This splendid design is backed up by a solid IP68 and IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning you could take this phone for a swim in freshwater. However, do keep in mind that Vivo's warranty (just like most manufacturers) does not cover damage caused by liquid ingress.
Looks aside, the display has thin borders all around, and the curved edges also mean more reflections when viewing the display outdoors, which can get distracting. Outdoor legibility, thanks to the claimed 4,500 nits of peak brightness, was not a problem, and the same can be said about the display's colours, which appeared natural in all types of lighting conditions. The display also supports HDR10 content, and it appeared as expected.
Obvious downgrades aside, I also noticed that the quad-curved panel introduced this year does lose a few pixels. The Vivo V40's curved-edge display had a resolution of 2,800 × 1,260 pixels, while the new model offers a slightly lower 2,392 × 1,080 pixels. The differences in sharpness will be minor, so it will be hard to tell the difference.
The Vivo V50's quad-curved display produces some unnecessary reflections when viewed outdoors
The display is of the adaptive variety and switches between 60, 90, and 120Hz depending on the application or content being viewed. During the testing period, I noticed random instances where the refresh rate of the display would drop to something well below 30Hz, leading to some supremely slowed-down, sluggish animations when using the phone. These were quite random, and the phone would sort itself out in about 5-10 seconds. However, after a recent bug fix and security update, I did not face the abovementioned issue.
Vivo V50 Software: AI add-ons
Software version - Android 15
Software - Funtouch OS 15
Software commitment - X years of software, X years of security updates
Funtouch OS has now moved on to Android 15, making it Funtouch OS 15. The mobile operating system remains typically Vivo, with a focus on customising the minutest of details that other manufacturers usually don't bother with. The OS with Android 15 is now a lot more stable and smoother (except for the random hiccups I experienced) and comes with some minor visual enhancements like icon and theme customisation.
The main chunk of Funtouch OS 15's add-ons comes with new AI tools. On the V50, I experimented with the AI Erase tool in the image editor but found the results unsatisfactory, as the tool struggled to perform even the most basic image edits successfully (or up to expectations). Next, I tried out the AI Call Translator tool, and it surprisingly worked well both for Hindi and Marathi callers, provided the caller spoke fluently.
Vivo's Funtouch OS 15 has some new AI-infused features but these don't work as expected. Customisation features (pictured) are a big plus.
Vivo V50 Performance: Gets the job done
Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
RAM - 12GB (LPDDR4X)
Storage - 256GB (UFS 2.2)
Quick product refresh cycles are a thing with most Chinese smartphone brands, especially in the budget and mid-range smartphone segments. Vivo is no stranger to such product release cycles, and so we saw the Vivo V30 and the Vivo V40 getting launched just 5 months apart! With such quick release cycles, it's common for brands to retain design elements along with camera hardware while upgrading the processor and battery/charging performance.
And so we end up with Vivo's processor of choice, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, which has been used in the past two generations of the V series. While I'd expect it to be tried and tested and reliable, I did find its performance a bit lacklustre while playing FPS games like Call of Duty Mobile, where the phone just could not maintain a smooth or steady frame rate. Even at the highest settings, Asphalt Legends: Unite performed smoothly. The display was just about tolerable in terms of sensitivity, so if you are into mobile gaming, this isn't the phone for you.
The Vivo V50 gets two rear-facing cameras accompanied by a larger ring light than the V40
In terms of benchmarks, the Vivo V50 does not fare well when stacked against the competition, as better-performing smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoCs are available at and around this price point.
