Amazon Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale is now live for Prime members. The Independence Day special sale will open up for everyone else from 12pm, August 6. Prime subscribers have 12 hours to grab some great offers on popular mobile phones, laptops, Amazon devices, and other electronics before everyone else gets a chance to grab these offers during Great Freedom Festival sale. We've handpicked some of the best deals and offers you can grab during the first day of the sale. Amazon is also offering 10 percent instant discount to SBI credit card users during the Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale this week.
Amazon Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale - Best offers on mobile phones
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite is down to Rs. 16,999 (effective price after bank and coupon offer) on Amazon during the ongoing Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale this week. The phone is usually available at Rs. 19,999. You can swap an older smartphone and get another additional discount worth up to Rs. 18,300. OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite features a 50-megapixel Sony LTE-600 primary camera sensor and a large 5,500mAh battery with support for 80W Supervooc fast charging.
Apple iPhone 13
If you missed the Prime Day offers, here's another chance to grab the iPhone 13 at an effective price of Rs. 47,799 (including bank offer) on Amazon during the Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale this week. Amazon is also offering no-cost EMI and bundled exchange offer which can further sweeten the deal by up to Rs. 43,100 (maximum discount on exchange value).
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is down to Rs. 24,999 (including bank offer) during Amazon's Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale this week. The smartphone usually sells at around Rs. 28,999. Galaxy S21 FE 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 888 SoC, and comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can swap an older phone and receive an additional discount worth up to Rs. 26,650.
iQoo Z9 Lite 5G
If you're looking for something around the Rs. 10,000 price point, the iQoo Z9 Lite 5G is now available at an effective price of Rs. 9,999 (including bank offer). The phone is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 5G SoC, supported by 4GB of RAM. It comes with a 50-megapixel Sony AI camera sensor and is IP64-rated.
OnePlus Nord 4 5G
OnePlus' Nord 4 5G is down to Rs. 27,999 (effective price after bank offer) on Amazon during the ongoing Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale. That's around Rs. 2,000 less than its usual selling price. OnePlus Nord 4 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset, supported by 8GB of RAM. It comes with a 5,500mAh battery with support for 100W Supervooc fast charging. The phone packs a bunch of AI-powered productivity features.
Amazon Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale: Best offers on electronics
Dell 15 laptop
If you're looking for a decent laptop around the Rs. 35,000 price point, the Dell 15 laptop is down to Rs. 34,990 on Amazon during the ongoing Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale. The laptop features a thin-and-light form factor, and is powered by the 12th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, supported by 8GB of RAM. It comes with a 512GB SSD, and runs Windows 11 out-of-the-box. The laptop features a 15.6-inch full-HD display and a spill-resistant keyboard.
Honor Pad 9
Honor Pad 9 tablet is down to Rs. 20,999 during Amazon's Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale. The Android 13-based tablet is powered by Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC, supported by 8GB of RAM. The tablet promises a battery life of up to 17 hours on a full charge. You also get a free Bluetooth-powered keyboard case with the tablet.
Fire TV Stick
Amazon's Fire TV Stick can be like a breath of fresh air for your old dumb TV. All you need is an HDMI port, and you can turn your old TV into a smart TV that can stream content an almost all major online streaming platforms. The Fire TV Stick is down to Rs. 2,999 during the ongoing Great Freedom Festival 2024 sale on Amazon.
Samsung Galaxy F14 4G was launched in India last week. The handset joins the 5G version in the lineup, which was introduced in the country in March this year. The latest 4G variant comes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 680 SoC, whereas the 5G option is powered by an in-house Exynos 1330 chipset. While the 5G variant packs a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit, the 4G option is equipped with a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup. However, like the Galaxy F14 5G, the newest Samsung F14 4G also gets a 13-megapixel selfie shooter.
Samsung Galaxy F14 4G Price in India
The Samsung Galaxy F14 4G is priced in India at Rs. 8,999 for the sole 4GB + 64GB option, the company confirmed in a press release. The phone is available for purchase in the country via select offline retail stores and customers can avail of no-cost EMI options. It is offered in two colour options — Moonlight Silver and Peppermint Green.
Samsung Galaxy F14 4G Specifications, Features
The Samsung Galaxy F14 4G sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ flat screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a centred waterdrop notch at the top to house the front camera sensor. The handset is powered by a Snapdragon 680 SoC paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.
In the camera department, the Samsung Galaxy F14 4G carries a triple rear camera unit, including a 50-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture. The rear camera system also has two 2-megapixel sensors alongside an LED flash unit. The front camera is equipped with a 13-megapixel sensor.
