RNI NO. MAHENG/2015/69288
PHONES W E A R A BLES AUDIO T VS L A PTOPS `130
VOLUME 05 ISSUE 11 JUNE 2020
The World’s Leading Gadget Magazine!
REVIEWED REVI WED Tomorrow’s Technology Today
TAG HEUER CONNECTED I APPLE MACBOOK AIR
BEST TVS
FOR
ISSN 2454–9703
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EVERY BUDGET MIRRORLESS MARVELS
NEW LAUNCHES:
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SHOWSTOPPER Gadgets that showcase the very best that design and technology have to offer
CRANK IT UP Perhaps nothing better symbolises the precision of 3T for BMW Exploro than its Torno crank. Weighing just 300g, its razor-thin 12mm proďŹ le is designed to slice through the air while its carbon axle is also directly integrated into the spider and drive-side crank arm, making for a stiffer and lighter design
3T FOR BM W EX PLORO Aside from having a truly cracking name – to T3’s ears at least – 3T also has the rep of making some of the lightest-weight bikes out there. This means that its collaboration with BMW, a brand synonymous with performance, quality and comfort, was always destined to be something of a humdinger. The 3T for BMW Exploro brings the best of the former’s Exploro gravel bike range and adds the engineering panache one would expect from a Beemer. Not only does it have an aerodynamically optimised unidirectional prepreg carbon frame, it also comes with Fulcrum wheels and Schwalbe G-One Speed tyres to maximise grip no matter what your speed. It also offers excellent control, coming with Shimano GRX shift DQG EUDNH OHYHUV UHDU GHUDLOOHXU DQG ćDW PRXQW K\GUDXOLF GLVF EUDNHV $QG LWèV QRW ODFNLQJ LQ SROLVK HLWKHU LW FRPHV ZLWK DQ exclusive Brooks saddle and leather handlebar tape to match, as well as a deliciously understated colour scheme. 3tforbmw.bike
2 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Welcome
Editor’s letter A breakdown during a lockdown… I’m talking about the electronics breakdown that I endured and I’m certain many of you’ll too, during the 2-month long lockdown. Devices that worked
Executive Editor Kunal Gangar Consulting Editor Girish Mallya Correspondent Gautam Doshi Editor (UK) Matt Bolton Contributors (UK) Duncan Bell, John Archer, Daniel Goldman, Amy Davies Publisher Girish Mallya Head Design & Production Ravi Parmar Senior Designer Prakash Gavnang Photography Mahesh Reddy Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik Product Manager Perseus Master
flawlessly all these years suddenly stopped working
General Manager North and East - Ellora Das Gupta
one fine day. This includes my trusty laptop and my TV.
General Manager South - Girish Shet Circulation Manager Circulation North and East - Kapil Kaushik
While I sourced a computer, getting a large-sized TV during a pandemic lockdown is a task and that too, the one that fits my needs and the budget. This research led to the cover story this month that talks about the most expensive television sets you can buy to the most affordable ones. However, if you are still adamant to keep that ol’ idiot box working, check out our review of the Mi Box 4K that transforms your current TV into a smart one. Despite the lockdown, there was a steady stream of new products and it was the smartphones category that was buzzing. Xiaomi, Realme, Vivo and Motorola launched new phones to please Indian customers, in addition to the affordable smartwatch from Amazfit. As for the regular set of reviews, we tried out Apple’s MacBook Air, Tag Heuer’s smartwatch, B&O’s new soundbar and more.
Kunal Gangar, Executive Editor k.gangar@nextgenpublishing.net
Views and opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. Views expressed by external contributors are their own and not those of the organisations they work for. Next Gen Publishing does not take the responsibility for returning unsolicited material sent without adequate postal stamps for return postage. No part of the magazine may be reproduced in part or full without the prior express written permission of the publisher. All readers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement appearing in the publication. T3 India does not vouch for any claims made by advertisers for their products and services. The editor, publisher, printer and employees of the publication shall not be held liable for any consequence in the events of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai only.
OUR AWARDS PLATINUM AWARD
T3 is…
THE DESIGN AWARD
BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE
This award, and others We give this only to Only a five-star review like it, are given for tech that stands out for earn a product our prestigious Platinum stunning aesthetics or a exceptional performance in a key feature clever build Award
BEST ON TEST
The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them to be top tier
BRANCH OFFICES Mumbai 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Tel: +91 22 43525252 Ahmedabad Devendra Mehta - Mob No.- 09714913234 Bengaluru Unit No. 509, 5th Floor ‘B’ Wing, Mittal Towers, MG Road, Bangalore -560001, India Tel: +91 80 66110116/17 Fax: + 91 80 41472574 Chennai Salma Jabbar Cenetoph Elite,No.5,1st street, Teynampet, Chennai-6000018 Tel: + 91 044 421-08-421, 044 421-75-421 New Delhi Ellora Das Gupta 26-B, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase-III, New Delhi - 110020 Tel: +91 11 4234 6600 / 6678 Fax: + 91 11 4234 6679 Pune S.No.261/G.L.R.No.5 East Street,Camp, Pune-411001 Tel : + 91 20 26830465 Hyderabad Srinivas Gangula -Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation) Mobile no. 09000555756 Kolkata Vidyasagar Gupta -Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation). Mobile no. 09804085683 Subscription Enquiries Tel: +91-22-43525220 Apple Newsstand & Magzter Queries: help@magzter.com All rights reserved. Published with the permission of Future plc. Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission from Future plc & Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd. with regard to their respective content is prohibited. Printed by Girish Mallya. Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Published by Girish Mallya on behalf of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Printed at Kalajyothi Process Pvt. Ltd, 1-1-60/5 RTCX Roads, Hyderabad - 20. Published at Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 105-106, Trade World, B Wing, 1st Floor, Kamala Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel West, Mumbai-400013. Editor: Kunal Gangar
4 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
154 years in business | 70,000+ global workforce | Presence in 70 countries
155
acres of SP Infocity, IT and SEZ parks developed across India
SP Infocity, Pune, India
Engineering & Construction | Infrastructure | Real Estate | Energy | Water | Financial Services Shapoorji Pallonji And Company Private Limited Corporate Office : SP Centre, 41/44 Minoo Desai Marg, Colaba, Mumbai 400 005, India. Tel +91 22 6749 0000
www.shapoorjipallonji.com
Contents
Contents 024
BEST TVS FOR ANY BUDGET
Discover the top tellies 2020 has to offer, from amazing 8K sets to wallet-friendly wonders
040
COMPLETE GUIDE TO LEARNING PIANO
There’s never been a better time to master tickling the ivories. Here’s the best gear to get you started
6 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
033
STATE OF THE ART The latest mirrorless cameras bring DSLR quality to more portable (and affordable) bodies
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Contents BEST OF THE BEST 064 INTRODUCING THE BEST BUYER’S GUIDE KNOWN TO MAN
HORIZON
TESTED
010
052
HORIZON TOP LAUNCHES
MACBOOK AIR
A busy month of launches, ranging from myriad of products from Realme to Xiaomi launching their most expensive phone
Fixing the keyboard and the price, Apple has nixed all our criticisms
019
054
STYLE
XIAOMI MI BOX 4K
Check out what’s ticking these days with new timepieces
Want to make your dumb TV smart? Xiaomi’s latest gadget to the rescue
020 AUTO
055
Cruise in comfort with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Edition
B&O BEOSOUND STAGE
023
From phones to tablets, and camera to cars, our selection of the very best tells you what to buy 061
% 2èV ĆUVW 'ROE\ $WPRV VRXQGEDU LV already one of the best
LIVING )LW RXW \RXU KRPH RIĆFH DQG JHW JUHDW NLW for working smarter under lockdown
026
THE MUSIC OF
TALKING TECH
‘JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI’
'XQFDQ %HOO RQ WKH ODWHVW ORFNGRZQ must-haves: bog paper and hot tubs
027 GADGET GURU Grow greener grass, do up your desk and share in a new twist on wristwear
057 TAG HEUER CONNECTED Offering luxury construction and some very smart sports-tracking, this is a seriously premium smartwatch
SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE BIG MONEY
058 XIAOMI REDMI EARBUDS S
038
A perfect device to see what’s the hype about TWS
Essentials 002
SHOWSTOPPER
038
SUBSCRIPTIONS
072
LUXURIES
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Horizon SONY DUALSENSE `TBA, playstation.com Sony’s PS5 reveal is running at a trickle. We’ve seen specs, we’ve seen a (likely bogus) render of the main console, and now we’re seeing the DualSense, the most radical controller change Sony has made, well, ever. Borrowing from the design language of the PSVR headset and dialling up the sci-fi, it subtly tweaks just about every long-established aspect of DualShocks of old. There are new curves, designed to make the controller feel smaller than it looks, and that two-tone design begs for future customisation options. There are re-angled adaptive triggers, which can ramp up in tension as games require, a built-in microphone array and speaker, and haptic feedback to pipe game actions directly to your fingers and thumbs. There’s even a mysterious ‘Create’ button where the Share button used to be. T3 SAYS: We can’t wait to get our hands on it.
TECH-O-METER
RAZER BLADE 15 Approx. `1,50,000, razer.com Razer’s unibody laptops have long been little gems – and with a new generation of mobile graphics comes a highly desirable upgrade to the jewel in its crown. The newest Blade 15 comes in Base and Advanced varieties; each carries a tenth-gen Intel Core chip within its aluminium unibody shell. You can, depending on your spend, dial in anything from a GTX 1660 Ti to a RTX 2080 SUPER which is, let’s be frank, a rather ridiculous spec for a laptop this size; good job the Advanced model has vapor chamber cooling to keep everything in check. And we’ve not even mentioned the screen, a 15.6” OLED that runs at 144Hz in the base model and a stupendous 300Hz if you go advanced. The ultimate in laptop luxury – but you can more than double that base price for the fully specced-up version. T3 SAYS: Razer is just spoiling us now.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon LEGO ADVENTURE WITH MARIO STARTER COURSE `TBA, lego.com Nintendo’s greatest icon meets Denmark’s finest export, as the iconic moustachioed Italian is immortalised in ABS at last. Lego hasn’t skimped on the smarts: our plastic hero gets three integrated LCD screens giving him the ability to emote through his eyes, mouth and belly, a speaker with which to output Charles Martinet’s signature yelps, and a whole bunch of sensors. Mario knows what colour block he’s standing on, he has an accelerometer and gyroscope, and Bluetooth connectivity to an accompanying app. And then there’s the set itself, a modular collection of obstacles and collectables that combines to make an interactive coin-collecting adventure, with more sets on the way. It might be aimed at kids, but you’ll have to forgive us for expressing our AFOL tendencies here: this looks really, really cool. T3 SAYS: Wa-hoo! Lego is onto a winner here – bring on August.
TECH-O-METER
DELL XPS 17 AND 15 `TBA, dell.co.in Dell’s new range of XPS laptops includes the all-new and mighty XPS 17 and the redesigned and upgraded XPS 15. With the XPS 17 being the ‘smallest 17-inch laptop on the planet’, one shouldn’t doubt its power – as it is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 with Max-Q design GPU. Dell has engineered a unique thermal cooling system that can let such a small-sized powerhouse function at its best. Meanwhile, the compact XPS 15 comes with a discrete Nvidia GeForce 1650 Ti GPU. The XPS 17 and XPS 15 are badged with “Creator Edition” and rightly so, as they both support 4K resolutions through their 4-sided InfinityEdge Display with 100% Adobe RGB and 94% DCI P3 colour gamut, making it ideal for creators who regularly render crisp videos and photos. They are also the first-ever laptops to feature the immersive Waves Nx 3D audio system along with having features like Dell Phone Connect that lets you control your smartphone with the laptop. T3 SAYS: The XPS 17 and XPS 15 are available with up to 64GB and 32GB RAM, respectively. With an advanced thermal design and up to octa-core processors, these laptops guarantee high-performance and speed.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon REALME NARZO 10 AND 10A From `8,499, realme.com/in Realme’s unprecedented growth over the past two years is a well-deserved reward for their skills and perseverance to integrate and upgrade entry-level smartphones as much as they can – and the Narzo 10 and 10A epitomises their effort. Both phones are available in only one variant with the latter available with 3GB+32GB and the former available with 4GB+128GB. The Narzo 10A is powered by a MediaTek Helio G70 processor which can be clocked up to 2GHz. It features a triple-camera setup with a 12MP f/1.8, a 2MP portrait camera, and a macro camera enabling users to shoot objects 4cm away. The Narzo 10 is the better phone in this series with a MediaTek Helio G80 chipset, making it the first phone in the world with it. It features a quad-camera setup with a 48MP main, a 119-degree ultra-wide-angle 8MP camera , a macro lens and a B&W portrait lens. Both the phones are equipped with a large 5000mAh battery and a 6.5” mini-drop full-screen display. T3 SAYS: With a wide variety of features, realme is raising the bar for entry-level smartphones.
TECH-O-METER
XIAOMI MI 10 From `49,999, mi.com/in Xiaomi’s Mi 10 is their latest premium flagship 5G phone and is loaded with some excellent features. The Mi 10 features a whopping 108MP camera at the back along with a 13MP ultra wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The Mi 10 is capable of shooting 8K videos at 30fps, thus appealing creators of all sorts. Powered by the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 865 processor, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and LiquidCool 2.0 vapour chamber, the Mi 10 ensures fast performance and smooth, efficient multitasking, even while playing the most demanding of games. The Corning Gorilla Glass 5 gives the Mi 10’s 90Hz 6.67” curved AMOLED DotDisplay the much-needed durability. The Mi 10 comes in 2 variants - 128GB and 256GB and has a 4780mAh battery. T3 SAYS: With a host of premium features, the Mi 10 5G is Xiaomi’s yet another attempt to bring a premium phone at a competitive price.
TECH-O-METER
12 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
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Horizon POCO F2 PRO `TBA, poco.net Poco’s first smartphone after the spin-off was a mid-range but they are now expanding their wings into the premium category with the Poco F2 Pro. As with most high-end phones, the F2 Pro is also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with Adreno 650 GPU and LiquidCool Technology 2.0 to handle graphic-intensive games. With a 6.67-inch full screen AMOLED display supporting a resolution of 2400x1080+ with HDR10+ support, the screen is certified from TÜV Rheinland. The Poco F2 Pro comes with a rear quad-cam setup comprising of a Sony IMX686 64MP sensor, a 123-degree 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. It also has the cheeky drop-protected 20MP pop-up camera, freeing the screen for an immersive viewing experience. The Poco F2 Pro has a large 4700mAh battery and a 30W wired fast charge tech. T3 SAYS: The F2 Pro’s rear camera supports 8K video recording at 30fps and 120fps slow-motion video on the front.
