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OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G Camera Review

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G has recently hit the market as the most budget-friendly offering in the Nord series. Starting at an attractive price of ₹19,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant and ₹22,999 for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, this phone offers significant value for those looking to experience the Nord brand without breaking the bank. It is available in three striking colours: Mega Blue, Super Silver, and Ultra Orange.

We’ve got our hands on the Ultra Orange version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and we’re excited to see how this affordable smartphone stands out in the camera department. We’ll be putting it through a series of rigorous tests to assess its camera performance, overall usability, and whether it truly delivers on its promise to be the go-to option for budget-conscious buyers looking for a premium experience.

Camera Setup

On the back of the phone, there’s a dual-camera setup that includes a 50 MP Sony LYT-600 sensor and a 2 MP depth assist camera, which helps with portrait shots by creating a blurred background effect. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, which was released in November 2023, given the price of this phone, having such a capable processor is a good deal. The front camera has a 16 MP resolution, but I don’t expect much from it. It can record videos in 1080p at 30fps with both the front and rear cameras, but there’s no 4K option even at the rear camera, which is a bit surprising. The phone can only shoot at 1x zoom since it has just one main camera. There is an option to zoom up to 10x, but that’s likely digital zoom, so I don’t expect much in terms of quality.

Daylight Main Camera

The Nord CE 4 Lite comes with a 50 MP main camera that uses a Sony LYT-600 sensor. When we took photos in daylight at 1x, the results were a bit average. The colours in the pictures looked slightly more saturated in some cases and less saturated in others, than they actually were, and the sharpness decreased noticeably when zooming in. While the exposure levels were generally good, the overall image quality was just okay. Images taken against natural light showed some areas of the sky burning out, making those parts of the image appear overly bright and washed out, as seen in the images. We also tried taking photos at 2x zoom, and they turned out less clear and less sharp compared to the 1x shots. Additionally, there was a significant difference in saturation when capturing the same subject at 2x zoom. Also the image shots against the natural light made the sky burn in some areas as you can see in the images.

Lowlight Main Camera

In lowlight conditions, the camera’s performance didn’t differ much from daylight shots. At 1x zoom, the images were similar in quality to those taken during the day, but they lost more detail and appeared noisier when zoomed in. The colours were somewhat accurate at 1x but still average. At 2x zoom, the images became soft with very little sharpness. Overall, the quality of lowlight images was okay.

Portraits

The camera includes a 2 MP depth assist lens, which helps create a blurred background effect for portrait shots. The portrait mode works quite well at 1x, with good exposure and sharpness, though the colours were a bit unsaturated. The edge detection was impressive. However, at 2x zoom, the image started to lose sharpness, though the edge detection remained consistent. Overall, the portrait images were good and met expectations.

Front Camera

The phone’s front camera has a 16 MP sensor. In normal mode, the images looked sharp and clear, but they appeared slightly hazy and less vibrant compared to the real scene. In portrait mode, the exposure and colours were similar to normal mode, and the edge detection was quite good.

Video

The phone can record videos in 1080p at 30fps, which is a bit surprising since even phones priced lower offer 4K at 30fps. As for the video quality, daylight videos are okay for 1080p, but they could be sharper. In lowlight, the video quality is average – it’s not very sharp and has some noise. Overall, the results were a bit below what was expected.

Conclusion

The OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is a solid choice for those seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with decent camera capabilities, though it does come with a few compromises. The 50 MP main camera, while equipped with a reliable Sony LYT-600 sensor, delivers average performance in both daylight and lowlight, with noticeable issues in colour accuracy and sharpness, especially when zoomed in. The portrait mode performs well at 1x, but the quality diminishes at higher zoom levels. The front camera, although capable, also falls short of delivering vibrant and clear images. Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, which might disappoint users expecting 4K resolution, especially since some lower-priced phones offer it. Overall, the Nord CE 4 Lite 5G offers decent camera performance for its price, but it doesn’t excel in any particular area. It’s a good option for casual users who need a reliable camera for everyday shots.

Sanchit Mishra

OnePlus Nord 4 Camera Review

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The OnePlus Nord series has been around for a while and the Nord 4 is the latest phone from the manufacturer in the mid-range segment, starting at ₹29,999 for the 8+128 GB variant, going up to ₹35,999 for the 12+256GB variant. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor and the Adreno 732 GPU. The phone is available in three colours – Mercurial Silver, Obsidian Midnight, Oasis Green.

We’ve got our hands on the Mercurial Silver version with the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage and we’re excited to see how this is going to perform in this price-sensitive, highly competitive segment. We’re going to put this phone through our usual tests to assess its camera performance, overall usability, and how worthy it is as a successor to the Nord 3.