Samsung's Galaxy F14 4G is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired fast charging support. For security, the handset has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The phone, which reportedly ships with Android 14-based One UI 6, is promised to get two major OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
The Moto G85 5G was recently unveiled as the latest mid-range smartphone from the Lenovo-owned technology firm, equipped with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM, a 50-megapixel rear camera, and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. This handset competes with several other affordable smartphones in the same price segment, including the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G, CMF Phone 1, Infinix Note 40 5G, iQoo Z9, and the Samsung Galaxy M35 5G.
In India, the Moto G85 5G is priced at Rs. 17,999 for the 8GB+128GB RAM and storage configuration. The 12GB+256GB variant is priced at Rs. 19,999. The review unit sent by Motorola for this review is equipped with 256GB of storage.
Moto G85 Design: Nice to hold
Dimensions - 161.91x73.06x7.59 mm
Weight - 172g
Colours - Cobalt Blue, Olive Green (in this review), and Urban Gray
One of the most notable differences between the Moto G85 5G and its predecessor is the curved display — it's nice to see handsets with these screens under the Rs. 20,000 mark in India. The rear panel has a vegan leather finish and is quite easy to grip. Aside from Motorola's batwing logo on the back, there's no branding on the rear panel.
The Moto G85 features a rear panel that is quite easy to grip
Subjectively speaking, I'm not too fond of the Olive Green colour option, and it definitely appears darker than the images Motorola displays on its website. It is also prone to picking up some dirt and marks, so you're probably better off picking the Urban Grey colourway, which is available in a matte finish. The sides of the phone are made of plastic, and it gives you the impression that this is a more affordable phone.
At the bottom, there's a speaker grille and a USB Type-C port — but no 3.5mm audio port, unlike the Moto G84. The top edge has a microphone along with the Dolby Atmos logo, which is faintly visible in the centre. Motorola ships the Moto G85 with a charging brick and a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, and you also get a very slim transparent TPU cover.
Moto G85 Software: Hello, bloatware
Software - Hello UI
Version - Android 14
Latest security patch - June 1, 2024
The Moto G85 runs on Android 14, with the company's new Hello UI interface on top. This skin replaces My UX and mostly resembles Google's version of Android, which ships on Pixel smartphones. The phone automatically installs a handful of games (Block Blast, Carrom Disc Pool, Doll Dress Up: Sweet Girl) after the setup process is completed, which is quite disappointing.
There's another app called MotoHub that sends you notifications — about five or six notifications per day — for news stories and suggests apps to install via a dedicated home screen widget, but they're mostly clickbait articles.
Once known for its clutter-free interface, Motorola's latest handset contains both bloatware and notification spam
Once you disable these distractions, you'll notice that Hello UI packs some useful tools such as Family Space, which offers parental controls, Moto Unplugged (digital wellbeing features), and Moto Secure (Secure Folder, phishing protection). In my opinion, it also offers better customisation options compared to ‘stock' Android, and the Smart Connect lets you perform a variety of tasks on other devices using your phone.
Motorola says that users will receive two major Android updates and four years of security updates. For phones in this price segment, this is par for the course — except for the Samsung Galaxy M35, which will get four Android OS updates and five years of security updates.
Moto G85 Performance: Above average
Processor - Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Memory - Up to 12GB
Storage - Up to 256GB (UFS 2.2)
When I reviewed the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, I pointed out that the 6nm Snapdragon 695 SoC on that phone was a drawback, as the chipset was three years old. The Moto G85 is equipped with a Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, a repackaged version of the same chip, with a very small improvement in CPU speed. As a result, it lags behind other phones in the same price segment, such as the iQoo Z9 or the CMF Phone 1, which are powered by 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7200 and Dimensity 7300 chips, respectively.
I faced no issues with the Moto G85 in day-to-day tasks, which included reading the news and browsing the web on Chrome, scrolling through Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), and using WhatsApp for texting. There was a bit of lag while using Snapchat, but that's common on a lot of smartphones in this price segment.
Moto G85 benchmark test results
Like its predecessor, the Moto G85 is able to handle games like Asphalt 9: Legends (now called Asphalt Legends Unite) and BGMI with no complaints. It can also run Genshin Impact, but you will notice a bit of lag when there are many in-game enemies, which can be a hassle in crowded dungeons. The rear panel didn't get hot after 30 minutes of gameplay, which is good.
When you look at the benchmark scores for the Moto G85 and compare them with the ones for the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite, the similarities between both chipsets become even more apparent. While benchmark scores are synthetic, it's worth keeping in mind that there are more powerful phones than these two handsets under the Rs. 20,000 mark.