TECH-O-METER
VIVO V19 From `27,990, vivo.com/in The new Vivo V19 continues to reflect Vivo’s desire to prioritise integrating superior camera performance in their smartphones. The Vivo V19 features a total of six cameras: four at the back and two on the front. The quad-camera rear setup consists of a 48MP f/1.8 main camera, an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP super macro camera and a 2MP f/2.4 portrait lens. Vivo has also graciously added an impressive 32MP f/2.08 camera along with a ‘super-wide’ 8MP camera in the front, enabling users to take pano-selfies and more. The Vivo V19 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 processor and an 8GB RAM with two storage options of 128GB and 256GB. Additionally, the V19 runs on the Funtouch OS10, built on the Android 10 and it’s equipped with a 6.44-inch LIV Super AMOLED FHD+ display. The V19 weighs just around 186 grams and has a 4500mAh battery that supports 33W vivo FlashCharge 2.0 technology. T3 SAYS: The V19 can shoot 4K videos at 30fps with ‘Ultra Stable Video Mode’ and a ‘Art Portrait Video’ mod support.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon REALME SMART TV From `12,999, realme.com/in Making its way into the tech-lifestyle sector, Realme is launching its first-ever Smart TV, which will be available in two sizes – 32” and 43”, offering dated resolutions of 1366x768 and 1920*1080 respectively. Both variants of the Smart TV are bezel-less and it does offer a stylish look and they’re powered by a MediaTek 64-bit quadcore processor which supports HDR10. With a combined power of 24W, there are two sets of speakers located at the bottom of the TV. To further enhance the audio experience, the Realme TV uses Dolby Audio that delivers audio with effective clarity. Platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Prime Video are available and can be easily accessed through dedicated hotkeys on the remote or use the integrated Google Assistant. The Realme Smart TV is also equipped with Chroma Boost Picture Engine that enhances the overall picture quality and comes with a built-in Chromecast and it runs on Android TV (9.0). On the wireless connectivity front, the TV supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth v5.0 . T3 SAYS: The 43” variant costs `21,999. With cheaper 4K TV’s breaking out, and while these are smart TVs at pocket-friendly prices, the lifecycle of this product range could be short.
TECH-O-METER
REALME WATCH `3,999, realme.com/in The TV is not the only category that Realme entered into last month. Although it’s an extension to its wearable lineup, it’s Realme’s first smartwatch. Currently, the Realme Watch works only with Android devices via Bluetooth v5.0 but brings in a decent feature set at an affordable price. It has a 1.4” 320x320 smooth touch screen with 12 built-in watch faces and the latest PPG sensor to monitor the user’s heart-rate throughout the day and blood-oxygen level monitor. Additionally, the smartwatch supports tracking of sports data through 14 different sports modes, which includes walking, running, strength training, football, yoga, and many more. The Realme Watch also supports app notifications, music and camera control along with other smart devices like the Realme Buds Air, speakers, air purifier, the new Smart TV, and more. The Realme Watch’s design is IP68 rated for water resistance. T3 SAYS: The Realme smartwatch seems to have it all and with its competitive price.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon
MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X From `98,999, microsoft.com/in Microsoft refreshed its Surface lineup and the Surface Pro X is designed to deliver a fresh experience for the modern workers. The Surface Pro X has a 13-inch edge-to-edge PixelSense Display with an aspect ratio of 3:2 that helps to maximise the workspace. With the traditional sleek design, the Surface Pro X is just 7.3mm thick and with the new Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard, it excels in its ability to feel like a laptop. Weighing just 774 grams, the Surface Pro X is equipped with an 8GB RAM and a storage space of 128GB and promises a 13-hour battery life that can charge back up to 80% in just an hour. Powered by Intel’s 10th-Gen Core processor, the Surface Pro X supports LTE connectivity, SSD, dual 4K video output via USB-C and more. T3 SAYS: Surface devices are known for its portability and Surface Pro X seems to fit the bill perfectly
TECH-O-METER
ALIENWARE AREA-51M `TBA, alienware.com The Alienware Area 51m is a symbol of brute strength, power and speed in the world of gaming laptops, rightly making it one of the top laptops out there. The Area 51m is powered by the latest 10th Gen Intel Core S-series processors with a clock speed of up to 5.3GHz and ‘Thermal Velocity Boost’. The Area-51m is equipped with a 17-inch UHD display that delivers up to a stunning 300Hz refresh rate for smooth and crisp visuals. The Area-51m is integrated with the new Alienware Cryo-Tech cooling technology with a honeycomb air-intake panel, 10% larger fan blades and a vapour chamber cooling. The newly engineered Alienware keyboard which features 1.7mm of key travel and a per-key customisable RGB LED lighting for a fun gaming experience. Thinner bezels and a magnesium alloy exoskeleton give a bold and premium feel. T3 SAYS: The Area-51m also offers AMD Radeon RX graphics options, giving gamers more options.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon HUAMI AMAZFIT BIP S From `4,999, amazfit.com The Amazfit Bip S is a lightweight addition to the Amazfit family that comprises of well-received models such as the GTR. It hosts a 1.28” MIP display and has a 20mm lightweight but dirt-resistant wristband that ensures durability and reliability. The Amazfit Bip S features a ‘Biotracker PPG’ optical sensor, also used in models like the GTR that enables continuous heart-rate tracking. The Amazfit Bip S has 10 sports modes and also specialises in capturing swimming data like stroke rate, stroke times, and more. It is water-resistant up to a depth of 50 meters and due to its compatibility with Android and iOS, it also has a host of features like text and phone call reminders, two editable dials, 40+ watch faces, an alarm clock, weather forecast, ability to control music, and ‘excessive heart rate reminders’, to name a few. T3 SAYS: Running on the familiar Amazfit OS, the Amazfit Bip S 200mAh battery claims to operate for 40 days on a single charge for basic usage, and for 15 days during typical usage.
TECH-O-METER
MOTO G8 POWER LITE `8,999, motorola.in Moto G8 Power Lite is Motorola’s most affordable smartphones as of yet that gives a strong competition to other entry-level smartphones. The Moto G8 Power Lite runs on Android 9 and is powered by a 2.3GHz MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. Motorola sells the phone in a single 4GB+64GB variant option and if limited storage is an issue, there’s a microSD slot that allows to expand the phone storage by 256GB. The Moto G8 Power Lite is equipped with a 6.5” Max Vision HD+ display that has an aspect ratio of 20:9 and with 5000mAh battery onboard, consumers can enjoy movies and games for hours before finding the wall charger. The Moto G8 Power Lite features a tri-camera setup with a 16MP f/2 main camera with phase detection autofocus, a 2MP f/2.4 macro and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. Along with a fingerprint sensor, this phone features ‘Moto Actions’, one of them being twisting of the wrists twice to launch the camera. T3 SAYS: The Moto G8 Power Lite brings in speed and power and promises to be a strong entry-level smartphone.
TECH-O-METER
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Horizon FUJIFILM X-T4 From `1,54,999, fujifilm.in The Fujifilm X-T4 has big shoes to fill after the success of its predecessor. The X-T4 is equipped with an APS-C ‘X-Trans’ CMOS 4 sensor with an effective pixel count of 26.1MP, quite similar to the X-T3. The sensor can capture up to 10-bit with a 4:2:0 colour space internally at a bitrate of up to 400 Mbps. One of the key changes is that Fujifilm has excluded the headphone jack in the X-T4 but added the impressive in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) that provides a 5-axis 6.5 stop image stabilisation and is 30% smaller and 20% lighter than X-H1’s IBIS unit. The X-T4’s new ultra-fast focal plane shutter can shoot up to 15fps in burst mode and has a shutter life of 300,000 actuations. Impressively, the X-T4 can record 4K videos at 60p and full HD videos at 240p. The X-T4 features a large, bright 3.69m-dot electronic viewfinder that can be pushed to a 100fps refresh rate for smooth display. It also hosts a 3” 1.62m-dot touchscreen that can rotate through its multi-angle design. T3 SAYS: The X-T4 is a powerful camera and does give the impression that it strives hard to fit every need, despite its price tag.
TECH-O-METER
HYPERX CLOUD STINGER CORE HEADSET `4,590, hyperxgaming.com HyperX is known for delivering layered experiences to gamers through their durable accessories and the Cloud Stinger Core Headset adheres to HyperX’s mantra. The Cloud Stinger Core headset features 40mm drivers, with the comfortable closed-cup design that helps in cutting off ambient noise rather easily. It is also equipped with strong steel sliders and provides a swivelling microphone for efficient communication. The ear cushions can make or break any headsets likeability and the Cloud Stinger Core ensures soft, and long-lasting ear cushions which would be appreciated by pros and enthusiasts alike. T3 SAYS: Despite its entry-level pricing, the Cloud Stinger Core not only do the job but are there with you in the long-run.
TECH-O-METER
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Style
WHICH WATCH
THE HOTTEST TIMEPIECES RIGHT NOW
TUDOR, PELAGOS LHD Waterproof to 500m, the “left-handed” version of the Pelagos is produced as a numbered series and features a modified manufacture movement with a winding stem on the left side. tudorwatch.com
GLASHÜTTE ORIGINAL, SIXTIES
PORSCHE DESIGN, 1919 CHRONOTIMER FLYBACK BLUE Following the approach of Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, who focused on form and function, this Chrono features a titanium case and houses the movement ‘Werk 01.200’. porsche-design.com
CHRISTOPHER WARD, C65 GMT WORLDTIMER
Featuring a new glacier blue dial with a delicate sunray finish, this watch celebrates the style and elegance of the 1960s. Inside is the modern Calibre 39-52, with a 40-hour power reserve.
Allowing you to stay synced with different time zones across the world, this new C65 features a GMT hand and a bi-directional worldtimer bezel showing 24 international cities.
glashuette-original.com
christopherward.com
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Horizon Auto
ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS
SILHOUETTE TITAN ACCENT SUNGLASSES Look cool behind the wheel (and shield your eyes) with these shades from Austrian eyewear designer brand, Silhouette. They’re comfortable, stylish and feature brand-new features to protect your vision, including an anti-glare coating and the brand’s own light management technology. silhouette.com
CAR TREK
KING OF THE ROAD TRIP With a route in the sat-nav, T3’s Spencer Hart takes the Rolls-Royce Cullinan around Scotland If you’re planning the ultimate road trip, you, of course, need the ultimate car to go along with it. Look no further than the Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge Edition – the pinnacle when it comes to super-luxury SUVs, combining comfort with genuine practicality, on-road refinement and off-road capability. Before you experience all of that, though, you’ll be greeted by the Cullinan’s imposing design. Not only is this one of the largest cars on the road; in Black Badge guise, with blacked-out chrome and a black Spirit of Ecstasy, this is also one with the most intimidating. It helps give this Rolls-Royce a more youthful, dynamic personality. Climb inside, press the button to close the doors, and you’re surrounded by meticulous craftsmanship, the highlight of which is the Starlight Headliner, which is a reflection of the sky at night, handwoven with 1,344 fibre optic lights with shooting stars that dart at random over the occupants. It’s a truly wonderful place to be, with seats so comfortable you won’t mind spending long hours and countless 20 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
miles in them. The Cullinan is built on Rolls-Royce’s proprietary all-aluminium architecture that debuted with the Phantom. This not only delivers extraordinary on-road comfort but allows the Cullinan to be fitted with allwheel drive and four-wheel steering. This came in useful on the snow-covered roads in Scotland, but also means, if you’re daring enough, you can take your Cullinan off-road. Start the engine and you’ll soon realise that the Black Badge is no ordinary Cullinan. Rolls-Royce engineers have amplified the car’s 6.75-litre twinturbocharged V12 with an entirely new exhaust system, growling into life with a deep, authoritative “basso profundo”. The engine has been tweaked to generate an extra 29PS, creating a total output of 600PS, and a further 50NM of torque, bringing the total to 900NM. The result is an extremely well-mannered tourer at low speeds and a thrilling driver’s tool when pressed. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan Black Badge is available to commission now.
CABEAU EVOLUTION S3 PILLOW Looking for a little extra comfort? You’ll want the Cabeau Evolution Pillow. It’s one of the plushest out there, making you feel truly relaxed even on the bumpiest of rides. It packs down small too, making it the ideal travel pillow to stash in your car. cabeau.com
THE NORTH FACE BASE CAMP DUFFEL This bag is trusted by travellers and adventurers from the Himalayas to urban metropolises. It’s made from water-resistant ballistic nylon, and it’s incredibly durable and hard-wearing. There’s even a zipped pocket for separating dirty shoes or wet clothes. thenorthface.com W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
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Horizon Fitness
HI-TECH RUNNING SHOES
ADIDAS ADIZERO PRO Th latest The l t t iteration it ti off th the Adi Adizero franchise brings the whole new Lightstrike cushioning system to the table as well as an integrated Carbitex carbon-plate, embedded in the midsole. The DSP outsole, combined with the Continental rubber compound, provides traction, flexibility and durability. adidas.co.in
WATCH OUT
IT’S ALL RUN AND GAMES ASICS METARACER Asics’ most advanced longdistance racing shoe yet, the Metaracer uses an updated version of Guidesole, the superresponsive sole system, aided by a carbon plate for improved responsiveness. The Flytefoam midsole is lightweight and makes landings softer and running more responsive. asics.com
NEW EW BALANCE FUELCELL TC The New Balance FuelCell TC follows the tried-and-tested formula of carbon-enhanced road running shoes: increased stack height, a full-length internal carbon fibre plate and a tightfitting breathable upper. The suede collar around the ankle reduces chafing. sportsshoes.com
The new Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000 running watch is here with memory-in-pixel screen and solar charging The market for fitness wearables is getting bigger every year, making it more appealing to traditional watch companies like Casio to enter. Casio is far from a newcomer to digital watches, but we were yet to see a full-blown fitness watch from them, up until recently. The new Casio G-Shock GBD-H1000 (g-shock.com) is one of the most intriguing running watches we’ve seen in a while, taking a different approach to the likes of Garmin and Polar. The new G-Shock is shock-resistant, water-rated to 200 metres, and has a very decent GPS chip that uses multiple satellite systems (GPS/GLONASS/QZSS). The watch also houses a range of sensors, including an optical heart rate sensor, a magnetic sensor (compass), a pressure sensor (altimeter) and an acceleration sensor (pedometer). There is also a temperature sensor in there. It can also give you a VO2 max estimate, evaluate training status and fitness level and measure training load as well as recovery time. And this running watch has a memory, too, although not for storing music: the G-Shock can store up to 100 runs in its training log, also up to 140 lap records per
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run and metrics like elapsed time, distance, pace, calories burned, heart rate, maximum heart rate, aerobic training effect, anaerobic training effect, and so on. It uses a peculiar memory-in-pixel (MIP) LCD screen. The high-definition monochrome display is an interesting choice and something that will most likely set the Casio apart from its competition. There are plenty of data screens on the watch itself and even more data to pore over in the upcoming Casio app. All the included tech does come at a cost: the watch is a bit on the heavy side, weighing approximately 110 grams. The Casio is also rather bulky too, although it being the member of the G-Shock family, we can’t say this feature was unexpected. As for battery life, the G-Shock can track 14 hours worth of exercising with the GPS on and will last in ‘time mode’ for about 12 months. Using the USB charger, the watch charges up from 0 to 100 in two and a half hours, but there is also a solar-charging system that “harnesses the power of any light source for reliable watch operation with minimal impact to the environment”. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Living
WORK SMARTER
MAKE SURE BUSINESS IS BOOMING IN YOUR HOME OFFICE Found yourself working from your abode a lot recently? Here’s what you need to upgrade your working from home setup Working from home has never been so popular, or so obligatory, as it has been in recent months. If you’re able to set up a ‘proper’ office space, it can be a lot more beneficial and motivating than using the dining room table, or a deckchair on the balcony – although if that’s all you have space for, that’s also fine. If you’re looking for a desk, we can heartily recommend Viking’s ‘proper’ office-style ones. Prices are affordable and, perhaps more importantly, sizing starts from as little as 80cm across. Those in search of something with a bit more style but not hugely increased price should consider Made.com. Again, they have some excellent options for those seeking to cram a desk into a small space. The Jory blurs the lines between shelving unit and desk – surely you can make room for that? One thing you cannot do with the Jory is use it as a sit/ stand desk. However, most other desks and tables can be easily converted by adding a Varidesk. The obvious benefit of
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working standing up is that it means you don’t have to splash out on an expensive office chair. What may surprise you is that, far from being a tiresome chore dreamed up by health and safety zealots, working standing up is genuinely beneficial in terms of reduced back pain and greater alertness. If you decide you prefer the good ol’ fashioned technique of sitting on your arse, Online stores like Amazon have an excellent choice of office-suitable chairs, from classic ergonomic ones to chairs that can double as dining chairs after the working day is done. An underrated office essential is a good quality task lamp. Using directed light is better for your eyes than bright overhead lighting, and a good lamp is also an endlessly handy and enjoyable thing to own. Our current favourite is the Humanscale Nova, which looks like something from the most tasteful room on the Starship Enterprise, and can be used either on a stand, or clamped to your desk. Now you’re in business.
