If you’re looking for the best smartphones under ₹50,000 in India, you can expect powerful processors, fluid gaming experiences, solid camera setups, and long-term software support. Whether you’re a power user, mobile gamer, or camera enthusiast, this is the sweet spot where value meets performance.

However, not all phones in this price bracket are created equal. After reviewing the latest launches and user feedback, we’ve selected the top 5 phones under ₹50,000 in India that offer the best bang for your buck.

It’s worth noting that while these smartphones perform exceptionally well, their more expensive siblings—often branded as “Pro” or “Ultra” variants—might come with extras like higher refresh rate displays, flagship-grade camera sensors, or larger batteries. But rest assured, the models we’ve picked are no slouches and easily stand out in terms of everyday performance and overall value.

Ready to upgrade? Here are the best flagship smartphones under ₹50,000 you can buy in India right now, complete with expert insights and user reviews to help you choose the right one. Also, don’t forget to check our list of the best premium phones under Rs 30,000 should you decide to alter your budget.

OnePlus 13R

• 6.78 inch 120Hz, LTPO 4.1 AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 4500 nits (peak)
• Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1
• Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
• 512GB UFS 4.0 16GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide) + 50 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto) + 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm
• 16 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide) selfie camera
• 6,000mAh battery with 80W wired charging
• Model year – Jan 2025

The OnePlus 13R is one of those rare phones that feels like a flagship without demanding flagship money. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it’s clearly aimed at users who want top-tier performance—whether for gaming, multitasking, or long-term use—but aren’t chasing brand clout or spending unnecessarily.

The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display is bright, fluid, and versatile, thanks to adaptive 120Hz refresh and HDR10+ support. The LTPO tech ensures smooth transitions and power efficiency, giving it an edge in both visual experience and battery conservation. The panel is sharp and vibrant, though peak brightness isn’t class-leading.

Design-wise, it’s minimalist and refined. The flat sides, matte rear, and subtle camera bump give it a clean aesthetic. It also sports an IP65 rating, which adds peace of mind for daily durability, even if it falls short of full waterproofing.

Battery life is excellent. The 6,000mAh cell comfortably delivers a day and a half of moderate to heavy use, and 80W fast charging fills it up in about 45 minutes. Wireless charging is absent, which is a bummer at this price, but forgivable considering everything else on offer.

On the camera front, the triple-lens setup includes a capable 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 2x 50MP telephoto, and an 8MP ultra-wide. Daytime photos are sharp and color-accurate, while portraits from the telephoto lens come out surprisingly well. However, the ultra-wide camera and low-light performance feel like holdovers from a cheaper device. This isn’t a phone for photography enthusiasts, but it’ll serve most users just fine.

OxygenOS 15, based on Android 15, is lean, responsive, and free from bloat. OnePlus has also committed to 4 years of major Android updates and 5 years of security patches, which is now table stakes for long-term value.

Samsung Galaxy S24

• • 6.2 inch, LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
  • Android 15, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
  • Exynos 2400 (4 nm)
  • 256GB UFS 4.0 8GB RAM
  • 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide) + 10 MP, f/2.4 + 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide)
  • 12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide) selfie camera
  • 4,000mAh battery with 25W wired charging
  • Model year – Jan 2024

The Galaxy S24, now over a year old, was one of Samsung’s most refined flagships when it launched, and in many ways, it still holds up. It delivers a compact, premium experience with a flat design, solid build, and a display that’s still among the best in its size class. However, the competition has moved on, and what once felt cutting-edge now comes with some caveats.

Samsung’s 6.2-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display remains a strength. It’s sharp, color-accurate, and smooth with its adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. While not as flashy in specs as newer rivals with 1.5K or 6,000-nit panels, it’s reliable and pleasant for most users.

Performance-wise, it runs on the Exynos 2400. While still capable, but in 2025, it’s no longer the fastest chips around. You’ll notice this mainly if you’re gaming at high settings or doing heavy multitasking—the 8 Gen 3 still handles daily tasks with ease, but newer mid-premium devices now offer comparable or better sustained performance.

Battery life, a weakness in older S-series phones, saw improvement in the S24 thanks to a slightly larger 4,000mAh battery and software tuning. While it doesn’t last as long as newer 5,000mAh-plus phones, it’s dependable for a full day of regular use. Fast charging remains at 25W wired, which is beginning to feel outdated given how many mid-rangers now offer 80W or more.

Camera quality remains solid. Especially, the 50MP main shooter and 10MP 3x telephoto, which still deliver sharp, color-rich photos in good lighting. But in low light or when compared to newer phones with AI-enhanced sensors and faster night modes, the S24’s results feel a step behind.

Samsung’s software remains a key strength. One UI 7.0 based on Android 15 is snappy and packed with features, and the S24 is part of Samsung’s seven-year update promise. That makes it a safer long-term bet than many newer phones with just 2–3 years of support.

Motorola Edge 50 Ultra

• 6.7 inch P-OLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 2500 nits (peak)
• Android 14, upgradable to Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades
• Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm)
• 512GB UFS 4.0, 12GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide) + 64 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (periscope telephoto) + 50 MP, f/2.0, 12mm, 122˚ (ultrawide)
• 50 MP, f/1.9, 21mm (wide) selfie camera
• 4,500mAh battery with 125W wired charging
• Model year – April 2024

TThe Edge 50 Ultra was Motorola’s most ambitious flagship in years, and it showed. With its standout design, powerful internals, and capable camera setup, it turned heads when it launched. Nearly a year later, it’s still a well-rounded device—but one that now sits in a more crowded premium space.

Design remains a clear highlight. The Edge 50 Ultra has a sleek, premium aesthetic with options like wood and vegan leather finishes that help it stand out. It’s IP68-rated, curved in-hand, and refreshingly different from the glass-slab sameness seen elsewhere.

The 6.7-inch pOLED display is punchy and smooth with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1.5K resolution. While it doesn’t match the 2,600+ nit brightness of today’s newest flagships, it’s still vibrant, color-rich (Pantone validated), and great for media consumption or outdoor use.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 holds up fairly well, though it’s now a step behind the newer 8 Gen 3 and 8 Gen 4 chipsets in raw power and efficiency. For most users, especially those not gaming heavily, the phone still feels snappy and fluid. With 12GB or 16GB RAM variants and up to 1TB storage, it’s still stacked on paper.

Battery life from the 4,500mAh cell is decent, if not chart-topping. The 125W wired and 50W wireless charging remain standouts even in 2025—very few phones offer that combo. You can go from 0 to full in under 30 minutes, which helps offset the average endurance.

The camera system is solid but not perfect. The 50MP main camera, 64MP 3x telephoto, and 50MP ultrawide give you flexibility, and Motorola’s color science has noticeably improved. Still, it falls short of the low-light and processing prowess of newer AI-heavy flagships. The selfie camera is decent but can be hit-or-miss in dynamic lighting.

MyUX remains clean and lightweight, with useful additions like Moto Gestures and minimal bloat. However, Motorola only promises three years of OS updates, which feels underwhelming today compared to Samsung and Google’s seven-year pledges.

Google Pixel 9a

• 6.3 inch P-OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 1800 nits (HBM), 2700 nits (peak)
• Android 15, up to 7 major Android upgrades
• Google Tensor G4 (4 nm)
• 256GB UFS 3.1, 8GB RAM
• 48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide) + 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
• 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide) selfie camera
• 5,100mAh battery with 23W wired charging
• Model year – March 2025

Google’s Pixel 9a continues the “A-series” tradition of bringing Pixel smarts to a more affordable price point. And in 2025, it’s one of the most balanced sub-premium Android phones out there.

The design is minimalist but clean, now slimmer and lighter than before. The OLED display is vibrant, with a much-needed 120Hz refresh rate that helps the phone feel fluid in daily use. While it doesn’t match the brightest or most color-rich panels in the segment, it’s reliable and gets the job done outdoors.

Performance is handled by the Tensor G3 chip, which does well for typical usage but still isn’t a gaming powerhouse. Thermal throttling and battery drain during sustained tasks were noted by reviewers, though for everyday use and Pixel’s AI features, it performs consistently.

Camera is where the Pixel 9a justifies its name. The 64MP main sensor (with the same software smarts as the flagship) delivers photos that punch above the phone’s price class—particularly in daylight and portrait modes. Video is solid too, though not class-leading.

Battery life is acceptable but not exceptional. Expect a full day on light to moderate use, but power users may need to top up. Charging speeds are still behind the curve at just 18W wired with no wireless option, which feels dated in this price bracket.

The 9a shines in software: clean Android 14 with Pixel-exclusive AI features, long-term updates, and solid security. It’s ideal for users who want a smooth, clutter-free phone that just works.

Overall, the Pixel 9a isn’t trying to win spec wars. Instead, it focuses on consistency, camera quality, and clean software—all of which it delivers confidently. It’s not for gamers or power users, but for most Android buyers in 2025, it’s a dependable pick.

The post Top Smartphones Under ₹50,000 in India [May 2025] – Reviews & Comparisons appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

We’ve done the homework and picked out a handful of phones that are genuinely worth considering, keeping all these factors in mind. This isn’t going to be an endless list that includes every phone available in this price range. Instead, it’s a focused selection of what we believe are the best options. Even within that list, we’ve highlighted our top recommendations based on different user priorities. So whether you’re looking for the best camera, the longest battery life, great all-round performance, or just the best value, we’ve tried to make the decision a little easier for you.

So here’s our pick of top five phones under Rs 30,000 for May 2025 with reviews. Or, if you decide to go for some flagship phone instead, check our list of hottest phones under Rs 50,000.

Nothing Phone 3A

• 6.77 inch 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1300 nits (HBM) AMOLED display
• Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.1
• Qualcomm SM7635 Snapdragon 7s Gen 3
• 256GB 8GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide) + 50 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto) + 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide) camera
• 32 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) selfie camera
• 5,000mAh battery with 50W wired charging
• Model year – March 2025

The Nothing Phone (3a) is the brand’s most accessible device yet, but it doesn’t let go of what makes a Nothing phone feel different. With a transparent back, customizable Glyph lights, and clean design, the 3a keeps the brand’s signature aesthetic alive, even at a lower price.

The phone feels premium in hand thanks to flat edges and a sturdy build, even though the frame is plastic. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is bright, punchy, and surprisingly good at this price. It lacks LTPO, so you won’t get dynamic refresh rate switching, but unless you’re a hardcore user, you probably won’t miss it.

Performance is where the 3a makes its biggest trade-off. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 is serviceable for everyday use and casual gaming, but it’s not built for high-intensity tasks or long-term performance headroom. That said, it is smooth in daily use and the polished Nothing OS 2.5 helps the phone feel more responsive than the chip suggests.

The dual rear cameras are another area of give and take. The main sensor (50MP) delivers solid shots in daylight with good dynamic range. The lack of a dedicated ultrawide or telephoto sensor limits versatility, and low-light photos can be hit or miss. Still, for social media or general use, it gets the job done.

Battery life is impressive. The 5,000mAh cell easily lasts a full day, and the 50W fast charging is appreciated. Although, there’s no wireless charging, and you’ll need to bring your own charger.

Ultimately, the Nothing Phone 3a succeeds by knowing its limits. It’s not a spec beast, but it nails the experience where it counts. Clean software, standout design, good display, and all-day battery make it one of the most thoughtful mid-range phones this year.

OnePlus Nord 4

• 6.74 inch 120Hz, HDR10+ 2150 nits (peak) AMOLED display
• Android 14, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15
• Qualcomm SM7675 Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3
• 256GB UFS 4.0, 8GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide) + 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide)
• 16 MP, f/2.4, 24mm selfie camera
• 5,500mAh battery with 100W wired charging
• Model year – July 2024

OnePlus has taken a confident swing at the mid-range with the Nord 4, a phone that brings back an all-metal unibody build something we haven’t seen in a while. It looks and feels premium in hand, with a clean, minimalist design and a slim profile that makes it easy to use one-handed.

The display is a 6.74-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s sharp, vibrant, and smooth to use, whether you’re scrolling through social media or watching videos. There’s no LTPO support though. The performance holds up impressively well thanks to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor. Apps open quickly, multitasking is seamless, and even gaming doesn’t push the phone too hard. It ships with OxygenOS 14.1, which is fast, fluid, and mostly clean, though there are a few minor bugs that could use ironing out.

Battery life is a highlight at 5,500mAh, the phone easily lasts a full day and more. When you do need to charge, the 100W fast charging gets you back up and running in under half an hour. That’s hard to beat in this segment.

The camera setup is functional but nothing groundbreaking. The 50MP main sensor captures detailed shots in daylight, and the 8MP ultra-wide is usable, but the absence of a telephoto lens is noticeable if you’re into zoom photography. Low-light results are average.

The Nord 4 is a great choice if you’re after a solid, premium-feeling phone without going into flagship territory. The design, performance, and battery life are standout features. If camera flexibility or absolutely polished software is a dealbreaker, you might want to look elsewhere—but otherwise, this one’s easy to recommend.

Motorola Edge 60 Pro

• 6.7 inch 120Hz, HDR10+ 4500 nits (peak) P-OLED display
• Android 15
• Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Extreme
• 256GB UFS 4.0, 8GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide) + 10 MP, f2.0, 73mm (telephoto) + 50 MP, f/2.0, 120˚ (ultrawide)
• 50 MP, f/2.0, (wide) selfie camera
• 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired charging
• Model year – April 2025

The Motorola Edge 60 Pro enters the mid-range arena with a blend of premium features and some notable compromises. Its standout 6.7-inch pOLED display boasts a 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and an impressive 4,500 nits peak brightness, delivering vibrant visuals with HDR10+ support. The quad-curved design and Pantone-certified colors like Dazzling Blue and Sparkling Grape enhance its aesthetic appeal.

Performance-wise, the device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Extreme chipset, paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and gaming experiences. The processor is comparable to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen3, albeit, being slightly behind on benchmarks. The 6,000mAh battery offers extended usage, complemented by 90W wired and 15W wireless charging capabilities.