Take a look at the table below to see benchmark scores for the Moto G85 compared with other smartphones available in the same price segment.
Benchmark
Moto G85
CMF Phone 1
OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite
iQoo Z9
Realme 12 Pro
Geekbench 6 Single Core
935
1,037
904
1,151
956
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
2,102
2,932
2,015
2,669
2,369
AnTuTu v10
450,865
639,355
448,127
687,545
570,926
PCMark Work 3.0
11,757
12,398
9,850
13,319
13,319
3DMark Wild Life
1,569
3,122
1,508
4,126
4,126
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited
1,578
3,131
1,507
4,205
4,205
3DMark Sling Shot
4,406
6,690
4,226
6,654
6,654
3DMark Sling Shot Extreme
3,259
5,177
3,121
5,766
5,766
GFXBench Car Chase
60
29
17
33
21
GFXBench Manhattan 3.1
50
50
30
60
39
GFXBench T-Rex
89
60
60
108
60
The 6.67-inch Full-HD+ (1,080x2,400 pixels) AMOLED screen on the Moto G85 is quite bright, making it easy to use the phone in bright daylight. It has a 144Hz refresh rate, which is very responsive and scrolling through apps and websites is a smooth experience. Motorola also says the 240Hz touch sampling rate is increased to 360Hz while playing games.
The display on the Moto G85 has curved edges, but it didn't register any accidental touches while holding the phone. It's also a good screen for watching TV shows and movies on the go, thanks to the reliable battery life that the handset offers (more on that later). You can choose among different screen colour modes, and I found the Natural setting looked much better than the default Vivid option.
Moto G85 Cameras: AI to the rescue
Main camera - 50-megapixel (OIS, EIS), up to 4K/ 60fps video
Ultra-wide angle camera - 8-megapixel, up to 1080p/30fps video
Selfie camera - 16-megapixel, up to 1080p/30fps video
The primary camera on the Moto G85 is reliable when taking photos during the daytime, and it uses some post-processing to brighten images and improve contrast while keeping exposure levels in check and preserving the original colours of the subject. Images take a couple of seconds to be processed after being clicked, but this is done in the background, and you can continue using the camera app to click additional photos.
Meanwhile, the ultra-wide angle camera on the Moto G85 captures photos that are slightly less vibrant than the primary camera. It also tends to overexpose some parts of images, and the colour accuracy is not on par with the superior primary camera. I didn't notice a lot of distortion around the edges of photos captured with the Moto G85.
Moto G85 Daylight Camera Samples. Top to bottom - Primary, ultra-wide, 2x primary (Tap images to expand)
The same post processing appears to be in use when capturing portrait images with the primary camera on the Moto G85, as the phone takes a couple of seconds to save the image. If there's enough natural light, the camera delivers images with a soft bokeh effect and lots of detail.
The Moto G85 includes a Night Vision mode that allows you to take better photos at night, but it only works with the primary camera. While this means that you'll have to step further away from large subjects while clicking images, it's worth enabling the dedicated night mode for images that are brighter with more details in low-light scenarios.
For smaller subjects, the ultra-wide angle camera on the Moto G85 allows you to get close and capture images that are quite sharp using the included macro mode. When you use it to click photos of small objects during the day, there's very little noise or smoothening on these images.
Moto G85 Camera Samples. Top to bottom - 1x Night, 1x night, macro (Tap images to expand)
Using the 32-megapixel front-facing camera, you can take detailed selfies during the daytime, while low-light selfies are slightly blurry. Interestingly, the camera app on the Moto G85 includes a Pro tab that offers manual controls for all three cameras on the smartphone, including the one on the front.
The Moto G85 supports recording at 1080p/30fps while using the primary camera and ultra-wide angle camera. The same video resolution and bitrate are also supported on the front camera. The camera app lets you enable video stabilisation, and the primary camera delivers the best video quality in every scenario.
Moto G85 Battery: Quite reliable
Battery Capacity - 5,000mAh
Wired Charging: 33W TurboPower
Charger: 33W (included)
The Moto G85 has a slim design, but it packs a 5,000mAh battery capable of delivering more than a day of battery life, with moderate use that includes a mix of casual gaming, texting on WhatsApp, and browsing the web or social media apps. It delivered about six hours of screen on time and about 20 hours in standby mode before I had to connect it to the charger again.
I also ran our HD video battery loop test on the Moto G85, which lasted for 21 hours and 14 minutes until the battery was fully depleted. The 33W TurboPower charging brick took 1 hour and 15 minutes to charge the battery to 100 percent.