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Opinion
Duncan Bell is on lockdown
The great hot tub frenzy of 2020 and why you should always stockpile dishwasher tablets
o it’s been a bit of a weird few months. I know that because at the last count, I have had 12,037 emails that begin “Dear [insert name] I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well during this crazy time.” Then, pleasantries having been dispensed with, they add: “We have a new phone charger that would be great for you to write about on techradar. com, [name]!” In some ways, the Great Lockdown of 2020 was a gift, to those of us who remained healthy. I’d also get emails from work contacts I actually do know, asking if I was going to write something about those headphones they sent me three weeks ago. I would say, “Sorry, it’s been a crazy time,” and they would just say, “Yes, it is terrible, I hope you and yours are well and safe, at this crazy time.” Suckers. Of course, this crisis will have a terrible and long-lasting impact on most parts of the tech world. Product development has been stalled, this year’s big launches will be way less successful than they would have been and certain sectors – hi-fi, for instance – have been put under awful pressure. The ironic thing is, though, that certain brands must have done extremely well out of it all. At T3 we’ve seen record traffic, as a captive audience of extremely bored people desperately looked for stuff to buy. It’s certainly not only been makers of toilet roll who have benefitted from the craziness. With hindsight, loo roll was the canary in the coal mine that warned us all the world was about to go mad. The sight of people
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wrestling over Andrex is a disturbing one that will linger long in the shared memory. Personally, I did not stockpile that. In fact the only thing I stockpiled was dishwasher tablets. I figure if push comes to shove, I can wipe my arse with anything, but I sure as hell am not going back to doing the dishes manually. No way. As ‘full lockdown’ approached, another thing I slightly panicked about was record player styluses. No, really. I bought a new turntable just before it all kicked off, and it did not come with a cartridge. I ended up getting one just in time, with the help of Audio-Technica. I had to call up a woman working from her kitchen and pay for it over the phone, which isn’t something I’ve done for a while. Disaster averted, though. While I was probably among a small handful of people desperate to buy a record player cartridge, I know that lots
“Loo roll was the canary in the coal mine that warned us all the world was about to go mad” of tech things immediately began to sell out. Certain products were as sought-after as gold, or quilted bum wipes. Some of these things made perfect sense – hair clippers and home gym equipment, for instance. Another great irony of this period has been that I’ve found myself editing a lot of online stories about buying home gym equipment, and not drinking, so as to avoid ‘lockdown weight gain’. But in
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order to do that, I’ve had to push aside vast swathes of empties from my kitchen table, in order to make space for both my laptop and my now enormous gut. Some of the sell-out items came more out of left field. Have you ever considered buying a hot tub before? No, me neither. But a run of hot days in early spring, coupled with the stark realisation that the garden was gonna get a lot of use this year, sent them flying off shelves. I did a roundup of where you could buy hot tubs – the Pulitzer Prize is nailed on, I’m sure – and it immediately started doing a load of traffic that did not let up until all of the hot tubs in Britain had sold out. There was a lot of talk of people using bots to snap up sought-after items, with a view to reselling them at a fat profit. So maybe all the hot tubs ended up in one guy’s garage, just as the hot spell came to an end. Watch out for them on eBay. Hopefully by the time you read this, the worst will be over and the ‘situation’ more stabilised. I’m writing this one on the day we go to press. Not because I’m lazy, you understand. It’s just been a crazy time. Stay safe.
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Horizon Gadget Guru
T3’s outdoors and indoors expert lets us into his shed of knowledge
LAVINA MOHTA
Can I automate my medicine in some way? Notice how most of Guru’s answers start with a long and rambling ‘same here’ story? Funny that. Anyway, Guru is always reminded when he hasn’t taken his gut medicines, because the broken valves of his stomach allow incredible volumes of stomach acid to squirt merrily up to his throat. Lovely, eh? UK company Pivotell sells a bunch of stuff (branded PivoTell, with that all-important capital T) which adds the barest amount of technology to the
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ABOVE “Ms Mohta, please shove me down your throat. No, for heaven’s sake, not up there!”
compartmentalised pill boxes your mum uses, allowing you to automatically dispense your pills based on the day. It also sells pill reminders and watches, which are things your phone already does, though they’re great for the elderly and those with diminishing faculties. It probably is best to rely on your phone: Medisafe (free with IAPs) helps you track what you need to take, when it’s due and, as long as you remember to use it, tracks whether you’ve already had your dose.
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Gadget Guru
SUJOY BANERJEE
What can I do to my desk to make working easier? Don’t be afraid to give your brain a break. Guru has been doing that for nigh-on 40 years and it hasn’t done him any harm. It was at this point in writing that GaGu went off to hunt for studies that say procrastination is a good thing, and it turns out (after an hour’s searching, punctuated by a visit to YouTube and a sojourn away from the desk to find a cat to pet and eat some delicious Dairy Milk chocolate) that psychologists aren’t inclined to find evidence to support it. They (and this is the nebulous ‘they’, rather than psychologists) do say a tidy desk means a tidy mind, but the opposite is also true; it’s imperative to get yourself into beneficial habits. Something as simple as a sticky note with that general morning routine on it – clean desk, properly position monitors, adjust nether regions – could be enough to remind you to do the right thing. Proper posture can
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also help; a decent office chair will turn that lazy slouch into an upright and alert pose. Guru can’t help but recommend the stiff, posture-friendly yet remarkably comfortable Noblechairs HERO, which has positively adjusted his own floppy spine over the past year. Many swear by standing desks, which do away with that potential for laziness entirely; Guru has a converter (a Yo-yo DESK Mini) although he found it made him more inclined to go and wander off to the kitchen. Your results may vary. Really, though, it’s about your own ability to focus. Do what works for you: put a picture of your kids on your desk, run the Pomodoro technique to give yourself adequate breaks, install some kind of procrastination-stopper on your computer. Separate work from fun. You’ll get there.
GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX Hot news, at least if you’re in the region of GaGu’s right front pocket: his trusty Nokia 8 developed an irritating fault in which the home button started activating on its own, and it has therefore met its doom courtesy of the heavy iron end of Guru’s Gadget Corrector 3000. Guru didn’t have an awful lot of cash on hand with which to pick up a new Android handset, but his bargain nose was truly a-sniffin’ when he found the Google Pixel 3a XL for just 300 bones. Last-gen it may be, but only just, and the sacrifices from the big boy 3 (no water resistance, wireless charging, or metaland-glass build) aren’t deal-breakers. Oh, and that camera is everything it’s cracked up to be. Long-term test results now for GaGu’s last-gen non-LTE Ticwatch Pro, and reader they
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are not good. What started as a promising and very cheap Android smart watch quickly morphed into a laggy, stuttering heap of battery-sucking junk, so annoyingly slow that Guru actually stopped wearing a watch for a while. The trick, if there is one, is to disable every piece of software from parent company Mobvoi, which does make things a little smoother. Not the easiest task, if you’re not used to tampering with the guttyworks of Android devices. Guru’s fingers are hovering dangerously over the ‘install a custom ROM’ button, so he’ll let you know if anything comes of that. It’s worth noting, though, that later versions of the Ticwatch Pro are reportedly much smoother, thanks to the extra RAM doled out to the 4G/LTE edition and the total overhaul of the recently-issued (and slimmed down) 2020 version.
KEVIN D’COSTA
Can I deep fry my own dinner? While the kale-conscious might clap you rudely round the head and steer you towards an air fryer, Guru also knows that such devices are often hit-or-miss; they’ll hit your food with heat, but you’ll miss properly fried foods. Heart health be damned: sometimes you need a treat. VonShef’s 1.5L deep fryer is functional and small enough that it doesn’t dominate your kitchen surfaces, though its limited capacity means it’s not super-suitable for a family. On the other hand, Magimix’s 11596 Pro 350 looks professional, has a three-loop heating system for good consistency, and drowns your food in a full 3L of oil.
AIR FRYERS ARE OFTEN HIT-OR-MISS; THEY’LL HIT YOUR FOOD WITH HEAT, BUT YOU’LL MISS PROPERLY FRIED FOODS. HEART HEALTH BE DAMNED JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 28
Best TVs for every budget
BEST TV s FOR
EVERY BUDGET Whatever your bank balance, there’s a quality TV out there that’ll match it – and, hey, we all need a bit of telly at the moment Words: Kunal Gangar, John Archer
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Best TVs for every budget
Premium TVs OLEDUCATION WHAT EXACTLY DOES ‘OLED’ MEAN? While OLED TVs can’t get as cheap as LCD TVs can, they have a good excuse. Namely that each and every pixel in an OLED screen produces its own light and colour. LCD TVs, on the other hand, share external lights across many hundreds or thousands of pixels at once. OLED TVs can therefore deliver peerless local contrast – as in, the darkest pixel in a picture can sit right alongside the brightest without either ‘polluting’ the other. This makes OLED technology uniquely capable of handling dark images – and, WKHUHIRUH D ĆUP IDYRXULWH ZLWK KRPH cinema fans. OLED screens can also be watched from any angle without colour or contrast taking a hit, and in recent years have got much brighter than many predicted they would. That said, even the brightest OLED TV only manages 1000 nits of peak light output while some LCD screens hit three or even four times that. But while this arguably gives LCDs an advantage with very bright HDR footage and in bright rooms, OLED’s black levels look extremely beautiful in a dark room setting, while its local contrast abilities ensure that pictures have plenty of intensity. Concerns remain over the potential for OLED TVs to suffer permanent image retention if exposed to static image elements over extended periods of time. While OLED manufacturers still provide warnings about this issue, though, it thankfully seems to become much less common with every passing OLED generation.
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SAMSUNG 65Q60RAK `1,69,990, samsung.com/in QLED is Samsung’s answer to the vivid OLED displays and this QLED TV focuses on all things quantum. Equipped with Samsung’s Quantum Dot technology, the TV delivers 100 percent colour volume for colours as close to real life. The next Quantum feature is the Quantum HDR 4X that analyses each scene frame by frame and adjusts the dynamic range of each to show the perfect brightness for every scene. The next piece of Quantum and the most important is the Quantum Processor 4K and AI support that does all the hard work. AI Upscaling reduces image noise, lost details to upscale content to near-4K resolution. Moreover, the TV sports ambient mode that nicely blends with the home decor or photos, depending on the user’s choice, supports voice assistants like Google or Samsung’s own Bixby and AirPlay 2 that allows to directly play content from one’s iOS device.
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Premium TVs
LG OLED65C9PTA `3,64,990, lg.com/in LG has been at the forefront when it comes to bringing quality OLED TVs and the C9 series is a testament to that. The OLED panel’s self-lighting pixel can turn on and off that not only is more power-efficient but also results in deep blacks and vivid colours, creating an impeccable contrast. The TV is powered by a 2nd-gen a9 Intelligent Processor with deep learning AI support that improves videos by reducing noise and enhances sharpness and details and on the other hand, mixes 2-channel audio to a virtual 5.1 surround sound along with automatic acoustic tuning. The LG TV supports several HDR formats that not only includes the regular HDR10 but also HDR10 Pro, Advanced HDR and even Dolby Vision. Speaking of Dolby, this telly also supports Atmos Cinema for audio and AirPlay 2 to play content from iOS.
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SONY KD-65A9G `3,06,890, sony.co.in Sony has consistently shown why they are one of the best TV makers in the premium category. The updated Master series elevates the whole viewing experience with the integrated Picture Processor X1 Ultimate and Pixel Contrast Booster. Quite a mouthful but what the processor does is to analyse each moving picture and adds a bit of magic of its own to make the final output realistic. 4K HDR is a given in a top-of-the-line TV but it also comes with the Dolby goodness of Vision and Atmos support. Adding depth to the overall experience is audio and the TV has something called as Acoustic Surface Audio+ that makes audio come out from the centre of the screen with two actuators placed behind the display and two subwoofers for a spatial effect. Oh, and the A9G wins some brownie points by Netflix to be one of their recommended TVs and features a special Netflix Calibrated Mode.
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Best TVs for every budget
Mid-range TVs
SET PRIORITIES TO PICK THE RIGHT TV, CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS While the mid-range TV segment typically gives you the best value for your investment, it’s also the most complicated area for TV buyers to negotiate. Mid-range models can’t give you everything like high-end TVs can, so they have to pick and choose their strengths. With this in mind, try and figure out as accurately as possible what you most need from your TV before you even start your search. Think, for instance, about how bright your room typically is when you watch TV. If it’s bright, a good LCD model may suit you best. If it’s dark or you regularly turn off the lights to watch a film, a budget OLED may suit you best. If you have wide seating positions to accommodate, an IPS LCD might be sensible. If you don’t, a VA panel may deliver the better all-round pictures. If you’re likely to use a TV for gaming as well as watching TV, look for fast response times and features like variable refresh rate support and auto low latency mode switching. Consider how many connections you need and, finally, what picture attributes – brightness, contrast, colour, sharpness and so on – you value the most. With this last point in mind, you’ll probably find it helpful to keep an eye on T3’s TV reviews!
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SAMSUNG THE FRAME From `82,999, samsung.com/in It’s a TV. It’s an art piece. Whatever you want to call it but it certainly enhances the look in your living room. The Frame functions as a regular TV, which means you get all the niceties of a QLED like improved picture quality and 4K support. It’s also a Netflix-recommended TV that will deliver top-notch Netflix streaming experience with HDR10+ support and 120Hz of refresh rate. However, the transformation happens once you stop watching it. With the help of built-in sensors, the TV changes the dull black screen into works of art, which the TV comes pre-loaded with. But you can expand the TV’s art library with over a selection of 1,200 artworks that can be downloaded from the Art Store. Moving back to its TV prowess, The Frame is still a Tizen-powered Smart TV and comes with voice assistant support and AirPlay 2.
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Mid-range TVs
ONEPLUS Q1 PRO `99,899, oneplus.in OnePlus may be known for its smartphones but the company ventured to bring their TVs last year. The top-end Q1 Pro looks great and has a cool party trick up its sleeve. The TV is equipped with a 50W sliding soundbar that reveals itself when you turn on the TV and retracts itself when turned off. When it comes to picture quality, the 4K QLED panel delivers good saturated colours and contrast, helped by the Gamma colour Magic chip and HDR support in the form of HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The TV also supports features like MEMC, dynamic contrast, noise cancellation, super resolution and is powered by Google’s official Android OS that brings in access to wide variety of apps and games, Google Assistant support and Chromecast.
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LLOYD L55ULS `1,69,990, mylloyd.com Every company wants to make their TV sound distinct and this is what Lloyd is doing with the L55ULS ULED TV. The Ultra LED TV offers better viewing experience with its micro dimming technology, wide colour gamut and HDRi support. The 100Hz refresh rate ensures ultra smooth motion when you are watching fast-paced content on the screen and is powered by a quad-core chip to handle the TV smarts and play 4K content. Unlike most TVs these days that run on Google’s official Android, this offering by Lloyd is powered by Vidaa U2.5 based on Linux that gives access to apps, casting support and more.