The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. While daytime photography is commendable, low-light performance and skin tone accuracy could see improvements.
Smartprix

Running on Android 15 with Motorola’s Hello UI, the software experience is generally clean, though some bloatware and ads are present. The device also boasts IP68/IP69 ratings and MIL-STD-810H certification, ensuring durability.

iQOO Neo 10R

• 6.78 inch 144Hz, HDR10+ 4500 nits (peak) AMOLED display
• Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Funtouch 15
• Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
• 256GB UFS 4.1, 8GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide) + 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide)
• 32 MP, f/2.5 selfie camera
• 6,400mAh battery with 80W wired charging
• Model year – March 2025

The iQOO Neo 10R presents itself as a performance-centric smartphone in the mid-range segment, offering a blend of robust specifications and features tailored for gaming enthusiasts and power users.

At its core, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. This configuration ensures smooth multitasking and efficient performance across demanding applications.

The smartphone boasts a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, delivering vibrant visuals and fluid animations. With a peak brightness of 4,500 nits and support for HDR10+, the screen offers excellent clarity even under direct sunlight.

In terms of design, the Neo 10R features a polycarbonate frame and back panel, contributing to its lightweight build. While the materials used may not exude a premium feel, the device maintains a sleek profile and is comfortable to hold.

Photography is handled by a dual-camera setup, comprising a 50MP primary sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. Daylight shots are commendable, though low-light performance sees a dip in quality. The 32MP front-facing camera caters well to selfie enthusiasts.

The device is equipped with a substantial 6,400mAh battery, supporting 80W fast charging. This ensures prolonged usage and quick top-ups, catering to users with intensive daily routines.

Running on Android 15 with Funtouch OS 15, the software experience is fluid, albeit with some pre-installed applications that may not appeal to all users. The company promises three years of software updates and four years of security patches, ensuring longevity.

However, some users have reported concerns regarding the absence of a physical proximity sensor, which is replaced by a motion-based alternative.

realme GT 6T

• 6.78 inch 120Hz, HDR10 1000 nits (typ), 1600 nits (HBM), 6000 nits (peak) LTPO AMOLED display
• Android 14
• Qualcomm SM7675 Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3
• 256GB UFS 4.0, 8GB RAM
• 50 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide) + 8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm, 112˚ (ultrawide)
• 32 MP, f/2.5, 21mm (wide) selfie camera
• 5,500mAh battery with 120W wired charging
• Model year – May 2024

Realme’s GT 6T makes a strong case for being a value-packed phones in the sub-₹30K segment. From headline-grabbing numbers like 6,000 nits peak brightness to 120W charging, it reads like a flagship on paper—but not everything lands perfectly.

Design-wise, it’s got a striking dual-tone finish that stands out, though the plastic back doesn’t scream premium. It is IP65-rated, which adds a nice layer of durability for this price. At 191g, the phone feels substantial without being bulky, and the in-hand feel is surprisingly comfortable despite the large display.

The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display is a clear standout. Colors are punchy, viewing angles are great, and it’s easily visible outdoors—even in direct sunlight. The 120Hz refresh rate feels smooth across the UI and in supported games. The use of LTPO means the refresh rate can dynamically scale to save battery, which is rare at this price.

The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 pulls its weight and then some—this phone flies through daily tasks, multitasking, and demanding games. Thermals are handled reasonably well, and you rarely see any frame drops unless you’re pushing it in sustained gaming sessions. The software, Realme UI 5.0 (based on Android 14), runs smoothly but comes with bloatware that takes the shine off an otherwise clean experience.

Battery life is reliable thanks to the 5,500mAh cell, easily lasting a day and then some. The 120W fast charging is more than a gimmick—real-world top-ups from 0 to 100% in under 30 minutes hold up, though some might miss wireless charging at this price.

The camera setup is where the GT 6T treads safe ground. The 50MP main sensor (Sony LYT-600) is competent in daylight with good detail and dynamic range. The 8MP ultra-wide is serviceable, but low-light performance is average and video recording isn’t its strong suit. There’s no telephoto either, and digital zoom quality is just okay.

The post Top 5 Smartphones Under ₹30,000 in India [May 2025] – Reviews & Comparisons appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

For the ultimate immersive experience, we recommend getting either an OLED or a QLED panel. The deep contrast, true-to-life picture quality, and rich and accurate colors are leagues ahead of an LED television.  These also come with the latest technologies to support gaming on the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X, making them next-gen ready.

That said, there are a few things you should be well versed in before you take that plunge. We’ve made a short guide to help you find the best premium  TV under 1 lakh.

PREREAD

Panel type: It is easy to get confused between QLED and OLED given the similar name and price tag. But, on the contrary, these are quite different technologies. QLED, short for Quantum LED, is a type of LED that was popularized by Samsung and can be seen on a bunch of different TV models from manufacturers like Samsung, TCL, and Vizio.

QLED panels still use the backlight technology seen in regular LEDs with an extra film of tiny phosphorescent crystals that glow when hit with light. This allows to create accurate colors on the screen, unlike traditional LCDs. However, similar to traditional LEDs, QLED struggles with producing deep blacks. To counter that, manufacturers build dimming zones within the panel that can have varied brightness depending on the content being displayed. This helps overcome the challenge of producing deep blacks to some extent.

QLED can be classified in largely two categories – edge-lit and array backlighting. The former is usually better at avoiding issues like bleeding, poor contrasts, and inconsistent blacks. Within array backlighting, the higher number of dimming zones, the better.

OLED, on the other hand, is a different technology altogether. Each pixel on an OLED panel can produce its own light and color, meaning, it doesn’t require any backlight. Not only does this produce excellent colors, but it also allows individual pixels to shut down when creating blacks, thus offering much deeper blacks and much higher contrast.

That said, OLED panels are susceptible to screen burn-in. Burn-in happens when a static image (such as a channel logo) is displayed on the screen for a long period of time. This usually leaves an etching of the static part on the screen permanently. While modern TVs use a number of technologies to overcome this challenge, it hasn’t been addressed completely. So if you tend to watch the same channel for hours, an OLED panel runs the risk of a burn-in.

In short, OLED televisions are better than QLED at contrast and producing blacks. They also excel in other areas such as response time and refresh rate. QLEDs beat OLEDs as far as peak brightness is concerned. Also, QLED TVs are much cheaper.

Then, there’s also what Samsung called Neo QLED – which uses mini-backlighting compared to traditional backlighting. This allows for more dimming zones in the TV which results in better contrast and deeper blacks. Of course, it still doesn’t match up to the blacks on an OLED but improves upon general QLED technology.

On the other hand, LG’s QNED is again a mini LED technology that relies on an IPS panel compared to Samsung’s Vertically Aligned LCD. While the former has better-viewing angles, the latter has better contrast. In the grand scheme of things, QNED and Neo QLED are similar.

Refresh rate: Most of these televisions support a 60Hz refresh rate at 4K and that should be enough for movie and TV viewing experience. However, gamers might want to push that further and there are some models that can push 4K at 120FPS. That requires HDMI 2.1 standard which is essential for 120fps 4K gaming.

There’s also a variable refresh rate (VRR)  that allows the television to replicate the refresh rate pumped out by the PC or the console. Most TVs these days tend to support it.

Most OLEDs are built the same but QLEDs aren’t: The thing with OLED panels is that they are pretty much consistent. You won’t find two OLED models with a lot of differences in the quality of panels. Whatever difference that may exist would instead be driven by the processing power of the chip inside.

That’s not true for QLED panels though. Since QLED are essentially LCD panels, there’s a significant difference in quality as the price goes up. Things like the number of dimming areas behind the screen, backlit system, viewing angle, and screen reflectivity change as the price of the TV increases.

So now that you’ve had a basic brief on the technology, let us look at some of the best models in this budget below.

Xiaomi 55 Inch O55M7-Z2IN

• 55 inch 4k OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate
• Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
• 30w 8 speakers setup with Dolby Atmos
• Android 11
• HDMI 2.1*3 (HDMI 1 with eARC)
• 3GB RAM, 32GB storage
• 17.0kg
• Model year – 2022

OLEDs aren’t easy and not everyone has been able to do them. Nonetheless, Mi has taken a shot at offering a budget-friendly OLED for the masses that has been built with quality in mind.

The design has been well thought and the TV looks sleek and well-built.  At its thinnest, it’s just 5mm thin, which makes it fragile but beautiful.  The bezels are barely noticeable and add to the immersion while the ports are tucked behind carefully.

The TV comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There’s a ton to offer in terms of features such as the three HDMI 2.1 ready ports, WiFi6, and AirPlay 2 support. The TV flaunts 8 speakers in total (four active and four passive) to create immersive Dolby Atmos enriched sounds, which adds to the immersion.

It is an OLED so of course the picture quality is great. The panel has a good contrast and covers 98.5% DCI-P3 wide color gamut. In layman’s terms, this means better color reproduction and popping visuals. Unfortunately, not a lot of info was available on the peak brightness but given it’s an OLED panel, we aren’t too optimistic.

Unfortunately, being a 60Hz panel limits the gaming potential of this TV.  While it won’t make much of a difference if you’re playing your regular games on consoles on the TV, it might feel inadequate for competitive gaming.

Ultimately, we feel like the Mi OLED is a compelling proposition for the asking price. Being an OLED works strongly in its favor and it has arguably better looks and audio compared to the LG A3.

LG A3 OLED 55 inch

• 55 inch 4k OLED display with 60Hz refresh rate
• Peak brightness – N/A but expected to be around 560 nits
• Dolby Vision, HDR10 Pro, HLG
• 20w 2.0 channel speakers
• WebOS 23
• HDMI 2.0b*3 with eARC
• 14.3kg
• Model year – 2023

The LG A3 OLED TV is the successor to 2022’s A2 and boasts remarkable technical capabilities, delivering a high-quality viewing experience. With its outstanding picture quality, solid sound performance, and user-friendly interface, it stands out as a competitive option in the OLED TV market.

The TV’s α7 Gen6 AI Processor 4K enhances the appearance of content, particularly in handling SDR and HDR material. While it may not match the brightness levels of higher-end models, the A3 still offers captivating visuals, capturing a wide color gamut and delivering impressive black levels, characteristic of OLED technology.

The A3 performs well in terms of audio, with its 20W downward-firing speakers providing clear and detailed sound. While bass may be limited, this is a common trait in slim TV designs. The TV excels in managing dialogue, action sounds, and music even in complex scenes.

Gaming potential is somewhat constrained due to the TV’s 60 Hz refresh rate. Nevertheless, its input lag performance is commendable, offering a responsive gaming experience. The inclusion of LG’s Game Optimizer Mode allows for game-specific adjustments, enhancing the gaming visuals and experience.

The webOS interface is intuitive and well-organized, making navigation and access to various features seamless. The TV supports popular HDR formats like HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision, further enhancing the visual quality and ensuring compatibility with a wide range of content.

In conclusion, the LG A3 OLED TV is technically impressive, offering exceptional picture quality, sound performance, and user-friendly features. While it may lack certain advanced gaming features and the absolute highest brightness levels, it presents a compelling option for those seeking a high-quality OLED TV experience without focusing solely on the price point. Don’t confuse it with the much better C3

Samsung Frame LS03B 55 inch

• 55 inch 4k QLED display with 100Hz refresh rate and VRR support
• Around 500 nits peak brightness, no local dimming zones
• HDR10+ Certified, HDR10, HLG
• 40w 2.0.2 channel speakers
• Tizen OS
• HDMI*4 (HDMI 4 for 2.1, HDMI 3 for eARC)
• 16.9kg
• Model year – 2022

Samsung’s The Frame (2022) TV masterfully merges artistic flair with technical prowess, catering to connoisseurs of design and performance. The TV’s svelte 24.9mm depth and flat rear panel harmonize seamlessly with wall-mounted setups, bolstered by the ingenious One Connect box that streamlines cable management. The ability to personalize bezels adds an extra layer of customization.

The matte display is a standout feature, adept at mitigating glare in well-lit environments. Despite intermittent sluggishness, the Tizen interface provides an extensive array of streaming apps and gaming functionalities. Equipped with HDMI 2.1 inputs, the TV accommodates 4K/120Hz gaming, while its Art Mode impeccably showcases curated artwork.

The TV excels in picture quality, offering vibrant colors and commendable peak brightness. However, its performance in handling black depth, particularly in HDR content, is somewhat constrained. The OTS audio system yields impressive sound quality, delivering remarkable spaciousness and clarity.

Samsung’s The Frame (2022) TV exemplifies a harmonious amalgamation of artistic expression and technical finesse. While its pricing might deter some, its distinctive blend of aesthetics and performance makes it a compelling option for those seeking a television that transcends conventional boundaries.

The post Best Premium TV (with reviews) under Rs One Lakhs in India – January 2024 appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

Well, of course, our job is to help you find a good television and in this post we will look at some of the best televisions 55 inches across diagonally that can fit well in your living room. We will only be looking at OLED and high-end QLED televisions since they are pretty much the best of what technology has to offer. These high-end windows bring images to life with their popping accurate colors and deep contrast. You can pretty much expect features like 4K, the latest operating system, and stunning picture quality.

However, here are a few other things you need to keep in mind before we look at the various models under Rs 200,000 (2 lakhs).

PREREAD

Panel type: It is easy to get confused between QLED and OLED given the similar name and price tag. But, on the contrary, these are quite different technologies. QLED, short for Quantum LED, is a type of LED that was popularized by Samsung and can be seen on a bunch of different TV models from manufacturers like Samsung, TCL, and Vizio.

QLED panels still use the backlight technology seen in regular LEDs with an extra film of tiny phosphorescent crystals that glow when hit with light. This allows to produce much accurate colors on the screen, unlike traditional LCDs. However, similar to traditional LEDs, QLED struggles with producing deep blacks.

OLED, on the other hand, is a different technology altogether. Each pixel on an OLED panel can produce its own light and color, meaning, it doesn’t require any backlight. Not only does this produce excellent colors, but it also allows individual pixels to shut down when creating blacks, thus offering much deeper blacks and much higher contrast.

In short, OLED televisions are better than QLED at contrast and producing blacks. They also excel in other areas such as response time and refresh rate. QLEDs beat OLEDs as far as peak brightness is concerned. Also, QLED TVs are much cheaper.

