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PHONES W E A RA BLES AUDIO T VS L A PTOPS `150

VOLUME 07 ISSUE 08 MAR0H 2 2

The World’s Leading Gadget Magazine!

MASTER THE METAVERSE Does the future of humanity lie in an online VR universe?

ES INCLUD

HSEiC-TIOFNi

Tomorrow’s Technology Today www.t3india.com

INDIAN EDITION

GADGET SONY WF1000XM4

TESTED

With this device, Sony has certainly raised the bar in true wireless headphone design and features /t3indiamag

@t3indiamag

ISSN 2454–9703

AWARDS 2022

DELL ULTRASHARP WEBCAM A premium webcam for all professional needs, this device certainly tops our accessories wish list /t3indiamag

www.t3india.com

Email : info@mzaudiodistribution.co.in I al@mzaudiodistribution.co.in I Toll Free: 1800-209-7848

SHOWSTOPPER Gadgets that showcase the very best that design and technology have to offer

SET THE STAGE Thanks to its built-in moving magnet phono stage, there’s no need to add a pre-amp. Want to upgrade to one anyway?

The phono stage can easily be switched out

PRO-J E C T A 1 Pro-Ject’s turntables regularly top our lists of the best record players for good reason: their great features, quality sound and super affordable pricing make them very hard to beat. So when the brand DQQRXQFHG LW ZDV ODXQFKLQJ LWV ĆUVW HYHU DXWRPDWLF WXUQWDEOHV WKH $XWRPDW VHULHV LW ZDV D VDIH EHW ZH ZRXOG EH PRUH LQTXLVLWLYH WKDQ D PRE RI KLSVWHU PHHUNDWV ,WV GHEXW HQWU\ WKH $ KDV GHĆQLWHO\ earned our curiosity. The fully automatic belt-drive system allows you to pop a record on by just setting the speed and hitting play – the turntable does everything else. Even better, the mechanism is entirely mechanical and physically disengages while the record is playing, which means there’s no KRUULEOH KXP RI HOHFWURQLFV KHUH 0HDQZKLOH WKH $ èV IRXU VLOLFRQ GDPSHG IHHW GDPSHG PHWDO SODWWHU and reinforced headshell all cut resonance to an absolute minimum. Not bad for such a bargain price. `36,900, project-audio.com

4 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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Welcome

Editor’s letter T3 India Awards 2022 It’s time for recognition again. For each brand, it is the culmination of all their efforts in bringing out a product that is near-flawless and that stands out from the rest of the pack.

And for us publishers and jury members, it is the pressure of carefully weighing all pros and cons, making sure that every effort has been made in considering all aspects of the product and arriving at the right decision.

Like last year, this year’s awards too have been decided by an internal jury, and fair considerations have been given to all products that were presented to us for evaluation. While gaming category has always been the most active in tech innovations, audio and wearables have also seen much activity in 2021, making our task even more daunting.

Congratulations to all winners.

When the world falls into a monotonous and somewhat stagnant pool of routine, someone seeks to disturb that calm by throwing a new jargon at us. So elsewhere in our pages, we have tried to demystify the virtual space called metaverse.

Happy reading.

Sujith Gopinath, Executive Editor s.gopinath@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

THE DESIGN AWARD

BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE

This award, and others We give this only to 2QO\ D ĆYH VWDU UHYLHZ like it, are given for WHFK WKDWbVWDQGV RXW IRU earn a product our prestigious Platinum stunning aesthetics or a exceptional performance in a key feature clever build Award

6 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

BEST ON TEST

The winners of our group tests earn this accolade, showing them to be top tier

T3 is…

Editor Girish Mallya Executive Editor Sujith Gopinath Correspondent Gautam Doshi Contributors Anshuman Ghosh Editor (UK) Matt Bolton Contributors (UK) Louise Blain Publisher Girish Mallya Associate Publisher & General Manager (North & East) Ellora Das Gupta Mentor & Special advisor Hoshang Billimoria Head Design & Production Ravi Parmar Senior Designer Prakash Gavnang Photography Mahesh Reddy Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik Product Manager Perseus Master General Manager South - Girish Shet Circulation Manager Circulation North and East - Kapil Kaushik BRANCH OFFICES Mumbai 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400013, India. Tel: +91 22 93215 46598 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 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 93215 46598 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., 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400013, India. Published by Girish Mallya on behalf of Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400013, India.

Printed at Kalajyothi Process Pvt. Ltd, 1-1-60/5 RTCX Roads, Hyderabad - 20.

Published at Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd., 608, Trade World, 6th floor, C wing, Kamala Mills compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400013, India.

Editor: Girish Mallya

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

Contents

Contents 041

T3 AWARDS 2022

Presenting T3’s pick of the best gadgets and consumer tech innovations of 2021-’22

Presents

Powered by

065

MASTER THE METAVERSE

Bored of the meatverse? Escape into virtual worlds with our guide to this whole new reality

8 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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Contents

HI-FI 036

SEPARATES SYSTEM OF THE YEAR

HORIZON

TESTED

012

076

HORIZON TOP LAUNCHES

SONY WF1000XM4

The latest Galaxies are here, and so are a few cool gadgets for gaming enthusiasts

This pair of fully loaded earbuds are going to be a new benchmark for us in the premium TWS segment

018

078

STYLE

Complement your style with cool cardigans and droolworthy watches

022 FITNESS

Garmin’s latest smartwatches are an adventurer’s dream ally

024 TRAVEL

Follow F1 around the world for breaks guaranteed to get your pulse racing

026

LIVING

DELL ULTRASHARP WEBCAM

An intelligent AI-enabled webcam that is hard WR ĆQG IDXOW ZLWK HYHQ IRU RXU KDZN H\HG review bench

080

OPPO RENO7 PRO

Centred around the brilliant camera trio, this mid-priced phone offers a touch of brilliance in most departments that matter

038

ODE TO A LEGEND LATA MANGESHKAR

082

SUBSCRIBE

AND SAVE BIG MONEY

081

ONEPLUS 9RT

The most powerful processor combines with excellent cameras and super fast charging in yet another variant from OnePlus

Instant Vortex’s new air fryers give you fried food without the guilt

030

GADGET GURU

Limit limescale, defunk your footwear and chat with your chihuahua

Essentials 004 082

SHOWSTOPPER SUBSCRIPTIONS

10 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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Horizon ANTEC T1 SPORT GAMING CHAIR `23,400, antec.com The all-new T1 Sport Gaming Chairs are ergonomically designed to provide better comfort and gaming experiences. The gaming chair is made with extremely durable leather and steel framework which is 20mm in diameter. The chair provides a multi-angle adjustable backrest which ranges from the upright position at 90-degrees to as low as 165-degrees. T1 Sport’s frame is also incorporated with a 30-degree tilt mechanism and a high-quality SGS certified gas lift. The sturdy metal 5-star base can support a max load of 264 pounds and features noiseless 60mm PU caster wheels. The gaming chair’s maximum height is 140cm and it also sports a 4D adjustable armrest and dense foam padding for extra comfort. The net weight of the T1 Sport is 24kg and it comes in three colours – red, yellow, and green.

T3 SAYS: The T1 Sport is a great option for all kinds of gamers and even those who don’t play games but are looking for a versatile, flexible, and comfortable seating option.

TECH-O-METER

ASUS ROG FUSION II 500 `TBA, rog.asus.com/in The ASUS ROG Fusion II 500 strives to deliver unparalleled gaming audio and feature advanced virtual 7.1 surround sound with high-resolution ESS 9280 Quad DAC technology which assigns appropriate processing power to a subset of the audible frequency range – from lows, mids, highs, and ultra-highs. This results in the reproduction of crisper and clearer audio which fosters immersive gaming too. This headset comes with the ASUS AI Beamforming Microphones with AI noise cancellation to ensure a clear and natural propagation of voices with minimal distortion. The microphones create a 40-degree acoustic zone in front of the gamer’s mouth for better reception. The Fusion II 500 includes customisable Aura RGB lighting and provide over 16.8 million colour combinations and six reset lighting effects.

The ROG Fusion II 500 is compatible with a myriad of devices through a 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C, and USB Type-A connectivity.

T3 SAYS: Through optimising its processing power, the ROG Fusion II 500 delivers realistic audio and is well within the defined ROG standards.

TECH-O-METER

12 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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#

CAPTURE YOUR ICONIC MOMENTS

HERITAGE

MEETS INNOVATION

STARTING PRICE: ₹ 84 995.00* *Price quoted is for one unit of product. MRP inclusive of all taxes. Accessories shown above are only for reference and are not provided with the product.

Corporate/Registered Office & Service Centre: Nikon India Pvt. Ltd., Plot No. 71, Sector 32, Institutional Area Gurgaon - 122001, Haryana, (CIN–U74999HR2007FTC036820).

Service ID: nindsupport@nikon.com, Sales and Support ID: nindsales@nikon.com Ph: 0124 4688527, Service Ph: 0124 4688514.

For more information, please visit our website: www.nikon.co.in

SCAN THE CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Horizon SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA From `1,09,999, samsung.com Samsung’s most noteworthy S series device yet, the Galaxy S22 Ultra, is the company’s standout flagship which offers the best of both the Note series and the S series. For the first time ever, an S series phone will come with the super-smooth S pen which is the company’s most responsive S Pen with 70% lower latency than its predecessors. The S22 Ultra is equipped with a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x which offers a refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak brightness of 1750 nits. The S22 Ultra is powered by a 4nm octa-core processor and consists of up to 12GB of RAM. The aluminium frame

of the smartphone has a tougher drop and scratch resistance and it houses a quad-camera setup in the rear with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, 108MP wideangle camera, and two 10MP telephoto cameras. The camera system is capable of recording 4K videos at 60fps and 8K at 24fps. The S22 Ultra consists of a 5000mAh battery and it also features up to 1TB of storage.

T3 SAYS: The S22 Ultra is a slim and bold new flagship of the company which packs in the captivating S-pen, a durable frame, and an elegant overall look which justifies its position in the top range.

TECH-O-METER

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB S8 SERIES From `70,999, samsung.com With screen sizes ranging from 11 to 14.6 inches, the Galaxy Tab S8 series offers the most powerful performance the Galaxy Tab S has ever offered.