Moto G85 Review: Verdict
If you're looking for a smartphone with a curved OLED display and reliable camera performance, it's worth looking at the Moto G85. The phone also offers reliable battery backup and includes useful software features focused on family controls, digital well-being, and multitasking. The bloatware and notification spam is the only drawback on an otherwise decent smartphone that offers good value for money.
Other smartphones in the same price segment are equipped with more capable processors that offer better performance, such as the iQoo Z9 (Review), CMF Phone 1 (Review), and the Realme 12 Pro (Review). However, the Moto G85 offers a more versatile camera setup compared to the iQoo and CMF handsets. The Realme 12 Pro has a telephoto camera, but it is slightly more expensive than Motorola's offering.
You can also take a look at the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G (Review), Infinix Note 40 5G (Review), and Samsung Galaxy M35 5G, which also compete with the Moto G85 in the same price segment. They also offer similar performance and battery life. The Galaxy M35 is also worth considering, as it is slated to receive four Android OS updates and a fifth year of security updates.
The weekend is here, and so are our top recommendations for the biggest OTT releases to stream! Among the Indian originals, the South Indian entertainment industry is dominating with two exciting releases: Brinda and Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli on SonyLiv and Netflix. In Brinda, a police officer battles superstitions like human sacrifices, while Modern Masters offers a glimpse into Rajamouli's unseen sides.
Globally, our top pick is Umbrella Academy's fourth and final season, where the dysfunctional Hargreeves family with superpowers embarks on new adventures. Superhero fans will also love Prime Video's Caped Crusader, a nostalgic trip back to Bruce Wayne's early days as Batman. Meanwhile, Hulu's 12th season of Futurama promises more interstellar escapades in this animated series.
On the international front, Apple TV's Women in Blue redefines women's empowerment through a gripping thriller. Netflix's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder follows a high-schooler reopening a five-year-old murder case, challenging the original conviction. Last but not least, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes makes its post-theatrical debut on Hotstar, which is perfect for a weekend binge.
Top OTT Releases This Week (July 29- August 4)
Batman: Caped Crusader
Release Date: August 1, 2024
Where to Watch: Prime Video
Cast: Hamish Linklater, Mckenna Grace, Minnie Driver, Toby Stephens, Haley Joel Osment, Christina Ricci, Jamie Chung, David Krumholtz, Diedrich Bader, Reid Scott
Batman: Caped Crusader is a nostalgic reimagination of the Batman mythos with a noir touch. It is set in Gotham City in the 1940s, where the corrupt have outnumbered the good, and crime marks the rule of the day.
The animated series explores how Bruce Wayne, the billionaire socialite, starts his nocturnal campaigns of fighting for justice under the disguise of a caped crusader called Batman. He doesn't even have a tech armour-plated suit or advanced Bat-computer yet.
Batman: Caped Crusader has been developed by Bruce Timm, who co-created the landmark '90s classic Batman: The Animated Series, and serves heart doses of nostalgia, action, and thrill.
Trisha Krishnan is essaying the role of a determined police officer in this eight-part thriller series, who navigates a complex web of suspense and unexpected twists. Her character challenges conventional beliefs and superstitious practices like human sacrifice. Originally planned as a film, the show also marks Krishnan's debut in the web series sector. Originally shot in Telugu, Brinda is also available to stream in Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, and Malayalam.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
Release Date: August 1
Where to Watch: Netflix
Cast: Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, India Lillie Davies, Rahul Pattni, Asha Banks, Yali Topol Margalith, Jude Morgan-Collie, Raiko Gohara
Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was gruesomely murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who later took his own life. Ever since the incident has kept the town terrorised.
However, when high-schooler Amobi decides to investigate the case for a project, she might be in for some shocking revelations. Was Singh really the murderer? Why was Bell killed? Is the true killer still roaming freely? Will the investigation pose a threat to Amobi?
The murder mystery has been adapted from British author Holly Jackson's 2019 New York bestseller novel.
Modern Masters: S. S. Rajamouli
Release Date: August 2, 2024
Where to Watch: Netflix
Cast: S. S. Rajamouli, Anupama Chopra, Prabhas, Jr NTR, Rana Daggubati, Ram Charan, James Cameron, Joe Russo, Karan Johar
S.S. Rajamouli is one of the biggest Indian filmmakers who has given global cinema superhits like Prabhas starrer Baahubali and Oscar-winning RRR. Interestingly, he didn't even receive formal training in filmmaking or attend film school.
