Bharadwaj Chandramouli | Fone Arena

HMD Fusion 5G Review: Style Meets Repairability in the Budget Segment

HMD Global has introduced the Fusion 5G, a budget-friendly smartphone that promises a unique blend of style, customization, and practicality. Positioned at ₹17,999, the Fusion 5G comes with a bold design philosophy, a focus on repairability, and standout features like complimentary Smart Outfits. Aimed at casual users and those seeking a reliable yet customizable device, this smartphone enters a competitive segment where rivals often boast more advanced specifications. The Fusion 5G’s combination of easy repairability, decent performance, and excellent camera capabilities offers a refreshing take on what a budget phone can deliver. While it excels in some areas, it does make compromises in display quality and raw processing power. Let’s delve into the details to see how it stacks up against its competitors.

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Samsung Galaxy A16 5G Review: Casual, Comfortable and Classic

Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy A16 5G, aiming to bridge the gap between affordability and practicality in the highly competitive budget smartphone segment. This device is targeted at users who need a dependable 5G smartphone for everyday tasks without paying a premium. It’s a strategic move from Samsung, which continues to solidify its presence across all price tiers. With an official price of ₹18,999, often discounted to ₹15,984 online, the Galaxy A16 5G competes with budget offerings from Xiaomi, Realme, and Motorola. This smartphone promises a balanced package of features that cater to casual users, emphasizing long-term software support and battery life. By combining Samsung’s signature build quality and ecosystem benefits, the A16 5G attempts to carve out its niche in a crowded market. Let’s explore its strengths and limitations in detail.

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Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Review: Comfort Max Ultra

In 2017, Google introduced the first-generation Pixel Buds, signaling its foray into personal audio devices. These earbuds featured real-time language translation and seamless integration with Google Assistant. The subsequent release of the Pixel Buds Pro series further solidified Google’s presence in the competitive true wireless earbuds market, offering features such as Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio. To enhance its audio technology capabilities, Google acquired several audio-related startups, including Dysonics and Tempow, in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Also, in late 2020, Google acquired certain assets from Synaptics’ audio hardware division for $35 million. This transaction included patents related to audio hardware and active noise-canceling earbuds, as well as the integration of Synaptics’ staff into Google’s team. A combination of all these factors have now led to the creation of one of the most comfortable true wireless earbuds ever made, and that is the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Let’s dive in and find out what the latest audio product from Google means for us.

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Lenovo Legion Go Review — Chunky Powerplay

Gaming hardware is undergoing a radical miniaturization process, accelerated by the release of Valve’s Steam deck, which opened the gates for a form factor that has long been the favorite of nomadic PC gamers. “Handheld Gaming” machines got a boost with the release of the Nintendo Switch way back in 2017. Then Steamdeck happened in 2022. Since then, the market has expanded to include the PC manufacturers who have their own gaming brands. Companies like Lenovo are now able to expand into new territory, getting a boost beyond laptops, custom PCs and gaming accessories. Lenovo’s Legion is analogous to ASUS’ ROG Ally series and MSI Claw series. Lenovo has chosen to go for some interesting design decisions and are now firmly in the scene. Technically, this category of devices is still in the early adopter phase, so let’s dive in to the review, assuming we know this category is in its alpha stage and that battery life is the biggest hurdle to a seamless experience.

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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Review — Creator Favorite

It’s 2024 Pixel time! Google has 3 variants of their flagship series now (9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL), unlike last year’s 2 (8, 8Pro). It kind of mirrors the Apple iPhone line up like 16, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max and Samsung with their S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra series. Google is definitely playing the big game here. In fact, it is their biggest game and bet on the symbiosis between leading edge hardware and a custom “Gemini-powered, Pixel-heavy” user experience. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is their best effort at producing a flagship that is worthy of our hard-earned money. What’s Google’s play this time? Can they join the big league of blockbuster flagships this year? Will this be your phone-to-get this holiday season? Or is it another phone-to-forget? Let’s find out. Continue reading “Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Review — Creator Favorite”

HONOR 200 Pro Review: A Feature-Packed Smartphone with a Premium Touch

In the fiercely competitive premium smartphone market, the HONOR 200 Pro makes a bold statement, blending high-end capabilities with a design that exudes elegance.

Launched in India in July, this phone commands a price of Rs. 57,999. However, with discounts it is available for less than Rs. 45,000. Available in two captivating colors—Green and Black—the HONOR 200 Pro targets users who crave top-tier performance, a sleek aesthetic, and exceptional multimedia features. Does it live up to the expectations? Let’s delve into the details to find out. Continue reading “HONOR 200 Pro Review: A Feature-Packed Smartphone with a Premium Touch”

Lava Blaze X 5G Review: Stylish Performer

In a hotly contested 15k price segment of the Indian smartphone market, there is very little one can offer as USP that can beat the tight competition. Amidst this toughness, comes Lava, the “Proudly Indian” manufacturer with its Blaze X 5G, touted as the only phone with a segment-first 3D curve AMOLED display. Packing decent specs, the Blaze X 5G enters a tough battlefield where scrutiny is high and margin for error is low. Can it handle the heat? Let’s find out in the review.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 Review — Compact Creative Powerhouse

Samsung’s latest series of folding screen phones are currently the market leaders of this segment. The Z Fold6 we reviewed earlier, is undoubtedly the company’s best foldable 2-in-1 device yet, but at the same time, competition is getting thick and heavy. The same goes for the Flip6, with a tough competitive path ahead, we witness the 6th iteration of a celebrated compact phone with top-end performance and an updated flagship-level main camera. Would these updates be enough to attract new buyers? Will a few compromises that comes with the form factor convince the existing Samsung customer to switch? Let’s find out in this long-term review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Review: A Businessman’s Flagship

To push the technological edge is what flagships are for. My first Samsung flagship experience didn’t start with the S series, it started with the Note Edge, a novel innovation in display where information could be presented in a curve off the side.