Designed to be a productivity powerhouse, the Galaxy Tab S8 series’ impressive battery starts with 8000mAh in the base model to 11,200mAh in the flagship one. The tabs run on Android 12 and offer up to 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage capacity, and a microSD card slot.

All three variants – the Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, and Tab S8 Ultra – house a 13MP main camera, and 6MP ultra-wide camera. The tabs are capable of

recording 4K videos at 30fps and are powered by a 4nm 64-bit octa-core processor. These tabs come with the exceptional S-Pen and are also compatible with a host of accessories like the book cover keyboard, which are not included in the box. Connectivity-wise, the Galaxy Tab S8 series comes with Bluetooth v5.2, Wi-Fi 6E, and are 5G-compatible.

T3 SAYS: The Galaxy Tab S8 series is not only a productivity-powerhouse, but it also possesses an extremely strong build, as its screen is protected by an Armor Aluminium frame.

TECH-O-METER

TONO THUNDER 8K HDMI 2.1 CABLE From `19,000, tonosystems.com One of the latest 8K60Hz interconnection solutions in the market, Tono Thunder 8K HDMI 2.1 cable supports data rate up to 48Gbps. It is a lightweight, flexible, ultra-small and long-term bending radius (of 15mm) hybrid cable which consists of a newly-designed advanced optical engine embedded. The cable provides full HDMI signal integrity delivering 8K resolution at 60Hz, and 4K at 120Hz, which enables significantly smoother and sharper viewing.

The cable supports dynamic HDR which delivers video with ideal depth,

detail, brightness, contrast, and colour gamut. The Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) technology supports the most advanced high bitrate home theatre audio formats and object based audio which provides an immersive and multidimensional viewing experience. The cable comes with a 10-year warranty and also consumes low power.

T3 SAYS: The Tono Thunder is great for home theatre systems, gaming enthusiasts, and large venue system designers, and it surely deserves a look for those having next-gen consoles and televisions.

14 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

TECH-O-METER

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

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Horizon ASUS ROG PHONE 5S From `49,999, rog.asus.com/in Usually, ROG devices are powerhouses and the ROG Phone 5s is nothing short of being one on all fronts, whether it’s gaming, speed, efficiency or any other metric used to define the standards of a smartphone. The ROG Phone 5s is powered by the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G Mobile Platform and comes with up to 12GB of RAM. The device can be combined with an the Adreno 660 GPU, the GameCool 5 cooling system, and up to 12GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM. The cooling system consists of the AeroActive Cooler 5 which delivers up to a 10-degree Celcius drop in the CPU temperature. The ROG Phone 5s comes with a 6.78-inch 144Hz

Samsung E4 AMOLED display which offers a peak brightness of 1200 nits. Apart from the ultra-low 24s touch latency screen, the phone supports immersive gaming through two extra physical buttons, and superior audio quality through the GameFX audio system which consists of a symmetrical 7-magnet dual speakers for stereo sound effects. The phone is integrated with three rear cameras with a 64MP main camera, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.2, and a 6000mAh battery. The ROG Phone 5s Pro comes with up to 18GB of RAM. T3 SAYS: ASUS ROG Phone 5s offers exceptional features for its price and surely deserves a look among smartphone gaming enthusiasts and professionals.

TECH-O-METER

OPPO RENO7 PRO 5G `39,999, oppo.com Marketed as a ‘Portrait Expert’, the Oppo Reno7 Pro 5G boasts Sony’s latest image sensor and is bundled with some exciting features which gives a premium feel to a smartphone. The Reno7 Pro 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 MAX which delivers crisper visuals and improved colours. Offering 256GB of storage, the Reno7 Pro 5G is equipped with 12GB of RAM, which receives a boost in demanding situations as Oppo’s RAM Expansion technology allows users to borrow an additional 3GB, 5GB, or 7GB from the smartphone’s storage capacity to work as RAM. The 6.5-inch AMOLED screen offers a refresh rate of

90Hz and supports HDR10+. The Reno7 Pro 5G features the 50MP Sony IMX766 image sensor along with the world’s first 32MP IMX709 ‘ultra-sensing’ large sensor made by Sony. These sensors make the smartphone capture extremely sharp and detailed portraits, with the desired bokeh too. The 180-gram Reno7 Pro 5G also consists of a 2MP macro camera and an 8MP ultra-wide camera; and comes with a 4500mAh battery which can be charged in just 31 minutes.

T3 SAYS: The Oppo Reno7 Pro 5G is fairly priced for the value it offers through its imaging system and other features. But it will face tough competition in the market.

TECH-O-METER

POCO M4 PRO 5G From `14,999, poco.in The POCO M4 boasts of a bold new design with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor power button and a 6.6-inch FHD+ display which offers a refresh rate of 90Hz and supports DCI-P3. The M4 is powered by the 5G-ready octacore MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor, and comes with up to 8GB of RAM with the base model being of 4GB RAM. A Mali-G57 graphics card and a ‘Game Turbo’ mode help users get a better gaming performance out of the smartphone. The company’s X-liner

motor offers a haptic touch-like response that vibrates in reaction to in-game actions. The M4 is also equipped with dual stereo speakers and a dual-camera setup with a 50MP main camera and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Along with a 5000mAh battery the POCO M4 5G Pro also houses a 16MP front camera.

T3 SAYS: The M4 does its best to push the boundaries of the M-series lineup which has always been lingering in the lower end of the mid-range smartphone spectrum.

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TECH-O-METER

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Style

CARDI COUTURE All hail the cardigan! This stalwart fashion item has had more reinventions than Doctor Who and it returns in style for spring 2022

MILANO KNIT A Day’s March is a Swedish label that aims to design eco-conscious clothing that is made to last. This sharp-looking piece made from non-mulesed Merino is hefty enough to be a jacket too when the days get warmer. `16,500, adaysmarch.com

SHAWL COLLAR American brand Sebago, better known for its celeb-sporting shoewear, has designed the ultimate in cosy cardigan fashion with Moosepoint, a wool and polyamide mix knitwear with zip, shawl collar and embroidered Sebago Campsides motif. `27,000, sebago.co.uk

SKY BLUE MERINO Paul Smith never wanders too far away from Mod influences and this dapper Merino wool cardigan with press studs recalls the striped tip collars of classic Fred Perry. A cardie to step out in. `30,000, paulsmith.com EDITION AT H&M John Boyega’s environmentally conscious range at H&M is bursting with colour and this wool-blend (with a dash of mohair) pea-green cardie is no exception. A great everyday piece that’ll brighten up darker days in February. `2,499, www2.hm.com

FISHERMAN’S RIB Jaeger specialises in heritage looks and if you want to look like you’re ready for a brisk winter walk then this will suit the cut of your jib. Made from cashmere with button fastening and two front pockets, this is a great choice for comfort. `15,900, marksandspencer.com

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THE ULTIMATE GRAPHICS CARD ZOTAC GAMING AMP EXTREME HOLO

Redesigned with funktion over form, the AMP Extreme Holo Series is the culmination of all current 30 Series features and designed for the absolute gaming experience. Get Amplified with the ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX™ 3080 AMP Extreme Holo graphics card featuring the ZOTAC GAMING unique HoloBlack Design.

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Horizon Fitness

ESSENTIAL URBAN BIKE COMMUTING

BERN MACON 2.0

BORN AGAIN

The Bern Macon 2.0 is perfect for urban cyclists who don’t want to be thought of as MAMILs. A lighter weight means it’s aerodynamic enough not to hold you back when you’re trying to reach that green light.

From `4,481, bernhelmets.com

EPIX PROPORTIONS Garmin launches long-awaited Fenix 7 and reboots its Epix franchise After relative silence in the second half of 2021, Garmin entered 2022 with a boom: the US-based company announced not one, not two but four new smartwatches in a span of just a couple of weeks. Two of them are the long-anticipated Fenix 7 and the new-andimproved Epix.

The Garmin Fenix 7 (from `59,999, garmin. com) is likely to become hugely popular.

The watch introduces the Power Sapphire glass that combines the now-improved solar harvesting ring around the watch face with

a sapphire lens for added protection. With the added touchscreen functionality and built-in flashlight (7X model only), the Fenix 7 will be on the top of every outdoorsy person’s Christmas list.

What happened if you added an AMOLED screen on the Fenix 6? You’d get a watch that looks something like the Garmin Epix (from `79,999). The Epix is a reboot of a much clunkier watch from 2015 with the new version being part of Garmin’s premium watch range.

CHROME STORM SALUTE COMMUTE JACKET This stretch 2.5 layer fully taped rain shell works on and off the bike!

Reflective details on back, arm and wrists for visibility. Zippered interior phone pocket and back cargo pocket to haul your stuff safely, even without a bag. `18,900, chromeindustries.com

FLEXIBLE FRIEND

IN POSITION Multi-position Flex Cycle joins Wondercise range CES 2022 was full of wonders but not many of them were as offbeat as the Wondercise Cycle Studio (price TBC, wondercise.com). This four-position exercise bike is like a workout Transformer, letting you exercise in multiple positions and toning different muscle groups. By getting one, you can also join the ever-growing Wondercise platform, which features enhanced multiplayer engagement with Live Motion Matching.

22 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

RAPHA SMALL TRAVEL BACKPACK This 15-litre backpack is compact and lightweight. The main compartment has a zipped mesh pocket to keep kit separate from paperwork, another for storing shoes and a padded 13-inch laptop sleeve. `11,000, rapha.cc W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ACTION WITH 3D SOUND

YH-L700A

3D SOUND WITH HEADTRACKING

LISTENING CARE

AMBIENT SOUND

LISTENING OPTIMIZER

ADVANCE NOISE CANCELING

Yamaha Music India Pvt. Ltd. P-401, JMD Megapolis, Sector 48, Sohna Road, Gurgaon-122018, Haryana, India Ph: +91 124 485 3300 Learn more: https://in.yamaha.com/ Shop at: https://yamahamusicstore.in/

Horizon Travel

HIGH SPEED HEROES

SWAROVSKI OPTIK’S CL CURIO 7X21 BINOCULARS You won’t miss a moment of the action with these. They won’t weigh you down, either – these compact binoculars, the result of a collaboration with worldrenowned industrial designer Marc Newson, weigh just 250g. `63,000, swarovskioptik.com

GRAND TOUR

START YOUR ENGINES

ANKER POWERBANK 10000 If you’re the kind of person who loves to send your friends trackside selfies, you’ll need to stay connected, something that gets significantly easier when you’ve got the slimline Anker Powerbank 10000, which can charge an iPhone 12 to 50% in 30 minutes. `3,299, amazon.co.uk

KEEN NXIS EVO WP SHOES Quickly get from the bar to the grandstand by donning Keen’s new shoes. They’re packed with hi-tech comfort-enhancing features such as dual density PU footbeds, eco-friendly anti-odour treatments and compression moulded midsoles.