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Best TVs for every budget
Bargain TVs SCREEN SAVER CHOOSING A LOW-COST SUPERSTAR On one hand, buying a budget TV – maybe for a second room – is easier than buying a mid-range or high end one. After all, you’ll surely be going into it understanding that any budget TV you end up with will come with some performance and/or feature strings attached. At the same time, though, the variations between different budget sets can be truly extreme. Especially now we have high dynamic range to think about. Really no true budget TV has enough brightness or colour range to handle the demands of HDR properly, so you’re invariably looking at a kind of damage limitation exercise. So much so that short of budget TVs just not bothering to offer HDR support at all, which wouldn’t actually be a bad option, how well a particular budget TV ‘maps’ HDR to its screen’s capabilities is the single most important thing to look for when trying to pick a performance-led budget TV. The budget TV market is complicated by its mixture of ‘true’ budget TVs and sets that started out as lower mid-range PRGHOV EXW KDYH EHQHĆWHG IURP D SULFH cut or two. Obviously you’ll typically do better with one of the latter if you can ĆQG RQH å WKRXJK VRPH 79 VKRZV WKDW straightforward budget TVs can also have lots going for them.
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XIAOMI MI 4X From `29,999, mi.com/in Xiaomi revolutionised the Smart TV market with its affordable TVs and the Mi 4X is their latest generation set of televisions. Not much of a difference in terms of design compared to the previous generation but Xiaomi has made the new series more affordable while improving existing features. The TVs support 4K resolution playback with HDR and comes with a 20W speaker with Dolby Audio and DTS support to handle the audio experience. Although Mi TVs are powered by Google’s official Android TV OS, they also come with their interface called the PatchWall that focuses on content discovery and ease at which customers can enjoy content from its various partners. Furthermore, there’s Data Saver mode for users who use a limited FUP internet connection, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video hotkeys, built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant.
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Bargain TVs
SAMSUNG SUPER 6 NU6100 From `35,990, samsung.com/in This is Samsung’s answer to the competition in the affordable TV segment. It’s not exactly a Smart TV but brings in six main features that one would find in a Smart TV. The TV supports 4K resolution, which means you can stream content in high resolution from your favourite OTT service. The next feature is Live Cast, which is different to screen mirroring but allows streaming any live content from a smartphone directly to the TV. Other features include lag-free gaming, Tune Station for music and support for over 10 OTT streaming services. When it comes to the picture quality, the Super 6 TVs are equipped with UHD Engine, PurColor and Mega Contrast support and HDR10+ and HLG support.
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KODAK 4K UHD ANDROID TV From `23,999, kodaktv.in Kodak is not a name that one associates for a TV but the brand has been in the market for the last few years. The new CA series is again, an affordable TV series from Kodak but the thing that sets them apart is not the 4K UHD playback support but Dolby Vision support in this price range. Ranging from 43-inches to 65-inches, the TVs support HDR technologies like HDR10 and Dolby Vision and also come with MEMC for smoother viewing experience. The 30W speakers coupled with Dolby Digital Plus and DTS TruSurround deliver good audio experience. When it comes to its smart features, the MediaTek-powered TV runs Google’s official Android TV that brings a selection of apps and games, Chromecast support, voice control with Google Assistant and dedicated keys on the remote for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play.
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Best TVs for every budget
Upcoming 8K TVs
THE CASE FOR 8K IS IT FINALLY TIME TO UPGRADE? With pixel counts of 7680x4320, 8K TVs carry four times as much resolution as 4K ones. While this level of resolution is arguably not necessary on screens smaller than 65 inches, it removes all sense of image structure on large screens, leaving you with pictures that look unprecedentedly immersive and lifelike. Provided, anyway, that a TV has the colour, light and motion quality to unleash all those pixels’ full potential. There aren’t many native 8K sources yet, alas. Which isn’t surprising given the amount of data 8K video eats up. However, there’s talk of the next generation of games consoles providing at least a little 8K support. There’s an 8K sports channel on the horizon, too, YouTube already carries a few 8K videos, and various streaming services – including Rakuten and chili. tv – have said they intend to introduce 8K streams soon. Samsung’s latest S20 phones let you make your own 8K movies as well. Also, contrary to expectation, the best 8K TVs are proving remarkably good at turning 4K sources into 8K. The end results often look both more detailed and clean than they do in their native 4K form. This means that 8K TVs FDQ GHOLYHU SLFWXUH EHQHĆWV QRZ UDWKHU than only in some distant future where 8K content is common.
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LG OLED88ZXPTA The TV is coming soon but rest assured it is going to ask for a lot of dough. If you happen to have that sort of cash lying around, though, there is a good reason why the OLED88ZX will cost so much more than the other sets: it uses an OLED screen. Unlike LCD TVs, where external backlights are shared across many pixels at once, each pixel in an OLED TV makes its own light and colour. Which proves particularly handy when you’re talking about pixels as tiny and numerous as those you get in an 8K TV. In dark scenes especially, where rival LCD screens would have to compromise either the intensity of bright highlights or the darkness of blacks, the OLED88ZX gives full expression to even tiny details. OLED viewing angles are peerless too, while the way OLED technology allows an 88-inch screen to sit on a chassis that’s just a few millimetres deep seems to defy physics in a breathtaking way.
`TBA, lg.com
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Upcoming 8K TVs
SONY KD-85Z9G
SAMSUNG 75Q950TSK
Sony’s debut 8K TV is a typically emphatic effort from the Japanese brand, where its native 8K resolution is just one of many groundbreaking charms. It’s also, for instance, the brightest TV ever, getting close to the 4,000-nit brightness peaks found on some of the most aggressive HDR sources out there. It thus has the potential to show such full-on HDR images completely natively, without having to ‘remap’ them to lower brightness levels like other TVs do. The extreme brightness also means that daylight HDR scenes look unprecedentedly lifelike and convincing, while colours look vibrant and refined. Despite this, the technology Sony uses to give the 85Z9G a wider viewing angle compromises its contrast a little, and means you can sometimes see backlight ‘blooming’ around stand-out bright objects. But for many this will seem a small price to pay for the 85Z9G’s really extraordinary sharpness, detail and brightness.
The Samsung 75Q950TSK’s picture quality is jaw-dropping, delivering in full on the almost uncanny realism that’s 8K’s trademark. Even better, it uses new deep learning and AI technology to turn the 4K and HD sources you’ll still mostly be watching into 8K more convincingly than any TV before it. Its QLED Quantum Dot colour technology also helps it deliver unmatched extremes of brightness and colour with aggressive high dynamic range (HDR) images. At the same time, a new backlighting system, which controls the current as well as the voltage used to light the TV’s 480 separately controlled zones of LEDs, provides the most deep and controlled black colours ever seen on an LCD TV. Add in an innovative ‘Object Motion Tracking’ sound system that places sound effects in precisely the right place on the screen, along with a wealth of gaming features, and the Samsung 75Q950TSK is the very definition of a cutting edge TV.
`TBA, sony.co.in
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
`TBA, samsung.com
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 37
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State of the art
Mirrorless marvels
THERE’S A HUGE AMOUNT OF MIRRORLESS CHOICE RIGHT NOW. THESE THREE NEW MODELS ARE VYING FOR YOUR ATTENTION Words: Amy Davies Photography: Neil Godwin e’re now over a decade into the mirrorless revolution. They’ve all but overtaken the old DSLR for non-pros, with a diverse range of options to suit every need, budget and skill level. Standing out in this crowded market is no easy task. With every major manufacturer offering at least one line of mirrorless cameras, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. To that end, we’ve selected three models that are all interesting in their own ways.
W
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
The Nikon Z 50 comes hot on the heels of its full-frame siblings, offering a more affordable, mass-market product that is ideal for travel. The Fujifilm X-Pro3 comes to the market without a main rear screen, promising to make you a more considered photographer and stop you endlessly checking your shots (there’s a hidden screen you can reveal if you need to), and finally the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III brings an attractively retro body, enticing specs and a neat little package inside a mature system.
These aren’t the only models that you might consider - far from it - but they’re all what could reasonably be called ‘mid-range’ cameras. These may or may not be your first serious or ‘proper’ camera, but they offer a decent range of specifications at a fairly affordable - or good value - price. You can find cheaper, but you can equally also find more expensive options. Without further ado, we take a closer look at what each of these mirrorless cameras has to offer.
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 39
State of the Art
WHAT’S ON TEST…
1
Fujifilm X-Pro3 A hidden screen, a hybrid electronic/ optical viewfinder, a well-regarded sensor from the X-T3 and a range of other interesting specs make this one of the most unusual mirrorless cameras of recent times. But will quirky design make for great results? `1,55,999 (body only), fujifilm-x.com
2
SPECS SENSOR 26.1MP APS-C BSI CMOS LENS MOUNT X Mount SCREEN Fold down hidden rear 3.0inch touch-sensitive LCD, 1.28-inch sub monitor VIEWFINDER Hybrid electronic & optical finder VIDEO 4K 30fps
Nikon Z 50 Available at a great price and with lots of features to like – including decent build quality and good handling – the Z 50 might be the newest APS-C mirrorless system on the block, but it’s easily one of the best out there. From `72,995 (body only), nikon.co.in
3
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III A versatile, well-rounded system that benefits from being in the market for some time. A well-rounded spec sheet makes it very appealing, but the Four Thirds sensor is smaller than the other two here, though. approx. `1,00,000 (body only), olympus-imaging.co.in
SPECS
SPECS
SENSOR 20.9MP APS-C (DX format) CMOS LENS MOUNT Z Mount SCREEN 3.2-inch tilting TFT touchsensitive LCD VIEWFINDER 0.39-inch OLED electronic viewfinder VIDEO 4K 30fps
SENSOR 20.4MP Live MOS Four Thirds LENS MOUNT Micro Four Thirds SCREEN 3.0-inch vary-angle touchsensitive LCD VIEWFINDER 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder VIDEO 4K 30fps
2
3
1
40 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Mirrorless cameras PRODUCT 01:
FUJIFILM X-PRO3
FUJIFILM X-PRO3
With a hidden main screen, this camera aims to appeal to traditionalists
T
here are generally two styles of Fujifilm mirrorless cameras. There’s those that look a little like smaller DSLRs, with the viewfinder centrally mounted and offering a large, deep grip. By contrast, the X Pro series is a flatter, rangefinder style design, with the viewfinder in the left-hand corner. The X-Pro has always been the model most beloved by traditionalists, but for the X-Pro3, Fujifilm has taken that one step further by removing the main screen from view altogether. Aiming to give a similar to experience to shooting with an analogue camera, the only thing you’ll see on the small rear screen on the back of the camera is a selection of shooting settings (such as film simulation mode, battery life and remaining shots). Aiming to stop photographers from ‘chimping’ (constantly looking at your images in playback in between shots), you can access a screen by pulling the back down to reveal a hidden device. It’s one of those things that you’re either likely to think is completely insane, or you’ll fall in love with it. One thing’s for sure - it’s different - and it’s hard to say that about any other current mirrorless camera. The viewfinder is another oddity too, offering both electronic and optical via the flick of a switch - something for both traditionalists and those with more modern sensibilities.
You can access a screen by pulling the back down to reveal a hidden device
It takes a bit of getting used to working with the X-Pro3, but if you’re someone who likes the idea of getting back to photography’s roots, you’ll likely love it W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Aside from this unusual feature, there are plenty of other specifications to like too. It’s unlikely to be picked up by sports and action photographers, but with up to 20fps available (or 30fps with a crop), fast shooting can come in handy in certain situations. As we’ve come to expect from Fujifilm, images directly from the camera show excellent colour, and with plenty of different film simulations available, there’s something to suit every taste, too. Detail is very nicely rendered, while exposures are generally well balanced in most situations. On the whole, handling is good, with a good amount of direct access dials for settings such as shutter speed, exposure compensation and aperture. Other settings can be accessed via the ‘Q’ button - but you will either need to look through the viewfinder or flip down the screen to see the menu. A small joystick comes in handy for changing the AF point. This is probably not a camera we’d recommend for firsttimers, but anybody with a little experience - especially Fujifilm fans of course - will find a lot to like. JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 41
State of the Art PRODUCT 02:
NIKON Z 50
NIKON Z50
A new baby for the Z system that’s particularly ideal for travel
ikon has already proved its worth in the mirrorless market, with its fantastic full-frame Z 7 and Z 6 cameras introduced in 2018. The natural next step was to bring out a more consumer-friendly mass market option, which now appears in the form of the smaller sensor (APS-C) Z 50. A 20.9-megapixel sensor is at the heart of this camera, which essentially distils everything we liked about its full-frame siblings, but puts it in a smaller and lighter body. Importantly, it has the same lens mount as the Z 6 and the Z 7, so you can share lenses between the cameras. Handy if you want to pick this up to use as a backup or travel camera to your full-frame ‘main camera’. Alternatively if you later decide to upgrade to a full-frame Z series model, you’ll be able to take along any glass you’ve accumulated along the way. As well as shrinking the body, the price has also been dramatically reduced - good news if you’re putting your cash towards your travels. Despite its small size, the Z 50 still handles well, with a useful number of dials and buttons across its diminutive body. A small section of the screen is blocked off for virtual touchscreen options too, so that helps with the feeling of it being uncramped. All three of the cameras in this round-up have completely different screens. The Z 50’s 3.2-inch LCD is touch-sensitive but it only tilts up and down. This is great for quickly adjusting for awkward framing, but it’s not so handy for portrait-format images. On the plus side, it tilts all the way down to face forward - useful for selfies.
N
Detail is very well rendered, with accurate, well-balanced exposures When not using the screen, you’ll probably want to work with the 0.39-inch, 2360k-dot electronic viewfinder. It’s not quite as bright and clear as the Fujifilm X-Pro3’s, but it’s still very useable nonetheless. Other useful features of the Z 50 include a micro-USB charging port, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for using the camera with the free Snapbridge app, and a single SD card slot (Nikon has ditched the more expensive and harder to find XQD cards for its cheaper model). Despite the smaller sensor than its full-frame siblings, the Z 50 is still very capable of producing excellent imagery. Detail is very well rendered, with accurate, well-balanced exposures and vibrant colours. It isn’t the world’s best camera for action sequences (none of these cameras is), but it’s more than enough for capturing relatively easy-to-follow subjects, such as pets, kids and sedate sports. For static subjects, autofocusing in general is quick and accurate in most scenarios. 42 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
The Nikon Z 50 brings the quality of Nikon’s bigger and more expensive cameras down to a more pocket- (and wallet-) friendly model W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Mirrorless cameras OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 MARK III
PRODUCT 03:
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 MARK III
A well-rounded, easy to transport model – but with a smallish sensor fter being one of the pioneers of mirrorless, Olympus has been a little quiet of late. Still, it’s been plodding along in the background making reliable and decent all-rounders, with a respectable set of useful specifications. The OM-D E-M5 Mark III is awkwardly named, but it brings with it a number of high-end specifications including best-inclass five-axis image stabilisation, swift autofocusing and a light body that’s weather-sealed. Being a Micro Four Thirds camera, this model has a smaller sensor than the others in this group. There are both upsides and downsides to that. While image quality in lower light conditions might not be on par, and it’s harder to create very shallow depth of field effects, it means that the overall system is pleasingly dinky. It’s easy to pack the OM-D E-M5 Mark III and several lenses in a small bag, giving you lots of flexibility for shooting in a variety of different shooting situations. Despite the small body, the control layout is fairly well-spaced, with a retro design which is likely to appeal to those with a penchant for the traditional. That said, the rear buttons are a little on the small side.