Refresh rate: Most of these televisions support 60Hz refresh rate at 4K and that should be enough for movie and TV viewing experience. However, gamers might want to push that further and there are some models that can push 4K at 120FPS. That requires HDMI 2.1 standard which isn’t really as prevalent as you’d imagine. Only 2020 models and some LG models from 2019 support the new HDMI standard which is essential for 120fps 4K gaming.

There’s also variable refresh rate that allows the television to replicate the refresh rate pumped out by the PC or the console. Most TVs don’t support it but a few models which do have been called out below.

Most OLEDs are built the same but QLEDs aren’t: The thing with OLED panels is that they are pretty much consistent. You won’t find two OLED models with a lot of difference in quality of panels. Whatever difference that may exist would instead be driven by the processing power of the chip inside.

That’s not true for QLED panels though. Since QLED are essentially LCD panels, there’s a significant difference in quality as the price goes up. Things like the number of dimming areas behind the screen, backlit system, viewing angle, and screen reflectivity change as the price of the TV increases.

So now that you’ve had a basic brief on the technology, let us look at some of the best models in this budget below.

LG OLED55CXPTA

LG is usually considered amongst the best, if not the best, when it comes to OLED televisions. It’s only fair since LG also sells its OLED panels to other manufacturers like Sony.

The OLED55CXPTA is from the updated lineup for 2020 and builds on the feature list that its predecessor had to offer from 2019. These include 4K resolution (you knew that already), support for HDR 10 Pro and Dolby Vision HDR, an α9 Gen 3 Intelligent Processor, and the ability to play 4K@120P, 10-bit content.

On the audio side, you get 40W speakers and a 20W subwoofer system.  AI Acoustic Tuning setting allows you to calibrate the audio according to the dimensions of the room by taking inputs from the microphone on the remote. It also supports Dolby Atmos on its 2.2 setup.

Being a smart TV, it comes with LG’s own webOS operating system. While it may not be able to compete with Android or Samsung’s Tizen in terms of app count, you will find most of the apps already present on the app store. For those missing, you can consider a streaming device to fill that gap. The television also supports both Google and Amazon Alexa voice assistants.

The remote senses your hand motions and brings up a pointer on the screen even when you’re not pointing the remote at it. It’s pretty convenient when going through the settings or using an OTT app.

Not much has changed when you compare to last year’s C9 though. That’s not really a bad thing though, since the C9 was much ahead of the competition even in 2019.  Major changes include a next-gen processor, Dolby Vision IQ support. G-Sync certification, support for black frame insertion at 120Hz (C9 only supported BFI at up to 60Hz), and webOS 5.0. Similar to the C9, you get Alexa built-in, Apple AirPlay2, and HDMI 2.1 support. The last one should be huge for gamers, especially those looking for next-gen gaming.

LG claims the new processor inside allows for better upscaling and light adjustment. What makes the TV standout though is support for HDMI 2.1 which unlocks a whole bunch of features such as 4K 120fps gaming, variable refresh rate (VRR) and automatic low latency mode, and enhanced audio through eARC which can support up to 32 audio channels. The other good news is that there are 4 of these ports so your devices won’t be fighting for the same port.

You can expect top-notch display quality with LG OLEDs being the best in the industry and that’s something most of the reviews call out. Peak brightness for HDR content goes up till 740 nits, which, while may not compare to QLEDs, is adequate.

Speaking about the physical dimensions, CX’s panel is less than a quarter-inch thick, reaching under 2 inches towards the bottom. It weighs 18.9 kilos without the stand. Adding the stand takes the weight to 23kg.

All in all, we see the LG OLED55CXPTA as a great option. Being the best LG has to offer, it has most of the bells and whistles you would require and offers great picture quality across movies and gaming. The only thing it lacks is support for HDR10+, which honestly, doesn’t look like much of a deal-breaker.

LG OLED55BXPTA

If you look at the specs, the LG OLED55BX is more or less similar to the CX. It has got the same OLED panel as its more expensive sibling. Yet there are some subtle differences that justify the higher price tag on the CX.

Talking about the things that the BX has in common with the CX first, both come with a 55 inch 4K OLED panel. Both offer the same webOS experience. The BX also offers 4K 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 support just like the CX. The audio also remains the same as the CX. Finally, there’s also support for VRR and NVIDIA’s G-Sync.

You also get the same LG Magic Remote, which, as we mentioned before, it a true joy to use.

What makes the BX different is the slightly less powerful α7 Gen 3 processor. While numerous reviews point that it does not make much of a difference, CX has slightly better lighting control and contrast. The CX also has a slightly more bright panel. At peak HDR brightness, the BX only manages to hit close to 400 nits, while the CX goes up to 740 nits. Lastly, only HDMI 3 & 4 on the BX support the new 2.1 standard.

Our advice? If the price gap is significant, go for the BX instead. The marginal improvement in picture quality isn’t worth an extra $500.

SONY 55A8G

Next on the list is another OLED champion from Sony released in 2019. The 55A8G comes with top of the line features including 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG playback capability, and Android Oreo with built-in Google Assistant.

The OLED panel here has been sourced from LG so, unsurprisingly, it is top-notch. The blacks are deep as you would expect and the colors shine out really well. Although, the default colors are a little on the cool side and might require some calibration. The peak brightness goes up to 800 nits which, while perfectly adequate, cannot be compared to QLED televisions from Samsung. However, like the LG C9, it lacks support for HDR 10+.

For audio, Sony uses proprietary Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio which uses actuators affixed to the back of the TV to create sound using the screen.  In layman’s terms, the technology gives the illusion of the voice coming from the part of the screen where it is emanating from. The effect seems to hold its own in close spaces but might struggle a little in large open rooms.

While console games should be largely satisfied with the TV’s performance, the 55A8G does lack some features seen on the LG C9. For one, the refresh rate maxes out at 60Hz at 4K. There’s no HDMI 2.1 support either that could have allowed the higher refresh rate. There’s no support for any screen syncing tech like AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync for VRR. Input lag is also a little on the higher side at 40ms, which is not the best that we have seen in the market.

To conclude, the A8G is an excellent TV with the ability to reproduce colors and contrast excellently on the screen. While it should cover the needs of most people who only watch movies and media content on the television, we feel that gamers should be better off with the LG C9, which is not only better, but also cheaper.

Samsung 55Q95T

Samsung has taken a different road compared to Sony or LG and offers its best as QLED instead of OLED TVs. Now, don’t get us wrong, QLED technology can be excellent too. It’s just we find OLED to offer much better picture quality.

While the Q95 is the successor to the Q90 from 2019, it isn’t really as Samsung has shifted its focus to 8K TVs. That said, it’s still a good piece of technology with ost bells and whistles.

Like most Samsung TVs, the design is something to behold. The television is truly slim. And we don’t mean just at the top. Thanks to One Connect box, which is a separate unit housing all the ports and cables, the main television set is a monolith of uniform thickness that is connected externally with just a single cable. This makes the whole setup extremely neat, especially, when you mount it on a wall.

The One Connect box houses 4 HDMI ports, out of which, one is capable of supporting eARC, while the other can support 4K/120Hz, VRR, and ALLM (auto low-latency mode). While the HDMI ports lack 2.1 certification, Samsung says they meet every technical specification and requirement. Other connectivity features include USB ports, WiFi, Bluetooth and support for Apple AirPlay 2.

The 55Q95T features a 55 inch 4K QLED panel with direct full-array backlight that supports local dimming in up to 120 zones. Where it beats the OLEDs clearly is in brightly lit rooms and settings where the QLED panels can deliver up to 1700 nits peak brightness in real-world use. It also supports a wide array of HDR standards, including HDR10+ but misses out on Dolby Vision, which is arguably better than the HDR10+. That said, the TV produces excellent HDR content with deep blacks and brightly lit details. The motion smoothness has also been improved over the Q90. All in all, the picture quality is excellent and the blacks almost match those seen on the OLED panels.

Samsung has also added anti-reflection screen and Ultra Viewing Angle technology to improve the viewing experience. Gamers should rejoice since the Q80 offers a variable refresh rate (VRR) and has one of the best input lag in the market (10ms), well ahead of the OLED panels. There’s support for AMD’s Freesync but G-Sync certification is still in the process.

The TV comes with Tizen which is Samsung’s homegrown answer to Android. You don’t need to worry much since you will find most of the most frequently used apps on the app store.

On the audio front, you get a total of six speakers for a combined output of 60W along with a subwoofer. The processor inside the television can optimize the audio experience for your room by taking inputs from the microphone on the remote. Newly introduced Object Tracking Sound (OTS) uses six speakers and 60W of amplification for a more immersive experience.

There are a few things that are missing though. The lack of Dolby Vision is a sore point, given the standard is supported on a number of leading streaming services. Also, Samsung is using 8-bit panels on its 2020 4K range and reserving 10-bit panels for 8K. Audio also lacks Dolby Atmos support, which a number of competitors offer.

Samsung 55Q80R/55Q80RAK

Samsung has taken a different road compared to Sony or LG and offers its best as QLED instead of OLED TVs. Don’t get us wrong, QLED technology can be excellent too. It’s just we find OLED to offer much better picture quality.

The 55Q80RAK features a 55 inch 4K QLED panel with direct full-array backlight that supports local dimming in close to 90 zones. It beats the OLEDs clearly in brightly lit rooms and settings where the QLED panels can deliver up to 1,250 nits peak brightness. It also supports a wide array of HDR standards, including HDR10+. That said, it misses out on Dolby Vision, which is arguably better than the HDR10+. Also, people concerned with screen burn-in on OLEDs can rest assured with this unit since burn-in is prevalent in OLED panels.

Gamers should rejoice since the Q80 offers a variable refresh rate (VRR). It also has one of the best input lag in the market (15-17ms) which is well ahead of the OLED panels.

The TV comes with Tizen which is Samsung’s homegrown answer to Android. You don’t need to worry much since you will find most of the most frequently used apps on the app store.

On the audio front, you get two speakers for a combined output of 40W along with a subwoofer.

However, there are a few areas where the Samsung 55Q80R does fall behind. It only supports HDMI 2.0, which means there’s no support for 4K 120Hz or eARC. Also, the display, while good, doesn’t hold a candle to OLED panels when comparing contrast and the ability to create blacks. The lack of Dolby Vision is a sore point as well. The reviews also mention room for improvement in the native audio

MODELS WE INTENTIONALLY LEFT OUT

Anything before 2019: Technology moves fast and 2 years is a lot of time for things to have changed considerably. We have left out televisions from before 2019 since either most of them have been discontinued or their successors offer much better features for the same price.

Samsung Q70: A QLED from Samsung which sits below the Q80 in the lineup. While it’s a decent television, it doesn’t stand to the big boys. From the reviews, we have gathered that the viewing angle is poor and the surface is rather reflective. The HDR while great doesn’t stand to the other models on the list. The local dimming, while present, is inferior to OLEDs on the list.

Samsung The Frame: The Frame is something that definitely looks like a piece of art more than a television. This one is a QLED again and comes with a customizable bezel. However, brightness levels are much lower compared to the Q80. The color accuracy is also a little off the mark. Those are good enough reasons in our book to not have it here.

The post Best OLED and QLED 55 inches televisions under INR 2 lakhs in India appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

We are here to fix that and take a look at some of the most compelling propositions in the same price range (Rs 20,000-30,000). To ensure an apples to apples (pun intended) comparison, we will only be looking at wireless earbuds without any cord. However, a preread before we dive deeper into these alternatives to understand what makes these gadgets worthy of their price and what should you be looking out for.

PREREAD

Noise cancellation vs. sound isolation: While both the terms may sound similar, the technology behind them is miles apart. Sound isolation is a passive technology. Unsurprisingly, it is also called passive noise cancellation. Earbuds with noise isolation work actively to block background noise from reaching your ears by minimizing the gap between the earbud and your ear. Such earbuds form a seal or a bubble around your ears that prevents the noise from reaching your eardrums.

Noise cancelation (or active noise cancelation) is a vastly superior technology that works on the principle of canceling the ambient noise by generating sound waves that are out of sync with the background noise. Of course, noise cancellation also uses the traditional ways of blocking the sound reaching your ears similar to noise isolation technology. This technology is greatly effective against canceling out low-frequency noise in the background. The only downside is that it consumes battery life. But even with the feature turned off, you still get noise isolation.

Recently, we’ve been seeing a new technology within noise-canceling called adaptive noise canceling. It is a more refined version of active noise canceling that allows you to choose the degree of noise cancellation you wish to apply. Generally, loud noises are canceled more aggressively in this tech while low noises which are sometimes necessary (such as an in-flight announcement) may not be completely erased intentionally. Of course, all of this can be controlled using your smartphone or built-in touch controls on the earbuds.

That said, there are restrictions to the amount of noise cancelation possible with earbuds. While they do a decent job, they can’t match up to the headphones in the same price range that also offer active noise cancelation.

Controls: This is the other thing that differentiates earbuds. Most advanced earbuds let you change a host of settings by on-body controls such as volume, track skip, and even pause when you take off the earbuds.

Impedance: A lower impedance results in a better quality of output. Usually, earbuds are rated for impedance varying between 12-35 ohms.

Sound codec: Codec plays an important role in latency and sound quality. Using vanilla Bluetooth won’t get you much in terms of high sound quality. Earbuds supporting Qualcomm’s aptX can offer a bit rate of 352 kbps (aptX lower latency) while aptX HD transfers audio at up to 576 kbps. Sony’s LDAC can transmit data at up to 990kbps in priority mode. Apple devices use AAC which is on par with aptX HD.

Although for these codecs to work, they should be supported on your phone as well (most phones do).

Charging case: That’s where your earbuds will be spending most of their time so it’s important that the charging case is sturdy and can handle wear and tear. Ideally, a charging case with a bigger battery and a solid hinge should be preferred. That said, keep in mind that more battery juice comes at the cost of portability. The great thing about AirPods is that they fit great in the pocket. Some of these options below don’t. And while it might seem like a trivial issue, it is a huge one that comes in the way of experience. For reference, the Airpods Pro case measures 60.6mm wide, 45.2mm tall, and 21.7mm thick, and weighs 46 grams.