From `13,500, keenfootwear.com

Why you should consider some F1-themed travel in 2022 Formula 1 is back, and this year’s season looks set to be its most exciting yet – not just because of the Hamilton/Verstappen rivalry, but because we’ll see the first race in what might just be F1’s most spectacular location: Miami. Its inaugural GP takes place at the Miami International Autodrome over the 6, 7 and 8 May. It’s further proof you don’t have to be a petrol head to enjoy the sport. The track is at the Hard Rock Stadium, and race goers can expect some big names – Britney Spears, Bruno Mars and Kool and the Gang have all performed at the F1 race in Austin, Texas, and organisers of the Miami event are reportedly keen to raise the bar.

There’s plenty to do away from the track once the chequered flag comes down too. In 2022, Florida will become the Michelin Guide’s fifth US destination, and Miami’s restaurants will feature heavily. The recent flurry of openings includes Orno, where James-Beard-nominated chef Niven Patel serves up local, seasonal produce (much of which comes from his farm, Rancho Patel).

We recommend basing yourself at The Gabriel South Beach, which opened in late 2021. Keep an eye out for the property’s 30-foot mural by street artist Mr Brainwash.

24 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

Spain’s spectacular Circuit de BarcelonaCatalunya, just 30 kilometres from Barcelona, hosts the Spanish F1 in late May and is the only circuit to host four worldclass international motorsport competitions on the same track. Got a need for speed? It’s also the only circuit where members of the public can take to the track, either in their own car or with an instructor by their side.

Finally, we can’t mention legendary F1 destinations and not talk about Singapore. The Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix race weekend is due to kick off on 30 September, and as much as we can’t wait to see what Miami’s got in store, we’re fully expecting Singapore to prove its worth as the most exciting F1 destination.

The high-speed night race streaks right across Singapore’s waterfront, and races are famously full of drama. If you can, bag a seat near turn 18, where drivers pass beneath a grandstand. Throw in brilliant entertainment – Katy Perry, The Killers and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have all performed during previous race weekends – along with Singapore’s fantastic food scene and nightlife, and you’ve got the most exciting weekend on the F1 calendar.

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Horizon Living

MORE FRYING TONIGHT

TOWER 10-IN-1 AIR FRYER XPRESS PRO COMBO The UK’s favourite air fryer brand serves up a microwave-sized air fryer and multi cooker that includes – yes! – a goddamn rotisserie. Now you can cook like it’s the 1970s and eat like you’re Henry VIII. ` 14,000, towerhousewares.co.uk

INSTANT KORMA

NINJA FOODI SMARTLID OL750 With its built-in temperature probe, this makes meat cookery all but foolproof. The SmartLid part of it somehow houses all the elements needed in order to be both an InstantPot-style pressure cooker and an air fryer. ` 30,000, ninjakitchen.co.uk

VORWERK THERMOMIX TM6 This one is a little pricier, but then it has just travelled here from the future. Replacing over 20 appliances, it slices, mixes and cooks meals using an online recipe database. All you do is toss in ingredients and press a few buttons. ` 1,14,900, vorwerk.co.uk

SOMETHING IN THE AIR Instant Vortex’s air fryers will whip up healthy meals pronto Instant Vortex is the air fryer range from Instant Brands, which also makes Instant Pot. Now, in an instant, it has released three new Instant Vortex air fryers, each of which has its own killer feature (from `12,000, instantbrands.co.uk).

People love air fryers because they’re a convenient way to cook and they have some health benefits. And because people just love kitchen gizmos – just look at the success of Instant Pots, which are quite literally pressure cookers with knobs on.

The health benefits of air fryers are easy to overstate, but if you usually deep fry all your food or pan fry it in a ton of oil, lard, dripping and butter, you will definitely reduce your fat intake if you buy an air fryer and use that instead. They may not literally fry food using ‘air’, but only a little tiny bit of oil – about a teaspoonful, or a few quick squirts from an oil spray.

The top-of-the-range entry here is the Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer 8-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook. With two 3.8-litre drawers, it’s got a capacity vast enough for ‘up to 8 servings’, although that might depend on how greedy you are.

The standout feature here, at least according to Instant Vortex, is the ClearCook Window technology. As the name suggests, there’s a window on each of the two baskets,

26 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

so you can see how your dinner is progressing on its way to golden brown crispness.

A SyncCook setting lets you cook both drawers on the same temperature for the same amount of time, while a cunning SyncFinish mode will delay whichever basket takes less time, so that both are ready to eat simultaneously.

Also in the range are the entry-level Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook.

This is a scaled down fryer with only one drawer, and a 5.7-litre/six-portion capacity.

Instant Vortex says the ‘ClearCook Window and easy-to-use interface will transform the way you cook and will have friends and family asking for more,’ and who can say fairer than that?

Arguably the most interesting of the three new friers, however is the – deep breath – Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook + OdourErase. The potentially killer feature here is the presence of two grease filters that stop grease and odours from ending up on your food.’ Over time, grease build-up can become an issue with air fryers, and it can have quite unpleasant effects on the food. So the addition of a filter is good news, especially if the two things you really like to cook in your fryer are heavily spiced and garlicky curries, and cup cakes.

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Horizon Living

FLORAL TRADITION Lush, green and mood enhancing, the botanical trend is a 2022 interiors style that promises to keep you close to nature even if you’re dwelling in an urban jungle TROPICAL LANDSCAPE 2 WALLPAPER Interiors trends in 2022 will continue with an environmental focus, featuring natural materials and recycled and pre-loved items. Creating the perfect backdrop to a more sustainable living space is this tropical-themed wallpaper. The huge ferns and leafy lushness will create a dramatic look as well as imbue your space with a sense of calm and serenity.

From ` 3,500/m2, wallsauce.com PRIMROSE KITCHEN STOOL While the botanical trend promises to bring calm and well-being into our homes, this doesn’t mean you have to make any sacrifices when it comes to style and elegance. This Scandinavianinspired stool boasts both rural charm and plenty of class with its mid-century look. Made from solid beech wood with gold-capped feet and velvet fabric. ` 15,900, cultfurniture.com BOTANICAL PORTRAIT If you’d rather keep your botanical theme to a smaller area or you’d like just a few bucolic touches here and there, then a piece of wall art is a good way to achieve the look. This range of portraits shows six vintage illustrations of plants that can be found in the Transylvanian countryside and Carpathian woodlands. Printed on lithographic paper with a black frame that measures 60 x 80cm. ` 19,800, mindtheg.com WATER HYACINTH BASKET Boosting the images of flora and fauna in this look are accessories that have been crafted from natural products. Looking after the planet is an inherent aspect of the botanical trend, so this large storage basket is ticking boxes in terms of style and ethical obligations as water hyacinth is an ultra-sustainable product that is also long-lasting. `5,500, mintandmay.co.uk

28 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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Horizon

T3’s tremendous tech tinkerer solves more of your pesky probs

ILLUSTRATIONS: STEPHEN KELLY

I’m tired of x86. Is Windows-on-ARM worth trying?

Windows, and the PC market in yet. Oh, dear reader, fundamentally the same A Not general, will always face. There’s not yet. Guru has recently architecture as it was in the late tested a Samsung Galaxy Book Go, which pushes Windows 11 onto the most unwilling frame of the Snapdragon 888 processor, and there just isn’t enough power there for your `35,000. While there’s a translation layer that will do its darndest to get every app running, it’s dog slow. Also, and this has nothing to do with Windows-on-ARM, but the screen on the Galaxy Book Go is just about the worst panel GaGu has ever used – and he’s old enough to have worked with the original colour LCD displays on laptops.

This is part of the problem

literally no opportunity for an all-hands-on-deck Apple pivot, the most recent of which allowed the company to completely revise its platform for the fourth time and utterly eclipse the performance of x86 by using ARM instead. The PC grows, it improves, but it is based on

ABOVE Give it a little push… and let the chips fall where they may

THE PC GROWS, IT IMPROVES, BUT IT IS BASED ON FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME ARCHITECTURE AS IT WAS IN THE LATE ’70S

30 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

’70s. Changing the formula – see Windows RT, which somehow managed to make Windows 8 even worse – has not yet worked.

Okay, Windows itself runs fine on ARM. But as long as Qualcomm has the exclusive licence there can be no platform competition, and while everything surrounding the core OS is so scuffed few manufacturers are going to bother to take the risk on ARM machines. Guru has no doubt that x86/ARM hybrid processors could be an option in the future – at this point, though, just no.

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Horizon

How do I stop my shower scaling up? coat chemist Guru, fluency with a blowtorch and a A White fresh from his subterranean greasy rag, the following is lab that definitely does not contain unholy half-human half-machine hybrids, has a little science lesson for you. Limescale is calcium carbonate, left behind in deposits when hard water evaporates, and it’s heavily alkaline, meaning (as your mum has probably told you ad nauseum) you can dissolve it with mildly acidic substances like vinegar or lemon juice. For surfaces it won’t run off, spray some on, wait a bit, then scrub the residue away. For things like showerheads and taps, try rubber-banding a bag full of dilute acid mix and leaving it on the affected fitting for a while. Just be careful around brass hardware.

That’s practical, but impractical too. Fixing a problem that’s already happened is one thing, but cutting it off at the source means you’ll have less ongoing maintenance to deal with. Depending on your

probably an ask-your-plumber task, but GaGu would recommend looking into whole-home water softeners, which use resin beads to suck out the calcium and magnesium ions in your water, switching them for sodium. The beads do need occasional periods of regeneration, and special salt (much like your dishwasher demands) to do it, but if you opt for a larger and pricier twin-tank solution there’ll be no break in your soft water.