A
The design may appeal to those with a penchant for the traditional
The electronic viewfinder is impressively bright and offers a clear view of the scene. You can even switch on an optical viewfinder simulation if you like W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Again, this is not really a camera which is likely to be picked up by sports enthusiasts, but with up to 10fps available with continuous autofocus, it’s not too shabby for some moving subjects. One of the most impressive aspects of this camera is the five-axis image stabilisation, which gives you scope to shoot handheld for very slow shutter speeds. This gives you the option to keep the ISO nice and low for pleasingly noise-free images, helping somewhat to overcome the fact that the sensor is smaller than the other two models here. Vloggers may also like it. It can shoot in Cinema 4K, and with a fully articulating a screen which faces all the way forward you can frame yourself to perfection. The most important aspect of any camera is how well it delivers images. Here, the OM-D E-M5 Mark III does very well, but it’s slightly behind in the low-light stakes. How often you shoot in low light may depend on how much this bothers you and it’s still very possible to take attractive low-light shots so long as you don’t obsess over every pixel. JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 43
State of the Art VERDICT:
1st
THE OVERALL WINNER IS…
BEST ON TEST
NIKON Z 50
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FIVE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A CAMERA LENS RANGE Take a look at a company’s website to see which optics they offer, especially if you’re after something specialist, such as an ultra-wide angle or macro lens. Newer systems will offer fewer options – of our cameras, that’s most relevant to the Nikon. Adapters are available, but these can case issues with automated lens features.
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44 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
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camera offers Cinema 4K (which captures a slightly higher resolution) and so on.
BATTERY LIFE One area where mirrorless cameras haven’t yet caught up with DSLRs is battery life. That said, they’re getting better and better all the time. If you’re someone who likes to shoot lots of frames in any given day, pay attention to the quoted battery life - and think about investing in a second battery or an on-the-go charger option.
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
5 01
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JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 45
The complete guide to…
46 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Learning piano
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO…
Learning piano With many of us locked down at home, now seems like a good time to start learning piano. But where’s best to start and what kind of keyboard or digital piano is best? Words: Daniel Goldman
T
he unprecedented situation of life under lockdown has led many of us to search for new ways to pass the time and learn new skills; learning a musical instrument could be just the antidote you need to these strange and uncertain times. In fact, many of us have always wanted to learn a new (or additional instrument) so now there’s really no excuse. Whether it be drums, piano, keyboard, guitar or anything else you have always wanted to be able to play, there are lots of great resources out there to help, in the form of pre-recorded lessons or one to one tuition from professionals (on Zoom or Skype). Even famous musicians are now allowing you into their previously hidden worlds to pass on their secret recipes for becoming a great instrumentalist. I’ve been playing piano since the age of five – so almost 40 years now! – and that one decision by my folks to start me off with piano lessons (despite my initial resistance!) was literally life changing and has defined my entire musical career. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
I meet many people who say to me “I wish I could play like you” or “I used to play a bit and wish I hadn’t stopped” and I have to admit my heart sinks when I hear this. Having the ability to play any instrument is such a huge game changer for anyone’s mental health, cognitive abilities and general happiness at any age and it can help you through tough times, provide joy too and connect you to people and the world in ways you never thought possible. Along with all the people you meet through your connection with music and your instrument, whether that be other musicians in bands, or educators, dancers, artists and other creatives, there is no time like the present to start on – or rejoin – the path to learning an instrument.
WHY PICK PIANO?
But why go for a piano or keyboard and not another instrument? Well, firstly, the piano is a relatively easy instrument to learn with a pretty shallow learning curve – though of course, like anything, to be
really great you need to really put in the hours. There’s also a ton of great learning resources out there for people of all ages/ abilities, including books, apps and videos. Compared to string instruments where you have to contort your hands into all sorts of unnatural feeling positions (at first) and where you have to physically make contact with the string with your hands to create the sound, the piano keyboard does a lot of the ‘heavy lifting’ work for you. In the most basic way, all you have to you is press a lever (the key), which then triggers a hammer (real or virtual in software) that hits a string and hey presto you’re off. Essentially, the way a piano or keyboard works means that anyone from a toddler to a pensioner can make a decent sound by simply pressing a key and listening to the beautiful note that rings out. Piano keys are also comfy and nicely spaced for our human hands (again unlike the guitar) and so as a starter instrument it’s ideal. The piano keyboard is a thing of absolute JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 47
The complete guide to… The top three…
GEAR & APPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PLAYING
We can’t guarantee this idyllic location along with the keyboard, but you never know…
With these tools, you’ll be channelling Chopin and mimicking Mozart in no time at all
01
FLOWKEY Flowkey is an app for computers and iOS/ Android devices. It’s fully interactive, gives you live feedback, allows you to slow down/speed up sections for practice and is endorsed by teachers and pianists. ćRZNH\ FRP
02
LUMI Roli will soon be helping budding pianists practise their craft with the release of Lumi, a keyboard with light-up keys and partnered app that teach you technique and new songs. playlumi.com
03
SKOOVE Skoove enables you to play along to songs and lessons on your phone, tablet or desktop. Its built-in AI listens to your playing and shapes your learning. skoove.com
genius, not just physically but visually too; it’s very easy to visualise how chords and scales are built and how everything relates. Once you’ve learnt how to play one octave then you’ve learnt all the octaves: they are all the same spatially but just at different pitches. What’s more, the piano keyboard (whether in an acoustic piano, electric piano, keyboard or piano app) has become a ubiquitous ‘industry standard’ interface because of its clear visual feedback and ease of use. Many of our homes will have some sort of keyboard and most commercial or home studios will have a synth-action unweighted keyboard or a weighted piano-like keyboard, either with its own sounds built in or to use as a MIDI controller connected (via USB, Bluetooth or a MIDI cable) to a computer running music software.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS When starting out, most of us often don’t have the budget to buy a decent acoustic piano. So for your first approaches at learning piano you’ll likely want to start off with a good quality keyboard or digital piano. However, whilst unweighted keyboards are good for learning the notes and theory, and often have tons of sounds and features, for learning piano you need to build technique, so full-size weighted keys are ideal. It’s imperative that finger strength and dexterity is taken seriously (even for younger players) as the more exercise you give your fingers, the fitter they will become and the more capable they will be for every musical task in the future. Whilst the smaller or unweighted synth action keys found on most keyboards are undoubtedly easier to push down, they don’t give your fingers the workout they need to build strength and accuracy and if you end up graduating to a real acoustic piano, you will likely struggle.
Now that we have established that the ideal instrument to learn on (if you can’t afford or don’t have room for an acoustic) is a weighted digital piano with full-size keys rather than a keyboard with lightweight or smaller keys, it’s important to work out what you really need feature-wise in order to make learning fun and engaging. The first consideration is your budget. Expect to pay approx. `20,000-`40,000 for a decent unweighted portable keyboard and upwards of `50,000 for a weighted digital piano. Action-wise, keep in mind some like a heavier feeling keyboard whilst others prefer lighter-feeling keys. Again, it’s ideal if you can get to a store (after this present lockdown has ended) that has several of the leading brands on display so that you can make an informed choice. Be aware that buying sight unseen online for yourself – or for someone else – is risky, as the keyboard action may feel too heavy and end up impeding your/their learning. Thankfully, the leading brands in keyboards and digital home pianos, such as Korg, Yamaha, Casio, Roland and Kawai, generally have nicely balanced weighted actions that feel very piano-like, so if you have to buy sight unseen I would always try to go with a longestablished brand. Also, many of these bigger manufacturers have learning/support
The best instrument to learn on is a digital piano with full-size weighted keys
Learning piano T3 recommends...
THE BEST DIGITAL PIANOS FOR BEGINNERS Our pick of the best instruments for a range of needs and budgets
THE REAL FEEL
ROLAND FP-30 The FP-30 offers a ton of useful functionality at a fair price. First off, its full-size 88-key â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ivory Touchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; keyboard adds a grain to the surface of the keys for a more piano-like feel. Coupled with 2 x 11 watt speakers, 35
decent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bread and butter soundsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Bluetooth connectivity, an ideas UHFRUGHU SOD\EDFN RI DXGLR Ä&#x2020;OHV from USB stick, dual headphone jacks and a microphone input, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot to work with. roland.com
BALANCED SCALES
CASIO PRIVIA PX-S1000 Casioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weighted actions are generally nicely balanced. This particular model has plenty for beginners and more experienced players, including 18 high-quality sounds onboard. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fairly light, has a scaled hammer action keyboard W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
(acoustic pianos feel heavier at the low end and lighter at the top), split and layer functionality, two front-mounted headphone sockets, %OXHWRRWK PHWURQRPH DQG built-in practice exercises. casio.co.in
As weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already mentioned, keyboards and digital pianos can vary wildly, from slight and portable with a focused feature set, to beefy all-in-ones with sizeable speakers and no end of bells and whistles. Picking the perfect piano for your needs shares more in common with selecting a new smartphone than it does choosing an acoustic instrument, as the sound, functionality and play style each offers is as unique as the potential pianist playing them. To help you out, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put together a medley of some of the best pianos and keyboards available for beginner and intermediate players, highlighting each of their respective fortes.
LIGHT KEYS, LOW COST
YAMAHA NP-32 PIAGGERO For those who might struggle with fully weighted keys but still want full-size keys/standard Ä&#x2020;QJHU VSDFLQJ 7KH NH\V KHUH still have enough resistance for practising and accurate playing. In addition, there are features
for beginners too. There are 10 good basic sounds onboard, a metronome for timing practice, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s battery power-able and has a EXLOW LQ UHFRUGHU $bJUHDW OHDUQLQJ piano on the way to fully weighted keys. yamaha.com
BIG PLAYER
KORG SP280-BK Korg produces quality machines full of great sounds and this is no different. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a little more exciting looking compared to others and fairly portable. The keyboard has 88 notes with a hammer action and the loud 22 watt speakers face
you, giving a nice immersive sound. There are 30 layer-able sounds onboard from Korgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-respected library and it comes with a piano stand, music stand, pedal and two headphone sockets. korg.com
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 49
The complete guide to… Learning how to play an instrument is good for many things, including your mental health
keyboards and pianos via Bluetooth or USB so be sure to check out whether the piano has good learning resources included, or at least a discounted subscription. In addition, always try to get a heightadjustable stool (that can accommodate two people) included with your keyboard/ piano. One big problem I come across (as a player and teacher of piano myself) is bad posture caused by sitting at the incorrect distance and height, which can lead to all manner of back or neck problems and ultimately lead to poor technique. Next, make sure your keyboard or digital piano has an adjustable music rack for putting sheet music or an iPad on: not all of them include this. Then be sure not to overlook the speaker system onboard. Is it loud enough? Does it
sound warm and lush or horrible and tinny? You have to decide these points for yourself but you’ll know when your ears are smiling when you test in person or audition sound clips. In addition, you have to make sure that any keyboard/digital piano fits within its surroundings but thankfully most manufacturers offer a variety of finishes, from gloss black and white to wood. In terms of the sounds, a broad range of bread and butter sounds is important (organ, strings, guitars, woodwinds, brass, clav etc) but the most important thing is a great piano sound. EQ and reverb are also great for customising sounds and the ability to layer two sounds is handy too. In addition, a pair of audio outputs is necessary if you want to record or connect to a mixing desk/PA system and having
two headphone sockets enables your good self and another person (teacher, sibling, friend etc) to play together at any time of day or night without annoying others in your house (or your neighbours). Other must-haves include a metronome, which can provide an audio and/or visual click on screen for practising timing and scales. Whenever I teach or advise my students about practising, it’s essential to have solid rhythmic support and a metronome can provide this and will help no-end long term with your timing. If the digital keyboard/piano has built-in beats and auto-accompaniment, this can serve the same function yet also be a lot more fun than just listening to a boring click. Beats and auto
It’s essential to have solid rhythmic support and a metronome helps accompaniment will improve your timing, get you listening and improvising (and on the path to jamming with real humans) and allow you to work on your harmonic language/ideas too. Finally, the ability to record your performances to internal memory as audio, an external memory stick, or an onboard sequencer is very handy. These features all allow you to record yourself, then listen back and hear where you are going wrong: this will only aid and speed up the learning process and as a bonus you can show off your performances to your friends and family too.
TIPS FOR LEARNING PIANO FASTER
Learning piano needn’t take forever: here are some tips for speedy learning 1 Firstly, select an instrument that feels good, sounds good and inspires you to play: you can’t underestimate how important this is to keep you engaged with learning. 2 Next up, from the start of the learning process, sit comfortably at the piano, don’t hunch over and always play from your fingers, not your wrists or arms. Economy of movement is also important: if you are having to move your hands, wrists and arms loads that’s wasted energy. Relax your arms and body and let your fingers do the work. 3 Use a metronome at all times to give you a rhythmic framework when practising. If you practise or play without a timing 50 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
reference you will find it much harder and slower to learn. Don’t overlook timing! 4 Start with learning scales as soon as possible to aid technique and note reading too. Scales are a tried and tested way to improve your playing, technique and stamina. 5 If you envisage yourself doing exams, then try and start on an approved syllabus and then you won’t find you’ve wasted any time: there are approved classical (and also jazz routes now too) to cater for all tastes. 6 Whilst there are many apps out there for learning, real sheet music and books are still as valid as ever. They are tried and tested.
7 There’s nothing wrong with a paper and pen either and it’s great to develop your theory and to be able to write music physically with a pen and paper: it’s a very useful skill that many pro musicians still rely on and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! 8 As well as having your head in apps and books, remember that just sitting down and playing without constraints is massively important. Try composing your own tunes, jam along to your favourite music, record yourself/listen back, or jam with friends online over Skype, FaceTime or Zoom. 9 Don’t forget that one to one tuition with a reputable teacher will always help too. W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
TESTED Get the lowdown on the latest gadgets before you buy 52
APPLE MACBOOK AIR 54
XIAOMI MI BOX 4K 55
B&O BEOSOUND STAGE 56
XIAOMI MI TRUE WIRELESS EARPHONES 2 57
TAG HEUER CONNECTED 58
XIAOMI REDMI EARBUDS S 59
XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 9 PRO MAX
HOW WE TEST In T3, we feature only the ďŹ nest gadgets out there, and we believe that you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our loyal reader â&#x20AC;&#x201C; deserve only the best tech in your life. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want you to waste time, and money, on inferior products, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly why our Tested section exists. In here youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd only the latest and hottest tech. Each product has been handpicked and tested by T3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experts.
We only choose people with special knowledge for each test, so you know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to get an outcome based on many years of experience in their respective ďŹ eld. As well as our traditional ďŹ ve-star rating system (right), we also give out awards to particularly exceptional gadgets, using the line-up below - so when you spot one of these, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re onto a good thing.