Benchmarks
Vivo V50
Realme GT 6
Poco F6
Chipset
Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4nm)
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm)
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm)
Display resolution
FHD+
FHD+
FHD+
AnTuTu v10
8,20,958
14,05,190
14,57,491
PCMark Work 3.0
10,496
18,828
15,743
Geekbench 6 Single
1,121
1,944
1,835
Geekbench 6 Multi
3,110
4,895
4,693
GFXB T-rex
60
60
120
GFXB Manhattan 3.1
60
60
112
GFXB Car Chase
42
60
71
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
5,481
3DM Slingshot
8,289
Maxed Out
4,655
3DM Wild Life
5,251
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
5,468
11,325
11,734
The stereo speakers can get very loud at full volume, but the sound lacks any bass whatsoever. The resulting audio is clear even though it does not sound full and rich. Haptic vibrations are far from crisp. Given the smartphone's price tag, I expected better.
Vivo V50 Cameras: A mixed bag
Primary camera - 50-megapixel, f/1.8, AF, OIS
Ultrawide camera - 50-megapixel, f/2.0, AF
Selfie camera - 50-megapixel, f/2.0, AF
Vivo V50 ultrawide camera samples (tap images to expand)
The ultrawide camera snaps 12-megapixel binned images, and the results are average at best. There's noticeable lens barrel distortion around the edges of the image and plenty of purple fringing in the brighter areas. The colours are alright, but there's some oversharpening and aggressive noise reduction, which produces flat, oil-painting-like textures even in daylight. In low light, there's reduced dynamic range, meaning there are little to no details visible in the shadows. Noise is under control, but just like the daylight captures, it comes at the cost of horribly reduced resolved detail.
Vivo V50 super macro camera sample (tap image to expand)
The same camera is also in charge of macro photos and can be accessed through the Super Macro mode. And this is where the ultrawide camera makes itself a bit more useful. It does a decent job of snapping macro photos, letting you get really close to your subject, but the images lack resolved details. In short, they appear fine until you zoom in and check for detail, where you are greeted by an oversharpened mess. The primary camera lets you get about 10-15cm away from the subject, but its shallow depth of field means the fall-off is a bit excessive, leaving a very small patch to focus on.
Vivo V50 daylight camera samples. Top: 1X (primary camera), Middle: 2X (digital zoom), Bottom: 2X (digital zoom) (tap images to expand)
The primary camera, too, does an average job when snapping photos under daylight. The dynamic range and colours are fine, but the captures are low on resolved detail and sharpness. Shooting at 2X digital zoom sees better and sharper output, resulting in usable photos when snapped in daylight. However, in low light or under artificial light, the resolved detail is a little lower, leading to photos that appear flat. This also applies to the Portrait mode.
Vivo V50 low-light camera samples (tap images to expand)
The main camera's low-light images are surprisingly good. They come out sharp and clear, packing good detail and dynamic range. This is probably down to the camera's Night mode imaging algorithms, which also take a bit of time to process once an image has been captured, making you wait for a few seconds until you can capture the next shot.
Selfies in low light (pictured) come out really well, thanks to the Aura ring light. Daylight selfies are also sharp and pack in good detail with good edge-detection (tap image to expand)
Videos recorded at 1080p at 30fps come out a bit soft but have good colour and stabilisation. 4K 30fps videos are also well stabilised but only manage a marginal improvement in terms of detail. Videos captured from the selfie camera have blown-out backgrounds when shooting in bright outdoor environments, so it's best avoided.
In low light, 1080p video recordings appear a bit too soft and lack both detail and dynamic range. 4K footage manages better detail along with good stabilisation. Things are far from ideal, as there's visible noise, and dynamic range isn't handled well, with blown-out highlights in bright areas and missing details in the darker patches when shooting street-lit scenes.
Vivo V50 Battery: Downright impressive!
Battery capacity - 6,000mAh
Wired charging - 90W
Wireless charging - NA
The Vivo V50's battery easily lasted me well over a day with casual use and mixed connectivity, which includes staying connected to 5G and Wi-Fi networks. Indeed, battery life is not an issue with this phone, whether you are a casual user who just scrolls through social media apps or a power user who is constantly on calls, switching between several apps, including camera usage and gaming.
The Vivo V50 measures just 7.5mm at its thinnest point but somehow has a 6,000mAh battery stuffed inside.