If you’re really only bothered about your shower, you could buy an incredibly ugly water softener showerhead, which is likely far worse than the one you have, or an in-line softener, which may or may not do a half-decent job.

AquaHomeGroup’s 15-stage filter should be around `2,900, comes in a bunch of fixin’-matching finishes, and you can install it yourself.

ABOVE You don’t want Chris Whitty’s next press conference to be on your footwear

GADGET GURU’S MAGIC BOX A few issues ago Guru was grilled by a reader on Bluetooth latency. One benevolent (or perhaps furious) audio brand took your favourite uncle’s ramblings as an opportunity to thrust a suitable product into his hands: the Tronsmart Onyx Prime True Wireless Earbuds (`5,500) are compatible with the aptX Adaptive codec, meaning they can go hi-res, low-latency, or everything in between. Surprisingly good? Absolutely, for the price, you get a richer sound than you might expect, with dual hybrid drivers essentially calling your ear drums out for a fight. ‘Made for audiophiles’ though, Tronsmart? Wind it in: while the Onyx Primes are indeed adept at wrangling low-latency audio, audio experts are going to sniff at the custard-thick bass layer. Guru quite enjoyed its bombast, but you may not.

To encourage his brainy-but-wayward kids to code, Guru recently picked up the 32 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

PlayShifu Tacto coding kit (`4,500). You get little robot figurines with conductive bumps on their feet laid out in different patterns which get read by the multi-touch function of a tablet screen to identify which is which.

Guru really enjoyed solving the puzzles in the accompanying app. The kids, though, were less than impressed that the toys could not control MrBeast or DanTDM and thus have barely touched them. C’est la vie.

As part of his less-interesting pays-thebills work, Guru was asked to write a positive article on NFTs, which hurt a lot. If you have a wallet full of crypto-apes, he invites you to write to him to convince him why a bundle of digital receipts that confer no copyright or ownership has any true value, because the only effusive sources he can find are baddies trying to scam him out of cryptobucks.

How can I keep my trainers fresh?

Wrong person to ask, A reader – Guru’s prize kicks are being investigated as a priority by the EPA. But Guru knows this: if you’re a true sneakerhead and you’ve stocked up on lurid Nikes to show off (rather than those destined to generate mysterious spores) they deserve better protection than they’ll get on a shelf. ShoeStack’s display boxes cost `3,000 for a two-pack, and give you the option of a completely clear box, or a black one with a dropped front or side. Chuck in some silica packets, which you should have plenty of if you haven’t eaten them all already, and you’re golden.

For already over-pungent shoes, you might try a forlorn search for the Panasonic MS-DS100 – Japanonly, as far as Guru can ascertain, and almost certainly ineffective – which uses wacky ionisation tech.

Sit it on top of your trainers and it’ll blast them with negatively charged hydroxyl radicals, apparently neutralising the nastiness in about five hours. Apparently.

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Hi-Fi

ISSUE 80/ MARCH 2022

Hi-Fi

Here at T3 India we appreciate the high-fidelity reproduction of the sound and keeping that in mind, the Hi-Fi section aims to bring everything related to Hi-Fi audio, including tips & tricks, interesting Hi-Fi products and a lot more.

Inside

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36

Separates System of The Year

38

Classic Artistes

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 35

Hi-Fi

SEPARATES SYSTEM OF THE YEAR MARANTZ PM 6007 AMPLIFIER, MARANTZ CD 6007 CD PLAYER AND Q ACOUSTICS CONCEPT 30 STANDMOUNT SPEAKERS WORDS H. S. Billimoria

36 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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SEPARATES SYSTEM OF THE YEAR

I

f you are fussy about the quality of the sound you hear, you have to go down the ‘ separates’ route.

This month we bring to our readers a separates system that is affordable and sounds divine. It will have you spinning your discs again and again.

The heart of a separates system is the amplifier. The PM 6007 from Marantz is a steady improvement over its predecessor, the 6006. The 6007 has an output of 2 x 45 W into 8 ohms but sounds even more powerful.

It features a high quality DAC made by Asahi Kasei.

The frequency response ranges from 10 Hz to 70 kHz and total harmonic distortion is .08%.The 6007 has five audio inputs and a sub woofer output in case you like to increase the ‘ thump ‘ in your music. In appearance, it is similar to its predecessor, weighs 7.6 kgs and can be bought in a black, silver or gold finish.

A remote control is standard.

The 6007 is made in Vietnam. It still does not feature a USB input or Bluetooth. It remains to be seen whether the casework of the 6007 can resist Mumbai’s humidity and salt. Its predecessor showed signs of rusting in three to five years.

The Marantz CD 6007 is a perfectly matched companion to the 6007 amplifier. The CD player supports all formats including CD-R/RW, WAV, FLAC and MP3. Features like repeat play and random play have been thoughtfully included. So is Auto

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Power Off. The CD player can be bought in a black, silver or gold finish and weighs 6.5 kgs.

Finally, the Concept 30 speakers from Q Acoustics.

These are bookshelf speakers but we recommend that they be stand mounted. For its dimensions of 284 mm x 180 mm x 319 mm, the Concept 30 speakers feature a large 125 mm bass driver.

Sensitivity is 87 db/W/m. The Concept 30 can handle amplifiers ranging from 25 – 100 W. Other specs include a frequency response of 54 Hz – 30 KHz and distortion levels less than 0.2%. The speakers weigh 7.9 kgs. Our sample was finished in gloss black. Other finishes are available.

Individual components of a system may be brilliant but may not sound great when paired without auditioning. In this case, the system works brilliantly. The sound is clean and punchy, yet smooth and pleasing. If you want a more forward sound, try the excellent B & W 607 S2 instead.

The Marantz PM 6007 carries an MRP of Rs 74900.

The 6007 CD player also has an MRP of Rs 74900.

The Concept 30 speakers carry an MRP of Rs 120000. Obviously, discounts are available.

The Marantz set-up along with the Q Acoustics speakers is hard to beat both in sound quality and on price. An excellent beginner’s system!

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 37

RETRO

ODE TO A LEGEND LATA MANGESHKAR ( 1929-2022) Words: H. S. Billimoria

What can we add to the millions of words said in praise of India’s foremost female VLQJHU /DWD 0DQJHVKNDU" 6XIĆFH LW LV WR VD\ that she had a sweet , golden voice that was unparalleled and was the result of complete dedication to the profession of singing.

7KH 0DQJHVKNDU IDPLO\ FDPH IURP D PRGHVW background and Lata was the eldest of the siblings.

6KH LQLWLDOO\ PRGHOOHG KHUVHOI RQ 1RRU -HKDQ EXW VRRQ GHYHORSHG KHU RZQ VW\OH DQG reigned as the number one female singer IRU +LQGL ĆOPV IRU GHFDGHV +HU LQLWLDO ULVH WR IDPH ZDV FRXUWHV\ RI FRPSRVHUV 6KDQNDU -DLNLVKDQ IRU ZKRP VKH ZDV WKH GHIDXOW singer. ‘ Barsaat’ (1949), for which she sang almost all the songs, shot her into the limelight and after that she did not look back.

Even though she had little formal education, Lata was both street smart and sharp.

She ensured that the pinnacle she had UHDFKHG UHPDLQHG KHUV DORQH E\ ER\FRWWLQJ composers and producers who encouraged new singers. Her spats with Sardar Mallick, 6 ' %XUPDQ DQG 6KDQNDU -DLNLVKDQ DUH ZHOO NQRZQ %XW IRU KHU VSDW ZLWK 5DĆ DQG 6KDQNDU -DLNLVKDQ VKH ZRXOG KDYH VXQJ PDQ\ PRUH KLWV WKDW ZHQW WR RWKHU VLQJHUV OLNH 6XPDQ .DO\DQSXU DQG 6KDUGD 7KHVH WUDLWV KRZHYHU RQO\ VKRZHG WKDW VKH ZDV human after all. ,QGLD DQG ,QGLDQV ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR HQMR\ WKH haunting, sweetvoice of Lata Mangeshkar for decades to come. RIP Lata Mangeshkar!

38 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

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ODE TO A LEGEND LATA MANGESHKAR

T3 lists below Lata’s TOP 30 songs 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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Jiya bekarar hai ..................

Ye zindagi usiki hai ............

Rajaki aayegi baaraat .......

Aaja re pardesi ..................

Pyar kiya to darna kya ......

Ajeeb dastan hai yeh .......

Aap ki nazaron se ..............

Kahin deep jale kahin dil...

Tera mera pyaar amar ......

Jo waada kiya who ...........

Dil bekarar sa hai ...............

Lag ja gale se .......................

Aaja aayee bahar ..............

Yeh sama .............................

Aji roothkar ........................

Lo aa gayi unki yaad Aa jaane ja Bindiya chamkegi Inhi logon ne Teri bindiya re Satyam shivam sundaram Rimjhim gire saawan Yeh kahaan aa gaye hum Tujhse naaraaz Ae dil e nadaan Pyar ka dilko dikhake sapna Wada na tod Arre re arre ye kya hua Humko hamise churalo Kaise piyase

BARSAAT (1949) ANARKALI (1953) AAH (1953) MADHUMATI (1958) MUGHAL E AZAM (1960) DIL APNA AUR PREET PARAI (1960) ANPADH (1962) BEES SAAL BAAD (1962) ASLI NAQLI (1962) TAJ MAHAL (1963) ISHAARA (1964) WHO KAUN THI (1964) RAJKUMAR (1965) JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE (1965) ARZOO (1965) (1966) INTEQAM (1969) DO RAASTE (1969) PAKEEZAH (1972) ABHIMAAN (1973) SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM (1978) MANZIL (1979) SILSILA (1981) MASOOM (1983) RAZIA SULTAN (1983) ANUBHAV (1986) DIL TUJHKO DIYA (1987) DIL TO PAAGAL HAI (1997) MOHABBATEIN (2000) BEWAFA (2005)

Shankar Jaikishan C Ramchandra Shankar Jaikishan Salil Chowdhary Naushad Shankar Jaikishan Madan Mohan Hemant Kumar Shankar Jaikishan Roshan Kalyanji Anandji Madan Mohan Shankar Jaikishan Kalyanji Anandji Shankar Jaikishan Ravi Laxmikant Pyarelal Laxmikant Pyarelal Ghulam Mohammed S D Burman Laxmikant Pyarelal R D Burman Shiv Hari R D Burman Khayyam Rajesh Roshan Rajesh Roshan Uttam Singh Jatin Lalit Nadeem Shravan

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 39

2022 Presents

Powered by

If 2020 was a year of getting caught in an unprecedented crisis, 2021 was probably the year of bouncing back and rising above all challenges. Yet another year when gargantuan challenges failed to dampen the spirit of the tech industry. Here is T3’s reward to all those tech innovators who decided to walk that tight rope between perfection and excellence.