The documentary explores the visionary director's creative process, childhood fascination, life stories, dreams, aspirations, and more through interviews, unseen footage, and behind-the-scenes.
The documentary also offers insights from global luminaries like James Cameron, Joe Russo, and Karan Johar, as well as close friends and colleagues such as Prabhas, Jr NTR, Rana Daggubati, and Ram Charan.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Premiere Date: August 1
Where to Watch: Disney plus Hotstar
Cast: Owen Teague, Freya Allen, Peter Macon, William H. Macy, Kevin Durand, Dichen Lachman, Neil Sandilands, Eka Darville, Sara Wiseman, Lydia Peckham, Travis Jeffery, Ras-Samuel, Nina Gallas
In this fourth Planet of the Apes reboot instalment, apes have evolved into dominant species with complex societies, while humans have regressed into feral states. The film follows Noa, a young chimpanzee, as he navigates a treacherous world after his village is destroyed by the tyrannical Proximus Caesar. Alongside new allies, including a wise orangutan and a mysterious human, Noa must confront the dark forces exploiting Caesar's legacy and threatening the future of both species.
Four women in 1970 Mexico joined the country's first female police force, ready to challenge conservative patriarchal norms, only to discover that their recruitment was merely a publicity stunt to distract the media from a serial killer on the loose. As the body count keeps increasing, the quadrat decides to set up a secret investigation to catch the killer and achieve what no male officer has been able to do. The ten-episode-long Spanish drama is based on true events and has garnered good reviews from critics so far.
Futurama Season 12
Release Date: July 29
Where to Watch: Hotstar
Cast: John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Segal, Tress MacNeille, Phil LaMarr, Lauren Tom, Maurice LaMarche
First incepted in 1999, Futurama is one of the top animated series dominating television. The Emmy-winning show comes from the creators of Simpsons and has been applauded over the years for its witty humour, subtle satire, intelligent writing, and social commentary. The story follows Fry, a pizza delivery boy who is cryogenically frozen and wakes up 1000 years into the future. In this season, Fry -- along with his friends, Leela and Bender, and the rest of the Planet Express crew – continues to delve into new intergalactic adventures.
Umbrella Academy Season 4
Release Date: August 4, 2024
Where to Watch: Netflix
Cast: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, Colm Feore, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, David Cross
The final season picks up after the third season finale, in which the Hargreeves siblings go to the Hotel Oblivion and end up losing their superpowers. The adopted heroes have now turned from extraordinary to ordinary ones. Meanwhile, a mysterious organisation called The Keeper emerges as a new threat, making matters worse. Will the Umbrella Academy find its way to keep everyone safe?
Other OTT Releases This Week
While the aforementioned films and movies are some of the biggest releases this week, they aren't the only ones. Here is a comprehensive list of new releases from major streaming platforms.
The Realme 13 Pro series is here, and I've been using the Realme 13 Pro+ for a couple of weeks. While it's not a major upgrade over the Realme 12 Pro+ in terms of sheer numbers, there are a couple of hardware changes that make it better to use. And there are also new AI features baked in, which are claimed to improve user experience and the photography prowess of the phones. Just like last year's 12 Pro+ model, the new Realme 13 Pro+ is also mostly all about the cameras.
In our Realme 12 Pro+ review, we concluded that the phone was one of the best in the segment when it comes to camera performance, especially the telephoto sensor. The Realme 13 Pro+ gets a new telephoto sensor, but it's also now slightly more expensive. It now starts at Rs. 32,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. The 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB variants are priced at Rs. 34,999 and Rs. 36,999, respectively.
Will the Realme 13 Pro+, with its new features, continue to be the best camera phone in its segment? Read on to find out.
Realme 13 Pro+ Design: Looks and feels premium
Dimensions - 161.3x73.9x8.2mm
Weight - 190g
Colours - Monet Gold, Emerald Green
The design of the new 13 Pro+ is mostly similar to last year's model, but there's now a glass-back variant as well. The Monet Gold colour option, which we received, has a glass back with a unique pattern that looks like sand waves. The edges of the rear panel are curved, which makes it easy to hold the phone. The frame is still plastic, though.
Realme has kept the large circular watch-dial-like camera module with the flute bezel, but it now gets the HyperImage+ logo at the bottom. However, one thing that's missing from the leather variant is the strip found in the older model that ran vertically across the centre of the rear panel. The rear is cleaner now, with the camera module being the standard design element.
The phone has a plastic frame and Gorilla Glass 7i on the front
Button placements are pretty much the same as the older model. The volume and power buttons are on the right edge, with the left edge not housing anything. You'll find a speaker grille and a mic at the top, and another mic, SIM tray, USB Type-C port, and a second speaker grille at the bottom. The phone gets an IP65 dust and water resistance rating.