Camera Setup

This phone comes with two cameras at the back

50 MP Sony LYT600 sensor, which gives a 13.9 MP output, and
and an 8 MP ultrawide camera featuring the Sony IMX355 sensor, which gives an output of 8.9 MP
The front camera has a 16 MP Sony IMX471 sensor.

Daylight Main

In daylight the cameras performance is average. The images look slightly desaturated and lack contrast and details. And because of this the shadows also seem to be lifted up and hence, have visible noise in them when looked closely.

Against a backlit scenario as well the images look slightly overexposed, burning the details out. The overall performance in this case could’ve been better.

Daylight Wide

Usually the wide cameras always deliver an average performance in most cases and in a budget phone with a 8.9 MP camera we can’t expect much. With the Nord 4 as well, the images are average like most cameras and they don’t deliver an exceptional performance. However, what the phone has going for itself is that the image details, dynamic range and saturation are good. There is a little bit of distortion as expected in an ultrawide camera and the performance of the wide camera is better than the main camera we felt.

Daylight Telephoto

There is no dedicated telephoto camera and lens in this phone. The main camera is used to shoot tele photos and they are processed in the background. The max focal range is 20x for the Nord 4. However, even at 2x we can see desaturation and muddiness set in the images. Details are lost on the subject and as you increase the focal range the images loose sharpness.

Lowlight Images

In the lowlight category the images overall are decent. The phone renders images with good detail and colour reproduction with the main camera. In the wide category the images do display some flaring, but it still compensates and controls the output well. The images also seem brighter than the main camera.

As expected the phones struggles in the telephoto category and the images beyond 2x are barely usable.

Portraits

The Nord 4 allows you to shoot portraits at 1x and 2x lenses and the preview looks different than what the images it shoots. So this can be confusing. The shallow DoF effect looks unnatural sometimes and even though you can tweak how much DoF you want later, the bokeh still looks unnatural.

Now this is something that can be fixed in an update and we are sure that OP will do this. The edge detection is decent and the sharpness also on zooming in is decent.

In lowlight, the Nord 4 renders excellent results with beautiful bokeh. And in this case the edge detection is a bit of a hit and miss. But when it hits, the images look good.

Front Camera

With a 16 MP front camera, the images look ok. The output is natural, however the images are slightly hazy sometimes. The images are decently saturated and I would say that in this case the camera is decent.

Front Camera Video

The camera in this case only at 1080p at 30fps. The output is also decent. Although we would’ve liked for the phone to give the option to shoot 4k as well, since the sensor is capable enough.

Video Performance

On the Nord 4, you can shoot up to 4k upto 60fps on the rear camera, where you can choose to shoot at 1x and 2x. But you can also shoot video using the ultrawide camera at 0.6x, but only at 1080p.

The rear camera has OIS, and it works like magic, lending you super stable footage at 1x. At 2x there is a tiny amount of shake and warping is prominent. The output is natural looking with acceptable dynamic range, and no visible signs of over-processing, which is a plus.

In lowlight, the Nord 4 has good detail in the shadow, and because of the image stabilization, it looks better overall at 1x. At 2x there is a shake prominent even with the OIS engaged (you can’t disengage this) and there is a little bit of flaring.

Conclusion

OnePlus Nord 4 is overall a decent camera, but at this price we expected a little bit more than just decent. The 50MP LYT-600 sensor delivers decent performance in daylight and lowlight, although we feel like it could do better if it didn’t overexpose the images most of the time.

In the video department, the 4K60 footage from the main camera had decent dynamic range, but it was still a little bit more overexposed than necessary, leading to visible noise. Overall, the cameras of the Nord 4 can deliver more, especially considering what the Nord 3 has delivered in the past, which the consumers might have come to expect. But this performance isn’t something that can’t be fixed in a software update, at least some of it.

Oppo Reno 12 Pro Camera Review

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Oppo has just launched the Reno 12 Pro, and because it has “Pro” in its name, its camera features are especially important. The phone is priced at ₹35,990 for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage model, and ₹39,990 for the 12GB RAM + 512GB storage model. What makes this phone stand out is its focus on photography, using AI to improve camera performance both during shooting and in post-processing. This is the first time Oppo has included such features in any of its phones. In this review, we’ll test the camera and all the features Oppo is highlighting to see if they live up to the hype.