What if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem: Well, this is a tricky one. Honestly, if you already have an iPhone, a MacBook, and an iPad, or a combination of any of these, and you care more about accessibility than sound quality, get the AirPods Pro. Don’t get us wrong. The AirPods Pro sound great, but there are better options available.

However, these options can’t match the level of integration that the AirPods Pro offer on Apple devices. Features like multiple simultaneous connections to different Apple devices and always-on Siri can make a huge difference to your experience.

That’s all we had. Now on to the best AirPods Pro alternatives.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are successors to the SoundSport Free, which while had a great sound, faced some connectivity issues. Thankfully, those have been taken care of and the newly redesigned competitors from Bose are serious contenders to the wireless earbuds crown. They are more expensive than the AirPods Pro, yes, but Bose has put in every tech in there to justify that premium charge.

• • Active noise cancellation
  • 8.5g earbud each
  • 4 microphones
  • Bluetooth 5.1
  • SBC and AAC support
  • 6 hours battery life
  • 3.5″ L x 2″ W x 1.25″ D, 76 grams
  • Additional 12 hours battery with case
  • Wireless charging

Build: If you’re looking for the smallest or the lightest earbuds, probably, this isn’t the right one for you. The QuietComfort are large and will protrude out of your ears noticeably at all times. They are also significantly heavier than the AirPods Pro. That said, they are pretty comfortable and fit snugly in your ears. This is due to StayHear Max ear tips that fit into the ear ridge for added stability.

Once you find the right ear tips you don’t have to worry much about the earbuds falling off, even when doing physical activities like running. The earbuds are IPX4 rated for sweat and water resistance and don’t mind a splash or two.

The case is rather large though. Much larger than that for the AirPods Pro but smaller than the one on SoundSport Free. This makes it rather inconvenient to put in your pant’s pocket and will need to be carried in a backpack or a pouch.

The lid requires some effort to open, although, it does keep the earbuds safe in case of an accidental fall. It supports charging over both USB C and wireless standards.

Performance: The QuietComfort really excel at noise cancellation and are ahead of much of the competition, AirPods included. The earbuds allow you to toggle through 10 different modes of noise cancellation. At the peak, the active noise cancellation is better than most rivals.

Sound quality is top-notch again, as to be expected from a Bose product. The sound is rich with a good base that’s often better than Apple’s AirPods Pro. EDM and pop genre fans are in for a treat with these earbuds. The voice is also clear and without distortion or cracking.

The controls on the earbuds allow functions like pausing and resuming, answering calls, activating voice assistant, and toggling noise cancellation presets. Surprisingly, you can’t adjust the volume using the earbuds. It offers in-ear detection uses sensors to identify when you’re wearing the earbuds. You can automatically play/pause audio, answer phone calls (if enabled), and adjust noise cancellation by inserting or removing an earbud.

Battery: A single charge can last up to 6 hours comfortably. You can charge the earbuds twice fully off the case. The quick charge feature lets you crank up the battery for two hours worth of juice in just 15 minutes.

Sennheiser – MOMENTUM True Wireless 2

Another second-generation product that builds on the credibility of the first one. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 earbuds have been designed with improved battery life and noise cancellation over their predecessor while offering exceptional sound quality, living true to the brand’s name.

• Active noise cancellation
• 6g earbud each
• 2 microphones (one on each earbud)
• Bluetooth 5.1
• SBC, aptX, and AAC support
• Case – 76.8 x 43.8 x 34.7 mm, 58g
• 7 hours battery life
• Additional 21 hours battery with case

Build: The premium pricing demands a more up-class look and finish. Thankfully, Sennheiser delivers. While the case and the earbuds look similar to the original, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The earbuds are well built, having a metallic cap on one end. Although, they are slightly larger and heavier than the AirPods Pro. Having noise cancellation, they fit in snugly in the ear. Despite not having wings to position them in one’s ear cartilage, they manage to stick in and not fall off. You can choose from four different pairs of silicone plugs to ensure a tight fit.

However, people with smaller ears might find them slightly uncomfortable after long sessions of use. Being IPX4 rated, they don’t mind a splash or some sweat.

The fabric case upholds the premium charm. It features a magnetic enclosure for the earbuds to fall in their slots with the case with a satisfying click.

Performance: There are enough features on the Momentum True Wireless 2 to keep users happy. The earbuds can remember up to eight devices. Although, you can only connect to one device at a time.

There’s little to complain about in terms of sound quality. The earbuds are definitely ahead of AirPods and offer clear and crisp sound with individual frequencies not mixed up together as seen in some cheaper earbuds. Better hardware and software improvements have made the earbuds one of the best sounding ones in the market. The earbuds exhibit strong control over their bass without compromising on other tones and sound in the track. They also support the high bitrate aptX codec, provided, it is also supported on your phone.

The active noise cancellation seems to do its job well and can filter even strong ambient noise easily. There’s a transparency mode as well when you just need to know what’s going on in your surroundings.

The earbuds do well when taking calls and the beam-forming mics (in addition to the noise cancellation ones) capture voice clearly.

You can control functions on the earbuds using a series of taps. It can get a little getting used to but, thankfully, you can customize this using the app. Like the competition, the earbuds offer auto-pause and auto-answer. Controls on the earbuds can let you play or pause your music, skip or go back a track, cycle between active noise cancelation and ambient mode, and even change the volume.

Although there are some gaps compared to the competition. If you want to use just one earbud and keep your other ear free, only the right earbud offers single-use functionality. Then, the case only supports charging over USB-C and lacks support for wireless charging.

Battery: A single charge can last up to 7 hours without active noise cancellation. You can charge the earbuds three times fully off the case. A single complete charge takes around 1.5 hours. A quick 10-minute charge can do you good for 1.5 hours. The case adds another 21 hours of battery.

Sony WF-1000XM3

A solid competitor to the AirPods Pro that also cost less. These earbuds have won universal praise for their sound quality. However, having used them in person, we can tell you that the case is almost twice as big as the AirPods Pro case.

• Active noise cancellation
• 8.5g earbud each
• 2 microphones (one on each earbud)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• SBC and AAC support
• Case – 142 x 119 x 64 mm, 79.3g
• 6 hours battery life (NC on)
• Additional 18 hours battery with case

Build:  The Sony WF-1000XM3 aren’t made for you if you’re looking for a small pair of earbuds. They are what we can only call bold and loud. The earbuds are large and protrude out of your ears. That said, they are smaller than the Momentum 2. The earpads are built extremely well and exude a modern and classy look. The rose gold or copper embossing, highlighting the Sony logo, only adds to the premium fit and finish. A circular area on one side takes your input for touch controls. Sony provides these earbuds with a range of silicones to make sure you have a perfect fit, which is also crucial for the noise cancellation feature to work as advertised.

A three-point fit ensures that the earbuds don’t fall from your ears. However, unlike the competition, the 1000XM3 isn’t waterproof. You need to take a little extra caution when going out for a jog in summers or on a rainy day.

The case comes with a copper lid which adds to the premium feel. The earbuds are held inside magnetically and the lid closes with a resounding click. That said, it’s rather large and you can forget keeping it in your pocket. Also, the case doesn’t support wireless charging.

Performance: The Sony WF-1000XM3 offer excellent sound quality, driven by DSEE HX processing and Q1Ne chip. In fact, the overall sound quality is better than the AirPods Pro, but behind Momentum 2.

The sound quality is clear with a well-balanced sound and ample bass while not being overbearing. While Sony’s own aptX isn’t supported, the QN1e processor supports 24-bit audio signal processing. The audio separation is good regardless of the genre. Each earbud also connects independently to the source. This ensures no audio lag and the ability to use the earbuds individually while the other one gets charged in the case.

The active noise cancellation benefits from the addition of a second microphone and the Q1Ne chip. Low-frequency noises are filtered efficiently. You can also adjust the level of active noise cancellation depending on how much of the outside world you want to listen to.

The connection is mostly stable and rarely breaks, making them a good option for taking calls. However, one can hear a small echo on the other end making it easy to know when you’re making the calls from the earbuds.
The earbuds do well when taking calls and the beam-forming mics (in addition to the noise cancellation ones) capture voice clearly.

The touch controls are pretty versatile and handy. You can adjust noise cancellation with the left earbud and audio playback with the right one. Tapping on the left earbuds toggles between noise cancellation. The right earbud controls audio playback, access your voice assistant, and call control. You can’t adjust the volume through the earbuds though. Like others, the earbuds offer in-ear detection and automatically pause whatever you’re playing if you take them off.

Battery: A single charge can last up to 6 hours with active noise cancellation. Turning it off takes that number to 8 hours. You can charge the earbuds three times fully off of the case. A single complete charge takes around 1.5 hours. A quick 10-minute charge can do you good for 1.5 hours.

The post Top three earbuds that beat the Apple AirPods Pro in sound quality (with reviews) appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

The last couple of months have seen leading manufacturers release mirrorless flagships that are filled with the latest technology to the brim. While the debate around mirrorless vs. DSLRs is still active in some communities, the fact remains that mirrorless cameras have successfully bridged the gap with DSLRs and are as good, if not better, in most aspects.

We believe that 3 lakhs is a fairly good budget to get a premium mirrorless from the stables of any manufacturer. However, you might have to stretch your budget even further if you’re eyeing on the recent flagships such as the Canon R5. That said, you can get really good cameras with a decent lens combo in this budget. Those looking for more affordable options can instead look at the best mirrorless cameras under Rs 2 lakhs.

Before we jump on to the part where we look at the best mirrorless cameras under Rs 3 lakhs from the top brands, some tips in the preread that we think might come in handy.

PREREAD

A fresh start vs. continuing within the ecosystem: This question is relevant to customers who already have a decent lineup of camera equipment including lenses and flashes. Now, these things don’t particularly come in cheap and most of them are compatible with the new mirrorless solutions. So does it make sense to stay invested in your current ecosystem?

Well, there’s no easy answer to it. To put it simply, if you have some entry-level glass, we recommend a fresh start. Sooner or later, you would want to update from those entry-level lenses to something that does your camera more justice and they would end up eating dust in your cupboard anyway.

Another issue that comes with using lenses made for DSLRs is that they only fit on the mirrorless cameras using an adapter, thus making the whole system bulkier and closer to the weight and size of a DSLR.

In case, you do have some high-end lenses though, it would not be unwise to stay in the current ecosystem given how expensive some of these new lenses can get, especially those made for DSLRs.

Mirrorless cameras above Rs 2 lakhs or those under this price: It is a common understanding that if you’re buying a higher-priced gadget, it has to be better. That is kind of true, and kind of not. When we compare cameras like the Z7 and the Z6 or the A7R series against the A7 series, there’s usually more tech packed in the more expensive models. However, the additional tech may not justify the huge price difference between the two models. For instance, given the lower megapixel count on the less expensive siblings in the Nikon and Sony stables usually result in better low-light shots, a higher buffer, and in some cases even better video capabilities.

If you absolutely don’t make large prints from your photographs, trust us, 45 megapixels is an overkill. Anything between 20-25 megapixels should still be able to produce stunning results. However, a larger pixel count allows you to crop in your photos without sacrificing quality.

That said, you do get the benefit from picking the more expensive models in most cases and the pros outweigh the cons. All you need to consider is whether the additional price justifies the incremental gains. If not, you can find some excellent mirrorless cameras under Rs 2 lakhs as well.

That’s all we had. Now on to the cameras.

SONY α7R IV/ SONY α7RM IV

It can be hard to outdo yourself. Sony had a winner with the A7R III but it managed to bring out an even better camera to the market. The Sony A7R IV has a 60-megapixel sensor that makes 45-megapixel cameras from the competition sound underwhelming. With that resolution, we are talking about creating billboards. Luckily, cramming those extra pixels didn’t lead to compromises in other areas. The A7R 4 feels like a solid upgrade over its predecessor in more than one way.

Key specs: The A7R IV has been equipped with a 35 mm full-frame 60 megapixels sensor with a backside-illuminated (BSI) structure for better lowlight performance. Another big change over the R III is the improved autofocus over the already class-leading system seen in the predecessor. It can also shoot in aspect ratios such as 3:2 or 1:1 along with the traditional ones.

The ISO range goes from 100-32,000 natively and can be extended up to 50-102,000. Other notable features include 10fps with AF / AE tracking, 14-bit RAW, 4K 30FPS video, and a battery that can last up to 670 shots.

The camera comes equipped with a 3-inch touchscreen and a 5.7 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder. Unfortunately, there’s no top-plate display. Other features include a 5-axis in-body for 5.5 EV stabilization. The AF now covers 567 points (phase-detection AF), 325 points (contrast-detection AF) that cover 74 percent of the sensor area. The dual card slots come with support for UHS-II cards.

• 61.2MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-32,000 ISO (50-102,000 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 10 fps (12-bit, compressed Raw), 6 fps (14-bit uncompressed Raw)
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• Hybrid AF, 567 phase detection, 325 contrast AF points
• 4K 30FPS video, 1080p 120FPS
• 5.76M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 670 shots battery
• Dual SD card slots

How well does it perform

Features: There’s not much missing on this camera that might want to make you look elsewhere. As we said, the 60 megapixel sensor is ahead of the competition in the mirrorless game.

There have been changes made to the body along with the internals compared to the A7R III. While the construction is still top-notch using aluminum-magnesium alloy, the camera comes with bigger buttons, including a dedicated AF-On on the back. The body is also weather-sealed which allows it to be taken in a number of scenarios and environments. It also gets a larger grip which helps maintain the balance to an extent when using bulky G series lenses.

The 5.7 million viewfinder is as good as EVFs can get and allows you to alter settings like refresh rate and resolution to save battery. Speaking about the battery, it’s rated for 670 shots using the rear LCD and close to 500 if you want to work with the EVF.

The camera also gets 11 customizable buttons with 100s of combinations that you can store on an SD card. When it comes to lens selection, Sony seems to be doing a great job. There’s a wide range of E mount lenses offered by Sony as well as third-party manufactures, which just makes it so much more versatile.