THE SCORES EXPLAINED Forget it Below average Good for the price Very good all round An exceptional, best-in-class product
OUR AWARDS Only the best products ĂĽ WKRVH WKDW VFRUH Ä&#x2020;YH PLATINUM stars â&#x20AC;&#x201C; receive our AWARD 3ODWLQXP $ZDUG
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This is given to winners BEST ON of our group tests, so you can see which is TEST the best at a glance
This accolade, and BEST FOR others like it, show you BATTERY which gear is best for LIFE VSHFLÄ&#x2020;F IHDWXUHV
THE DESIGN AWARD
For kit with exceptional industrial design and UHÄ&#x2020;QHPHQW LQ DGGLWLRQ to being a great buy
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 51
Tested
Processor 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i3 / 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 Memory 8GB Storage 256GB/512GB Screen 13.3-inch 2560x1600 Retina display Battery 49.9Wh Connectivity 2x Thunderbolt 3, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 5 Dimensions 304.1.2x212.4x16.1mm Weight 1.29kg
AIR TIGHT
Apple MacBook Air Apple has made its cheapest laptop cheaper, more powerful and fixed its biggest flaw 52 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
versions, but nothing has been cut for that – in fact there have been From `92,990, various upgrades. apple.com/in The base model includes 256GB of storage instead of the 128GB that the fter its resurrection a few last Air came with. Meanwhile, the next model up, gives you a quad-core years ago, the MacBook processor instead of dual-core, and Air has reclaimed its throne as Apple’s cheapest doubles the storage to 512GB. Both models come with 8GB of laptop, but this new version drives RAM, which is fine for standard use, home that price isn’t everything but if you want to really future proof anyway. It’s also simply one of the most useable laptops you can buy, and it, or plan to work with very large nails the core stuff that makes a laptop documents, stepping up to 16GB (the maximum) would be a safe plan. a comfortable, reliable companion. The new entry-level Air’s It starts from `92,990, which is processor is an Intel Core i3 dual-core the model we’re testing. That’s a price drop compared to previous
A
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Apple MacBook Air
chip, running at 1.1GHz. This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make it sound like a speeddemonâ&#x20AC;Ś and it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. But it is plenty fast enough for average use, and because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new-gen chip, it gets more than respectable scores in benchmarks. It feels more than fast enough in real life too, for work such as document editing, light editing of photos and browsing the web. When it comes to multi-core performance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for tasks such as compressing ďŹ les or video exports â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this is clearly a weaker machine but it still doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ďŹ nd itself totally embarrassed by its own quad-core bigger brother. Finally, battery life here is decent but not exceptional. Apple says you can get 11 hours out of it but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have to be working really lightly to achieve that. We found six or seven hours was more typical, though it does vary a lot by task. The MacBook Air 2020â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s screen hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed from the previous model, which is no problem with us. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a 2560x1600 Retina display; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s impressively high-res compared to the competition at this price, which tend to be Full HD (1920x1080).
It looks perfectly sharp from a standard viewing distance, and is bright enough to overcome reďŹ&#x201A;ections well. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also pleasingly colourful. The MacBook Pro 13-inchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s screen is about 20% brighter, and we do wish this could have that extra vibrancy. But it really isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a problem â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it looks great as is and colours are highly accurate.
Hot keys The main thing you should know is the backlit keyboard on the new MacBook Air is just excellent. Introduced a few years ago, Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ButterďŹ&#x201A;yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; keyboards were very divisive. Not only was the feel of them unpopular, they seem to have reliability issues, failing more often than Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s previous keyboards. The last MacBook Air still had one of these keyboards, but this model doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got a new key type with more travel, and a different mechanism that should prove more reliable. It feels great to type on and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no problem for accuracy either. It deďŹ nitely doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel cramped. But we need to end on a gripe. Apple has improved the microphones
THE ALTERNATIVES DELL XPS 13
HP ENVY 13
Want Apple-esque GHVLJQ EXW ZLWK D PRUHbSRZHUIXO processor? This is the laptop for \RX SDFNLQJ DQ ,QWHO &RUH L ,W RQO\ VWDUWV ZLWK *% 5$0 DQGb *% EXW \RX FDQ DGG PRUH ĂĽ QRW WR PHQWLRQ D . GLVSOD\ dell.co.in
7KH +3 (QY\ RIIHUV WKH VWURQJHVW VSHFV LQ LWV EUDFNHW IRU WKH OHDVW DPRXQW RI FDVK JLYLQJ \RX DQ ,QWHO &RUH L quad-core processor, *% PHPRU\ D *% 66' DQG %DQJ 2OXIVHQ VSHDNHUV hp.com
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
7KH NH\ERDUG VKRXOG EH PXFK more popular than $SSOHèV SUHYLRXV ç%XWWHUÄ&#x2021;\è RQH
in the MacBook Air for clearer voice chat but the webcam here is an ancient 720p affair. Its quality rapidly degrades in anything but the best light. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so strange that having a beautiful premium Mac laptop means youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the person with the muddiest feed on the Zoom call, but here we are. With the new MacBook Air, Apple has dispatched our two biggest issues with the previous model â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the uncertain keyboard and the lack of storage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by improving them both, and then cutting the price as a bonus. In that regard alone, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a hugely successful product, and it gets a really strong recommendation from us. It is not only the Mac that best suits most people, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also one of the best laptop choices overall.
VERDICT WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED 9HU\ IDVW IRU JHQHUDO XVH JUHDW QHZ NH\ERDUG VWURQJHU SURFHVVRU DQG JUDSKLFV WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE 3RRU ZHEFDP GXDO FRUH SRZHU QRW HQRXJK IRU VRPH SUHWW\ DYHUDJH EDWWHU\ OLIH THE LAST WORD The Apple MacBook Air 2020 is an H[FHOOHQW WKLQ DQG OLJKW ODSWRS DQG WKLV SULFH FXW PDNHV LW JUHDW YDOXH $SSOH KDV Ä&#x2020;[HG LWV NH\ Ä&#x2021;DZV OHDYLQJ RQO\ D IHZ PLQRU JULSHV EHKLQG
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 53
Tested
MAKE IT SMART
Xiaomi Mi Box 4K Mi Box 4K makes it easy to convert your regular TV into a smart one `3,499, mi.com/in WORDS KUNAL GANGAR
here are three types of TV owners these days. One who owns a Smart TV and enjoys all the features. Second is the one who owns a Smart TV but the TV V manufacturer has abandoned support and the thirrd is the one who has a regular TV with no smart feature es at all. If you are from the second and third category and are missing the smart features that current breed of TVs boast, Xiao omi has launched a nifty solution - Mi Box 4K. As the name suggests, Mi Box 4K is a device that can be connected to a TV to enjoy smart TV features and while the function takes priority over form, we appreciate the boxy design of the Mi Box 4K, compared to the stick form factor that its competitors like the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K have. The device d comes with its own power adapter, HDMI cable and a dedicated remote control with quick access keys to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Google Assistant. Setting up the Mi Box 4K is as easy as connecting any other device to the TV. Just power up the Mi Box and connect it to the TV via the HDMI port and follow the on-screen instructions. To connect to an external audio source, the Mi Box 4K also comes with a 3.5mm + SPDIF audio out. Xiaomi was one of the first TV manufacturers to integrate itss custom UI called PatchWall to the regular Android TV interface but PatchWall is absent on the Mi Box 4K. Users have to deal witth the regular Android TV user interface that includes carousels, content recommendations from the installed apps. The Mi Box 4K’s 2GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM and Mali 450 GPU may seem like some jargon but it is in fact, instrumenttal for the device’s fast performance. The UI navigation is fluid and ensures smooth 4K playback with HDR10 playback from supported sources. Just like any other Android TV, the Mi Box 4K also makes casting from a smartphone to the bigger screen easy and lets you perform tasks via Google Assistant like controlling smart home devices. There’s also the Data Saver option that lowers the resolution of the video to give up to three times more the playback time. It comes in very handy if you are streaming from a connection with limited bandwidth. All said and done, is the Mi Box 4K worth it? In a word, yes. It is one of the cheapest devices that enables 4K HDR playback on the TV and even if your TV doesn’t support the resolution or the dynamic range, your ageing TV will gain smart TV features to improve the overall TV watching experience.
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54 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Easy to use, performance WE’D IMPROVE N/A THE LAST WORD A perfect accessory to enhance your current TV’s shelf life with smart features
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Tested B&O Beosound Stage
BANG ON
B&O Beosound Stage
Bang & Olufsen’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar is a sonic tour de force bang-olufsen.com
erhaps surprisingly, the Stage is the first dedicated soundbar from the Bang & Olufsen stable. You might be forgiven for thinking the Danish brand is coming late to the party, but we reckon it’s been hanging back to get things right. Very right, as it happens. At 110cm wide, the Stage can be considered a good fit for screens 55-inch and up. Intriguingly, it can be used either horizontal or vertical, for wall mounting. We think it performs best upright, although it still sounds pretty good lying flat. Dolby Atmos is standard, but if you want additional postprocessing you’re in luck. There’s a choice of listening modes: TV, Music, Movie and Night, with EQ adjustable using ToneTouch, Bang & Olufsen’s equaliser. It features no fewer than 11 drivers, all of which work in tandem like a fine-tuned orchestra. There are four bass drivers, in a stereo configuration, plus two 38mm mid-rangers and a central 19mm dome tweeter. Additionally, there are squawkers and tweeters left and right, angled upwards at 45 degrees (when in that wall-mounted orientation). All benefit from their own 50W amp module. While you won’t get the wraparound effect that Dolby Atmos is famed for theatrically, it is capable of exaggerated sonic height and width. Play the classic action opener to Mad Max Fury Road, and there’s a sense of enormous scale. We can thank those angled edge drivers and height virtualisation DSP for the oh-so-smooth panning effects. The soundbar also handles fine details brilliantly well, picking
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up on subtle audio nuances that distinguish speech and environmental effects. There’s a realism to its presentation that’s absolutely convincing. And despite the fact it lacks an outboard subwoofer, the Stage has no problem making its presence felt. We measured bass output down to 31.5Hz, which translates to appreciable slam with action movies and the like. Of course there are caveats. One HDMI input is a bit on the frugal side, as it demands all your kit goes via the TV. But as it boasts plenty of style, as well as a commensurate level of performance, we’re happy enough to forgive these foibles. The Stage could well end up being the most satisfying soundbar of the year. It’s that good.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Impressive with movies and music; beautiful design; Dolby Atmos compatible. WE’D IMPROVE Doesn’t deliver full Atmos immersive audio; heavy price premium for the most stylish finishes. THE LAST WORD A premium soundbar with ultra-premium sound. It may not offer a surround experience, but it’s as good as soundbars get in every other way.
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 55
Tested
MI TOO
Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 ;LDRPLèV Ä&#x2020;UVW 7:6 HDUSKRQHV DUH KHUH DW DQ DJJUHVVLYH SULFH ` PL FRP LQ WORDS KUNAL GANGAR
iaomi has been selling their true wireless earphones internationally for quite some time and just like many of its other ecosystem products, this too had a considerable consumer interest. Now that its ďŹ rst Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 have reached the Indian shores, is it good enough to take on other true wireless earphones? We ďŹ nd out. Apple AirPodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design set a trend for many TWS products and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clear which product design Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 has been inspired from. However, taking inspiration is one thing and being called as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;good knockoffsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is another and Xiaomi has changed the TWS design to make it distinct. Clad in a matte white ďŹ nish, the Mi TWS adopts the same semi-in-ear design but compared to other similarly designed products in the market, the Xiaomi offering has a wider stem. The stem extends upwards that ensures better grip when removing from the case. Next is the case. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bigger than the competition but adheres to the same likeable matte white ďŹ nish. The clean case is pocketable, has an LED light on the front, a button on the right and USB Type-C port for charging at the bottom. Having a Xiaomi phone running MIUI 11 has its perks if you are using the Mi TWS. Pop open the case and you get a
X
56 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today JUNE 2020
notiďŹ cation on the phone to connect to it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that easy. However, if you have a different Android device or an iPhone, the pairing process is still simple, if not as effortless. Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 sit well in the ears. They are not snug but good enough to not slip and fall and comfortable for long listening sessions. Also, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound leakage at a higher volume, given the design of the earphones. The 14.2mm dynamic drivers do a good job delivering crisp audio with no distortion and bass that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take over other frequencies. The soundstage is decent and with LHDC support, the overall audio quality is better. But to take advantage of that, you need an LHDCcompatible phone. The call quality is excellent and dual mics on each bud helps to suppress ambient sound and pick up the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice for a crystal clear call. The smart in-ear detection works ďŹ&#x201A;awlessly that automatically pauses or starts music when you take out the buds or put back in. The gesture control lets you play/pause a track, answer a call or summon the voice assistant. However, buds picking the gestures were a hit and miss. In terms of battery life, a single session lasts for about 4 hours or up to 14 hours when charged multiple times in a case.
VERDICT WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE IMPRESSED 3HUIRUPDQFH WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D IMPROVE $ELOLW\ WR FXVWRPLVH JHVWXUHV THE LAST WORD 7KH Ä&#x2020;UVW HYHU WUXO\ ZLUHOHVV HDUSKRQH IURP ;LDRPL LQ ,QGLD KDV D OLNHDEOH VRXQG VLJQDWXUH ZRQGHUIXO FDOO TXDOLW\ DQG GHFHQW EDWWHU\ OLIH
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Tested TAG Heuer Connected
FINEST HEUER
TAG Heuer Connected With an always-on screen and new sports-tracking features, this is TAG Heuer’s best smartwatch tagheuer.com
he first thing you’ll notice about the new TAG Heuer Connected is the refined design. The case is now completely circular, resulting in a design that feels more compact and looks more like a traditional watch. To build on this, TAG Heuer has added physical buttons that resemble chrono pushers. Sitting in-between them is a rotating crown, which acts as a power button, as well as an additional way to scroll through the OS. In terms of size, at 45mm diameter and 13.5mm thick, the watch is on the larger side, but thanks to a relatively short lug-to-lug width, it doesn’t feel oversized. The front features a flush OLED touchscreen protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. It’s 1.39 inches and has a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. We found it clear and easy to read. Inside it is a 430mAh battery optimised to last up to six hours of sports tracking using GPS, heart-rate monitoring and streaming music. There’s now a greater focus on fitness and sports tracking in the Connected. The headline addition is the new heart-rate sensor, made of high-tech resin and integrated into the case back. This optimises the tracking of calories burned, while the built-in GPS measures your position during workouts and can calculate different performance metrics. The watch also includes a compass for direction, as well as an accelerometer and gyroscope. However, it lacks certain health or wellness features. For example, the latest Apple Watch features things like excessive
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noise detection, menstrual cycle tracking and fall detection, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 can measure your stress levels. The Connect is currently lagging behind slightly. TAG Heuer has also designed a new set of watch faces for the 2020 Connected, all taking inspiration from the brand’s timekeeping heritage. Each of these faces can be personalised, but currently there are just five and the collection feels a little sparse. TAG Heuer has hinted more faces will be released over time. It’s difficult not to like the new TAG Heuer Connected – it’s the brand’s most accomplished smartwatch to date. It’s great looking and feeling and is the closest a smartwatch has come to feeling like a ‘proper’ mechanical wristwatch. If you’re looking for a luxury Android smartwatch – this is the best option out there.
VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Unmistakable TAG Heuer design; luxury construction; comfortable to wear; strong sports tracking. WE’D IMPROVE Battery life could be better; only one size option; lacks wellness features. THE LAST WORD The most luxurious Android Wear smartwatch on the market. If you’re looking for a luxury Android smartwatch – this is the one for you.
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 57
Tested
STARTER PACK
Xiaomi Redmi Earbuds S Xiaomi democratises true wireless earphones with the latest launch `1,799, mi.com/in WORDS KUNAL GANGAR ompanies wait for a month or two before launching a product in the same category but not Xiaomi. First, they launched the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 and a couple of weeks later, the Redmi Earbuds S. Although competing in the same category, after using both products, they are certainly meant for a distinct set of customers.. The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 is targeted at someone who wants hi-res audio quality with LHDC whereas the Redmi Earbud ds S targets a first-time TWS user, mainly because of its price. The Redmi Earbuds S has been designed keeping the low price in mind. The simple matte black case is small and light with a smaall LED on the front and a microUSB port at the back. Interestingly, Xiaomi does not bundle any microUSB cable along with the device. When it comes to the actual buds, they are incredibly tiny and lightweight at just 4.1g each. If you thought a regular TWS earbud d is easy to lose, the Redmi Earbuds S poses double the risk. That said, the small form factor and silicone ear tips make for a good fitt. The buds come with medium ear tip but you can adjust the fit by replacing it with the bundled small and large ones. Also, the budss are IPX4 rated, making it resistant to sweat and splash. The Redmi Earbuds S does not come with a quick connect feature like the Mi TWS but the pairing procedure is hassle-free and offers good connectivity with Bluetooth 5.0. The Redmi Earbuds S delivers more than one expects from a product at this price. The buds are tuned to Indian preferences, which means they are bass-friendly and while you will hear the lows, it’s not overpowering to take over other frequencies. If you listen to popular genres, the Redmi Earbuds S gives no reason to complain. Sound isolation is excellent. As for calls, we found the device picks the audio well but the audio coming from the other end sounds suppressed and sometimes, laggy. There’s no gesture control or sensors for automatic play/pause but each bud has a physical button and depending on the number of taps, it allows to play or pause music, activate/deactivate voice assistant and gaming mode. The button works as intended, however, one has to hold it firmly so as not to push the earbud deep inside the ear canal. It’s not a big deal, but irritating, at times. The battery life is rated to be around 4 hours on a single charge but expect it to reduce further if you use it with gaming mode that helps to reduce the latency for better audio response in fast-paced games. To wrap this up, we think Redmi Earbuds S is a perfect product for someone who wants to get on the TWS bandwagon get a good set of features, audio quality but at the same time, without spending much.