Cameras Specs:

Main Camera: 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS, F1.8 lens aperture, FOV 79°

Telephoto: 50MP Samsung S5KJN5 portrait camera, F2.0 lens aperture, 0.64μm pixel area, FOV 50°, 2X optical zoom-47mm focal length

Ultra-Wide: 8MP Sony IMX355 sensor with 112-degree FOV, f/2.2 aperture

Front camera: 50MP Samsung S5KJN5, with autofocus and 90-degree FOV

Daylight Main Camera

The main camera uses a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor, which isn’t the latest and produces images with an actual output of 14MP. The photos are well-saturated and vivid, even with natural settings, making them visually pleasing for most users. However, the zoom performance is slightly weak, with images lacking sharpness in several situations. In some cases, the highlights are blown out, as seen in the samples. The phone’s colour tones and reproduction are accurate, although some photos show high contrast.

Daylight Wide Camera

The wide camera on this phone performs just average. It has an 8-MP Sony IMX355 sensor, but it captures images at 9 MP. The processed images are generally okay. Visually, the pictures look decent, but the contrast levels are off, and zooming in results in poor quality. Although wide lenses on phones often disappoint, this one stands out for not meeting even those lower expectations. However, it does do a good job of recognising and accurately exposing scenes.

Daylight Telephoto Camera

The Oppo phone uses a 50-MP Samsung S5KJN5 sensor, but delivers 14-MP images. It offers 2x optical zoom, with anything beyond that being digital zoom. The camera can zoom up to 20x, and the image quality is acceptable up to a point. At 2x zoom, the images are sharp and have good colour accuracy. At 5x zoom, the images are still usable, but they start losing sharpness and colour accuracy, with increased contrast making them look underexposed. Shadows and highlights also suffer. At 10x and 20x zoom, the quality is mostly for show. The images may have colour fringing, lack sharpness, and sometimes have trouble recognising the subject, creating a hazy effect. These zoom levels are not recommended for serious use.

Lowlight Main Camera

In low light, the main camera produces decent images that look good overall. However, zooming in will reveal some lack of sharpness. For better results in low light, tap on the screen to choose a focus area, as leaving it to the phone’s automatic settings might not give the best outcome. The Oppo camera impresses with its neutral colour reproduction and has decent performance with shadows and highlights.

Lowlight Wide Camera

The lowlight wide camera’s performance is average as seen in daylight. The images tend to be slightly hazy and show noticeable lens flare. As mentioned before, wide-angle lenses aren’t ideal for lowlight conditions.

Lowlight Telephoto Camera

In low light, the telephoto camera performs adequately up to 2x zoom. Beyond that, it struggles, especially in very lowlight conditions where the camera has to boost the aperture and shutter. It’s best to use the telephoto camera only up to 2x zoom, images beyond that may not be usable.

Portraits

The phone allows shooting portraits at 1x and 2x zoom, and the performance is decent. The images are well-saturated with good colour reproduction, though there is some distortion, making subjects appear wider. The lens isn’t the sharpest when zoomed in, and edge detection could be better, with some soft edges around faces in certain conditions. In low light, the portrait performance is better than expected, with good overall output. The phone also features an AI Best Shot mode, which tries to enhance photos by selecting the best shot from a series. This feature can be hit or miss, as it only works with more than three people in the frame, and users typically don’t take multiple shots of the same scene.

Front Camera

The front camera features a 50 MP Samsung sensor and can take pictures at 0.8x, 1x, and 2x zoom levels. The images are quite good, with clear details and accurate colours. The overall performance is solid. In portrait mode, you can only use 0.8x and 1x zoom. Pictures taken at f/1.4 had an unnatural depth of field, and even at f/1.8, the effect was similar. However, edge detection in portrait mode is better than on the rear camera, with smoother and more refined edges, making it look great overall.

Video

The phone records 4K video at up to 30 fps and offers three focal ranges from the back camera. The video output is decent with good stabilization and focussing, and it accurately reproduces colours. For everyday video use, the phone performs well. However, its lowlight video performance isn’t the best. The audio recording quality is also decent. The front camera also shoots up to 4K at 30 fps, delivering decent results. Overall, the camera’s video performance is satisfactory.

AI features

The phone features several AI tools from Oppo, including AI Eraser 2.0, AI Clear Face, AI Best Face, and AI Studio. While many of these tools are available on other phones, the rapid advancement in AI technology is impressive. For example, the AI Eraser tool not only removed an object like a Carrom Board from the background, but also adjusted the background colour to match the sofa and added a switchboard for a more natural look. Though the alignment could be improved, the result is remarkable. Similarly, AI Clear Photo works well, demonstrating that these AI tools can significantly enhance photo quality.