In our standard battery video loop test, the phone managed a solid score of 29 hours and 12 minutes, which is impressive even for a mid-ranger. Charging is also surprisingly fast (for a device with a 6,000mAh battery), with the Vivo V50 managing a 56 percent charge in 30 minutes and 81 percent in one hour, completing the charging just 5 minutes later.
Vivo V50 Verdict
Vivo's abnormally quick product release cycle for its V series makes it obvious that many may hold off on upgrading to the new V50 despite its advancements over the V40 released last year. Given last year's release schedule, we can expect a Vivo V60 to be launched in the next 5 months, well before the year ends. Even if the upgrades are minor, they will still matter because we expect the pricing to stay the same.
We have nobody but Vivo to blame for this conundrum. Those who own a Vivo V20 can now finally upgrade to the V50, which offers a big jump in overall performance. Vivo V30 upgrades also benefit from improved battery life and a better set of cameras.
If a sleek design and battery life matter most to you, then the Vivo V50 is a good choice for the average consumer. But if performance matters, then you are better off with devices like Realme's GT 6 (Review), which is priced a wee bit higher, or even the Poco F6 (Review) that's priced a lot lower than the V50. Xiaomi's Redmi Note 14 Pro+ (Review) is also a solid contender (at a much lower price), as it offers better battery life than the Vivo V50.
Laptop manufacturers should really stop over-using the term AI to market their products. The recently launched Acer Swift 14 AI, for example, even has an AI activity indicator that glows when performing AI tasks. Luckily, the Swift 14 AI is a lot more than its AI branding. It's got excellent battery life, a good display, plenty of ports, a sleek design, and decent performance.
The Acer Swift 14 AI has the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. Our review unit, which has the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, costs Rs. 89,999, whereas the top-end variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU costs Rs. 104,999. Should this be your next work laptop? Read on to find out.
Acer Swift 14 AI Design
The Swift 14 AI sports a simple design that won't turn many heads, though some might be curious about the unusual logo on the lid (other than the Acer branding) or the glowing one on the trackpad. It features an aluminium chassis with a matte finish that can pick up fingerprints and smudges but is easy to clean.
The lid is sturdy and has no flex
The lid is sturdy with barely any flex, and there's a 180-degree hinge that also feels durable. And for those wondering, yes, you can lift the lid with one finger. The 180-degree hinge also means that you can lay the laptop flat if needed.
The 180-degree hinge seemed durable
I also liked the chamfered metal edges around the display. The bottom is removable and is also made of metal. There's no flex on the inside unless you press hard at the centre of the keyboard. It's a well-built laptop despite not using an unibody construction. It does offer MIL-STD-810 durability, which is nice.
The lid features a chamfered bezel that adds to the design
The intake ports are on the bottom, whereas you'll find the exhaust ports are placed at the rear. You'll also find large rubber feet and dual bottom firing speakers at the bottom. The design incorporates subtle curves but largely follows a flat, angular aesthetic. At its thinnest point, the Swift 14 AI measures just 9.7 mm.
The laptop has downward-firing dual speakers
There are enough ports to connect all kinds of peripherals: an HDMI 2.1 port, dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 4) connectors, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Above the display is a 1440p QHD IR camera, a physical privacy shutter, and dual microphones.
You get plenty of ports on the Swift 14 AI
On the inside, you'll find a full-size, backlit keyboard that's actually nice to type on. There's enough spacing between the keys, and they also offer a good amount of key travel.
The keyboard is nice to type on thanks to the adequate travel and spacing between keys
The backlight is adjustable and can be turned off. You also get the Copilot key and an AcerSense key on the keyboard. The power button also doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which worked quite well during my review.
Below the keyboard is an adequately sized touchpad. It supports multi-touch gestures as usual, is protected by Gorilla Glass, and has an ‘Activity indicator' as Acer calls it. The indicator is located at the top right corner of the touchpad and glows whenever you turn on the laptop, use Copilot or AI apps, or use the NPU.