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VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Audio performance WE’D IMPROVE Call quality THE LAST WORD The Redmi Earbuds S retails at Rs. 1,799 and it is something that punches above its weight with good sound quality and battery life.
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Tested
MAXING IT OUT
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Max The new Redmi device maxes it out with a better camera and fast charging From `16,499, mi.com/in WORDS KUNAL GANGAR he Redmi Note series put Xiaomi devices in everyone’s hands, thanks to its combination of good hardware at a competitive price. This year’s Redmi Note 9 series follows the same philosophy. The Redmi Note 9 Pro is a good device, but the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has some extra tricks up its sleeve. We dive deep to see if the max variant is worth the extra money? There’s not much to differentiate between the Redmi Note 9 Pro and 9 Pro Max, at least in the design department. The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max features the same Aura Balance design that brings a refined look and smooth finish at the front and back. The front features a large 6.67-inch FHD+ DotDisplay whereas the shiny back sports interesting colour choices - ranging from Interstellar Black, Aurora Blue and Glacier White. The good thing about the design is that the glass on the phone’s front, back and even the bulging camera module are protected with the Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The body is also coated with P2i solution to make it splash-proof. However, the back attracts some fingerprint smudges, compared to the front that has got an anti-oil and anti-fingerprint protective coating. The design also positions the fingerprint sensor to the side, doubling up as a power button. Just above that are the volume buttons; SIM and memory card slot on the left; 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port and a loudspeaker at the bottom; a secondary mic and IR blaster at the top. The biggest change between both Note 9 Pros is the quad-camera setup. The dominant camera sports a 64MP sensor that captures wonderful pictures with good details, natural-looking colours and dynamic range. The low-light performance has been improved too. The ultra-wide’s performance is underwhelming, but the 5MP macro takes some excellent high-resolution closeups while the depth sensor helps with the portraits and edge detection. Another major change is on the front that integrates a 32MP snapper for high-resolution selfies. Just like the Note 9 Pro, the Note 9 Pro Max is equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 720G processor and choice of 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Irrespective of what RAM variant you go for, the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max delivers consistent performance throughout, be it using everyday apps or playing games. The phone runs MIUI 11 out of the box. The tall display is great to look at and even brings the option to customise the colour temperature and comes with other modes like reading, dark mode, etc. The 5020mAh battery is rock solid, giving a battery backup of over a day with heavy use. But the icing on the cake is the inclusion of a fast 33W charger in the sales package. This helps to top up the massive battery in just over an hour. The phone also comes with NavIC that ensures improved navigation lock while trying to locate within the Indian shores.
T
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VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Design, performance, battery WE’D IMPROVE Ultra-wide camera THE LAST WORD If budget permits, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max is the one to go for over the Note 9 Pro as it brings a better camera, more RAM and fast charging speeds.
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 59
Apps
While the lockdown is easing out in parts of the country, we are yet to get back to normal. It’s still in our best interest to stay indoors and try to be productive, increase our knowledge, and strengthen our skillset. Books have a way of transporting us into different worlds in our imaginations and with nothing but time on our hands, we feel that exploring audiobook or e-book apps have a deeper meaning attached to it than just doing so to spend time.
LibriVox Audio Books Free; Android, iOS With over 50,000 free audiobooks of great and timeless classics, LibriVox Audio Books offers the work of several volunteers who have spent hours in recording, editing and finalising the books for such platforms. Users can search a book by its title, author or genre or a keyword. The smart app remembers the page you stopped reading the previous time and its catalogue has books ranging across history, literature, novels, short stories, poetry and much more.
Storytel Rs. 299/month, Android, iOS. Even though the subscription costs Rs. 299/month, this app features audiobooks and e-books in English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil. It also has a 14-day free trial period. It has a built-in sleep function that stops the playback if you haven’t interacted with the app for a stipulated time. It has a large book collection, including several classics and best-sellers from every possible genre and categories like “New York Times Best-Sellers” and more.
60 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
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ISSUE 59/ JUNE 2020
Retro
T3 India as a magazine/ezine rightly focuses on products that are new and under development. This, of course, does not suggest or imply that everything old is bad and outdated. The pace at which technology moves, demands that we cover all product developments for our readers. In few cases, this means going back to the
past. Look at the worldwide revival of turntables. Only 20 years ago, the turntable was consigned to the dustbin. Today, pressing plants are hard pressed to meet the demand. The area where retro is most in demand is music â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both Western and Indian, and T3 India seeks to address this gap. We hope you enjoy this section.
Inside 62
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Classic Artistes - Indian
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today 61
THE MUSIC OF ‘JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI
THE MUSIC OF ‘JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI’ ( 1960 ) Words: H. S. Billimoria
Raj Kapoor started ‘JDMGBH ‘ after the lukewarm reception to his experimental film ‘Ab Dilli Dur Nahin’ released in 1957. The theme of a dacoit saga was narrated by Raj Kapoor to music director Shankar who initially reacted by saying that such a film would have little scope for music. Later on, he changed his mind and along with partner Jaikishan , composed one of the most memorable soundtracks to hit the Indian screen. The music was ethnic and clearly brought out the ambience of the film’s location in the dacoit infested lands of north – central India. Indian instruments like the ‘dafli’, ‘shenai ‘, ‘sitar’ and ‘dhol ‘were used extensively to give the music a local flavor. On release, the film proved to be a big hit and won a number of awards for both Raj Kapoor and Shankar Jaikishan. Eight of the nine songs were written by Shailendra who was at his best in this film. Hasrat Jaipuri wrote the Lata solo ‘O maine pyar kiya ‘. In spite of its dacoit theme, the film had nine songs, all hits. Raj Kapoor played an orphan in the movie and the first song ‘Mera naam Raju, gharana anaam’ appropriately introduces the hero and his beliefs to the audience. Particularly touching are the lyrics by Shailendra. ‘Kya hua ‘, a female duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle follows. This racy duet has been picturised on Padmini and Chanchal who plays villain Pran’s moll. The crowning glory of the music is the title song sung by Mukesh and picturised on Raj Kapoor. This is an iconic, classic number that is easily one of the best songs arousing nationalistic fervor and could easily bring tears to your eyes. It should be made mandatory listening for our younger generation. Shailendra’s lyrics are memorable.
62 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
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THE MUSIC OF â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;JIS DESH MEIN GANGA BEHTI HAI
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Shailendra
Shankar Jaikishan
Mukesh, Lata
Asha
JDMGBH was a cinematic triumph for Raj Kapoor. $OWKRXJK 5DGKX .DUPDUNDU ZDV RIÄ&#x2020;FLDOO\ WKH GLUHFWRU 5DM .DSRRUèV VWDPS ZDV HYLGHQW LQ WKH Ä&#x2020;OP 7KH Ä&#x2020;OP ZRQ VHYHUDO DZDUGV IRU %HVW )LOP 7KH Ä&#x2020;OP DOVR ERDVWHG RI H[FHOOHQW SHUIRUPDQFHV E\ 5DM .DSRRU DQG 3UDQ +RZHYHU WKH EXON RI WKH FUHGLW VKRXOG JR WR 6KDQNDU -DLNLVKDQ SDUWLFXODUO\ 6KDQNDU ZKR FRPSRVHG PRVW RI the tunes) and to Shailendra. Although nominated for WKH %HVW 0XVLF $ZDUG 6- GLG QRW ZLQ LW 7KH DZDUG ZDV ZRQ E\ 5DYL IRU *KDUDQD 5HPHPEHU DQ\ WXQH from Gharana? Geeta Dutt
Manna De
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What Lyrics! What Music! Sixty years later, have we forgotten everything we stood for?
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Best of the best
BEST OF THE BEST The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best tech, all in one place
INSIDE
,I \RXèUH ORRNLQJ IRU WKH YHU\ EHVW WHFK DYDLODEOH WRGD\ \RXèYH GHÄ&#x2020;QLWHO\ FRPH WR WKH right place. %HVW RI WKH %HVW LV WKH PRVW XVHIXO JDGJHW EX\LQJ JXLGH \RX ZLOO HYHU HQFRXQWHU To create it, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve extensively tested the best tech the world has to offer, to bring \RX URFN VROLG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU \RXU KRPH OLIH GDLO\ FRPPXWH DQG WKH WHFK \RX XVH DOO WKH WLPH In 21 different categories, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve chosen the top three products, so you can choose RQH WKDWèV MXVW WKH ULJKW PL[ RI IHDWXUHV DQG EXGJHW IRU ZKDW \RX QHHG 7KHVH UDQNLQJV FRPH IURP UHDO WHVWLQJ E\ RXU WHDP RI H[SHUWV Ã¥ WKH\èUH WKH SURGXFWV ZHèG FKRRVH IRU RXUVHOYHV DQG ZH FDQèW UHFRPPHQG DQ\ KLJKHU WKDQ WKDW
64 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today JUNE 2020
Smartphones Mid-range Smartphones Value Smartphones Smartwatches Premium TVs Value TVs Streamers Game Consoles Truly Wireless Headphones Laptops Gaming Laptops Tablets DSLR Cameras Mirrorless Cameras Compact Cameras Action Cameras Drones Fitness Tracker Running Watch Smart Speakers Smart Bulbs
65 65 65 66 66 66 67 67 67 68 68 68 69 69 69 70 70 70 71 71 71
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Best of the best
SMARTPHONES
MID RANGE SMARTPHONES
APPLE IPHONE 11 PRO
XIAOMI MI 10
From `99,900, apple.com/in
From `49,999, mi.com/in
Packing the best screen and camera on any phone, plus the fastest processor and a beautiful highquality build, and you’ve got a phone that earns its Pro name. It’s a totally polished package.
SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10 From `73,600, samsung.com With its absolutely stunning 6.3-inch Super AMOLED screen, powerful internal hardware, and advanced S Pen digital stylus, there isn’t an area where the Note 10 doesn’t punch hard.
SAMSUNG GALAXY S20+
VALUE SMARTPHONES POCO X2
From `16,999, poco.in Poco X2 features The Mi 10 boasts speed 64MP main camera and power thanks to which is all-the-more t e Snapdragon 865 powerful with Sony’s p and a 108MP main large IMX686 sensor. ca ra, capable of But besides that, the X2 shootting 8K videos. It is is a powerhouse with Q DI DIIRUGDEOH ćDJVKLS DQ 120Hz FHD+ display, tthat packs in high-end Snapdragon 730G features like a superior chipset and 8GB RAM cooling system, LPDDR5 HQVXULQJ HIĆFLHQF\ RAM and much more.
GOOGLE O PIXEL 3A From `30,990, store.google.com Google has tried packing in premium features in the Pixel 3a for a cheaper ask. It comes with Snapdragon 670 along with an enhanced 12.2MP dual-pixel camera. Pixel 3a adheres Google’s branded quality and trust.
APPLE IPHONE SE 2020
XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 9 PRO From `13,999, mi.com/in Assuring reliability and power, it’s hard to believe that the Note 9 Pro is so affordable. Even though it features a similar design, it comes with Snapdragon 720G, a large 6.67” display and a 48MP sensor, which is the largest of the quadcamera system.
REALME 6 PRO
From `77,999, samsung.com/in From `42,500, apple.com/in From `17,999, realme.com/in Built around a Having the power of With a 90Hz 6.6” revolutionary camera the latest A13 Bionic screen, and realme’s system with a larger chipset that powers improved UI, the sensor, the Galaxy S20+ heavyweights like the realme 6 Pro offers also features a 120Hz iPhone 11 Pro, the good value for money. Quad HD+ screen, iPhone SE is one of the It features a total of with an Exynos 990 most affordable iPhones six cameras and comes processor and superior out there. With a 12MP with Snapdragon features, the S20+ is a f/1.8 camera, 4K video 720G processor and head-turner. at 60fps, the iPhone SE an Adreno 618 GPU. is worth every penny.
ONEPLUS 7 PRO From `48,999, oneplus.in OnePlus 7 Pro brings in a 90Hz AMOLED curved display encompassing the entire front area thanks to the pop-up VHOĆH FDPHUD 2Q WKH rear is a triple camera setup consisting of a 48MP primary sensor.
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SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10 LITE From `41,999, samsung.com/in With a large Super AMOLED 6.7” screen, a quad-cam system featuring a 32MP main camera and an intelligent S Pen, the Note 10 Lite goes beyond the realms of a smartphone and enables users to unleash their creativity.
SAMSUNG GALAXY M31 From `16,999, samsung.com/in The M31 features an excellent quad at the back, with a 64MP main camera offering ultrahigh-res images with stunning details. There are other things going for the phone with a large 6000mAh battery, octacore processor and more.
JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 65
Best of the best
SMARTWATCHES APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 From `36,900, apple.com/in This truly straddles the line between tech and fashion; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just the bestlooking smartwatch, but its health and Ä&#x2020;WQHVV IHDWXUHV always-on screen and good apps PDNH LW HVVHQWLDO
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH From `23,990, samsung.com/in
PREMIUM TVS SONY A8F
SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH ACTIVE
From `19,990, samsung.com/in
XIAOMI MI LED TV 4X PRO
From `3,29,900, sony.co.in Marrying a perfect OLED 4K screen with Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picture processing prowess makes for a jawdropping HDR TV at 55 or 65 inches. Motion handling and upscaling of content are both brilliant.
LG OLED55C8PTA From `2,24,990 LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OLED technology produces beautiful 4K HDR images, and makes HD videos look ace too. LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s webOS smart platform is one of the better systems around, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for gaming.
The best smartwatch for Android users brings a circular screen with great rotating bezel, and slick Tizen software thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to use. It looks good too, and the battery life of up to six days is ace.
SAMSUNG Q8C From `2,05,600, samsung.com/in Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QLED LCD tech is not only able to stand up to the quality of OLED, but even surpasses it in areas such as brightness. It means you get the full effect of HDR even in brighter rooms.
Sleek and powerful, this is the best smartwatch for Android users. The screen and design are on par with the Apple Watch, while a collection of new watch faces give it DbPRGHUQ HGJH
VALUE TVS Rs. 39,999, mi.com/in The TV has gone pro with the all-new Android OS giving users the goodness of Android interface and PatchWall. The 4.9mm thin TV comes with a 55inch 4K HDR display and Dolby Audio.
SAMSUNG NU6100 UHD TV From Rs. 41,990, samsung.com/in Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s answer to the intense competition. It comes in three different size options and brings UHD playback, Live Cast support, screen mirroring and support for video streaming apps.
VU PIXELIGHT ULTRA HD LED SMART TV From Rs. 30,999, vutvs.com Vuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pixelight range brings 4K playback at an affordable price. It comes with its own version of Smart OS but supports access to widely watched video services like 1HWÄ&#x2021;L[ <RX7XEH DQG even Prime Video.