Conclusion

The Oppo Reno 12 Pro cameras deliver a solid performance overall. In daylight, the images are accurate and good, although they tend to lack sharpness in many conditions, which might improve with future updates. The video quality is decent, providing satisfactory results for everyday use. One of the notable strengths of the Oppo Reno 12 Pro is its AI features. The AI tools, such as AI Eraser 2.0, AI Clear Face, AI Best Face, and AI Studio, work well and enhance the overall photography experience. These features are designed to appeal to consumers who appreciate advanced AI capabilities in their smartphones. To give a final word, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro cameras perform well, offering good results in well-lit conditions and decent video quality. The AI features add significant value, making the phone a strong option for users interested in enhanced photography capabilities in this price range.

Bhavya Desai

Sigma 50mm 1.2 Art Lens Review

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Sigma recently launched the new 50mm F/1.2 DG DN Art lens for the Sony and the Panasonic mount. Now this is a DG DN lens which means it is for the full frame sensor and these lenses can be used on the Sony’s E-mount and the Panasonics L-mount as well. The MRP for this lens is Rs. 1,33,000, but it can be available for around Rs. 1,17,000 lacs at street price. That is a considerable discount as compared to the other lenses in the same segment. And at this price, the Sigma 50mm becomes a very interesting lens.

Look Body and Feel

In terms of the look, body and feel, at first glance the lens looks sturdy, well-built and also pretty light. Infact it is only weighs 745 gms and being an art lens it comes with weather sealing and a metal mount. The lens is also different as compared to the usual lenses of today and features a host of buttons. I also love the shiny A on the lens denoting that this is the Art lens.

At the front you have a 72mm filter diameter and in terms of the buttons it has the focus ring, the aperture control ring, a lock, autofocus and manual buttons and also a click and de-click button as well. And you can tell that a lot of thought has gone into the details as you turn the aperture dial around to hear its click sound. There’s a different level of satisfaction from that sound, which can only happen if there has been a lot of attention paid to it.. The lens hood also has a familiar design with the unlock button to it, which has been part of the Sigma Art lens design.

Images

Shooting with a 1.2 prime lens is always exciting because it can open really wide and with this lens as well, much like the other Art lenses that Sigma has, the performance is really good. The images are really sharp, very detailed and are able to deliver a pleasing performance that’s impossible to miss. Now as you might know that usually these lenses are always sharp on the centre and slightly soft in the corners. But in this case the lens displayed good sharpness in the corners as well which was good to see.

The focusing is also very fast and you will hardly find it hunting under most conditions. Even in lowlight conditions I found the autofocusing to perform pretty well.

Bokeh Performance

Another advantage that a prime lens gives you is the ability to get some great portraits and bokeh performance. For this lens, Sigma has used a 13-blade rounded diaphragm, which helps with delivering nice rounded bokeh’s. And in terms of performance, we found nice circular bokeh at the centre and cats eye in the corners. The portraits and the depth to the subject also look really good and using this lens really reminds me of why I like prime lenses so much.

Chromatic Aberration

When we checked the lens for chromatic aberration then it gave a CA value of 0.22 pixels through the quick MTF software, which is a pretty good CA value.

Flaring and Ghosting

In terms of flaring and ghosting we shot a number of pics and found the performance pretty decent. Under most conditions the lens was able to cut the flare and ghosting, unless we really pointed it directly into the Sun’s line of sight. So, I’d say that the performance was pretty decent in this case.

Conclusion

Honestly there is hardly anything to dislike about this lens. Its compact, its light, delivers good performance in terms of image quality, both in daylight and lowlight, plus it’s has the ability to deliver good bokeh, which is so important for a prime lens, especially if you are shooting weddings, street photography, etc.

Now what sweetens this deal even more for me is the fact that it is also cheaper than some of the other lenses in the same segment and at a street price of Rs. 1,17,000, which means you can use that extra money to buy more equipment or other lenses that you might desire.

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro Camera Review

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Vivo recently launched their first foldable phone in India, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. This is also the third foldable phone to enter the Indian market after Samsung and OnePlus, indicating that these types of phones in the premium segment are becoming popular with consumers. The OnePlus Open was also reviewed, and the appeal of these phones is not only their larger screen but also their impressive camera setups. The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro, co-developed with Zeiss like most of Vivo’s other flagships, will have its cameras tested in this review.

The unit received is in celestial black with specs of 16 GB RAM and 512 GB storage capacity and is priced at ₹1,59,999 in India.

First things first, upon holding the phone, it feels remarkably light, thin, and slim, weighing just 236 g without the cover. Despite its lightness and slim profile, the grip is not very satisfying, though it may improve with continued use.

The camera module at the back lacks the fancy design of the OnePlus Open. It features a black circular module that Vivo calls Big Eye, designed to resemble a luxury watch. However, it mostly appears as a simple circular module, with some interesting details like the outer metal ring, but not much visibility within the module itself.