The Activity Indicator pulsates whenever there's any AI-related activity
Although this indicator doesn't serve any purpose, it does look cool.
Acer Swift 14 AI Performance
Our Acer Swift 14 AI review unit comes with the Series 2 Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, Intel Arc 130V GPU, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD. There's also a variant with the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V chipset, which gets the Intel Arc 140V GPU, 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage. We ran our usual set of synthetic benchmarks to see how it compared to some of the other laptops that we've tested with the Series 2 chipsets. The tests were performed with the laptop set to Performance mode.
Benchmark
Acer Swift 14 AI
Asus Zenbook S 14
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14
Geekbench 6 Single
2,446
2,520
2,744
Geekbench 6 Multi
9,478
10,688
10,957
PCMark 10
6,338
6,836
7,008
3DMark Night raid
32,549
34,727
29,096
3DMark Steel Nomad Light
2,405
3,243
2,622
Cinebench R23 Single
1,784
N/A
1,733
Cinebench R23 Multi
6,151
N/A
6,608
Geekbench AI (NPU)
27,064 (Quantized)
N/A
28676 (Quantized)
The laptop performed quite well when it came to browsing, streaming content, YouTube, and some light gaming. With regular usage, the laptop barely heated up. However, during benchmarks, when playing more demanding games and running multiple apps, the laptop got slightly warm, and the fans kicked up. You can play games on the laptop thanks to the Intel Arc 130V GPU. I played Forza Horizon 4, and the laptop delivered around 30-40fps in low settings. I wouldn't recommend using the laptop for gaming, though. You could, however, play indie games that are light on graphics.
The laptop performs well in day-to-day tasks
Talking about graphics, the 14-inch OLED display on the laptop is excellent for viewing content. I enjoyed streaming Netflix and Amazon Prime content on the Swift 14 AI. The colours are vivid, and you also get HDR support. The display offers 1920 x 1200 pixels resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and 400 nits brightness. The top-end model gets a 3K OLED display.
The OLED panel is one of the best features of the laptop
The laptop runs Windows 11 Home and offers several AI features such as Copilot, Cocreator, Live Captions, and Windows Studio Effects. Acer has also baked in some AI features, such as AcerSense, which even gets a dedicated button. This lets you change system settings and more. You also get Acer LiveArt 2.0, Acer VisionArt, and Acer User Sensing 2.0.
The web camera performed well in good lighting conditions, with decent colour reproduction and dynamic range. However, there is a lot of noise in low-light scenarios. The IR sensor also enables face unlock via Windows Hello, but I preferred the fingerprint scanner on the keyboard as it was more accurate.
The laptop features a physical privacy shutter for the web camera
In terms of audio performance, the Acer Swift 14 AI has dual downward-firing speakers, which are below average. They aren't loud, nor do they deliver any thump. Acer has also provided DTS:X Ultra Audio support, but that doesn't do anything to improve the audio performance. The sound on the laptop is a big letdown.
Lastly, the Swift 14 AI's 65W battery impressed me. The laptop easily lasts a full day of work. When the battery is low, you can quickly charge it using the included 65W USB Type-C charger.
Acer Swift 14 AI Verdict
The Acer Swift 14 AI is a very good work laptop with good build quality, an excellent OLED display, long-lasting battery life, and decent performance across all kinds of apps. The laptop is great value for money, no doubt, but it's not because of the AI branding or features. Don't buy the laptop for the AI features, buy it for all the other useful features that it offers. However, if all you need is a good laptop for work or home use, the Swift 14 AI is great.