Annoyingly, the camera doesn’t offer the feature to delete multiple photos at once and requires users to delete each photograph individually.

Image quality: The A7R 4 improves on the winning formula and manages to impress with its image quality. Real-time Tracking AF allows to seamlessly move between subject tracking and face-and-eye-detection. The eye AF is precise and allows you to switch between the left and the right eye. The autofocus does well in most situations, even in burst mode for the most part.

Sony’s pixel shift technology that captures different images of the same scene allows for a great level of detail. You can create 240-megapixel shots using 16 images to create extremely detailed photographs. However, this is something you need to do on your PC and is not available on the camera. Additionally, it can be only used for still objects.

The A7R IV can capture up to 68 full-resolution images at up to 10 frames per second with continuous autofocus and auto-exposure. However, these are what Sony calls compressed Raws at 12- bit. Shooting with 14-bit uncompressed Raw drops the burst rate to 6fps.

The contrast range again impresses. The 15 EV dynamic range allows it to capture great detail in high contrast scenarios. The low light performance has been also called out as a strong suit for the camera and it can capture great details in very limited light as well. However, the performance at higher ISOs has slightly deteriorated compared to the R III and it is best advised to use this camera below ISO 1600 for best results.

Video: The A7R III can shoot up to 4K 30FPS or 1080p 120FPS. You get the option of both the full width of the sensor and with a Super 35 (basically APS-C) crop which captures slightly more detail by oversampling from 6K footage. All internally recorded footage is 8-bit 4:2:0, with the option to output an 8-bit 4:2:2 stream to an external recorder. We wish it offered 10-bit output over an external recorder.

Real-time AF works in videos on this camera, which is an improvement over the A7R III.

Nikon Z7

The Z7 has been in the market for two years now but continues to be the best Nikon has to offer in mirrorless. With a new Z mount for lenses, the Nikon has been designed to convince long-time Nikon users to switch from heavier DSLRs to the mirrorless camera format without losing out on any capability. Over the years, Nikon has made the Z7 better with firmware updates, with the last major update allowing Eye AF and Animal Detection AF features.

Key specs: The Nikon Z7 offers a 45.7-megapixel 35 mm full-frame sensor with a backside-illuminated (BSI) and on-sensor phase-detection. The native ISO range lies between 64-25,600 and can be boosted up to 102,000. It also features a 5-axis in-body stabilization similar to the Sony cameras. The mechanical shutter can last up to 200,000 cycles.

Other notable features include 9fps burst (12-bit raw, 9fps on 14-bit) without AF / AE tracking (5.5fps with AE), 14-bit RAW, and 4K 30FPS video. The camera features a 3.7 million dot OLED viewfinder along with a 2.1 million dot display. For autofocus, Z7 features a Hybrid PDAF, 493 focus points autofocus system covering 90% of the frame. Recent firmware update also allows animal eye tracking. Unfortunately, there’s only a single XQD slot for the photo storage, and for professionals seeking a backup slot, this might not be the answer. The battery life is rated at 330 shots.

• 45.7MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor
• 64-25,600 (102,400 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 9 FPS (only 12-bit RAW, no AE), 8 FPS (14-bit RAW, no AE), 5.5 FPS (14-bit RAW and AE)
• 493 PDAF points with 90% horizontal and vertical coverage of the frame
• 4K 30FPS 8-bit video, 1080p 120FPS
• 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 330 shots battery (EVF)/ 400 shots (LCD)
• Single XQD card slot

How well does it perform

Features: The controls are well laid out and the camera has a solid grip. The magnesium alloy body feels solidly built and offers weather sealing. The dials have been placed to help existing Nikon users feel familiar with the design. Z7 also allows you to customize the lens ring for a host of functions such as aperture and speed.

Unlike the Sony cameras, the touchscreen is much more versatile and can be used for menu options and other functions as well.

However, there are some areas of concern with this Nikon. The battery is rated only for 330 shots on EVF, which is nowhere near what the competition offers. Then, the camera supports only one card, which while pretty fast, is a let down for people used to the reliability of having two cards.

While we love the new Z series lenses, there are only a handful of these, and compared to what Canon and Sony offer for their mirrorless cameras, Nikon is nowhere close. This, even two years after the camera was released.

With the new Z mount, Nikon was able to incorporate in-body image stabilization rated up to 5 stops of correction. The buffer though is small. It peaks at 25 fine quality JPEGs, 23 12-bit raws, or 18 14-bit raws at its top burst rate.

Image quality: The Z7 works well across both low and high ISOs. The lack of an anti-aliasing filter ensures higher sharpness, although at expense of increased moire.

At ISO 100, the camera offers a dynamic range of 10.98EV which is slightly behind Sony. The peak dynamic range is reported at 14.6EV. While still excellent, there is slightly higher banding in dark regions of the photographs on the Z7 compared to the D850 due to the on-sensor phase detection autofocus (PDAF).

With the recent 3.0 firmware, the autofocus has been also improved considerably and now offers eye and animal tracking similar to the competition. The autofocus does well with static objects but can be a hit or miss when tracking with AF-C. Face detection does need some work though and ends up focusing on objects other than faces, especially in moving scenarios. Nikon has rated the on-sensor AF system down to -1EV with an F2 lens attached which means it might struggle in dark environments.

Video: Similar to the competition, you can shoot 4K 30FPS or 1080p 120FPS. The 4K video is sampled from the entire width of the sensor and then downsized. You can also shoot 4K in Super 35 crop mode. The on-sensor phase-detection allows the camera to track subject distance while shooting video.

The camera can also output 10-bit Log footage over HDMI to an external recorder. For an additional $200 and a trip to Nikon center, you can even shoot videos in raw.

Canon R6

The Canon R6 is the most recent launch from Canon alongside the more powerful R5. While R5 stole the spotlight with its 8K video capabilities, the R6 is an equally impressive offering that borrows a lot of great features from the R5. It sits in parallel with the EOS 6D Mark II but has a lot more in common with the 1D X Mark III instead.

Key specs: The R6 features a 20MP sensor seen on the 1D X Mark III but without the ’16-point’ anti-aliasing filter seen on the latter.

This along with a fast processor allows the camera to deliver 20 fps with full autofocus in electronic shutter and 12fps in mechanical shutter mode. The in-body stabilization offers a reduction of 5.5 stops which goes up to 8 stops when using a stabilized lens and is among the best in the industry.

Other specifications include 102,400 (204,800 extended) ISO range, a 3.7 million dot OLED viewfinder, and a 1.7 million dot 3-inch display. The camera supports dual UHS-II SD card slots and the battery life is rated at 380 shots. All of this weights 680 grams with the battery and the cards.

• 20MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-102,400 (204,800 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization system rated at up to 8EV of correction
• 20 fps shooting with e-shutter, 12 fps mechanical
• 6,072 Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
• UHD 4K/60p video, 1080p 120FPS
• 3.68M-dot electronic viewfinder with 120fps refresh rate
• 380 shots battery (EVF), 500 shots (LCD)
• Dual UHS-II SD card slots

How well does it perform

Features: Unlike most cameras on the list, the R6 is made of a polycarbonate body instead of magnesium alloy. It’s weather-sealed, of course, just to a lesser extent than the R5. The design takes a lot of inspiration from both the EOS R and 6D. While you get three dials, there’s no top-plate LCD. Canon DSLR users might find the presence of a joystick on the back a welcome change.

It gets a 3.7 million dot viewfinder that refreshes at 120Hz. The fully articulating 3-inch touch screen on the back is pretty versatile and bright enough for outdoor use.

The dual card setup is also customizable with multiple roles being assignable to the secondary card. The camera supports a large buffer of 240 raw shots or 1000 JPEGs.

The new battery on the R6 is 14% larger than the existing LP-E6N. Although, the camera is compatible with the older battery. CIPA rating for the battery is close to 400 shots on the EVF at the lower refresh rate.

Image quality: The 20-megapixel sensor does decently well as far as sharpness, color reproduction, and noise suppression is concerned. Fewer megapixels definitely give it an advantage over the R5 in low light and ISO performance. The speed of the shutter and the large buffer make it ideal for animal photography and sports photography. However, the camera does some aggressive noise suppression even at lower ISOs at the cost of detail.

The wide dynamic range of around 13EV at base ISO also gives plenty of room to play, although, the competitors do a better job at holding the dynamic range at higher ISOs.

Autofocus is where the Canon R6 shines along with the R6 and is truly class-leading. It features Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system with 100% AF coverage and is capable of tracking human and animal eyes. The camera can even track eyes on moving birds, which is a laudable feat. Even at 20fps, the autofocus does a good job of tracking the subject, which makes it suitable for fast action paced events.

Video: While not having the capabilities of R5 when it comes to video recording, there’s plenty that the R6 has to offer. The greatest strength perhaps for the R6 is that the excellent Dual Pixel autofocus system works in all modes.

The camera can shoot up to 4K 60p with a minor 1.07x crop. It can shoot 8-bit 4: 2: 0 UHD and 10-bit 4: 2: 2 Canon Log or 10-bit HDR PQ internally.

The rolling shutter is significant in 24p and 30p mode when using the full sensor area. The biggest issue with video recording is that the camera overheats after shooting in 4K for over 40 minutes and requires significant cooldown time before it is ready to be used again.

TL;DR The R6 is a formidable camera thanks to its great autofocus system and fast shutter, making it ideal for sports or animal photography. It also offers 8 stops of stabilization with a compatible lens, which is class-leading. The images capture plenty of detail and sharpness. It’s great for video enthusiasts as well with 4K 60p video recording capabilities. However, the camera tends to overheat after 40 minutes of shooting. Also, the 20MP sensor might not be ideal for wedding or landscape photography for professionals.

SONY α7R III/ SONY α7RM III

Nobody expected a third player, least of all Sony, to challenge the duopoly of Nikon and Canon until a few years back. But it has been a few years since Sony has been churning out some great equipment that gives a solid competition to Nikon and Canon. The Sony A7R III is one of the many great mirrorless cameras that Sony has to offer and it has been impressing professional photographers and critics alike, three years after its launch. The camera takes much inspiration from its elder sibling the A9, which is a much more expensive offering.

Key specs: The A7R III comes with a 35 mm full-frame 42 megapixels sensor with a backside-illuminated (BSI) structure for better lowlight performance. The ISO range goes from 100-32,000 natively and can be extended up to 50-102,000. Other notable features include 10fps with AF / AE tracking (8fps with live view/blackouts), 14-bit RAW, 4K 30FPS video, and a battery that can last up to 600 shots.

The camera comes equipped with a 3-inch touchscreen and a 1.4 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder. It also features a 5-axis in-body stabilization. Regarding the AF performance, it covers 399 points (phase-detection AF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF) that cover 68 percent of the sensor area. On the storage front, you get twin SD card slots.

• 42MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-32,000 ISO (50-102,000 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 10fps continuous shooting
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• 399 points (phase-detection AF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF)
• 4K 30FPS video, 1080p 120FPS
• 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 650 shots battery
• Dual SD card slots

How well does it perform

Features: Sony seems to have listened to customer feedback it got for the A7R II and has incorporated these changes into this model. The battery life is vastly superior and even as good as DSLRs. The controls have been reworked and are much more ergonomic than before. Having dual card slots also makes it a much more handy tool in the hands of professionals.

The camera is made of aluminum-magnesium alloy which gives it a solid build quality and a premium feel. The body is also weather-sealed which allows it to be taken in a number of scenarios and environments.

When it comes to lens selection, Sony seems to be doing a great job compared to its peers. There’s a wide range of E mount lenses offered by Sony as well as third-party manufactures, which just makes it so much more versatile.

However, the backscreen is not the brightest and the touchscreen can only be used for autofocus, which is a bit of a letdown.

Image quality: This is one area where we didn’t hear any complaints from any of the critics. Most reviewers have lauded the A7R III’s superior performance when it comes to capturing details. The autofocus on the A7R III is something that has got this amazing capability to accurately track even fast-moving objects even when shooting in burst mode. The eye AF is still great and among the best in the industry, three years after the launch.
Sony’s pixel shift technology that captures 4 different images of the same scene allows for a great level of detail. However, this is something you need to do on your PC and is not available on the camera and only can be used for still objects.

The 15 EV dynamic range allows it to capture great detail in high contrast scenarios and can capture great detail with limited noise even at higher ISO. The low light performance has been also called out as a strong suit for the camera given its ability to capture great details in very limited light.

Video: The A7R III can shoot up to 4K 30FPS or 1080p 120FPS. You get the option of both the full width of the sensor and with a Super 35 (basically APS-C) crop which captures slightly more detail by oversampling from 5K footage. The in-body image stabilization is decent but the competition has since caught on and even exceeded the A7R3’s capability in this department. The bitrate for 4K maxes out at 100mbps and all internally recorded footage is 8-bit 4:2:0, with the option to output an 8-bit 4:2:2 stream to an external recorder.

While you don’t get subject tracking while shooting videos, the Wide AF does a decent job of tracking and keeping the subject in focus.

Panasonic Lumix S DC-S1M

While you don’t hear Panasonic’s name quite often, the fact is that the brand makes some of the best mirrorless cameras out there that can compete with the big boys.  The S1 may not be comparable to the other cameras on the list in terms of resolution alone,  but Panasonic has built-in loads of neat features that make this camera worthy of considerations.

Key specs: The S1 is built around the L-mount that has been developed by Leica. It features a new 24MP full-frame sensor without an anti-aliasing filter. The L mount on the camera supports Panasonic’s own lenses along with eight full-frame Leica lenses. Panasonic has promised to release up to 10 of its own lenses in the coming months.

The in-body stabilization offers a reduction of 5.5 stops which goes up to 6 stops when using a stabilized lens.

Other features of the camera include 100 – 51,200 (204,800 extended) ISO range, a 5.76 million dot OLED viewfinder, and a 2.1 million dot display. It relies on contrast detection autofocus system, using proprietary ‘Depth from Defocus’ technology. For storage, you get both an XQD slot and an SD card slot. The battery life is rated at 380 shots.