Specifications:

50 MP Main Camera with an f/1.68 lens and OIS
50 MP Ultra-Wide sensor
64 MP Telephoto Sensor with 3x optical zoom
Both inner and outer screen have 32-MP Selfie Cameras with f/2.4 apertures
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Processor
V3 Chip

Daylight Main Camera

The main camera of the Vivo comes with a 50-MP camera featuring an OmniVision OV50H sensor. It shoots at an actual resolution of 12.5 MP.

Images were shot in the Zeiss natural setting, and in most cases, the phone delivers pretty good images. It is able to produce sharp and crisp images. However, upon zooming in, the picture clarity isn’t the best compared to most cameras available today. Generally, it recognizes the scene well, but sometimes it tends to oversaturate or over sharpen the pictures. When the picture is oversaturated, it doesn’t sharpen the image, but when providing the actual scene, it tends to over sharpen, occasionally resulting in slightly underexposed images.

One observation while using the camera is that sometimes the screen display does not match the actual output. The final picture might be much better than what is shown, which can be misleading to the user. This might be considered nit-picking in most cases, and a regular viewer might not even notice such tiny details. However, these discrepancies can create doubt in the consumer’s mind.

Overall, the camera is decent in this case.

Daylight Wide Camera

The phone offers a 50-MP sensor with the wide camera, utilizing the Samsung JN1 sensor. The actual resolution of the wide camera exceeds that of the main camera at 13.8 pixels, and this difference is noticeable when zooming in on performance. There is increased clarity in the images when zoomed in, though, similar to widest lenses, significant zooming introduces a lot of noise.

In terms of overall image quality, the pictures are comparable to those taken with the main camera. They are pleasing to the eye, with the phone accurately recognizing scenes, though it sometimes oversaturates the pictures. Some distortion is also present in the images; for instance, in a picture of a car, the vehicle appears more stretched and wider than usual.

Daylight Telephoto

In the telephoto camera, the phone uses the 64-MP Omni Vision camera which comes with the OV64B sensor. This sensor has become quite popular in the industry, with OnePlus making it their go-to sensor for the telephoto lens. In previous reviews, this sensor was mentioned as one of the best telephoto sensors in the industry currently. The fact that more and more brands are using it indicates its success.

An interesting aspect of the telephoto category is that Vivo provides output at different actual pixels at different focal ranges. At 2x, it gives an output of 14.3 MP, and at 3x optical zoom and above, it provides an output of 18.2 MP. The performance of the camera is impressive. It is sharp, detailed, provides good output, and is definitely worth using.

However, there is a need to discuss this sensor further. Despite its quality, it has a challenge with the output it gives. There is a visible change in the colours of the image as one moves through the focal range, suggesting that this might be more of a hardware issue with the OV64B sensor rather than with the phones themselves. This issue has also been observed in OnePlus devices, initially thought to be fixable through software updates, but this has not happened. At the highest focal ranges, there is also noticeable colour fringing if a picture is taken at 100x.

Lowlight Main Camera

In low light, the camera demonstrates excellent performance. It accurately recognizes scenes and delivers a warm, saturated, and visually pleasing output. Even when zoomed in, its performance remains decent, with commendable handling of shadows and highlights.

Lowlight Wide Camera

In the wide category, the images appear satisfactory at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the performance is below average. The images exhibit noticeable noise and significant distortion. Despite these drawbacks, the camera manages to maintain a commendable tonal range in the pictures, which is a positive aspect worth noting.

Lowlight Telephoto Camera

Much like its daylight performance, the camera excels in low light as well, delivering sharp, well-saturated images. The performance in this category was impressive.

Portraits

In portraits, the phone offers the option to shoot with 5 different focal ranges. This feature is beneficial for consumers, as Vivo now integrates it directly into portrait mode. In some phones, such as those with Leica lenses, Vivo has included similar options, which can be confusing for users. However, Vivo portraits generally exhibit warmth, saturation, sharpness, and overall good quality. Edge detection is reliable, even in backlit environments. The phone performs well in both daylight and lowlight conditions, excelling in bokeh performance, particularly in lowlight situations.

However, a notable drawback is that the camera tends to alter colours from the actual scene, especially evident in images shot at higher focal ranges. Additionally, despite settings indicating otherwise, skin smoothing is noticeable in photos.

Front Camera

Now, users have the option to utilize the back cameras for selfies, although the phone offers dual 32-MP front cameras for capturing pictures.

One notable observation about this phone is the significant disparity between what is displayed on the screen and the actual output, particularly with the front camera. The phone’s screen gives the impression of viewing images in 720p resolution, whereas the actual output is in HD quality. While zooming in reveals sharp details, selfies generally appear decent in most cases.