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MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 41

2022

TV OF THE YEAR Flawless performance, immersive sound and cognitive intelligence make this our choice for TV of the Year

AND THE WINNER IS…

Sony Bravia XR A80J

LG G1

ACER BOUNDLESS 50” UHD

TABLET OF THE YEAR Sleeker, smarter and powerful, the new Mini is probably the most useful tablet in a highly portable design

AND THE WINNER IS…

Apple iPad Mini

APPLE IPAD PRO M1

42 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

REALME PAD

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2022

CAMERA OF THE YEAR A retro styling that resembles Nikon’s iconic manual SLRs hides cutting edge technology in this DX format mirrorless camera

AND THE WINNER IS…

Nikon Z fc

SONY ZV-E10

FLAGSHIP SMARTPHONE OF THE YEAR Pro Motion, Cinematic Mode and unmatched audiovisual features make this device more powerful than ever

AND THE WINNER IS…

iPhone 13 Pro

SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 ULTRA

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MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 43

2022

PREMIUM SMARTPHONE OF THE YEAR

An iconic camera at the back, superlative performance and quick charging support… this device has it all

ASUS ROG PHONE 5

44 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

AND THE WINNER IS…

OnePlus 9

REALME GT

OPPO RENO6 PRO

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2022

VALUE SMARTPHONE OF THE YEAR

When great performance combines with good image quality at a highly competitive price, we have a winner

AND THE WINNER IS…

Realme 8 Pro

ONEPLUS NORD 2

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

REALME 8 5G

SAMSUNG GALAXY A22 5G

SAMSUNG GALAXY M42

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 45

2022

SMARTWATCH OF THE YEAR Stylish, feature-packed and highly functional, this watch beats all others in overall value and desirability

AND THE WINNER IS…

Amazfit GTR 3

ONEPLUS WATCH

AMAZFIT T-REX PRO

FOSSIL GEN6

TITAN SMART

SMARTPHONE GIMBAL OF THE YEAR An innovative foldable design combined with advanced and intelligent shooting modes make the Mini MX 2 a clear winner

AND THE WINNER IS…

Moza Mini MX 2

46 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

DJI OM 5

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

LAPTOP OF THE YEAR

The slimmest and lightest notebook we reviewed this year, the XPS 13 offers amazing performance in an aesthetically pleasing design

AND THE WINNER IS…

Dell XPS 13 9310

MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP 4

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MSI SUMMIT E15

REALME BOOK SLIM

APPLE MACBOOK PRO 2021

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 47

2022

MINI PC OF THE YEAR

10th Gen Intel Core processors, fast connectivity, Alexa integration and support for 4K are some USPs of this mini PC

AND THE WINNER IS…

ECS LIVA Z3 Plus

ASUS PN51-S1

48 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

ECS LIVA Q3 PLUS

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR

With HDR 10 support and 240 Hz refresh rate, this True 4K projector supports extreme gaming and entertainment

AND THE WINNER IS…

Optoma UHD35+

OPTOMA GT1080HDR

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

BENQ TK700STI

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 49

2022

HOME CINEMA PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR

This stylish 4K UHD LED home cinema projector provides a multitude of inputs and offers great value for money

BENQ CINEPRIME V6000

50 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

AND THE WINNER IS…

Viewsonic X100-4K+

XGIMI HORIZON PRO

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

PORTABLE SPEAKER OF THE YEAR A sleek and lightweight speaker that delivers pure and dynamic audio at the cost of a pair of premium earbuds

AND THE WINNER IS…

Aiwa SB-X350A B&O BEOLIT 20

SOUNDBAR OF THE YEAR Made for a rich 3D surround experience in your living room, this all-in-one sound bar offers built-in dual subwoofers and Alexa support

AND THE WINNER IS…

Yamaha SR-B20 A

SAREGAMA CARVAAN MUSICBAR

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 51

2022

TWS EARPHONES OF THE YEAR

3HUIHFW ĆW DQG JRRG DXGLR FRPELQHG ZLWK great value for money make Nothing’s debutant product a true winner

AND THE WINNER IS…

Nothing Ear (1)

ONEPLUS BUDS PRO

52 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

DEVIALET GEMINI

APPLE AIRPODS

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2022

AUDIOPHILE HEADPHONE OF THE YEAR $ SHUIHFW ĆW VWXUG\ EXLOG TXDOLW\ DQG XQFRPSURPLVLQJ sound reproduction make these modular hybrid headphones stand out

AND THE WINNER IS…

Audio-Technica ATH-IEX1

MUSIC STREAMER OF THE YEAR A wide range of music streaming and radio tuning options make this smart radio system simply irresistible

AND THE WINNER IS…

LOEWE KLANG S1

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 53

2022

SEPARATES HIGH FIDELITY SYSTEM OF THE YEAR The Marantz set-up along with the Q Acoustics VSHDNHUV LV KDUG WR EHDW ERWK LQ VRXQG TXDOLW\ and on price. An excellent beginner’s system!

AND THE WINNER IS…

Marantz PM6007 + Marantz CD6007 + Q Acoustics Concept 30

COMPACT GAMING PC OF THE YEAR A 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU and up to 64GB DDR4 RAM in a compact form factor

AND THE WINNER IS…

ZOTAC ZBOX MAGNUS EN173080C

54 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

GAMING LAPTOP OF THE YEAR

With 240 Hz QHD display, 11th Gen Intel i9 processor, RTX30 GPU and up to 64GB RAM, this Raider is made for extreme gaming

AND THE WINNER IS…

MSI GE76 Raider 11UH

DELL G3

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

ASUS TUF GAMING F15

ROG ZEPHYRUS G14 ALAN WALKER EDITION

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 55

2022

GAMING MONITOR OF THE YEAR

360 Hz refresh rate, Nvidia G-Sync support and 1ms response time and HDR support are just the tip of the iceberg for this gaming monitor

BENQ MOBIUZ EX2510

56 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

AND THE WINNER IS…

ASUS ROG SWIFT 360Hz PG259QNR

AOC C32G2E

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2022

GAME OF THE YEAR The Forza Horizon 5 is the perfect addition to the acclaimed series.

Complementing the huge vehicle roster, the new expanded map and improved gameplay elements make it our Game of the Year choice despite strong competition in different genres.

AND THE WINNER IS…

Forza Horizon 5

RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE

DEATHLOOP

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

RATCHET & CRANK: RIFT APART

GAMING ROUTER OF THE YEAR This mesh-ready WiFi 6 gaming router houses a dedicated gaming port and Open NAT port IRUZDUGLQJ IRU VHDPOHVV FRQĆJXUDWLRQ

AND THE WINNER IS…

Asus TUF Gaming AX5400 LINKSYS E9450 W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 57

2022

GAMING HEADPHONE OF THE YEAR

A pair of 50 mm drivers, Dolby Atmos spatial audio and up to 20 hours battery life make these headphones perfect for intense gaming sessions

HYPERX STINGER S

58 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

AND THE WINNER IS…

Corsair HS80 RGB Wireless

ASUS ROG DELTA S

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

GAMING MOUSE OF THE YEAR This ultra-light mouse uses a hex-shell design to reduce weight and allow for better ventillation, while the switches have been rated for 60 million clicks

AND THE WINNER IS…

HyperX Pulsefire Haste

GAMING KEYBOARD OF THE YEAR With an IP57 water and dust resistance rating, this keyboard uses ROG RX optical mechanical switches tested for 100 million keystrokes

AND THE WINNER IS…

ASUS ROG STRIX SCOPE RX

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 59

2022

MESH ROUTER OF THE YEAR

Bringing home 4G+ speeds and up to 1.8 Gbps throughput, this WiFi 6 mesh router delivers uninterrupted coverage across your home

AND THE WINNER IS…

TP-Link DECO X20-4G

D-LINK R15 EAGLE PRO

60 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

VIDEO ACCESSORY OF THE YEAR With Dolby Vision and HDR10+, this device SXULĆHV DQG RSWLPLVHV \RXU YLGHR SOD\EDFN IRU an optimal viewing experience

AND THE WINNER IS…

Dune HD Real Vision 4K

PERIPHERAL MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR Digitek has been expanding their accessories range with new innovative solutions and hence retains the award

AND THE WINNER IS…

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 61

2022

SMARTPHONE ACCESSORY MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR Affordable accessories are the order of the day and this brand has an ever-growing range of smartphone accessories under their belt

AND THE WINNER IS…

AUTOMOBILE OF THE YEAR Mahindra produces another feature packed 689 LQ LWV ;89 UDQJH DQG LW LV TXLWH XQEHDWDEOH in value for the demanding urban car buyer

AND THE WINNER IS…

MAHINDRA XUV 700

62 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

2022

ELECTRIC VEHICLE OF THE YEAR Tata has become the undisputed market leader of the EV space in India and the Tigor is the best package for the value conscious, environmentally responsible Indian car buyer

AND THE WINNER IS…

Tata Tigor EV

TWO-WHEELER OF THE YEAR This Ducati is a true performance bike with best-in-class electronics, to make your leisure rides extremely pleasurable

AND THE WINNER IS…

DUCATI MUKTISTRADA V4 S

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 63

2022

INNOVATION

OF THE YEAR

AND THE WINNER IS… This one-of-a-kind wireless charging power bank is Apple Magsafe compatible and charges your iPhone without obstructing the camera

64 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

BELKIN BOOST CHARGE MAGNETIC WIRELESS POWER BANK WITH MAGSAFE

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Master the metaverse

Master the metaverse Does the future of humanity lie in an online VR universe?