• 24MP full-frame BSI-type CMOS sensor
• 100 – 51,200 (204,800 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 6 fps bursts with continuous AF
• Depth-From-Defocus AF
• UHD 4K/60p video (1.5x crop); Oversampled 4K/30p with no crop, 1080p 120FPS
• 5.76M-dot electronic viewfinder
• 380 shots battery (LCD)
• Dual XQD + SD card slot

How well does it perform

Features: Like many other cameras in this range, the S1 features a magnesium alloy body that is properly weather sealed. The camera is advertised to have a class-leading shutter that should last really long.

The S1 also excels with its 5.8 million dot viewfinder that refreshes at 120Hz. This results in a minimal lag of 0.005 sec, making it one of the best EVF out there. Meanwhile, the double hinge design on the LCD allows it to be used really well for both landscape and portrait shots. The 8-way joystick allows you to quickly move the AF point with ease and the buttons on the back are illuminated, making it one of a kind camera to offer this feature.

The dual card setup is also customizable with multiple roles being assignable to the secondary card. While the battery is rated for 400 shots, real-life usage should be much better, as with most other cameras.

Although, at approximately 1kg, it isn’t the lightest mirrorless on the block.

Image quality: The 24-megapixel sensor does well in both high ISO and low ISO. The photos are sharp with accurate color reproduction and high levels of details. There’s a high-resolution mode that uses sensor-shift stabilization technology and allows capturing detailed 96MP shots with improved noise performance. Although, you require a tripod and still environment to get the desired results. Above ISO 800 the camera becomes ISO invariant.

There’s a 6K Photo mode that creates sequences of 18MP images, either in the 4:3 or 3:2 aspect ratio at 30 fps, allowing you to choose the best frame. In addition, HLG Photo mode allows you to capture HDR photos in HSP format that can be them streamed on an HDR display.

At base ISO 100, the camera offers a dynamic range of 14.5 stops, which is among the best. The dynamic range holds much better than Sony or Canon shooters between ISO 400 and 800.

The S1 uses contrast-detection autofocus. It offers a face/eye detection mode which works well but requires the face to occupy a large part of the frame for lock-on. A Low Light AF feature enables accurate AF performance down to -6 EV. The autofocus system also does well in continuous tracking mode. However, compared to the phase-detect autofocus systems seen in the competition, the performance leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Video: The S1 really shines when it comes to its video performance. It allows shooting 4K/60p from an APS-C crop of its sensor or oversampled 4K/30p from its full width. You can also shoot 1080p from APS-C region (cropped) at up to 180fps. The 30p 4K mode doesn’t come with the usual 30 minute time restriction either.

A Hybrid Log Gamma mode allows capturing 10-bit 4:2:0 in the H.265/HEVC format at 72Mbps.T he on-sensor phase-detection allows the camera to track subject distance while shooting video.

While the video quality is good, the Z6 and A7 III both offer better sharpness. The autofocus does well in video both for subject tracking and face detection. Although, the pulse or hunt back focus can render some videos unusable.

The $200 SFU2 upgrade unlocks the ability to capture or output 10-bit 4:2:2 footage in both 4K and 1080 resolution.

The post Best mirrorless cameras under INR 3 lakhs in India (with reviews) appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

However, as great as the Apple ecosystem maybe, some of us just prefer the familiarity of Windows on our machines. Often, people complain about how Windows machines don’t really compare to the build, quality, and durability of a MacBook. That misconception comes from the fact that people often compare a Rs 60,000 Ultrabook to a Macbook that costs twice or thrice as much. Of course, the Windows machine is bound to fail the test. However, not all Windows machines are made equal and if you are ready to make a good investment, you can get a pretty decent Windows laptop that comes close to, or even outperforms, a MacBook.

We look at some really impressive Windows 10 laptops in the budget of Rs 1-1.5 lakhs in India. The idea isn’t to have the most powerful laptop with the most impressive graphics card out there because nobody likes a 2.5kg thick brick and spews out air at 65 degrees. Instead, we will be looking at MacBook competitors that are lightweight, yet powerful. Laptops that can let you get most of your work done without breaking a sweat and having a battery life that can last on really long flights.

There’s no dearth of machines you’ll find here and we had to pick the top ones based on ergonomics, specs, and other considerations such as durability. Before we get into our top picks, the customary preread for what can be expected in this budget.

PREREAD

Processor; AMD or Intel: While you definitely don’t need 32 cores inside your laptop, it doesn’t hurt to have a really powerful processor that is also energy efficient. We believe, it is important to have an efficient processor more than a powerful one to ensure that the battery life doesn’t take a hit and also so that it doesn’t get too warm while working.

We’re not sure if you heard, but AMD has really caught up with Intel in recent years. In fact, the latest processors from the Ryzen family outperform Intel ones on sheer performance and do it while consuming less power due to a smaller fabrication process. To make things even better, they are priced more competitively and offer a better bang for your buck.

For this budget, we recommend getting an AMD 4xxx series or Intel 10th gen series processors. Anything older is just not worth it. Also, for Intel processors, the 10th gen series is split across the more recent Ice Lake, which boasts a much more powerful GPU, and the older Comet Late. Ice Lake is also manufactured on a 10nm fabrication process which allows for higher efficiency. The Gx suffix in Ice Lake denotes the GPU (G7 being the best, followed by G4 and G1)

RAM: Not much to talk about here. 16GB RAM in this budget is a fair game. Unfortunately, not all machines offer so.

Graphics processor: We are not recommending gaming laptops on the list, but that doesn’t mean a dedicated graphics card inside your laptop won’t do you any good. Especially, for tasks like for video editing, a dedicated GPU can do wonders. If we are looking at laptops without a dedicated GPU though, AMD machines come with much better onboard GPUs than their Intel counterparts. Although, Intel has made great improvements with its Ice Lake GPUs compared to Comet Lake processors.

Display: Most people tend to overlook this aspect when this is one of the most important ones. Don’t focus too much on the resolution. Instead, the focus should be on the quality of display (probably an IPS in this budget), maximum brightness, and its ability to reproduce colors accurately.

Storage: 1TB should be the bare minimum and that too NVMe M.2.

Size: Based on our experience, we recommend 13.3-14 inches as the perfect balance between size and portability. Although, with the bezels getting thinner by the day, even 15-inch laptops can be manageable.

Brands: Yes, we are all familiar with Dell or HP, but Asus and Acer are other top brands that offer some skillfully engineered laptops. The usual stigma of the latter two being cheap brands is misplaced and, in fact, we find both these brands offering some great innovation in the price bracket.

ASUS ZenBook Duo

You would not find anything like the Asus ZenBook Duo in the market in this budget. It shares a lot with its costlier sibling, the ZenBook Pro Duo and that’s a good thing. However, there’s more character to this notebook than the dual displays alone.

• 14 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 60Hz IPS display
• 12.6 inch, 1920 x 515 pixels IPS, matte secondary display
• Intel Core i7-10510U 10th gen
• 16 GB LPDDR3 2133 MHz (soldered)
• NVIDIA GeForce MX250/MX330 – 2GB, GDDR5
• 1TB NVMe SSD
• 70Wh battery
• 1.5 kg, .78 inch thick

The notebook is packed with decent overall specs which include a 10th generation processor along with 16GB RAM. Although the RAM is soldered so there’s no chance of a future DIY upgrade. It’s also DDR3 for some reason, which is a slight disappointment. What stands out from the specs perspective is the dual-screen setup (more on that later) and the large 70Wh battery. Unfortunately, these specs take a toll on the ergonomics and the notebook isn’t the lightest or the slimmest on the list.

Display & audio: As you would have guessed, what really makes the ZenBook unique is the dual-screen setup. Talking about the main display first, the 14-inch matte panel leaves little to complain and is able to reproduce crisp colors. Matte finish also ensures that the reflections from other light sources are under control. ZenBook Duo’s display captures 107% of the sRGB gamut which is good for the budget. At 282 nits, though, the brightness is a sore point, especially, if you plan to use the laptop outdoors.

You will also find that the secondary display is more than just a gimmick. The screen can be used for quick shortcuts, making notes, numpad, or dragging apps from the main screen to the smaller screen. There are a whole bunch of other things you can do with the screen. However, like the primary screen, it isn’t too bright.

The audio is crisp and loud enough as well with little to complain.

Keyboard and trackpad: Asus had to make compromises elsewhere though to fit the secondary screen in there. The keyboard and the trackpad hare real estate along the width of the laptop which results in narrower keys and a much smaller trackpad than what you see on other laptops. The position of the keyboard also doesn’t leave any place to keep your wrists which can be tiring if you use it for a prolonged duration. The keys themselves are great and snappy though, but it can be frustrating typing on this keyboard due to space constraints. The smaller touchpad, on the other hand, results in your fingers having to swipe much more to move the cursor on the screen.

Build: The notebook meets MIL-STD-810G military standards for reliability and durability. The hinges are rather too firm and you may need both hands to open the laptop. The hinge doesn’t open all the way till 180 degrees though. However, the unique design leaves enough space between the surface the laptop is resting on and the vents to let the air circulate out easily. The bezels, while narrow, aren’t the slimmest we’ve seen in this budget.

Ports: You get a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a microSD card, and a headphone/mic jack on the right side, while another USB 3.1 Type A, an HDMI, and a USB C 3.1 adorn the left side. Surprisingly, there’s no Thunderbolt and the laptop requires a separate charging port instead of charging through USB C.

Performance: The actual performance lives up to the specs. The laptop does well in most situations and doesn’t seem to break a sweat with the usual apps and routine. It also manages to stay cool under normal load thanks to the two fans. 16GB RAM definitely helps in tasks like rendering.

Battery: The 70Wh battery also ensures that the laptop has some class-leading backup times. With the secondary display turned off, expect north of 11 hours of battery life. That drops to close to 6-7 hours when you turn on the secondary display.

HP Spectre x360

HP Spectre comes with a rather radical design that is usually appreciated by all. But that’s not all that defines this laptop. The superior display and great battery life have made sure that this laptop is seen as one of the best competitors to MacBook and the Dell XPS series.

• 13.3 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 60Hz IPS display
• Intel Core i5-1035G4 10th gen
• 8GB LPDDR4X-3733 dual-channel
• Intel Iris Plus G4
• 512GB NVMe SSD
• 61Wh battery
• 1.24 kg, .7 inch thick

When we say the design on this machine is radical, we mainly are referring to the chamfered edges. HP’s decision to put a USB C port on one of the chamfered corners is also bold. The brushed metal finish makes it one of the best looking laptops out there. While at 0.7 inches, it may not be the slimmest, but it’s not far off from other slim laptops.  You can rotate the screen 360 degrees to the back making the Spectre a  2-in-1.

Display: The display stands out with its near bezel-less design on the three edges. HP had to rework the front camera to fit it in such a narrow area. There’s a bottom chin though, but again, this laptop has more screen to body ratio than most other laptops out there.  The screen offers a peak brightness of 370 nits and covers 109% of the sRGB gamut.

Ports: The laptop offers two USB C 3.1 ports with Thunderbolt support, one of which is used for charging. To keep up with the slim profile, HP added a drop-jaw port for USB 3.1 A. There’s the usual audio jack along with a microSD port. You also get a webcam kill switch on the edge.

Keyboard and trackpad: The Chiclet-style keys on the keyboard are well-spaced out and provide a solid tactile response when pressed. The laptop also gets a new 4.4 x 2.2-inch touchpad with Windows Precision drivers, making it much better than the outgoing version which used Synaptics drivers. You also get a Stylus Pen and leather sleeve.

Battery: While HP claims a mind-boggling 22 hours of battery life on this one, realistically, you can expect north of 13 hours of battery life under moderate use. This still makes it one of the best laptops as far as battery life is concerned.

Performance: The Ice Lake i5 offers Iris Plus G4 graphics, which offers decent performance and can handle most everyday tasks easily. There’s ample storage too. But we wish, like other times on this list, that the laptop was offered with 16GB RAM instead. While the laptop does feature dual fans it tends to run hot and may get uncomfortable for your lap at times. Nothing that makes it a deal-breaker but something to keep in mind.

Dell XPS 13 9300

Dell XPS has gained the market reputation for being among the best Windows laptops thanks to its sleek design, a strong brand, powerful performance, and customizability. The new XPS improves on last year’s version with better hardware and improved design.

• 13.4 inch Full HD (1920 x 1200 pixels) 60Hz IPS display
• Intel Core i5-1035G1 10th gen
• 8GB LPDDR4X-3733 DRAM (soldered/onboard)
• Intel UHD Graphics G1
• 512GB NVMe SSD
• 52Wh battery
• 1.2 kg, .58 inch thick

Let’s talk about the design first. Dell continues to push the boundaries (literally) for edge-to-edge displays with its XPS series and the 9300 takes it to a new level. The new XPS offers a 91.5 percent screen-to-body ratio with micro bezels on all four edges. Don’t worry, there’s a camera on the top edge though. The body is crafted of aluminum (lid and edges). The inside is adorned with composite-fiber or carbon-fiber depending on the color you choose.

Display: The display packs slightly more pixels than the usual FHD displays. It’s rather bright at 500 nits and is able to reproduce 100% sRGB range. The display also comes with an anti-glare quoting which is also something not seen on the competition and does well to hide reflections. The two speakers peak at 2.5W each which gets loud enough without any noticeable sound distortion at peak. It is a 16:10 display which means you may get black bands on top and bottom when watching movies on Netflix.

Ports: You won’t find a lot of ports on this one with a total of 2 Thunderbolt  USB C 3.1, a microSD slot, and an audio jack. Unfortunately, there’s no USB A port and you have to rely on an adapter instead.

Keyboard and trackpad: The keyboard has also been improved over last year’s version while the trackpad is actually bigger. The keyboard is the scissor-switch type with 1.0 mm of travel, thus adding that reassuring feedback at every press.

Battery: The battery life is amongst the best and can easily last north of 10 hours on average use.