In the box, the phone is accompanied by an 80W charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, a case, a SIM ejector tool, and some paperwork.
Realme 13 Pro+ Display: Curvy with slim bezels
Display size - 6.7-inch
Type - AMOLED LTPS
Refresh rate - Up to 120Hz
Moving on to the front, you get a familiar-looking display setup. There's a 6.7-inch AMOLED curved panel that offers full-HD+ resolution with up to 120Hz refresh rate. You can choose between 60 and 120Hz refresh rates, while there's an auto mode that selects the best refresh rate based on what's happening on the screen. The display gets slim bezels all around and a hole-punch cutout at the top centre. There's also an under-display fingerprint scanner that's placed at the bottom. It works well, and I never faced any issues with it. The display doesn't support HDR unfortunately, but it is a 10-bit panel. Realme provides Vivid, Natural, and two Pro modes and also lets you adjust the screen colour temperature.
The panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,000nits of peak brightness
While all this sounds very similar to the display on the older Realme 12 Pro+, there are some improvements. The new phone now offers a much brighter panel with a peak brightness rating of 2,000 nits. The display is easier to read outdoors thanks to the improved brightness.
A protection film is also pre-applied on the display, but I'd recommend removing it and installing a different screen guard. Talking about protection, the display gets Armor Shield Glass with Corning's Gorilla Glass 7i. Once again, the curved sides make the phone appear and feel thinner than it is.
Realme 13 Pro+ Software: AI and Bloatware infused
UI - Realme UI 5.0
OS - Android 14
Latest Security Patch - June
The Realme 13 Pro+, like most phones in this segment, gets a lot of useful features with a hint of bloatware on the side. Luckily, you also get a couple of AI baked-in that work system-wide, which is nice. The phone runs Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0 out-of-the-box, and Realme has promised to provide 2 years of software updates and 3 years of security patches. If you ignore the bloatware, such as the Hot apps and Hot games, including the Glance lock screen and ad-filled keyboards, then you'll find that the UI is pretty nice to use. It's smooth, and I didn't notice any major lag when navigating between apps.
There's still a lot of bloatware, but the UI is overall smooth to use
Coming to the AI features, there are things like AI Screen Recognition, which is kind of like Google's Circle to Search. You also get an AI Smart Loop feature that makes sharing images, text, and other things easier. Realme has also included the Air Gestures feature here, which lets you control some apps on the phone using air-based gestures. It works sometimes but is mostly a gimmick. There are other AI features, such as AI Eye Comfort, that can supposedly detect eye fatigue and adjust the screen temperature. All it does is change the display temperature to warmer, and I'm not so sure you need AI to do this.
There are also two AI features included in the camera called AI Eraser and AI Ultra Clarity and these actually work quite well. You should check out the separate story we did on these AI features for the Camera. Realme is calling its new image processing algorithm AI HyperRAW. You also get a few other AI features, such as AI Group Photo Enhance for selfies and AI Audio Zoom when recording videos.
Realme 13 Pro+ Performance: Decent
Processor - Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
RAM - Up to 12GB
Storage - Up to 512GB
If you're looking for a performance monster in this price segment, then you should not be considering the Realme 13 Pro+. While it does offer decent performance when it comes to multitasking and gaming, there are other phones in the segment that are much more powerful. There's no major upgrade in the performance department compared to the outgoing 12 Pro+. You get the same 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC paired with the Adreno 710 GPU. Our review unit came with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, which is the top-end variant. You get LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
The phone performed well in daily tasks such as using the Chrome browser, running multiple apps in the background, using the camera, and scrolling through social media apps such as Instagram. Gaming on the phone is also pretty decent, as it'll play any game you'll throw at it. However, graphics-intensive games will most likely run on medium settings, as I encountered with Genshin Impact and BGMI. The phone did get a little warm during long gaming sessions, and when using the camera for an extended period of time, but nothing to put you off.
You can play most games on the phone, and it doesn't heat up too much
We ran some synthetic benchmarks on the Realme 13 Pro+ just to see how it performs against its competitors, and needless to say, it didn't do a great job. Of course, these scores don't really mirror real-world usage, but they do paint a picture.