Words: Louise Blain

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MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 65

Master the metaverse

ABOVE Developed by Beat Games, Beat Saber is a game that moves to the rhythm of your body RIGHT & BELOW VRChat allows users to play Dungeons & Dragons together or even attend free concerts

I

t’s already one of the key 2022 tech bingo phrases. Alongside NFTs and cryptocurrency, the metaverse has become a buzzword for the future of the internet. But what does it actually mean? Is it really only a matter of time before we’re living in a Ready-Player-One-style world where we’re happier in a VR headset and haptic suit than our own day-to-day lives? It’s time to dive into the metaverse for some answers.

There are no wires where we’re going but don’t worry your headset is fully charged.

The metaverse is difficult to put a precise label on. It’s why amidst the technobabble and jargon, it’s still easy to ask ‘But how?’ and not really get a clear answer. The term was first used in a dystopian 1992 novel called Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson but don’t let that put you off. In it, the metaverse is a shared digital world experienced in 3D via a headset, which isn’t terribly far removed from our current generation of virtual reality goggles.

VR is the primary focus of the current ideas around the metaverse. Headsets are seen as a 3D portal to a shared online experience where we can all exist together. In this world, we 66 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

would see the same concerts, watch the same feet and the bustle of fellow shoppers. And here lies the first limitation of our current 21st movies, and interact in a digital persistent universe. While mini metaverses are already century metaverse experience. We don’t really even have a car park. happily in play in various online games like Fortnite where live events can be experienced in real time, we’re going to be looking A FRAGMENTED METAVERSE specifically at the VR elements of the Headsets like the affordable Meta Quest 2 – metaverse. bye, Oculus, thanks for all the memories – It’s important to note that the metaverse as mean that virtual reality has never been more a concept shouldn’t belong to any one accessible but that doesn’t mean VR headsets company. Facebook might have changed are commonplace. A 2021 survey of UK its name to Meta and hired 10,000 staff to internet users found that 4% of people own a build its metaverse future but this shared virtual reality headset. Within that 4%, 1.7% world can’t belong to one tech firm. The own a high end headset like a Quest. That’s metaverse should belong to everyone. Think of just over one million people in the UK who a digital high street packed with shops can get their head directly in the game. belonging to big tech brands. In theory, the Numbers wise, obviously this ownership metaverse should be the concrete under your pales in comparison to something like the 13 million UK Netflix subscribers but that’s to be expected in the early days of a new technology. VR Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all.

The uphill struggle for the metaverse, though, is that the majority of these VR experiences are disconnected. When most of us put our headsets on, we’re in isolation

The metaverse as a concept shouldn’t belong to any one company

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Master the metaverse

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Master the metaverse

ABOVE With Spatial, you can get together with people from all around the world in one virtual space RIGHT & BELOW Quest offers up environments that are nothing like what’s ever been seen before

and we stay that way. Whether it’s a Beat Saber session with the new Lady Gaga pack or the vertigo-inducing The Climb 2, a VR experience is largely an isolated one. Even multiplayer games are with small clusters of friends but really aren’t like easily jumping into an open VR pub to shoot the breeze with our pals.

The early days of the internet are an easy comparison; disparate individual uses of a technology that lacks a common infrastructure or a language to tie things together. It doesn’t mean that a VR metaverse is dead in the water – in fact, quite the opposite – but until we cohesively tie these threads together across multiple headsets, platforms, and points of entry, a full metaverse might feel like something of a distant dream.

Given that cross platform play between Xbox, PlayStation and PC has only just become a reality in a limited number of games specifically built for this functionality, it’s easy to see the kind of hurdles facing a true metaverse. Those throwing around the prospect of the technology meaning that you can take 68 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

weaponry between your favourite videogames have probably never even tried to download a cloud save.

STATE OF PLAY But that doesn’t mean there aren’t places to have a taste of what could come. Many of these individual, what we might call ‘mini metaverses’ are a great way to see the potential in a more open online world. The push for more shared experiences means that we can see what it’s like to rub digital shoulders with fellow goggle wearers and the biggest apps work across multiple headsets.

VRChat, one of the most popular, can be accessed from the majority of headsets and allows users to just play Dungeons & Dragons together or even attend free Jean-Michel Jarre

Millions have been spent on the VR elements of global film festivals

concerts with binaural audio.

VRChat was even used by the Venice Film Festival in 2021 to build virtual worlds to host its VR competitors. Millions have been spent on the VR elements of global film festivals over the last few years. With creators working in immersive VR, AR and mixed reality spaces, festivals like SXSW have created online portals to let as many people as possible interact with this innovative new content. The dream metaverse would give us open virtual cinemas to load up to experience these creations but individual apps are doing the heavy lifting for now.

Plus, with working conditions over the last few years shaped by the pandemic, shared productivity apps have also thrived.

Quest has its own proprietary Horizon Workrooms app and there’s also Spatial on Quest, which also works with iOS, Android, and PC. This lets you create a 3D avatar to spend time with fellow app users. Spatial has a park to hang out with friends – well, the top half of them at least – and you can go to organised events in custom spaces and even NFT art galleries. Spatial and Horizon W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

Master the metaverse

Workrooms, as well as apps like Arthur and Immersed, are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to experiences geared towards sharing digital spaces with whiteboards even when you can’t get together in person.

GAME ON There is still a very clear delineation between the visual quality of VR gaming experiences and those of proposed metaverse content.

Load up an app like VRChat or Spatial and you might be surprised at the Second Life or PlayStation-Home-ness of it all. Avatars are often basic and painfully rudimentary, which feels ironic in a world where games like Half Life: Alyx exist. Quest’s shared Horizons app feels a little gentler and cosier but still alien enough to be, well, alien. But that doesn’t stop these experiences from feeling layered with potential. There’s something here once we get over waving at each other and apps like Horizon deliver innovative creation tools.

Truthfully, the current metaverse space feels perhaps what it should at this point in time; experimental and strange. VRChat doesn’t feel so much like a futuristic city as W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

a mash up of consciousness with various bizarre avatars running around, and it’s easy to be left feeling cold. The best way to experience the idea of a shared VR universe still might be in closed groups with friends, ironically. Working out together in Beat Saber or FitXR, or gathering a group for a game of something like Star Trek: Bridge Crew. Bonding across VR platforms is a perfect example of how this tech can work in a satisfying way. Suddenly your in-game hands feel like they have purpose and built in microphones aren’t just for obscenities. It just isn’t quite Ready Player One.

THE FUTURE Then how does the future look? Well, complex but exciting. VR has never been more accessible and the addition of more headsets

Bonding across VR platforms shows how this tech can work in a satisfying way

at multiple price-points mean that onboarding shouldn’t always be too painful.

It’s also useful that the majority of the new headsets have access to shared platforms such as SteamVR to prevent further fragmenting. Yet this means that specific companies will always have control. Valve holds the keys to SteamVR and Meta’s Quest content is carefully cultivated for its own headsets. Using the analogy of the shopping street again, we still don’t have that neutral ground from which to browse.

There’s also the affordability of this digital world to consider. Cheaper headsets will be good onboarding for specific experiences but Panasonic’s MeganeX, the Valve Index and the majority of HTC Vive’s offerings demand a high-performance PC. With the constant increase in graphics card pricing, room scale VR set-ups now cost thousands of pounds to build. Add in the latest in haptic accessories and a metaverse future isn’t cheap but it does feel exciting. Even in a fragmented state, the possibilities feel endless as long as we are happy under the control of big tech firms such as Meta. But that truly free future might still be a sci-fi dream.

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 69

Master the metaverse

VR HEADSET ROUNDUP 1

2

3

1

META QUEST 2

2

PLAYSTATION VR2

3

LYNX R-1

Take away the Oculus name and all of a sudden existing Quest owners already own a little bit of Mark Zuckerberg’s future metaverse tech. The standalone Meta Quest 2 continues to be the VR gift that keeps on giving with an ultra-attractive price point and no need for additional tech other than your smartphone. Plus the stratospheric success of the system means that the Quest doesn’t suffer from a lack of dedicated apps. There are hundreds of games and experiences to make the most of the improved screen, speedy processor, and eternally impressive Touch Controllers ZLWK LQGLYLGXDO ĆQJHU WUDFNLQJ ,I \RXèUH looking to play on PC, you can always just plug in for games like Half Life: Alyx.

There’s no release date, pricing or even visuals just yet – hence the image of the original PSVR above – but Sony has revealed it isn’t leaving VR behind. The PlayStation VR2 and Sense Controllers will, unsurprisingly, be exclusive to the PS5 and use cameras on the headset to track your hands in real time. A 4K display with 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye was a predictable upgrade but less so are what Sony is calling ‘sensory features’. We’ll be experiencing haptics through the new controllers but also directly through the headset thanks to a built-in motor. This means feeling character heartbeats and even the whoosh of near PLVVHV :LWK H\H WUDFNLQJ FRQĆUPHG DV ZHOO the PSVR2 is an exciting proposition.

Why choose between AR and VR when you can do both? The Lynx R-1 mixed reality headset was a resounding Kickstarter success last year and is aiming for true versatility. This also means that as well as AR and VR it also works in both wired and unwired forms. The Lynx R-1 has an impressive 1600x1600 pixels per eye and runs on a speedy Snapdragon chip that can stream Steam VR over Wi-Fi. It’s got an SD card slot for upgradeable storage, as well as built-in speakers and microphones, and a unique headband-like design to suit mixed reality experiences. If you want to solely use it for VR though, you’ll want to buy the add-on Facial-Interface to block out the rest of the world.

From `29,900, oculus.com

`TBC, playstation.com

`43,800, lynx-r.com

70 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

VR headset roundup

4

6 5

4

PANASONIC MEGANEX

5

HTC VIVE

6

VALVE INDEX

Maybe those Steampunk cosplayers were onto something… Panasonic’s MeganeX VR goggles from its Shiftall division are ultra-compact and make the most of OLED micro-display tech. This means there’s no PHVVLQJ DURXQG ZLWK ĆGHOLW\ WKH 0HJDQH; delivers an incredible 2560x2560 pixels per eye, meaning it offers 5.2K imagery with HDR functionality, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate to boot. Weighing in at just 250g, this headset unsurprisingly needs to be connected to a PC and we haven’t seen the controllers just yet.