Performance: The laptop features the new 10 nm Intel Ice Lake processor. It does the job well but won’t set any benchmark records. We wish the laptop came with better graphics, but you have to do with UHD G1 instead. Also, for a laptop costing more than US$2,000 in India, having just 8GB RAM feels a little inadequate, given the same configuration can be had in laptops costing half as much. The laptop does feature dual fans to keep it running cool. The fan noise level remains under control and the laptop doesn’t get too hot under most loads.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Microsoft Surface Pro is more of a tablet than a traditional laptop. That said, it’s been a star and the pinnacle of what Windows on a perfect machine can look like. Now in its 7th gen avatar, the Surface Pro 7 is for those who want a stress free experience and extreme portability.

• 12.3 inch Quad HD (2736 x 1824 pixels) 60Hz IPS display
• Intel Core i5-1035G5 10th gen
• 8 GB LPDDRx 1866 MHz dual-channel
• Intel Integrated Iris Plus graphics
• 256GB NVMe SSD
• 775 g, .3 inch thick

The Surface 7 Pro is not a workhorse that will set benchmarks on fire. Instead, it is a machine that will get the job done comfortably as long as the job is browsing the internet, playing your favorite movies and shows, or working on light productivity apps. You will also require a keyboard that needs to be bought separately.

Display & audio: With that addressed, let’s talk about the things we like. To start, that screen is gorgeous. The colors pop and look pleasing to the eye and the 400 nits brightness is ahead of other laptops in this budget. You also get a 10-point touch screen which can also be used with a Microsoft Pen for so much more. The screen can reproduce 97% of the sRGB gamut, which, honestly, is okay but we’ve seen better.

The audio experience suffers from the tiny speakers and the is flat and nowhere near loud. You can also forget any meaningful bass from these speakers.

Build: The build, however, is great and has that premium finish to it all around. The aluminum finish feels good to hold in hand and is comfortable. However, the bezels on the screen seem to be from bygone years and look awkward on a machine this recent.

Ports: You get a handful of ports which include a USB-C port (USB 3.1), a USB A port (USB 3.0), a microSD reader, and an audio jack. The USB C doesn’t support Thunderbolt and you can’t charge the tablet using this port either.

Keyboard and trackpad: The Type Cover keyboard and trackpad are a joy to use and the keys provide strong feedback and response as you’d expect from a good quality keyboard. However, we feel with a top-heavy design with this cover, using the tablet as a laptop on your lap can be a bit of a challenge. You might need to keep it on a flat surface most of the time to get any useful work done.

Performance: The performance is adequate for the specs as we mentioned before. The Ice Lake processor along with that GPU can also allow you to play some recent games at moderate settings. It also manages to keep thermal loads under check, with the tablet/laptop never getting too hot to hold.

Battery: The battery life is decent with close to 8 hours of use on WiFi. It’s down compared to last year’s model, but not the worst on the list.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

The first thing you notice about the Surface Laptop 3 is that it has a 3:2 screen ratio which makes it different from anything else in the market right now. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. Microsoft has made a number of improvements over the last year’s model including support for faster ports.

• 13.5 inch Quad HD (2496 x 1664 pixels) IPS display, 10 point touch
• Intel Core i5-1035G7 10th gen
• 8 GB LPDDR4X 1866.7 MHz, Dual-channel
• Intel Integrated Iris Plus graphics
• 256GB NVMe SSD
• 1.28 kg, .57 inch thick

The laptop is made out of an aluminum body with a glass screen that looks and feels premium to hold, not unlike other machines on the list. The hinges are well built too and the lid can be opened using one hand. Although, it doesn’t rotate all the way back till 180 degrees.

Display & audio: The pixel-packed display is pleasing to the eye and shows popping colors. It’s a 3:2 display and unless you need a laptop for only watching movies, the design should grow on you. That said, the thick bezels around the display are definitely an eyesore. Surface Laptop 3’s display covers 121% of the sRGB color gamut, which is among the best on the list.

The audio experience is decent too and much better than the Surface Pro 7.

Keyboard and trackpad: The keyboard is among the best in the budget and much better than what the 2019 MacBook as to offer. It’s a delight to use and coupled with an impressive trackpad, this makes the whole experience much richer.

Ports: Ports are one area where the laptop leaves a lot to be desired. On the left side, you get a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a USB Type-C input, and a headphone/mic jack. On the right, there’s a magnetic Surface Connect port for charging. There’s no Thunderbolt, no card reader, and no ability to charge your laptop using USB C.

Performance: The performance of the machine doesn’t disappoint. The processor lives up to the task and the Iris Plus graphics can handle causal games at ease. Although, we’re not too fond of the fact that it comes with just 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.

Battery: Lastly, the battery life is decent as well. A single charge with moderate use can last you around 9-10 hours. Still not past the MacBook Pro, but getting close.

MSI Prestige 14 A10RB

We wish more people knew about MSI in India. It’s a great brand that not only makes some excellent gaming laptops and graphic cards, but also sleek notebooks filled to the brim with cutting edge tech. The A10RB happens to be one of those machines that packs much above its weight in a body that weighs under 1.3kg.

• 14 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 60Hz IPS display
• Intel Core i7-10510U 10th gen
• 16GB LPDDR4-2666MHz RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce MX250/MX330 – 2GB, GDDR5
• 512GB NVMe SSD
• 50Wh battery
• 1.3 kg, .63 inch thick

The raw specs don’t seem to disappoint. The Comet Lake 10th generation processor along with 16GB RAM should be good enough to not only handle your everyday use but also allow basic video editing and entry-level gaming with that card.

Build: The construction is all metal, which gives it a premium and sturdy look. The hinges are firm and the lid can be easily opened with one hand. The bezels are narrow on the sides but not the narrowest on the top and bottom of the screen.

Ports: You get two USB C 3.1 ports supporting Thunderbolt, LED indicators, and a MicroSD card reader. The right side houses a 3.5mm audio jack and two USB-A ports which are unfortunately limited to the older USB 2.0 standard. The laptop charges over USB C and can be charged using the 90W adapter or any power bank, which is great.

Display: The display is a 14 inch full HD IPS panel with a 60Hz refresh rate. The display can be opened 180 degrees flat and produces excellent colors and covers up to 100% of the sRGB color space. Although, it isn’t the brightest panel and might appear somewhat dim to some users.

Keyboard and trackpad: The keyboard is built well and the buttons have great tactile feedback as you type. The wide trackpad seems to do reasonably well too and has good tracking precision and palm rejection.

Performance: Speaking about actual performance, the laptop does well but is held back by its single-channel RAM. While some users might appreciate the empty RAM slot for a future upgrade, the lack of dual-channel memory holds back the laptop from achieving its true potential. And while the performance would be better than most other laptops on the list here due to the raw specs, the laptop doesn’t do a great job at managing and dissipating all that heat it generates while crunching numbers. Under heavy loads, it can get quite warm and uncomfortable to use.

Battery: The battery life is mediocre though and manages to last 4-5 hours under moderate-heavy use.

Dell XPS 13 7390

XPS 7390 is 2019’s offering for the XPS line of laptops from Dell. That doesn’t make it any less capable though. While it doesn’t quite match up to the XPS 9300, it more than compensates for the lack of features in the lower asking price.

• 13.3 inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) 60Hz IPS display
• Intel Core i5-10210U 10th gen
• 8GB DDR3-2133 RAM
• Intel UHD Graphics 620
• 512GB NVMe SSD
• 52Wh battery
• 1.29 kg, .5 inch thick

The XPS 13 continues to use the 5-year-old winning formula from Dell as far as the design goes. The carbon fiber panel inside feels comfortable to rest your palms on while typing. The lid cover and underside are crafted from aluminum.

Display: The display is capable of covering 95% of the sRGB gamut, which is not the best we’ve seen here. The peak brightness of over 400 nits works in the laptop’s favor though.

Keyboard and trackpad: The keyboard is excellent with a good balance of sleek, firm, and feedback. While the trackpad is again up to the job, the newer model comes with a larger trackpad that’s much better to use.

Ports: You won’t find a lot of ports on this one with a total of 2 Thunderbolt 3 USB C, a microSD slot, and an audio jack. Unfortunately, there’s no USB A port and you have to rely on an adapter instead.

Performance: The innards don’t impress much though. It comes with a Comet Lake processor and a rather disappointing GPU. The same specs also can be had in laptops half the price. Even the RAM speed doesn’t instill a lot of confidence. However, with dual fans and twin heat pipes, things remain fairly under control even in high-stress tasks. The fan can at times get loud enough even when running simple tasks.

Battery: The battery life isn’t among the best but should last you 8-9 hours on typical use.

The post Best Windows 10 Ultrabook laptops comparable to Apple MacBook between INR 1.0-1.5 lakhs in India (with reviews) appeared first on Gizmopolitan.

While DSLRs have ruled much of this century, the future unarguably belongs to mirrorless cameras. All leading manufacturers have fully embraced the platform and, if you had even an ounce of doubt, the recent flagship releases such as the Canon EOS R5 and R6 should quell such thoughts completely. Mirrorless technology has matured enough to match DSLRs and, perhaps, even surpass in areas such as video and autofocus.

With most manufacturers offering mirrorless cameras, we hope to guide you to pick a decent one just under the price tag of Rs 2 lakhs (INR 200,000) in India. This post should help clear some confusion in your mind whether you’re a complete newbie or if you are upgrading from a crop frame. While these cameras are no R5, they will still help you capture amazing professional looking shots, given you have the talent.

Before we jump on to the part where we look at the different models, some tips in the preread that we think might come in handy.

PREREAD

A fresh start vs. continuing within the ecosystem: This question is relevant to customers who already have a decent lineup of camera equipment including lenses and flashes. Now, these things don’t particularly come in cheap and most of them are compatible with the new mirrorless solutions. So does it make sense to stay invested in your current ecosystem?

Well, there’s no easy answer to it. To put it simply, if you have some entry-level glass, we recommend a fresh start. Sooner or later, you would want to update from those entry-level lenses to something that does your camera more justice and they would end up eating dust in your cupboard anyway.

Another issue that comes with using lenses made for DSLRs is that they only fit on the mirrorless cameras using an adapter, thus making the whole system bulkier and closer to the weight and size of a DSLR.

In case, you do have some high-end lenses though, it would not be unwise to stay in the current ecosystem given how expensive some of these new lenses can get, especially those made for DSLRs.

Spending just a little more to get a full-frame: We have seen a lot of newcomers wanting to start with a more affordable option and then moving up the ladder. Our personal advice is to buck that trend and just spend a little extra cash the first time.

The thing with most photographers is that as soon as they get a hang of the basics, the urge to move to something better kicks in and grows. Starting with a full-frame camera can ensure that your equipment stays relevant to your needs and skills longer. We are not saying smaller frame (micro-third) cameras aren’t any good, it’s just that full-frame mirrorless cameras are leagues ahead. It makes sense to spend just a little extra and future proof instead of having to shell out another large sum one or two years down the line.

That’s all we had. Now on to the cameras.

SONY α7R III/ SONY α7RM III

Nobody expected a third player, least of all Sony, to challenge the duopoly of Nikon and Canon until a few years back. But it has been a few years since Sony has been churning out some great equipment that gives a solid competition to Nikon and Canon. The Sony A7R III is one of the many great mirrorless cameras that Sony has to offer and it has been impressing professional photographers and critics alike, three years after its launch. The camera takes much inspiration from its elder sibling the A9, which is a much more expensive offering.

Key specs: The A7R III comes with a 35 mm full-frame 42 megapixels sensor with a backside-illuminated (BSI) structure for better lowlight performance. The ISO range goes from 100-32,000 natively and can be extended up to 50-102,000. Other notable features include 10fps with AF / AE tracking (8fps with live view/blackouts), 14-bit RAW, 4K 30FPS video, and a battery that can last up to 600 shots.

The camera comes equipped with a 3-inch touchscreen and a 1.4 million dot OLED electronic viewfinder. It also features a 5-axis in-body stabilization. Regarding the AF performance, it covers 399 points (phase-detection AF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF) that cover 68 percent of the sensor area. On the storage front, you get twin UHS-II SD card slots.

• 42MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-32,000 ISO (50-102,000 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 10fps continuous shooting
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• 399 points (phase-detection AF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF)
• 4K 30FPS video, 1080p 120FPS
• 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 650 shots battery
• Dual SD card slots

How well does it perform

Features: Sony seems to have listened to customer feedback it got for the A7R II and has incorporated these changes into this model. The battery life is vastly superior and even as good as DSLRs. The controls have been reworked and are much more ergonomic than before. Having dual card slots also makes it a much more handy tool in the hands of professionals.

The camera is made of aluminum-magnesium alloy which gives it a solid build quality and a premium feel. The body is also weather-sealed which allows it to be taken in a number of scenarios and environments.

When it comes to lens selection, Sony seems to be doing a great job compared to its peers. There’s a wide range of E mount lenses offered by Sony as well as third-party manufactures, which just makes it so much more versatile.

However, the backscreen is not the brightest and the touchscreen can only be used for autofocus, which is a bit of a letdown.

Image quality: This is one area where we didn’t hear any complaints from any of the critics. Most reviewers have lauded the A7R III’s superior performance when it comes to capturing details. The autofocus on the A7R III is something that has got this amazing capability to accurately track even fast-moving objects even when shooting in burst mode. The eye AF is still great and among the best in the industry, three years after the launch.
Sony’s pixel shift technology that captures 4 different images of the same scene allows for a great level of detail. However, this is something you need to do on your PC and is not available on the camera and only can be used for still objects.

The 15 EV dynamic range allows it to capture great detail in high contrast scenarios and can capture great detail with limited noise even at higher ISO. The low light performance has been also called out as a strong suit for the camera and it can capture great details in very limited light as well.

Video: The A7R III can shoot up to 4K 30FPS or 1080p 120FPS. You get the option of both the full width of the sensor and with a Super 35 (basically APS-C) crop which captures slightly more detail by oversampling from 5K footage. The in-body image stabilization is decent but the competition has since caught on and even exceeded the A7R3’s capability in this department. The bitrate for 4K maxes out at 100mbps and all internally recorded footage is 8-bit 4:2:0, with the option to output an 8-bit 4:2:2 stream to an external recorder.

While you don’t get subject tracking while shooting videos, the Wide AF does a decent job of tracking and keeping the subject in focus.