Video Performance

In terms of video, the phone allows users to shoot in 8k up to 30 fps and 4k up to 60 fps. One notable feature is the ability to shoot using all four focal ranges for video. However, when using the ultra-stabilization mode, the resolution drops to 1080p. Overall, the video output is good, with fast focusing and effective stabilization. The audio quality is also satisfactory, making it suitable for vlogging and similar uses.

Conclusion

So what do we think about the Vivo Fold 3 Pro Cameras, there are several aspects that stand out positively. The camera system delivers sharp, detailed output in both daylight and low-light conditions, which I find quite appealing. While there are areas where the cameras could be improved, this is common across most products. It’s worth noting that the market for foldable phones is growing, although it’s still relatively small. As for the price, at ₹1,59,999, it feels a bit high for a foldable phone in India. However, for anyone interested in a foldable phone with a strong camera, this could be a compelling choice.

NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens Review

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Nikon recently launched the new 28-400 mm lens for its full frame Mirrorless Z range of cameras. The lens is priced at Rs. 1,28,995 and it comes in the all-round superzoom category. Now the reason why I call this lens an all-round lens, because it can go as wide as 28mm all the way upto 400, making it a very versatile lens to use.

But the important questions here is – who is this targeted to? It’s targeted to someone who is an amateur wildlife enthusiast, street photographers, may be sports, although it isn’t fast enough for that.

Look, Body and Feel

The first thing I notice about the lens is that it is pretty light. This weighs only 725 gms and for a superzoom lens that it pretty light. For this review I am using this with the Nikon Z7 ii and overall it feels like a sturdy package to lug around. At the front you have the 77mm diameter for the lens along with the focus and zoom ring on the lens.

The lens is slightly hard to extend, but over time I feel it will loosen up a little. But there is a lens lock button that is provided to avoid accidental lens creep. I like the build quality of the lens as well, it feels well-built and sturdy. What I am surprised with is the weather sealing, although the specs say that it does feature weather sealing, visibly it is lesser that other lenses that i’ve seen. So this means that the production standard might’ve improved for that to not be visible anymore.

Image Performance

Now with a lens like this where you have the F-stop at F/4-8, it will always be difficult to get the best performance in lowlight, because it won’t allow much light to get in, especially in lowlight scenarios. Another thing to note is that after 200mm, the lens also shifts to an F/8 for shooting.

Shutter Speed: 1/640s, Aperture: f/8, ISO:200, Focal Length: 400mm

Now in terms of images in daylight, the performance of the lens is pretty good. At 28mm the pics are sharp, detailed and also are pleasing to the eye. But as you start moving higher in the focal range you can see that the images do have certain softness on the edges and also on zooming in, it will lose some clarity. Now this isn’t something to be surprised about, most lenses in the superzoom category are like that, so this isn’t unusual.

In daylight the focusing is also fast. This lens uses the STM motor, which is the stepping motor to autofocus. It is pretty smooth and quiet, which can be useful when shooting videos. And since it has a longer focal ranges it can be very useful for shooting documentaries. The videos we shot with this were very good (watch video review here), stable and there was quality output. Another good thing that I liked is that the lens features in-built vibration reduction, which works upto 5 stops and the performance of that was also very good.

Shutter Speed: 1/200s, Aperture: f/8, ISO:2000, Focal Length: 400mm

But as good as the lens is in terms of autofocus in daylight, it does hunt slightly in the lowlight conditions. But truth be told I wasn’t expecting the lens to perform very well in lowlight, but I was surprised with the performance. The overall images are good, yes there is a focusing challenge, but when it focuses it delivers good pics. What I like is that with a focal range like this you can use this for street photography also, especially the pics showed good contrast and surprisingly were well lit.

The depth and bokeh as well on the lens were pretty good in both daylight and lowlight.

Minimum focusing distance

For a versatile lens with a superzoom, this lens also gives you the option for getting in closer. The minimum focusing distance of the lens at 28mm is 0.66 ft and at 400mm is 3.69 ft, which is pretty good. The images at both 28mm and 400 mm are pretty decent and I really like the performance in this case. Yes, at the closer range there is surely sharpness at the centre and more softness on the sides. But if used wisely then it can surely be an asset.

Lens flare and ghosting

In terms of the lens flare and ghosting, this is probably one of the best lenses that I have seen in recent times. There is hardly any lens flare of ghosting even when we shot intentionally to test it. The images from the lens under varied scenes don’t show any visible glaring and ghosting and that was something that I was really impressed with.

Shutter Speed: 1/125s, Aperture: f/7.1, ISO:200, Focal Length: 140mm

Chromatic Aberration

In terms of CA value, the lens does display a value of 0.84 pixels, which is on the higher side.