3DQDVRQLF KDV FRQĆUPHG WKDW WKHVH JRJJOHV will work with SteamVR games and apps, PDNLQJ WKLV RIĆFLDOO\ WKH OLJKWHVW DQG graphically detailed way to play.

Why choose one VR solution when you can have them all? HTC Vive’s suite of consumer and professional headsets is so unique that we’re ignoring T3 convention and mentioning three different ones.

The Vive Flow is an ultra light set of VR goggles with a built in cooling system for on-the-go VR with a focus on wellness and relaxation, while the HTC Vive Focus 3 is a professional all-in-one equivalent of the Quest 2. Vive is known for its superior room-scale tracking and that’s now left to the high-end Vive Pro 2 with base stations.

Also essential is the unique Viveport subscription that includes a Gamepassstyle collection of titles to save you spending even more on games.

It’s easy to forget that Valve has its own dedicated SteamVR hardware and that’s at least partly down to the pro-level price-point. It is possible to buy elements standalone but the full Valve Index set up includes a headset, two Index controllers, and two base stations with stands. You’re tethered to your PC – and a wall power adapter – but the cable is 16ft, giving you plenty of leeway for full room scale VR. The headset delivers a smooth 120Hz experience but the true winners here are WKH LQWXLWLYH ,QGH[ FRQWUROOHUV ZLWK ĆQJHU tracking. Even compared to the Quest 2 controllers, the Index feels surprisingly natural. You haven’t played Half Life: Alyx until you have played it on an Index.

`TBC, panasonic.com

From `49,900, vive.com

`91,900, store.steampowered.com

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 71

Master the metaverse

ACCESSORIES 1 2

4

3

1

2

3

4

OWO HAPTIC VEST

HTC VIVE WRIST TRACKER

PROXIMAT FITNESS EDITION

SHIFTALL HARITORAX

`2,575, proximat.net

`19,700, en.shiftall.net

Bullets entering and leaving your body… insects crawling… free fall… no, we’re not just writing random words. These are among the many feelings that the OWO Haptic Vest can deliver. Each sensation can be fully customised with an app and the OWO works across VR, PC, console, and mobile, so no one can miss out on the as-yetunpriced touchy feely fun.

The latest wrist-worn HTC Vive tracker unveiled at CES 2022 has been designed for the Vive Focus 3 headset. Not only can it be worn but you can also attach it to other accessories like sports gear for full 3D tracking. Plus, if it’s on your wrist but not in direct view of the headset, it can still predict movements thanks to advanced kinetic modelling.

`TBC, owogame.com

`11,900, vive.com

72 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

Let’s face it, hand tracking isn’t quite enough for full metaverse Staying safe in the real world immersion. The Shiftall while your head is in a virtual HaritoraX is a body tracker for one is essential. To save both your torso and legs to fully any unfortunate controller upload yourself. Thankfully meets wall incidents, the there are no wires to make Proximat Fitness Edition mat is VSHFLĆFDOO\ IRU NHHSLQJ \RXU IHHW things tricky and the battery in place while playing Beat Saber lasts up to ten hours at a time. and FitXR. The textured foam is a And while you will need a PC tactile reminder to stay in place to make the most of it, it’s fully compatible with SteamVR. while you’re working out.

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

Accessories

6 5

7 8

5

6

7

8

BHAPTICS TACTGLOVE

NEW ALIENWARE AURORA

ANKER CHARGING DOCK FOR QUEST 2

LOGITECH G PRO GAMING HEADSET FOR QUEST 2

From `2,89,900, dell.com

`9,900, oculus.com

`8,499, logitechg.com

Consumer versions aren’t coming till the end of 2022 but the bHaptics TactGlove quite literally feels like future VR tech. :LWK DQ DFWXDWRU LQ HDFK ĆQJHU for the precise sensation of touch, these stretchy gloves are compatible with existing hand tracking headsets like the Quest 2. With built in batteries, they even have a washable liner to keep things fresh. `21,900, bhaptics.com W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

If you’re not going for a Anker’s charging station solves standalone headset, you’re two Quest problems in one To truly block out the analogue going to need a gaming PC that stylish go. Not only does it universe you’re going to want can keep up with the graphical actually give you a dedicated proper gaming headset drivers. demands of the metaverse. The place to store and charge your 7KHVH RIĆFLDO /RJLWHFK * FDQV New Alienware Aurora comes headset but it comes with come with a shorter cable with an i7 processor and the rechargeable AA batteries and velcro strap for smooth blisteringly powerful Nvidia and custom wireless charging integration with the headset.

GeForce RTX 3080 with a mere controller covers. So no more The memory foam headband and 10GB of RAM. Fittingly, the case rummaging around for spare earpads mean serious comfort looks straight out of Area 51.

Duracells, thankfully. even for long VR sessions.

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 73

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ONEPLUS 9RT

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THE SCORES EXPLAINED Forget it Below average Good for the price Very good all round An exceptional, best-in-class product

OUR AWARDS PLATINUM AWARD

BEST ON TEST

BEST FOR BATTERY LIFE

THE DESIGN AWARD

For kit with exceptional Only the best products – those This is given to winners of our This accolade, and others like industrial design and WKDW VFRUH ĆYH VWDUV å UHFHLYH group tests, so you can see it, show you which gear is best UHĆQHPHQW LQ DGGLWLRQ WR IRU VSHFLĆF IHDWXUHV RXU 3ODWLQXP $ZDUG which is the best at a glance being a great buy W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 75

Tested

SUBLIME EFFORT

Sony WF1000XM4 With this device, Sony has certainly raised the bar in true wireless headphone design and features `19,990, sony.co.in

S

ony has released the latest version of their premium TWS earbuds, and it seems that the company has left no stone unturned in integrating all their personal audio expertise into these. The WF1000XM4 has been designed from scratch and provides plenty of features to take your audio experiences to the next level.

The earbuds come in a neat eco-friendly plastic-free package that uses recycled and sustainable materials.

The buds come in black and silver colours. The headphones and the charging case are quite smaller than the M3 version. Both the buds and the charging case have a clean matte finish with bronze Sony branding on the case. The buds are IPX4 splash resistant. With a stalkless design, the earbuds are slightly larger than optimal and is held in the ear mostly by the tight-fitting tips. This could make you feel insecure if you accidentally choose an ill-fitting pair of tips. To give credit where due, the polyurethane foam earbud tips fit quite well, isolating noise effectively and ensuring optimal audio 76 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

characteristics. To make sure that there is no sound leakage, the Sony Headphones Connect companion app has a feature that helps you choose the best fitting tips out of the three sizes supplied in the box.

The WF1000XM4 provides a full-bodied output and offers High-Resolution Audio Wireless compatibility with the help of Sony’s own V1 integrated processor, LDAC codec processing and DSEE Extreme. The V1 processor with Bluetooth SoC technology improves noise cancelling performance with greater power efficiency, while LDAC wirelessly transmits up to three times more data than conventional Bluetooth audio, according to Sony. The headphones also support SBC and AAC codecs for host devices that do not support LDAC. The Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) uses AI to upscale compressed digital audio files in real time.

The headphones support 360 Reality audio for immersive listening. The headphones use new 6 mm drivers are designed to provide improved performance, and it proved surprisingly good, even W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

Sony WF1000XM4 WF1000XM4 can detect when you are having a conversation and immediately pause music and allow transparency, switching noise cancellation and music back on after a short delay once you have finished chatting with your buddy, thanks to the beamforming microphones that detect sound from your mouth. You can customise the voice detection sensitivity in speak-to-chat setting, and the delay in switching back. Initially, I found the device switching to this mode even when I cleared my throat at times and the switching delay of 15 seconds felt like too much but switching to a lower sensitivity and a short delay of approximately 5 sec solved this issue.

The earbuds support Google and Alexa voice assistants. The device can be charged with a USB Type-C cable or wirelessly using a Qi standard wireless charger. I could use the buds for almost six hours with noise cancellation, and this is quite close to eight hours of maximum playback claimed by Sony. The case holds two additional recharges, taking this practically to 18 to 24 hours of playback time.

The Sony WF1000XM4 is, without doubts, the best TWS earbuds we have experienced so far. If there is anything to complain about, we wish the buds could stay inside the ears without relying solely on the tightness of ear tips. better than some devices with larger drivers.

Overall, the headphones reproduced pleasing sound with excellent detail across the frequencies. Neither bass nor treble felt too flat or too sharp, and even the mid frequencies had enough details for effective tuning. Noise cancelling was quite effective yet did not cause any discomfort even after long periods of listening. Touch control was responsive and call quality superb.

The Headphones Connect app offers extensive features and customisations including an equaliser with eight preset modes, which would satisfy most users. But for slightly eccentric audiophiles like me who is never satisfied with any preset, Sony has provided a manual mode along with two custom modes. Adaptive sound control allows you to map frequent locations and customise settings such as noise cancellation, ambient sound level, equaliser profile and speak-to-chat feature.

You can let the device switch automatically to your preferred setting based on the location or do it manually. The headphones can even detect your actions such as staying, walking, running, and transport, and switch the modes based on these.

For example, it can detect that you are walking and allow ambient sound levels matching vehicular traffic so that it reduces the chance of accidents without having to remove the buds from the ear.

The app lets you prioritise the Bluetooth connection between sound quality and stability of connection and optimise apps based on your ear shape. The W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Sound quality, 360 surround, speak-to-chat feature, adaptive sound control WE’D IMPROVE 2YHUDOO ĆW IHHOV WRS KHDY\ THE LAST WORD This could well be the new benchmark in TWS headphones

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 77

Tested

AI-SCOPE

Dell Ultrasharp Webcam A premium webcam for all professional needs, this device certainly tops our accessories wish list `18,999, dell.com

O

ffices and classrooms are opening up, though cautiously, after a long period of working from home. However, the pandemic has changed the way we work, and some of the changes are here to stay with the initial reluctance giving way to a keen acceptance of the flexible and hybrid mode of work. Peripherals like webcams and microphones are now very much part of this hybrid world, and Dell’s Ultrasharp Webcam has been created for professionals who need to appear their best with little hassles.