Qualcomm recently announced the launch of its first-ever Snapdragon Experience Zone in India in partnership with Croma, a leading consumer electronics retail chain. Located at Croma Store in Juhu, Mumbai, it is part of the company's wider plans of introducing more Snapdragon Experience Zones across the country. With this collaboration, visitors can experience showcased devices powered by Snapdragon SoCs and get a demonstration of their capabilities, including those powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Croma's Snapdragon Experience Zone
As per the company, the Snapdragon Experience Zone showcases ecosystem products such as smartphones, PCs, wearables, and audio products powered by Qualcomm's processors. The store includes staff that have been trained to provide demonstrations of the chip's capabilities, including their on-device AI prowess.
Customers can interact with these devices, get a hands-on experience and also seek expert advice from the staff.
At launch, Savi Soin, President of Qualcomm India said, “This initiative allows customers to experience the transformative power of on-device AI, showcasing the cutting-edge capabilities of the Snapdragon ecosystem.”
The company has confirmed that it plans to launch more Experience Zones in India soon although plans about their proposed locations remain unknown. Notably, this announcement comes prior to the launch of the Snapdragon X CPUs in India today (February 24) in partnership with Asus at an event held in New Delhi.
Similar to their global counterparts, the Snapdragon X CPUs are likely to offer support for AI features, leveraging a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU). The platform is expected to be scalable across a wide range of thermal designs and form factors.
The company expects its new platform to power laptops priced under $600 (roughly Rs. 51,400) globally, and a similar strategy could also be adopted for the Indian markets. The event has been labelled “AI PCs for Everyone”, which suggests that the new processors could be targeted towards offering AI performance at an affordable price tag.
The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ are Samsung's all-new premium S-series smartphones in India. If you followed the Unpacked 2025 launch, you already know the biggest upgrade is under the hood. But does that mean the S25 and S25+ aren't worth upgrading for S24 and S23 users? Well, that question doesn't have a straightforward answer!
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are perfect examples of why you should never judge a book by its cover. That's because you should consider these because of how good the overall package is. And this is not the conclusion, and this is not the end of the review. You will have to stay tuned to this review to know why I just gave it all away.
Before jumping into our review, here's a breakdown of the prices. The Samsung Galaxy S25 starts at Rs. 80,999 for the 12+256GB model, while the S25+ begins at Rs. 99,999 for the exact RAM and storage option. Both the models also get 512GB storage trim priced at Rs. 92,999 (S25) and Rs. 1,11,999 (S25+). Now that we are done with the prices let's dive into design first.
Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ sport a sleek design
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Design: Familiar with some refinements
Colours - Icyblue, Navy, Silver Shadow, Mint, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold (S25), Navy, Silver Shadow, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold (S25+)
The Samsung Galaxy S25 brings back the familiar compact design. It sports a flat frame design with rounded corners that work perfectly for aesthetics. On the other hand, the Galaxy S25+ sits between the most compact and the biggest model (S25 Ultra). Like the little sibling, the S25+ also has flat panels. While Galaxy S25 is way more comfortable to use with just one hand and is lightweight at under 170 grams. The Galaxy S25+ sports a bigger screen but is mostly remarkable for one-hand usage, weighing under 200 grams. Both the phones sport second-generation Armor Aluminum frame.
The Galaxy S25 weighs 162 grams while S25+ weighs 190 grams
Samsung has kept the anti-reflective Gorilla Armor Glass exclusive for the Ultra model, which is fine considering the Samsung Ultra is still the top-of-the-line model. The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are thinner and weigh less than their predecessors - something you might not even notice right away. Both models also get an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Interesting to see Samsung not opting for the IP69 rating, which lately has become part of the spec lists of most recent Android flagships.
The Galaxy S25 sports Gorilla Glass Victus 2 at the front and back
This year, Samsung has gone with rather muted colour choices like Icyblue, Navy, Silver Shadow, Mint, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold for the S25. For S25+, Navy, Silver Shadow, Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold colours are available. It's worth noting that Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold colours are available only on Samsung.com. I got the S25 in Icyblue and the S25+ in Navy colour for the review.