Conclusion

So how do I find the new Nikon 28-400 mm lens for the Z mount? Honestly my feelings are mixed. Yes it isn’t a lens that will completely blow your mind from the onset. Because it really isn’t a fast lens, which means that you start thinking about its performance, atleast in lowlight. But I was pleasantly surprised with it. The daylight performance is very good, it’s well built and overall gives a good performance. The performance in lowlight could be better though.

But more importantly it gives the user the opportunity to do away multiple lenses at a price of Rs. 1.3 lacs. Which means you don’t have to carry that additional gear. And that to me sounds like a good scenario to be in.

Bhavya Desai

OnePlus Nord CE 4 vs Vivo V30e Camera Test

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In this review we are comparing the cameras of the OnePlus Nord CE 4 vs Vivo V30e cameras. Both of these phones come in very interesting price category, between ₹25,000 – 28,000. Now this is a very competitive market and also something that users tend to use a lot. Both these phones are the best variants that the manufacturers offer, 8GB RAM and a 256GB capacity which is expandable to 1TB using an external card. The OnePlus is more affordable of the two coming in with a price of ₹27,000, while the Vivo is for ₹30,000.

Camera Set up

At the back both these come with a dual camera set up which are identical, they both feature a 50-MP main camera and an 8-MP ultrawide camera set up. But there are two major differences between them, one the front camera of the Vivo is also a 50 MP camera while the OnePlus is at 16 MP and the other is that the Nord 4 CE is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 while the Vivo is powered by the 6 Gen 1 processor. Now to the naked eye this might not seem much, but the processor can make a big difference to the performance of the phones, both in the cameras as well as the overall performance.

Both these are powered by the Android 14 with the layer of Oxygen and Funtouch OS.

Daylight Main Camera

A quick look at the sensors of the camera tells us that both manufactures have used different sensors, the OnePlus uses the Sony Lytia 600 sensor which we have now seen on the Open as well as the 12. While the Vivo uses the Sony IMX 882.

In terms of pics, for a camera which offers 50 MP the performance from both of them is ok. The Vivo in some cases boosts the saturation than the actual scene and giving out more reddish tinge to it. On the other hand, the OP was able to give the output as per the original scene. And because of this compensation, the vivo also boosts the contrast of the image leading to the shadow and highlights being blown out. On zooming in as well the images from the OP are sharper than the Vivo.

We put the phones in a challenging shooting scene with harsh light to see multiple things and in this case as well the Vivo was over saturating the pics and also blowing out some details. If you see the wire in this pic then it has blown out coz of the over compensation. I liked the performance of the OP in this case since it didn’t blow out the sky and made it appear bluish which was slightly dull in the Vivo.

But in cases where you are looking for a better saturation and poppy colours then the Vivo would come out on top with the images looking more pleasing to the eye. Although the flare performance could be better.

Daylight Wide

The wide camera of both the phones comes in at 8 MP and its isn’t the best resolution that you get today. But in this price bracket I don’t think the manufacturers can give you much more either.

The images from both of them are ok. The Vivo again displays signs of over saturation but the performance of the flaring is pretty good in this case, much better than OP. But closer to the actual scene, the OP is able to deliver it much better, the Vivo in this case consistently displayed a yellowish or reddish tinge in most cases. I also found the distortion performance of the OP much better.

Daylight Telephoto

In the telephoto category both the phones allow the user to click upto 2x and then shift to digital zoom of 10x for the Vivo and 20x for the OP.

In this case the performance of both the phones up to 2 to 3x is decent. Anything beyond that I wouldn’t expect a lot. To the naked eye, the OP appears to be sharper on zooming in, but there is hardly any difference between the two honestly. What works for the Vivo in this case is the saturation compensation for vivo which makes some images appear more sharper and pleasing to the eye.

But overall, for zoom purposes and also at high focal ranges the OP is much sharper than the Vivo.

Lowlight Main

In lowlight, the main camera of the OP is again much better giving better sharpness and more saturation as well. The overall image from the Vivo appears to have some sort of a haze due to which the images aren’t looking sharp or saturated. Even on zooming in you can find more details in the pics from the OP. Overall the OP does seem to show a lot more clarity, saturation and also true to scene pics in this case.

Lowlight Wide

And this performance continues in the wide category as well. The Vivo gives a slight reddish tinge to the images while the OP gives a slight yellowing tinge in some cases under ambient light. But under more natural conditions the images from the Vivo seem better than the OP. The images do come slightly underexposed in the OP while they seem well lit and saturated in Vivo.

Lowlight Telephoto

Under this category neither of these phones are that great. At best they are passable.