The Dell Ultrasharp Webcam is enclosed in a cylindrical anodised aluminium casing with the lens at one end and a recessed USB Type-C port at the bottom alongside a rectangular notch to insert the mounting bracket or tripod adapter. Both these are included in the box along with a USB Type-C to Type-A cable. The magnetic mounting head snaps in once you guide it into the notch, and secures the camera with a firm hold. The adjustable bracket can be attached on top of most desktop monitors with ease, and the camera can be tilted up and down. For fool-proof privacy, you have a magnetic snap-on lens cap along with a status LCD that lights up when the camera is active.

The webcam offers 4K UHD quality (24 or 30 fps) with an 8.3-megapixel Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor. It also supports Full HD and HD formats. The usual run-of-themill webcams often reproduce footages that lack in colour depth along with noisy output in suboptimal lighting. This Dell webcam features digital overlap HDR along with temporal noise reduction (3DNR) and Spatial Noise Reduction (2DNR) to deliver a clean footage with accurate colours. The webcam offers autofocus and an AI-enabled autoframing option, which accurately tracks your movement within a wide frame when enabled, and quickly adjusts the position to keep you in the centre of the frame whenever possible. The camera supports Windows Hello sign in with facial recognition.

The Ultrasharp Webcam is a plug-and-play device that does not require any driver to be installed. The embedded Dell Peripheral Manager software allows you to configure and fine-tune the camera and install firmware updates. The peripheral manager offers brightness, sharpness, contrast, white balance and 78 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

colour saturation control. You can either activate auto framing or set the camera to wide-angle (90 degrees), Mid-range (78 degrees) or Close-up (65 degrees) field of view. You can also set capture parameters and select the folder for recording footages. You can even set shortcuts with a compatible Dell PC for better customisations.

The webcam is certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, and Dell states that it has been optimised for Skype for Business, Go to Meeting, Google Meet, Google Hangout, Blue Jeans, Slack and Lifesize. The camera does not have an in-built microphone and we cannot complain because the position of a webcam does not facilitate optimal sound capture in any case.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Versatile design, excellent video TXDOLW\ SOXJ DQG SOD\ VLPSOLFLW\ H[WHQVLYH ĆQH WXQLQJ VXSSRUW ZLGH PRXQWLQJ RSWLRQV ćDZOHVV RSHUDWLRQ WE’D IMPROVE Nothing we can think of THE LAST WORD 3UDFWLFDOO\ ćDZOHVV DQG operationally versatile would be an apt description for this simple plug-and-play device that excels in its function. Need we say we are impressed?

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Tested

GLOWING ON

Oppo Reno7 Pro One of the best smartphones at this price if you consider the overall performance and features `39,999, oppo.com/in

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ppo’s Reno series has been a formidable system in the mid-price smartphone segment. While the Reno5 and 6 shared almost similar designs with cosmetic changes, the Reno7 Pro appears different.

The device offers a clean design with a matte finished back surface and sturdy aluminium frame. It is available in Startrails Blue and Starlight Black colours, which offer a nice gradient and speckled design respectively. Both look refreshingly premium. The camera module is perched on a metal platform with what Oppo calls a 3D Orbit Breathing Light around it. The cameras are protected by a wear-resistant coated ceramic layer while the screen is guarded by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 cover glass. The phone has a punch hole front camera and an in-display fingerprint sensor. There is no 3.5 mm headphone jack. The Reno7 Pro offers a nice grip and feels quite light at 180 grams.

The Reno7 Pro is centred around its camera capabilities. The phone is powered by the highly capable MediaTek Dimensity 1200-MAX. This 6nm octa-core processor offers up to 3.0 GHz clock frequency and is designed for superior battery life, featuring four performance cores and four power efficient cores. It includes an ARM G77 MC9 GPU. The Reno 7 Pro features 12GB LPDDR4 RAM and 256GB of internal memory. Dynamic RAM expansion is available 7GB. The device runs on ColorOS 12 based on Android 11, and we have no indications of an Android 12 update schedule yet.

The phone features a 6.5-inch Full HD (2400 x 1080) Soft AMOLED display that offers dual refresh rates of 60 and 90 Hz along with a top touch sampling rate of 1000 Hz. The display offered good saturation and the images looked sharp. The triple camera system at the rear includes a 50 MP main camera that uses Sony’s flagship IMX766 sensor, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP Macro camera. The front camera is a 32-megapixel unit, which offers a wider frame along with the standard mode for group selfies. The rear camera can record up to 4K videos at 30 fps. Slow-motion videos can be recorded at 1080P, 120 fps or 720P, 240 fps. The front camera allows up to 1080P videos at 30 fps.

The phone accepts dual Nano SIM with 5G support. The device houses two 2250 mAh batteries (total 4500mAh). A 65W SuperVooc fast charger is included in the box. The Oppo Reno7 Pro provides great multimedia experience. We have been constantly complaining about the lack of stereo speakers spoiling gaming experience, and Oppo seems to have listened to it this time and has included a second speaker array so that the sound is not cut off even if one speaker is blocked. It provided a smooth gaming experience even with high graphics and performance settings, but the refresh rate is 80 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today MARCH 2022

capped at 90 Hz, which is certainly inadequate for fast FPS games.

We did not experience any undesirable heating during gaming.

Coming to cameras, the Reno7 Pro’s cameras have certainly been improved quite a bit. The colours appeared natural. AI scene enhancement certainly increased saturation of the skies and the overall contrast, but the results were certainly pleasing. Auto HDR and Night mode also worked as expected. The 50-megapixel option picked up fine details in the images. Selfie mode understandably keeps the beauty and smoothing options ‘on’ by default, but switching these off captures better details, though we wouldn’t call these the best out there. At times, the device had the tendency to overexpose the scene.

However, the Portrait mode on the main camera captured good details with smooth bokeh. Macro mode also reproduced sharp images.

Videos were rendered smoothly. The camera offers a slider to zoom in and out while shooting videos, which allows you to finely control the zooming speed.

The bundled 65W charger tops up the battery in about 30 minutes.

A 10-minute charging will fill 50 percent of the battery, while the next 10 minutes adds another 30 percent charge. The device stayed cool even with this fast charge cycle, thanks to the dual battery system.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Refreshing design, lightweight, fast charging, battery life, camera performance WE’D IMPROVE 120 Hz refresh rate THE LAST WORD The Oppo Reno7 Pro is a capable mid-priced phone with a decent camera and good performance for most users except expert gamers.

W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

Tested

MORE OPTIONS

OnePlus 9RT Just another device in the 9-series with a few modules swapped between the existing models ` RQHSOXV LQ

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nePlus has launched the fourth device in the OnePlus 9 series, and this launch comes when we have been keenly waiting for the OnePlus 10. The OnePlus 9RT features a few improvements over the OnePlus 9R including a new SoC. We are not quite sure why OnePlus has this confusing line-up of the 9-series in place, all with the same features, give or take a couple of modules.

The device is available in Nano silver and Hacker Black colours. While the Nano Silver has a metallic gradient, the Hacker Black uses a matte frosted glass to provide a glimmering texture. The back surfaces are resistant to sweat and fingerprint. Other design elements are similar to all OnePlus devices. The camera array has a vertical layout.

The screen is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass panel.

The phone does not include a dedicated audio jack.

The OnePlus 9RT is powered by a 5nm Snapdragon 888 flagship processor, and this is the main difference from the OnePlus 9R, which uses a 7nm Snapdragon 870 SoC. The storage and RAM options remain the same—8GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB. The device works on OxygenOS 11, based in Android 11. Since OnePlus merged its OS division with Oppo’s ColorOS, you can see much similarity in the interface and camera features.

It uses a 6.62-inch Samsung E4 AMOLED FHD+ (1080 x 2400) flat display, which provides up to 120Hz refresh rate and 300 Hz touch response rate. During gaming, the device uses Hyper Touch 2.0 technology to increase the response rate to 600 Hz. The display is capable of reproducing 100 percent DCI-P3 colour gamut. The display and interface proved quite responsive.

The phone uses the latest vapour chamber cooling technology of OnePlus to prevent it from unnecessarily heating up. Like the Oppo Reno 7 Pro, this device also uses a dual cell design for battery, using two 2,250 mAh batteries. This helps in incredibly fast charging without generating too much of heat because both the cells charge simultaneously. Warp Charge 65T ensures that the battery tops up in under 30 minutes. With up to 33W PPS charging protocol, it facilitates fast charging even with third party charging cables.

The OnePlus 9RT houses a triple camera system with the main camera featuring a Sony IMX766 sensor. This 1/1.56-inch sensor is said to be one of the largest sensors W W W.T 3 I N D I A . CO M

ever used in a smartphone camera and hence believed to capture more light and greatly improve low-light photography capabilities. The sensor includes OIS and Sony’s DOL-HDR. The 50 MP main camera is supplemented by a 16 MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP Macro camera.

The primary camera supports 108 MP high-res capture with pixel shift technology. 4K videos can be recorded at 30 or 60 fps. The front camera is a 16 MP module. The cameras proved quite good, reproducing images sharp and punchy.

Colour reproduction was also close to the original under proper lighting. In low light, switching to Night mode rendered the images with better colours and reduced noise, delivering a ‘clean’ output. Portrait mode appeared somewhat tame, leaving us wanting a shallower depth-offield and better bokeh. With a flagship processor and ample RAM, the device was a pleasure to use while gaming, and we did not notice any overheating or lag. Multimedia playback was also good with decent sound quality.

The device is priced close to the OnePlus 9R, though this has a better processor and is probably the most affordable smartphone with a Snapdragon 888 processor.

VERDICT WE’RE IMPRESSED Fast charging, good design, Snapdragon 888 processor, capable cameras WE’D IMPROVE No declared IP rating, No clear advantage over existing variants THE LAST WORD Looks like OnePlus just juggled a few cameras and SoCs from the existing devices and added RQH DOSKDEHW WR WKH ĆQDO SURGXFW

MARCH 2022 T3 Tomorrow’s Technology Today 81

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