SONY α7 III

Sony has been impressing the world with its range of cameras but it hasn’t impressed anyone so far with its naming scheme for them. For someone not invested in this ecosystem, the naming convention can be overwhelming. But we are willing to overlook this purely due to the fact that Sony makes such brilliant cameras. The A7 III was released alongside the A7R III and is a slightly more affordable offering compared to the latter with a few changes.

Key specs: Let’s talk about the similarities between the A7 III and the A7R III before we discuss the differences. Like the more expensive A7R III, the A7 III comes with a BSI sensor. The cameras also share the same dimensions, although the A7 III is lighter by 7g. The construction material is also the same, so you get the same magnesium aluminum alloy body for the most part. Both cameras can capture images at 10fps with continuous autofocus and auto-exposure. The video capabilities are also the same across both cameras.

However, there are quite a few differences between the two cameras as well and not all of them are tilted in A7R III’s favor. The most apparent difference is the pixel count. While the more expensive sibling can capture 42-megapixel stills, the A7 III maxes out at 24 megapixels. The ISO range on the A7 III at 50-51,200 in standard mode and ISO 50-204,000 in expanded mode is wider than the A7R III’s. This along with a bigger pixel size due to less number of them being present in the same area on the sensor can allow capturing less grainy and better low light shots.

The A7 III also enjoys better battery life of around 700 shots despite using the same battery. It also has a bigger buffer of around 40 uncompressed raws compared to 28 on the A7R III. The autofocus is also better with phase-detection points covering 93% of the image area. The 425 contrast AF points over a smaller area for accuracy remains the same as the A7R III.

There are areas where the A7R III is clearly ahead though. Resolution on the viewfinder and the display is better on the A7R III. While both cameras offer 5-axis in-body stabilization, Sony claims a 5-step advantage with the A7 III and a 5.5 steps for the A7R III. The back panel on the A7 III is plastic, while that on the A7R is magnesium. Lastly, the pixel shift technology is exclusive to the A7R III.

• 24MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-51,200 ISO (50-204,800 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 10fps continuous shooting
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• 693 points (phase-detection AF), 425 points (contrast-detection AF)
• 4K 30FPS video, 1080p 120FPS
• 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 710 shots battery
• Dual SD card slots

How well does it perform

Features: Most of the things we said for the A7R III above hold true for the A7 III as well. The battery life is greatly improved over the predecessor and button layout is much more user friendly. The body is also weather-sealed similar to the A7R III.

Unfortunately, the OLED viewfinder is lower resolution compared to the competition and the backscreen is also not amongst the brightest.

Image quality: Like the A7R III, the image quality on the A7 III is superb. The camera benefits from a larger pixel size on the sensor and does a better job of capturing low light images that its costlier sibling. It also comes with an optical low-pass filter (anti-aliasing filter) to help address moiré. However, it only filters horizontal and not vertical.

Given the smaller file size, the buffer on the A7 III is larger and it can accommodate around 40 uncompressed raws.

The autofocus system does a superb job again and is better than the one on the A7R III. The eye-tracking is great even by 2020 standards and the lock-on autofocus tracking is better than the A7R III.

Unfortunately, though, the camera misses out on pixel shift for more detailed stills.

Video: Nothing much to add here on top of what was said for the A7R III. The video capabilities of both cameras are quite similar, although, the A7 III does a better job in low light due to a larger pixel size.

Nikon Z6

Nikon was late to the game in 2018 but they did deliver with the Z6 and the Z7 mirrorless duo. Both are very capable cameras and credit to Nikon for getting so much right in its first attempt. The new Z series uses the new Z mount lenses. Although, Nikon packs an FTZ adapter in most bundles that allows you to attach any of the older F series lenses on to the camera. Over the years, Nikon has made the Z6 better with firmware updates, with the last major update allowing Eye AF and Animal Detection AF features. The Z lenses, while limited in the number of options you can pick, are among the best Nikon has produced in their respective class so far.

Key specs: The Nikon Z6 comes loaded with enough specs to convince Nikon DSLR fans to switch over. The camera features a 24.5 megapixel 35 mm full-frame sensor with a backside-illuminated (BSI) structure for better lowlight performance. The native ISO range lies between 100-51,200 and can be boosted up to 50-102,000. It also features a 5-axis in-body stabilization similar to the Sony cameras.

Other notable features include 12fps burst (12-bit raw, 9fps on 14-bit) without AF / AE tracking (5.5fps with AE), 14-bit RAW, and 4K 30FPS video. The camera features a 3.7 million dot 3.2 inch OLED viewfinder along with a 2.1 million dot display. The battery can last up to 300 shots. As for the AF performance, it features a Hybrid PDAF, 273 focus points autofocus system. Unfortunately, there’s only a single XQD slot for the photo storage, and for professionals seeking a backup slot, this might not be the answer.

• 24.5MP BSI full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-51,200 ISO (50-204,800 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 12fps burst shooting (no AE)
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• Hybrid PDAF, 273 focus points
• 4K 30FPS 8-bit video, 1080p 120FPS
• 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 300 shots battery
• Single XQD card slot

How well does it perform

Features: Nikon Z6 is an impressive all-rounder that ticks most checkboxes for a budget full-frame mirrorless camera. The controls are well laid out and the camera has a solid grip. One cool feature on the Z6 is the ability to customize the focus ring on the lens for other controls such as the aperture or the ISO. The build is identical to the Nikon Z7 and leaves not much to complain with its weather sealing and magnesium alloy body.

Unlike the Sony cameras, the touchscreen is much more versatile and can be used for menu options and other functions as well.

However, there are some areas of concern with this Nikon. The battery is rated only for 300 shots, which is nowhere near what the competition offers. Then, the camera supports only one card which can be a bit of a bummer.

While we love the new Z series lenses, there are only a handful of these, and compared to what Canon and Sony offer for their mirrorless cameras, Nikon is nowhere close. This, even two years after the camera was released.

Image quality: The image quality from the Z6 is class-leading and you don’t have much to worry about here. The camera does well in most scenarios including low-light situations. The dynamic range is excellent too and seems to hold well against the competition.

With the recent 3.0 firmware, the autofocus has been also improved considerably and now offers eye and animal tracking similar to the competition. Although, it still does struggle in many scenarios compared to the AF system seen on Sony cameras especially with continuous focus.

Video: Similar to the competition, you can shoot 4K 30FPS or 1080p 120FPS. The 4K video is sampled from the entire width of the sensor and then downsized. The camera can also output 10-bit Log footage over HDMI to an external recorder.

The Z6 benefits from the larger pixel size on the sensor and outputs better 4K footage than the Z7. For an additional $200 and a trip to Nikon center, you can even shoot videos in RAW.

Nikon Z5

Nikon hasn’t been sleeping since the launch of Z6 and Z7 in 2018 and the Z5 is the latest and the most affordable full-frame entrant to the Z lineup. The camera shares a lot with the Z6 but also improves in certain areas compared to its predecessor. It’s priced slightly lower than the Z6 so there are some areas where compromises were necessary. Nonetheless, this is a solid entry-level full-frame camera that can be appreciated by all.

Key specs: From a quick glance, the Z5 may very well be confused for a Z6 or Z7 but there are plenty of subtle differences. The mode dial has been moved to the right and sits where the top LCD on the Z6/Z7 sits. The back control layout is identical to the Z6 and Z7. You get a 3.2-inch display on the back, albeit a much lower resolution 1 million dot screen. Fortunately, the viewfinder retains the same resolution as the Z6 and the Z7. Although the sensor resolution is the same as the Z6, it is not backside-illuminated. The biggest change is the addition of two SD card slots instead of an XQD slot seen on the other Nikons. It also uses a new EN-EL15c lithium-ion battery rated for 470 shots. The entire package with battery weighs 675 grams.

• 24.3MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-51,200 ISO (50-102,400 extended)
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• 4.5fps burst shooting
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• Hybrid PDAF, 273 focus points
• 4K 30FPS 8-bit video, 1080p 60FPS
• 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 470 shots battery
• Twin UHS II card slots

How well does it perform

Features: Most of the things here are identical to the Z6. Notable differences being the lack of a top LCD and the sensor not being backside-illuminated. The display resolution is also worse off but that shouldn’t stop you from capturing high-quality photographs. The biggest change is the 4.5FPS burst mode compared to 12FPS on the Z6. Although, there are certain improvements as well such as twin SD slots and much better battery life.

Image quality: We expect Z6 to have better quality images overall thanks to the BSI sensor that can capture more light and does better at higher ISOs. Lack of BSI might also impact the dynamic range to some extent. That said, the Z5 should still be able to produce good quality images in most conditions.

The autofocus system is identical to the Z6 and the performance should be similar too.

Video: While the Z5 can capture 4K videos, it does it at a 1.7x crop. This impacts the effective depth of field and field of view of your lenses. The detail is also lower than the oversampled footage on the Z6.

There is no crop on the 1080p videos but unlike the Z6, you can only shoot them up to 60 frames per second.

For video recording, the ISO range is limited to 100 to 25,600.

CANON EOS R

EOS R was Canon’s foray into full-frame mirrorless back in 2018. Over the years, Canon has tried to keep the EOS R fresh and relevant by adding some features through firmware updates and gradually building on the library of RF lenses available in the market. The camera borrows heavily from the 2016’s EOS 5D Mark IV but was built around a new generation of more versatile RF lenses.

Key specs: The camera borrows from EOS 5D Mark IV and thus offers similar picture quality as well. There’s a 30MP CMOS sensor with a phase-difference detection system that offers 5,655 focus points covering 88% of the frame horizontally. The viewfinder is as good as any and the 2.1 million dot rear LCD has its own used being an articulated one. The whole package weighs 660g with battery.

• 30MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-40,000 ISO (50-102,400 extended)
• 8fps burst shooting with one-AF
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• 5,655 Dual Pixel AF
• 4K 30FPS 8-bit video, 1080p 60FPS
• 3.69M-dot OLED viewfinder
• 350 shots battery
• Single UHS II card slot

How well does it perform

Features: Like other cameras on the list, the outer shell is made of magnesium alloy and is robust to hold. You also get weather sealing. The controls are well placed and give plenty of customization options. The camera also offers M-Fn bar, a two-way control that lets you use it for a variety of functions such as ISO, autofocus, white balance, and various options during movie recording, among others.

It uses Dual Pixel AF system also seen on some DSLRs from Canon and it delivers, even in low light. Canon offers eye detection on the camera and it doesn’t disappoint either.

Unfortunately, there’s no in-body stabilization here, which is a sore point, given other manufacturers offer it.

Like the other Canon on the list, there’s just one memory card slot though and the battery is mediocre at best.

Image quality: The camera delivers similar to the EOS 5D Mark IV in terms of image quality. The ISO noise performance is pretty great and challenges the Z6 or A7 III. The dynamic range is great up to ISO 800 but withers off from there. Canon cameras are known for their color accuracy and the EOS R does not disappoint there at all.

The 30-megapixel sensor does as advertised and delivers crisp shots with plenty of detail. Unfortunately, the burst mode caps at 5fps with continuous AF, which is behind what Nikon and Sony have to offer. With live view, that speed drops to 3fps.

Lastly, there’s no intervalometer which makes shooting time-lapses difficult without external equipment.

Video: Good things first, the Dual Pixel autofocus works while taking 4K videos. You can also attach an HDMI recorder for 10-bit output. However, the biggest issue is the fact that the camera shoots at 1.8x crop making wide-angle capture really difficult without an ultra-wide lens. The videos are also soft and don’t match up to an A7 III or the Z6 when shot in 4K.

In 1080p mode, the camera does much better and is ahead of Sony and Nikon’s competitors in the budget.

CANON EOS RP

Similar to the Nikon Z5, the Canon EOS RP is an affordable full-frame camera. It doesn’t compete with the biggies on this list in terms of price but instead tries to win on affordability. In fact, we would say it’s a good camera for casual photographers or those already invested in the Canon ecosystem. While the camera fits a new generation of RF lenses, you can use older EF lenses using an in-the-box adapter.

Key specs: While it won’t blow your breath away, there’s plenty to like on this camera. It comes with a 26.2MP Dual Pixel CMOS sensor with Digic 8 processor. The camera shares a lot of specs with the EOS 6D Mark II. The native ISO range lies between 100-40,000 and can be extended to 102,400. Unlike other cameras on the list, there’s no in-body stabilization. The viewfinder is 2.36 million dots, while the backscreen has just 1 million dots. The battery life is rated at 250 shots and the whole body weighs 485g.

• 26.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor
• 100-40,000 ISO (100-102,400 extended)
• 4fps burst shooting
• 14-bit uncompressed RAW
• Dual Pixel AF
• 4K 24FPS 8-bit video, 1080p 60FPS
• 2.36M-dot viewfinder
• 250 shots battery
• Single UHS II card slot

How well does it perform

Features: The EOS RP is made out of polycarbonate-on-magnesium alloy which feels sturdy to hold. You also get weather sealing which is pretty amazing for this price. The controls are well placed and give plenty of customization options.

It uses Dual Pixel AF system seen on some DSLRs from Canon and it does get the job done. The eye AF is a hit or miss and needs the subject’s head to occupy a large area in the frame to work as expected.

Where it does feel short is the battery department. With a 250 shot rated battery, it feels fairly inadequate. Also, the camera supports a single UHS II slot, which is nowhere near what the competition is offering.

Image quality: The image quality is similar to a 6D Mark II in RAW but benefits from a newer processor in JPEG. The images are crisp and with plenty of detail, but again would be unfair to compare them to those from Z6 or A7 III. The camera offers 12 stops of dynamic range at base ISO which is average at best. The low-ISO images provide plenty of detail, but noise starts to become quite apparent in the pics beyond 6,400 ISO. The camera features an optical low-pass filter, which helps with moiré and aliasing artifacts, albeit, at the cost of sharpness.

Video: This is one area where the RP struggles. 4K videos are captured at 1.7x crop which makes shooting wide scenes difficult and the video prone to noise. Unfortunately, Dual Pixel AF doesn’t work in 4K video and the camera relies on contrast detection instead. 4K videos are also limited to 24fps.

In 1080p mode, the camera does slightly better. It’s nothing spectacular but gets the job done easily.

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