FOSSIL SPORT
TCL P8
SANYO XT-43S7300F
`14,396, fossil.com/in/en
`199,999, www.tcl.com/in/en The massive 85â&#x20AC;? monster looks stunning s in a sleek meta m frame and n narrow bezels surrounding s the vivid panel p that has HDR. It has h a wider brightness range and greater picture contrast.
`19,999, www.sanyoappliance.in/
Fossilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth generation of smartwatches serves up whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably the best Wear OS smartwatch available to buy today. Capable and wearable, with good app support.
66 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today JUNE 2020
The IPS LED panel outputs a crisp Full HD picture and comes equipped with 16W box speakers that are decently loud. Additionally, the TV comes with a 3.5mm output jack.
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Best of the best
STREAMERS CHROMECAST
GAMES CONSOLES MICROSOFT XBOX ONE X
`3,499, store.google.com/in
`44,990, microsoft.com
The Chromecast is a receiver for phones and laptops and depends on them for control and content – but it’s simple, versatile and compatible with iOS, Android, Windows and Mac.
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK 4K `5,999, amazon.in
With 4K, Dolby Atmos, Ultra HD Blu-ray and a fairly FRPSDFW SURĆOH this is the best Xbox ever. It’s even more powerful than the PS4 Pro and also a great home entertainment hub.
SONY PS4 PRO `38,710, sony.co.in
4K HDR for under `6,000 isn’t to be sniffed at. It’s best suited to Prime subscribers and Google apps are absent, but it’s a very capable and affordable streamer IRUb79 DQG PRYLHV
APPLE TV 4K iTunes has the biggest source of 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos movies, and lots of other services have DSSV KHUH WRR <RX can also easily stream to it from Macs and L26bGHYLFHV
RHA TRUECONNECT `14,999, headphonezone.in Even more comfy, though perhaps slightly less secure, than the Jabras, these also offer best-in-class audio. Aside from a slightly odd carry case, these are textbook true wireless buds.
APPLE AIRPODS `12,900, apple.com/in
It’s still overkill if you don’t have a 4K TV, but with 2160p HDR gaming, the PS4 Pro delivers incredible visuals and is smoother and faster than its nonPro siblings.
MICROSOFT XBOX ONE S
`15,900, apple.com/in
TRUE WIRELESS HEADPHONES
`29,990, microsoft.com The S is smaller, whiter and much cheaper than its big brother, and while you don’t get its sibling’s super-powered specs you still get Ultra HD %OX UD\ $ ĆQH KRPH entertainment hub.
Apple’s wireless ’phones may not sound as good as some of the newer rivals, but they still beat them all for battery life, ease of use and often comfort. They work best with iOS, of course.
SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS `9,990, samsung.com/in Samsung’s latest truly wireless earbuds have been tuned by AKG to deliver improved audio, adaptive dual mic tech helps keep the background noise at bay and up to 6 hours of playback and wireless charging support.
XIAOMI MI BOX 4K
SONY PS4 SLIM
JABRA ELITE 65T
From `3,499, mi.com/in The Mi Box supports 4K and operates on Android TV OS 9.0. It also has a built-in Google Assistant and Chromecast, making life easier for users, in addition to Chromecast-enabled apps and USB 2.0 and a Cortex-A53 Quad-core CPU.
`29,999, www.sony.co.in Boasting a great variety of exclusives, the PS4 silm is getting long in the tooth but still has enough power to play current gen titles without too many visual compromises even if it has been surpassed by the Pro.
`15,499, www.jabra.in Lasting upto 5 hours on a single charge, these IP55 rated earbuds get an additional 10 hours with the charging case. A companion app enables access to extra features to further customise the listening experience.
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JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 67
Best of the best
LAPTOPS MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK 2 `1,37,999, microsoft.com Available in 13- or 15-inch sizes, with a 3:2 screen that gives you more height than other laptops, and plenty of power, this is a light and fast machine that’s DOVR UHDOO\ ćH[LEOH Perfect.
GAMING LAPTOPS ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS S From `2,39,990, asus.com/in The ROG Zephyrus S offers serious gaming performance in an ultra-slim form factor. The 16.15mm notebook features a 15.6-inch display, GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, and a 144Hz display.
TABLETS APPLE IPAD PRO 12.9 From `89,900, apple.com/in The Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is unbelievably owerful and slick, with w an excellent screen, thin and s compact design, c great battery life g and a support for the ew Apple Pencil. Pricey, but worth it.
DELL XPS 13
MSI GS65 STEALTH THIN 8RF
SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S4
`84,390, dell.co.in
From `3,25,999, msi.com This gaming laptop manages to pack an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 GPU, Intel Core i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM into a very portable package. Its Full HD, wide-view 144Hz panel is top rate, too.
`57,900, samsung.com/in 7KH ĆQHVW $QGURLG tablet, this delivers DbV\VWHP ZLWK a sharp OLED screen, S Pen stylus, excellent audio credentials, powerful internals, and a neat laptopaping DeX mode.
The Dell XPS 13 is thinner and more powerful than ever. Up to 1TB of SSD storage, 16GB of RAM, and powerful Intel Core i7 processors help make it a high quality all-rounder.
HP SPECTRE X360 From Rs. 1,29,990, hpshopping.in The Spectre x360 packs in the looks and performance. It features a gem cut, all-aluminium design and brings in Intel’s Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, audio from Bang & Olufsen and more.
LENOVO THINKPAD X1 EXTREME `From 1,97,000, lenovo.com/in The 15.6” Thinkpad is slim yet packs in some powerful hardware for productivity. While v variants start from Intel Core i7, they g up to the top end go i7 chipsets paired with upto 1TB SSD storage and 64GB RAM.
68 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today JUNE 2020
ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR II From `1,64,990, asus.com/in Built for FPS gamers, the 15.6inch ROG Strix Scar II has a refresh rate of 144Hz with 3ms response time. It has the latest GeForce RTX 2070 GPU, 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and more.
ALIENWARE AREA-51M `From 2,99,590, dell.co.in The Area-51m is not only one of the most powerful gaming laptops till date but also supports upgradeability with a removable processor and GPU. Although the Core i7/i9 and Geforce RTX GPU will not get outdated.
MICROSOFT SURFACE GO From `37,999, microsoft.com While Windows 10 in tablet mode remains a ‘mixed’ experience, its versatility is impressive and the ergonomics of Microsoft’s new tablet computer are second WRbQRQH
HP ENVY X360 `From 60,990, hp.com/in Sleek and lightweight, the Envy is highly versatile and can adapt to a number of situations given its transforming form factor. The battery life might not be amazing but the HP Active Pen is.
W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M
Best of the best
DSLR CAMERAS
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS
COMPACT CAMERAS
NIKON D850
NIKON Z 6
SONY RX100 VI
`2,34,950, nikon.co.in
`2,08,950, nikon.co.in
`96,990, sony.co.in
With a highresolution 45.4 megapixel sensor, 4K video capture, a 153-point AF system, and a sturdy body, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll never be disappointed with what the D850 can create for you.
NIKON D500
With a full-frame 24.5 megapixel sensor, 12fps continuous shooting, phenomenal low-light performance and fantastic handling, this creates incredible images for a reasonable price.
SONY A7 III
`1,36,950, nikon.co.in
NIKON D5600
FUJIFILM X100F
From `1,58,490, sony.co.in The advanced 24.2 megapixel lightweight, full frame Sony A7 III mirrorless interchangeable lens camera boasts of a remarkable eyeautofocus feature that all users, especially wedding photographers, love.
This solidly built camera is the SHUIHFW FKRLFH IRU those who like to shoot a little bit of everything, thanks to a brilliant autofocus system and glorious image quality from its 20MP sensor.
SONY A7R IV
From `66,750, nikon.co.in Designed for beginners and midlevel photographers, Nikonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light-weight (465 g body with battery) APS-C sensor 24.78 megapixel D-SLR is a good choice to carry along the whole day.
The ultimate in pocket-sized image quality. A large oneinch sensor is joined by an ace 24-200mm lens, retractable YLHZÄ&#x2020;QGHU WLOWLQJ touchscreen and absolutely glorious picture quality. ` IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP LQ 7KH )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP ; ) is as beautiful as it is capable. If the retro ORRN Ä&#x2021;RDWV \RXU ERDW then the X100F is a thing to behold. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact, but packs a large APS-C sensor and a lovely 35mm f/2.0 lens.
CANON G7X MARK II
From `2,99,990, sony.co.in Perfect for landscape photographers looking for the minutest detail in their large prints. In spite of its massive 61MP rating, it can shoot up to 10 frames per second with autofocus and auto exposure tracking in its Continuous Hi+ mode.
`40,395, canon.co.in Canonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact cameras are a great alternative to your DSLR when travelling light. This is the sweet spot in the range, with a great balance between small size and a range of features.
CANON 5D MARK IV
FUJIFILM X-T3
PANASONIC TZ200
From `2,90,995, canon.co.in
` IXMLÄ&#x2020;OP LQ
`50,500 (approx.), panasonic.com
The 30.4 megapixel D-SLR from Canon is one of its most sought-after models. Using a full frame sensor and Dual-Pixel CMOS AF for video, the 5D IV is the bread-andbutter camera for most photographers today.
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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of things to like about the X-T3, including great autofocusing, fast frame rates, an impressive array of 4K video features and, this being )XMLÄ&#x2020;OP EHDXWLIXO retro looks.
This might be the ideal travel companion, with a versatile zoom lens up to 15x, and a fantastic one-inch sensor that captures bright, sharp images. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also stylish and pocket-friendly.
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Best of the best
ACTION CAMERAS GOPRO HERO7 BLACK `35,000, gopro.com
DRONES PARROT ANAFI approx. `57,000, parrot.com
The waterproof Hero7 Black makes capturing pro-looking shots easier, thanks to HyperSmooth electronic stabilisation. 4K image quality is excellent, and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slick 60fps recording.
SONY RX0
`57,000, dji.com Packing a one-inch sensor, with a Zeiss lens bolstering the image quality further, in and out of the water. Other ace features include super-slow video and 15MP stills capture.
GOPRO HERO7 WHITE `19,000, gopro.com The wallet-friendly Hero7 White borrows premium features from the Hero7 Black. Ideal for part-time adrenaline junkies needing a simple HD camera WKDW VKRRWV <RX7XEH ready footage.
YI 4K ACTION CAMERA `9,999, www.yitechnology.com The affordable action camera is capable of 4K recording featuring a 12MP Sony IMX377 CMOS sensor with Exmor R. It can record 720p videos at 240fps but goes down to 24fps for 4K videos.
70 T3 Tomorrowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Technology Today JUNE 2020
FITBIT CHARGE 3 ` Ä&#x2020;WELW FRP
At just 320g, one of the lightest cameraequipped drones you can buy. Flight time is great, and the drone is near-silent in the air, which is appreciated. The camera and zoom are amazing.
DJI MAVIC AIR
`50,490, sony.co.in
FITNESS TRACKER
Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no GPS and the capacitive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;buttonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a bit pants but this is otherwise a textbook tracker. Sleep, steps, swims, and serious cardio workouts are all handled with aplomb.
XIAOMI MI BAND 3 `1,999, mi.com/in
The Mavic Air is a super-portable 4K camera drone. Video quality from the camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal is excellent, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so simple to control that beginners grasp it fast.
DJI MAVIC 2 PRO
Still trying to get a IHHO RI ZKDW D Ä&#x2020;WQHVV band does? Mi Band 3 is the answer with its simple design that tracks daily steps, sleep and even QRWLÄ&#x2020;HV WKH XVHU RI an incoming call or a message.
GARMIN VIVOSPORT `16,990, garmin.co.in
`1,20,000, dji.com While this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offer the same size to power ratio as the Air, its 4K video and stills capture are sensational, thanks to an onboard Hasselblad camera and fantastic stabilisation.
DJI MAVIC 2 ZOOM
Garminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rival to the Charge 2 boasts GPS for a similar price, but it also has a dodgy interface and some pointless extra features. The core functionality is good, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterproof.
SAMSUNG GEAR FIT 2 PRO `13,990, samsung.com/in
`1,00,000, dji.com The alter ego of the Mavic 2 Pro, the cheaper Zoom comes with a different camera, with a 2x optical zoom lens. Along with the folding design and long battery life, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s UHDOO\ Ä&#x2021;H[LEOH
$ UDUH Ä&#x2020;WQHVV WUDFNHU with an AMOLED display that is big and bright enough to see all statistics at a glance. It can track Ä&#x2020;WQHVV DFWLYLWLHV OLNH swimming etc and accurately track your route via GPS.
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Best of the best
RUNNING WATCH
SMART SPEAKERS
SMART BULBS
GARMIN FORERUNNER 645 MUSIC
AMAZON ECHO PLUS
PHILIPS HUE
`39,990, garmin.co.in
`14,999, amazon.in
From `2,900, meethue.com Thanks to its integrated Zigbeecompliant smart home hub, the Plus is a great smart home starter. Never pay the RRP, though: Amazon discounts Echos every time LW KDV D VDOH
This does everything: GPS for running and cycling, heart rate tracking, VO2 Max, intensity monitoring and even acting as an MP3 player. Expect four days of use between charges.
Hue dominates the smart lighting sector for good reason: it’s a superb system with the widest range of bulbs and a simple, useful app. Rivals may be cheaper but they can’t compete with Hue’s variety.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 935
BOSE HOME SPEAKER 500
TP-LINK LB130
`44,990, garmin.co.in
`39,000, bose.co.in
`1,999, tp-link.in
Add Garmin’s extra sensors to this and you get incredible detail for how you run, swim, bike and more, as well as your VO2 Max, lactate threshold… it’s for the very, very serious.
This Bose speakers offer the widest soundstage available in a smart speaker with a wall-to-wall stereo sound. It supports Amazon Alexa, which means you can ask questions to Alexa or control the device via voice.
GARMIN FORERUNNER 235
GOOGLE HOME
`24,990, garmin.co.in
`9,999, store.google.com
7KH RIĆFLDO SULFH LV similar but thanks to discounting this is often much cheaper than the 645. There’s no heart-rate or music but you do get GPS, reliable tracking and ace running metrics.
Google Home is a nice addition if you use Google Assistant. It gives access to the Google ecosystem with personalised schedule, news, and even control smart home gadgets.
Known for its routers but TP-Link offers decent smart bulb solutions and LB130 is their latest solution that does not require a hub to operate, It can be controlled over Wi-Fi and supports multi-colour, circadian mode, voice control.
MI LED SMART BULB `1,299, mi.com/in The Mi LED Smart Bulb is the newest entrant in the smart bulb segment that works with both Alexa and Google Assistant without the need of a bridge and offers a colour space of up to 16 million colours.
FOSSIL SPORT
JBL PULSE 3
SYSKA SMART LIGHT
`17,995, www.fossil.com/in/en.html Fossil Sport runs on Snapdragon Wear 3100 giving an 2 days battery life and its 3 watch faces are fully integrated with Google Fit. in It comes in two case sizes of 41mm and 43mm with choices of six colourways.
`17,499, www.jbl.com The 360 degree lightshow produced by the JBL Pulse 3 adds a distinct party ćDYRXU ZKHQHYHU songs are played or a voice assistant like Siri or Google Assistant is summoned.
From `1,799, syska.com Syska’s main USP is that it uses a normal B22 cap and doesn’t require a hub to operate. After connecting, the bulb can be connected DQG PRGLĆHG IURP anywhere with the help of the app.
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JUNE 2020 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 71
LUXURIES Exclusive gifts to seriously spoil yourself
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