From there began the engineering of AMOLED screens that could flex and fast-forward to now, we have the 6th generation of foldable screens, taking this technology to the pinnacle of evolution. Complementing it, is the “smart” part of the experience, which started with a humble auto-complete keyboard, now grown into a full-blown predictive, context-driven and generative AI experience waiting to help and surprise you at every turn, or should I say, at every unfolding. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is hardcore engineering fused with excellence reached in the domains of display, performance and AI, ultimately coming together to give you a highly productive experience that just gets things done. One that perfectly fits a businessman. Read to know more. Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 Review: A Businessman’s Flagship”

OPPO Reno12 Pro Review: Inspired by AI

We are ushering into a new age of smartphone experience with AI. Yes, we know this buzzword has been marketed to maximum hype by everyone, and the market is now so saturated with extremely performant options at the same price, but it’s time to recalibrate our opinions. Continue reading “OPPO Reno12 Pro Review: Inspired by AI”

Sony WF-XB700 Review – Big on Bass, Low on Hype

Sony, the great Japanese electronics giant wants a piece of the new True Wireless economy. Armed with a legacy of delivering on promises and a good dose of “EXTRA BASS” splattered all over the box and inside the headset, the WF-XB700 aims to compete against the Samsung Galaxy Buds, which rightly dominates the premium segment. Beyond bass, there is great battery life rated at 9+9 hours and IPX4+1 certified water and dust resistance. I’ve been using this product for over a week now and I can say this for sure, Sony has delivered on the promises once again but as always, some conditions apply. The main question is, with so many Wireless Stereo Headsets in this world, could this be right one for you? Let’s find out in the review.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Review – a Plus worth having

In just a span of 2 years, the true wireless ear buds market has exploded, with so many options flooding the market almost every single day. In this heavy traffic, it’s easy to get confused and that’s why a big brand name like Samsung gains significance. And unlike other brands, Samsung has stuck to producing only a single line of true wireless earbuds, which make it much easier to choose or suggest. They call it the Samsung Galaxy Buds. After a year of feedback, the upgraded solution has arrived with a PLUS added to its name. How big of an upgrade is it? Has Samsung managed to address the growing requirements in sound quality and battery life? The short answer to the second question is, yes. It is indeed a PLUS worth having, but is the upgrade big enough for Buds users and what are these PLUSes that come as part of the upgrade? Let’s find out in the review.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Review – Bragging Rights

A flagship smartphone from any brand must go beyond the limits set by its predecessors, or its competitors. If it doesn’t, a big question mark hangs over not just the device, but over the person buying it as well. No doubt the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra goes well beyond the limits set by its predecessors. In fact, it even reaches a comfortable parity with the best of the best in the Android cameraphone world. However, for the owner of a flagship, especially the costliest one, this is not enough. It needs to cross the borders of machine and reach into the man, eventually merging into the identity of the owner. In my opinion, after a long time, the Galaxy S20 Ultra has become that iconic S-series Samsung phone which will not only give you the feeling of owning something unique, it becomes an extension of your character as well. Of course, conditions apply. So, what does it feel like to own an iconic device that naturally comes attached with compromises? This is the review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.

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OPPO Reno 3 Pro Review — An Underrated Conundrum

To say the OPPO Reno 3 Pro is underrated would be an understatement. Because, spoiler alert – I really like this device, but at the same time, it is, by virtue of its pricing, an overpriced smartphone in a hyper-competitive market that has been seeing price wars in all segments. How can such a device, which is both underrated and overpriced, exist? Yet it does and it adds only to the confusion. However, to make purchasing decisions slightly easier, we have things like a dual punch hole 44MP selfie camera, making it a device for selfie lovers, a familiar yet striking design, making it a safe option for OPPO users and for everyone else and even new buyers, specifications that tick all the right boxes. Great. Yet the conundrum remains. Why is the Reno 3 Pro priced this way? And as always, is the device really worth the price it demands? Who is it really for? This is the review of the OPPO Reno 3 Pro. Continue reading “OPPO Reno 3 Pro Review — An Underrated Conundrum”

Samsung Galaxy S20+ Review: Consistently Dependable

2020 is a special year for Samsung. This is not only the first time the numbering of its flagship series takes a 2x jump, but it is also the first year since the launch of a new category of devices, the foldables. Naturally, this redefines the idea of a brand flagship in Samsung’s portfolio, and this reflects in subtle yet very important changes in the S20 series. There are not two, but three flagships this time, starting with the S20 and ending with the S20 Ultra, with the most dependable of them bang in the middle, the Samsung Galaxy S20+. Dependable, why? Let’s find out in the review.
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