The Galaxy S25+ sports an Armor aluminium 2 frame
Overall, the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ feel almost identical to the S24 and S24+ in the design department. Both phones feature a matte design, which makes them fingerprint-resistant to a lot of extent. Samsung's move not to use a huge camera island to house rear cameras at the back helps make the Galaxy S25 series less flashy, and it works for me. The flat design and minimalist approach work well. And there's nothing wrong with that, considering the S-series phones have a distinct look and stand out in the sea of similar-looking phones.
Galaxy S25 and S25+ run Android 15-based One UI 7 out of the box
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Display: Best out there
Highlights: (S25) 120Hz refresh rate, 1080x2340 pixels screen resolution, HDR10+, 2600nits peak brightness, and 416PPI pixel density (S25+) 120Hz refresh rate, 1440x3120 pixels screen resolution, HDR10+, 2600nits peak brightness, and 513PPI pixel density
The display specs are identical to the predecessors - S24 and S24+. This includes the maximum peak brightness of 2600nits, as well. Samsung has smartly followed the popular strategy - if something is excellent, why change it? And I'm not complaining. The display on both models is fantastic. They are bright and crisp. The texts appear sharp and sunlight legibility is fantastic.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 features a Dynamic LTPO AMOLED display
The adaptive refresh rate works perfectly and drops to 1Hz when reading e-books or just browsing the Internet. Both the S25 and S25+ miss out on Dolby Vision video support. The panels are Widevine L1 compliant, which means you can enjoy HDR content on the go. If you love binge-watching shows or movies on the go, then you will love the S25 and S25+. Even for gamers, the S25 and S25+ can run compatible games at 120Hz; more on that in a bit.
The Galaxy S25+ features 91.8 percent screen-to-body ratio and sports 513PPI pixel density
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Performance: You get the absolute best
Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy (custom)
RAM and storage: 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB
OS: One UI 7 based on Android 15
The Galaxy S25 and S25+ are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, a custom chip designed for the all-new S25 series. It is said to deliver a performance boost of 40 percent in NPU, 37 percent in CPU, and 30 percent in GPU compared to its predecessor. Apart from everyday tasks, the biggest purpose of using this chip is to handle on-device AI capabilities smoothly. Samsung claims the new Galaxy duo packs a 40 percent larger vapour chamber for better thermal performance.
This year, all Galaxy S25 models are powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Talking purely about everyday performance, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ can easily handle multitasking. Even gaming is dealt with as calmly as a millpond. AI features work smoothly, be it the eraser feature in the Gallery or the Note Assist feature for summarising notes or transcribing recordings. Long thing short, the S25 and S25+ are fast and fluid when it comes to performance credentials.
The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ score some fantastic results in our synthetic benchmark results, and you can check out below:
Benchmark
Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Pixel 9 Pro XL
Oppo Find X8 Pro
Chipset
Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
Tensor G4 (4nm)
Dimensity 9400 (3nm)
AnTuTu v10
21,13,343
21,83,570
10,67,971
23,38,411
PCMark Work 3.0
20,833
19,978
12,922
12,868
Geekbench Single
3,034
3,141
1,944
2,787
Geekbench Multi
9,211
10,021
4,667
8,391
GFXB T-rex
120
120
120
60
GFXB Manhattan 3.1
120
120
105
60
GFXB Car Chase
113
108
54
60
3DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGL
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
FTR
Maxed Out
3DM Slingshot
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
FTR
Maxed Out
3DM Wild Life
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
8,902
Maxed Out
3DM Wild Life Unlimited
24,983
24,893
9,294
23,225
A lot of fluid response has to be credited to One UI 7 based on Android 15. The all-new One UI is visually more appealing and feels cleaner than previous versions. It packs tons of improved animations, new icons, better widget integration, lock screen layout, and new quick settings, which is more or less inspired by iOS as it is now split into two ways - one for notifications and the other for quick toggles.