Benchmark
Realme 13 Pro+
OnePlus Nord 4
Poco F6
Samsung Galaxy A35
Geekbench 6 Single Core
902
929
1,835
1,013
Geekbench 6 Multi Core
2,764
3,817
4,693
2,805
AnTuTu v10
6,86,071
1,074,178
1,457,491
606,767
PCMark Work 3.0
12,699
12,336
15,753
13,176
3DMark Wild Life
3,088
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
2,816
3DMark Wild Life Unlimited
3,103
11,588
11,734
2,800
3DMark Sling Shot
6,346
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
5,481
3DMark Sling Shot Extreme
4,810
Maxed Out
Maxed Out
4,655
GFXBench Car Chase
25fps
60fps
71fps
225fps
GFXBench Manhattan 3.1
48fps
60fps
112fps
46fps
GFXBench T-Rex
60fps
60fps
120fps
94fps
The phone performed similarly to its predecessor, the Realme 12 Pro+, which is not a good look. However, the 13 Pro+ was not made to please the performance enthusiasts, it was made for those who want really good cameras at mid-range pricing. For connectivity, there's Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and the usual set of GPS features. The phone gets dual 5G standby and uses nano-SIM cards.
Realme 13 Pro+ Cameras: Impressive
Main rear - 50-megapixel Sony LYT 701 1/1.56” sensor
Telephoto - 50-megapixel Sony LYT 600 1/1.96” sensor
Ultrawide- 8-megapixel
Front - 32-megapixel Sony IMX 615 sensor
This is where the phone really comes into its own. The cameras are the star of the show, especially the telephoto. Out of the four cameras on the phone, three are from Sony. Realme announced its tie up with Sony to use Lytia sensors across all its flagship devices. Apart from the dual 50-megapixel sensors at the back, you get an 8-megapixel ultra-wide unit and a 32-megapixel Sony The camera app is easy to use, and everything is front and centre. You get access to 5 focal lengths ranging from 0.6x to 6x.
The Sony cameras perform very well
Let's look at the main camera first. The 50-megapixel Sony LYT 701 sensor produces excellent results in good lighting conditions with plenty of details, great dynamic range, and accurate white balance. At times, the saturation can go a little overboard, and you get very contrasty pictures, but this happens only when there's a lot of foliage. The camera also fares well in low light conditions, and there's also a dedicated night mode. There's good detail, even in the shadows, and you will generally not find any issues with white balance, colour saturation, and exposure. The camera also does a great job of producing very accurate skin tones as well. Check out some shots from the main camera below.
Now, the telephoto camera. Last year's 12 Pro+ surprised us with its periscope telephoto sensor, and the new 13 Pro+ has upped things. Photos taken at 3x are full of details with great colour saturation and good contrast. You can also get a natural bokeh using this sensor. Below, you'll find some photos taken using the telephoto camera.
Portrait photos also look great on the telephoto camera, with skin tones once again being very close to natural. I used the telephoto much more than the main camera. It also does a good job at night, with not much to complain about. You will see some noise once you start going above 3x zoom, but till that point, the photos are still pretty good, with lots of detail, nice dynamic range, and good white balance. Check out some portrait shots below.
The ultra-wide camera on the phone is fine, and although it can produce good images during the day, it's not so great in low light. While there is a macro mode that uses the ultra-wide sensor, it can't really focus all that well when held close to objects. It is a usable camera, though.
Selfies from the phone are decent as well, but not in low light conditions. The HDR isn't that great and you'll find plenty of sharpening happening in the photos.
Finally, video performance. The phone does a good job with video in both 4K and 1080p resolution when using the main rear camera, but stabilisation is not that great. Even the telephoto camera produces similar results. Both cameras max out at 4K 30fps, whereas the ultrawide only does 1080p 30. There's an ultra-steady mode available on the phone, but it only works at 1080p 60 and produces good results. The dynamic range in 4K resolution is good, with very little noise. Colours and white balance are also good.
Realme 13 Pro+ Battery and Sound: Pretty good
Capacity - 5,200mAh
Charging - 80W
Speakers - Dual stereo
I was quite surprised with the battery life on this phone, especially since the older model also performed really well in our independent battery test. The Realme 13 Pro+ comes with a larger 5,200mAh battery that lasted an impressive 32 hours in our HD video loop test. Once again, this test doesn't equate to real-life usage, but rest assured, you can certainly binge-watch at least two entire seasons of The Boys without having to charge up your phone. With normal usage that involved watching YouTube videos, scrolling on Instagram, making a couple of calls, texting, using the camera, and about 45 mins of gaming, the phone consistently lasted over a day with screen-on times of over 7 hours.
The battery life is impressive on the phone
Charging is also quick, thanks to the 80W fast charger included in the box, but it doesn't really peak out at 80W. We managed to charge the phone from 0 to 100 percent in under 1 hour 10 mins.