The One UI 7 brings a familiar UI look with tons of refinements, including a limited number of pre-installed apps
Samsung packs some apps like My Files, Health, Calculator and others, while the suite of Google and Microsoft apps is also preinstalled on the Galaxy S25 and S25+. I'm not surprised that Google Gemini is baked deep into the main scheme of things. I can comfortably say that One UI 7 is my favourite Android UI now.
Both the Galaxy S25 and S25+ come in 256GB and 512GB storage options
The Galaxy S25 packs a decent speaker setup, which is loud for a small room. The S25+ packs a slightly better speaker setup that is loud and can fill a medium-sized room easily. Both the phones pack an excellent haptic motor, and the typing feedback is satisfying. Call quality on both the Galaxy S25 and S25+ is excellent and can latch on to the 5G network even in dark zones where other phones struggle.
Talking about biometrics, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ offer face and fingerprint unlocks. The fingerprint sensor was my go-to option for screen lock as it was quicker throughout the day. That doesn't mean the face unlock doesn't work as intended, but the fingerprint sensor is the more reliable of the two.
Samsung's seven years of promise for software and security updates is currently a benchmark for other manufacturers globally.
Both the Galaxy S25 and S25+ come with seven years of software and security update promise
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ AI Features
With a voice command, you can ask Gemini to block your calendar and recommend places to eat. Even better is once you finalise a place to hang out, Gemini can keep it saved in your calendar. However, it's worth noting that this functionality is limited to Samsung and Google apps, with support for more third-party apps expected to be added soon. The overall package includes features like Circle to Search that are now improved further and can do much more than analyse content on screen. Samsung has two new features - Now Brief and Now Bar. The Now Brief stays on your home screen and recommends events saved in your calendar, including weather alerts. The Now Bar, on the other hand, stays on your lock screen and offers info from Google Maps, your favourite sports team via Google, Samsung Health, Clock, and Samsung Notes.
The original image (on the left) and image reimagined (on the right) using the Eraser feature in the Gallery app
The most helpful use of AI you can try is in the Gallery app, where you can reimagine the images. Be it to move, remove, and resize people or objects, you can also use AI to fill empty areas in the background, transform images of people into artistic styles, draw on an image and then use AI to make the drawing look like part of the picture. Samsung gets brownie points to add a small watermark in every image edited or created with the help of AI that says 'AI-generated content'.
The Galaxy AI has the usual long list of features, including Call Assist, Writing Assist, Interpreter, Note Assist, Transcript Assist, Browsing Assist, Photo Assist, Drawing Assist, Audio Eraser, Photo Ambient Wallpaper, Health Assist, and Now Brief.
Galaxy S25+ sports a triple-camera setup
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Camera: Same old formula
Camera setup: (S25 and S25+) 50-megapixel primary sensor, 10-megapixel telephoto sensor, and 12-megapixel ultrawide
Selfie: (S25 and S25+) 12-megapixel sensor
Video recording: 4320p@30fps and 2160p@60fps
Before jumping to real-world performance, let me point out that Samsung hasn't changed the camera setup on the S25, which means that it still packs the S24-like setup, the same as the S23. I hope you get the point.
Out of the Galaxy S25 and S25+, I wish that Samsung shipped the 50-megapixel ultrawide sensor on the S25+ this year, which is now part of the Ultra. But, this could be an attempt to keep the prices in check.
The Galaxy S25 sports a triple camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary sensor
Talking about camera performance, the S25 and 25+ pack a capable camera setup, which means you can expect accurate exposure and contrast in most of your images. After extensively testing the cameras on the Galaxy S25 and S25+, I found out that the pictures are bright with accurate details, and colours usually pop - something Samsung is known for. The noise is controlled in low-light situations, which is a strength. Images come out sharp and
Samsung Galaxy S25 camera samples (tap image to expand)
Samsung Galaxy S25+ camera samples (tap image to expand)
Bokeh shots come out well with excellent subject isolation and blur effect. In different light conditions, the S25 and S25+ showed good depth processing on the objects in the background.