The Realme 13 Pro+ comes with a dual speaker stereo setup, with the bottom speaker delivering most of the volume. The phone does get pretty loud, and there's some bass as well. These are a good pair of speakers.
Realme 13 Pro+: Verdict
I'd totally recommend this phone to anyone looking to buy a good camera phone under Rs. 35,000 over all its competitors. And the Realme 13 Pro+ has plenty to fight off. There's the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G (Review), the recently launched OnePlus Nord 4 (Review) with its metal build, the performance powerhouse Poco F6 (Review), the Samsung Galaxy A35 (Review), and the just-launched Motorola Edge 50. All of these devices offer something more in other departments, but when it comes to cameras, nothing really matches up to the Realme. In some cases the camera also performs better than phones that cost more than Rs. 50,000.
However, like I said, if you want a phone mostly for camera performance, then the Realme 13 Pro+ is the easy recommendation. Apart from the great cameras, you also get plenty of AI features, a good display, loudspeakers, and a great design. It's a great phone overall and definitely the best camera phone in the segment.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions was announced last month, with Warner Bros. Games confirming a September 3 release date. Now, the publisher has revealed the gameplay for the Wizarding World title with a new trailer. Warner Bros. Games has also confirmed the game's pre-order details and staggered release timeline, with the digital version of the game launching in September, followed by a physical release in November. The new gameplay trailer showcases Quidditch gameplay, available game modes and player characters.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions gameplay trailer
Developed by Unbroken Studios, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will feature a single-player career mode and an online competitive mode. The game will also feature the Quidditch World Cup. The "Welcome Students" gameplay trailer provides a first look at fast-faced Quidditch matches, where players can take part as a Beater, Chaser, Keeper or Seeker. The publisher also revealed pre-order details for the title, which will be available in Standard and Deluxe editions.
The latest trailer showed off Quidditch gameplay, large arenas and popular playable characters from the Wizarding World, including Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy and more. Players can also choose to create their own custom character.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions pre-order details
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions has also been confirmed to get a staggered release. The digital versions of both Standard and Deluxe editions of the game will be released September 3, while the physical Deluxe edition will launch November 8 on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store) PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X and Xbox One. A Nintendo Switch version will arrive later during the 2024 holiday season. Deluxe edition rewards include House packs for all four houses — Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and in-game currency.
The game is currently available to pre-order on all platforms, with a Firebolt Supreme broom skin available as a pre-order reward item. Additionally, the Standard edition of Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions will be available as a PlayStation Plus launch title at no extra cost to all PS Plus members from September 3 to September 30. Once added to the library, the game will be playable as long as players have an active PS Plus subscription.
Vu Vibe QLED TV was unveiled in India on July 30. The smart television is claimed to be the first one in the world to come with an integrated soundbar that is said to improve the voice clarity of the content being viewed. The newly launched TV also comes in four display sizes with QLED IPS panels that offer 400nits of peak brightness level. It runs on Google TV OS and is equipped with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of inbuilt storage. It also comes paired with a Vu Vibe Remote which has picture and sound hotkeys.
Vu Vibe QLED TV Price in India, Availability
The Vu Vibe QLED TV starts in India at Rs. 30,999 for the 43-inch model, while the 50-inch and 55-inch variants are priced at Rs. 35,999 and Rs. 41,999, respectively. The largest 65-inch version, on the other hand, carries a price tag of Rs. 58,999.
Vu's new smart TVs are available for purchase at select offline retail stores across the country and will go on sale online, exclusively via Amazon, starting August 9.
Vu Vibe QLED TV Specifications, Features
The Vu Vibe QLED TV sports a 4K QLED IPS panel with 400 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate alongside HDR10+ support. It comes with a bezel-less design and is offered in four display sizes — 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, and 65-inch.
The newly launched Vu Vibe QLED TV comes integrated with an 88-watt soundbar and is claimed to offer a distortion-free immersive sound experience. It offers five different sound modes – Sound only, Cinema, Night, Dolby Audio, and Pure Surround. The dedicated sound-only mode allows the TV to play music while the screen is off.
Users can play music through their Spotify or YouTube accounts directly on the Vu Vibe QLED TV. They can also pair multiple electronic devices to the TV using both Bluetooth or USB connections. It allows dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity as well.
The Vu Vibe QLED TV runs on Google TV OS and has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. Users can play content on the TV using Google's Chromecast. The paired Vu Vibe remote is equipped with picture and sound hotkeys which allow users to navigate different audio and visual settings quickly.