Bokeh shot: Samsung Galaxy S25 (on the left) and Samsung Galaxy S25+ (on the right)
In my testing, I noticed that 2x and 3x zoom photos come out well, though not as good as from the primary sensor. The ultrawide cameras on both are excellent and have good dynamic range. However, the lack of autofocus on the ultrawide camera is a missed opportunity, considering the S25 and S25+ are premium-priced devices. The low-light photos come out well, and the automatic processing on both the S25s is great and not over the top.
Samsung Galaxy S25 low-light camera samples (tap image to expand)
Samsung Galaxy S25+ night camera samples (tap image to expand)
Both phones support up to 8K@60fps video recording, and the quality is top-notch. The selfie cameras on S25 and S25+ do a great job, and I had no complaints throughout the review period. The skin tones captured are natural, and the colours are accurate, with a good amount of detail.
Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S25 and S25+ cameras don't pack generational upgrades over the predecessor and instead stick to a tried and tested formula. For your everyday camera usage, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ are more than sufficient and won't let you down in the most challenging situations.
It's worth mentioning that on-device AI edits have become much more fluid and quick on the S25 and S25+. Of course, the feature debuted last year, but thanks to the refinements, operations are practically faster than ever this year.
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Battery: Meets expectations
Battery size: 4000mAh (S25) and 4900mAh (S25+)
Fast-charging support: 25W wired and 45W (wired)
S25 can charge up to 50% in 30 minutes, and S25+ can charge up to 65% in 30 minutes
Much like the battery figures, not much has changed in the performance credentials compared to the S24 series. The S25 can offer a full day's battery life with a screen-on time of about 5 hours and 30 minutes. The battery output may drop if you mix more gaming or online streaming. The S25+, on the other hand, can easily last over a day with a screen-on time of about 6 hours and 20 minutes based on our internal tests. Of course, this can vary depending on different usage scenarios.
The Galaxy S25 packs a 4000mAh battery
One significant positive change I noticed this time was that the battery drain was in check thanks to optimisations of One UI 7.0 and Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy SoC. Overnight battery drain was much more improved on Galaxy S25 and S25+ than their predecessors.
With 25W fast charging, the Galaxy S25 still takes over 100 minutes to fully charge, which is slow, in my opinion. But it's slightly better than what I saw on the S24 last year. Similarly, the Galaxy S25+ charged fully in under an hour with a Samsung 45W charger, which is way better than what the iPhone 16 Plus offers (which takes about two hours to charge fully).
Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ Verdict
The Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ are the best S-series flagships from Samsung. They are far better than their predecessors, and everything seems to be an upgrade, especially for people still holding on to their Galaxy S21, S22 and S23 models. The Galaxy S25 series is a significant upgrade and should be considered. For Galaxy S24 users, the upgrades are not that great, and they can skip this year.
The AI integrations on the Galaxy S25 are superior and better than ever. I can comfortably say that the Galaxy AI is years ahead of the competition, which is still busy pushing updates for its gallery app and claiming AI can do it for you. Thankfully, Samsung has gone past that era and with Gemini deep integrations, you can get much more done with your voice than ever.
Samsung's new Galaxy S25 models are a solid package supercharged with AI
However, that brings me to the point that AI is still not the feature that can turn the tables for companies. Yes, the AI features keep me updated and help me stay ahead of the curve. But I still don't think that consumers will like to spend upwards of Rs. 50,000 on devices to add some AI tricks.
Talking about basics, the Galaxy S25 and S25+ have some solid foundation and nail mostly every aspect of what makes a phone earn that 'flagship' title. At the same time, the Samsung Galaxy S25 is my favourite compact phone and is a better overall package than the Google Pixel 9 (Review). The Galaxy S25+, on the other hand, is comparable to the likes of Google Pixel 9 Pro (Review) and iPhone 16 Plus (Review). For alternatives, there are phones like the Vivo X200 Pro (Review) and Find X8 Pro (Review).