At 2x the OP displays much better shapes and quality but anything beyond that, both the phones start losing sharpness and in my mind images under such conditions can be used much. As you go higher into the focal range the difference seems more apparent. And in this case as well the OP has a much better quality than the Vivo.

Portraits

In terms of portraits the Vivo gives you the option to use the aura light to shoot more warmer portraits if you want. But the images from that are warmer and the fill of the light can be much better. Also, by default the setting for skin smoothening is on for the Vivo so if you are someone who doesn’t like that then you should put it off in settings.

In general, the images from either of the phones are decent. The output is sharp in most cases, but the edge detection could be better. Now with these types of phones I don’t expect them to have excellent output in terms of bokeh and depth, but in this case as well the OP is visibly much better. The depth is more real and better than the Vivo.

Front Camera

The front camera has quite a bit of difference between both of the phones. The vivo has a 50-megapixel camera, whereas the OnePlus has a 16-megapixel camera in terms of resolution, and the Vivo definitely has an advantage in this case on paper.

But despite the resolution advantage, the images from the OP are well saturated and good. In terms of portraits as well the pictures from both the phones are decent. The have a decent edge detection, especially in backlight scenarios and can be passed at decent images.

Video

When it comes to Videos, both the phones can shoot 4k upto 60 fps and the output from both of them is good. In daylight there is very little to choose between either of them, but in lowlight the OP seems much better than the Vivo. The stabilisation also works better in the OP as you can see from the samples.

Conclusion

So which phone has the better camera? The OnePlus or the Vivo? They both have something that works well for them, but in this case for me the OnePlus Nord CE 4 is the winner, not only because the camera is better under most conditions, but also since it features a much faster processer, specs and also is more economically priced than the Vivo.

Bhavya Desai

Xiaomi 14 vs OnePlus 12 Camera Comparison Test

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The smartphone industry, particularly in the mid-range segment, has become a hotbed for innovation, with camera technology playing a pivotal role. As manufacturers strive to offer premium features at competitive prices, the camera has emerged as a key differentiator for consumers ranging from avid photographers to social media users. We’re examining two new releases priced at ₹69,999 each: The Xiaomi 14, launched in March, and the OnePlus 12, released in January. Positioned below flagship models from Xiaomi and OnePlus, these phones not only compete with each other, but also showcase their prestigious partnerships with iconic camera brands – Xiaomi with Leica and OnePlus with Hasselblad.

In this test, we’ll compare the camera performance of the Xiaomi 14 and OnePlus 12, exploring how these collaborations influence their photographic capabilities. Read the full article to find out which smartphone better suits your photography needs.

Xiaomi 14 Camera Setup

Rear Camera

50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.31″, 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), PDAF (10cm – ∞), OIS, 3.2x optical zoom
50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultra-wide)
Leica lens, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
8K@24fps (HDR), 4K@24/30/60fps (HDR10+, 10-bit Dolby Vision HDR, 10-bit LOG), 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 720p@1920fps, gyro-EIS

Front Camera

32 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 0.7µm
HDR, panorama
4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

OnePlus 12 Camera Setup

Rear Camera

50 MP, f/1.6, 23mm (wide), 1/1.43″, 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0″, 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultra-wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF
Hasselblad Colour Calibration, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240/480fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS, Dolby Vision

Front Camera

32 MP, f/2.4, 21mm (wide), 1/2.74″, 0.8µm
Auto-HDR, panorama
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS

Daylight Main Camera

In the main camera, both phones are equipped with a 50-MP sensor, but the actual output is what truly matters. In this regard, the OnePlus produces images at 14.3 MP while the Xiaomi 14 delivers slightly lower at 14 MP. However, the Xiaomi 14 might have a slight edge in processing due to its use of the latest Omni Vision sensor, compared to the more established LYTIA sensor in the OnePlus.

When it comes to the quality of pictures, both phones seem to provide good results. The images appear sharp and detailed to the naked eye, making it hard to prefer one over the other. Upon closer inspection, however, the OnePlus photos tend to be slightly more saturated, giving them a reddish tinge. Conversely, the Xiaomi produces images that are more natural and true to the original scene. Additionally, the Xiaomi shows superior performance in handling glare, successfully reducing it in most instances where the OnePlus might display some glare. The handling of highlights and shadows by the Xiaomi is also commendable; thanks to a balanced tonal range, it manages to reveal more details in the images.

Daylight Wide Camera

Regarding the ultra-wide cameras, the OnePlus employs a 48 MP Sony IMX581 sensor, while the Xiaomi 14 uses a Samsung ISOCELL sensor. The actual output from the Xiaomi is approximately 14 MP, and the OnePlus produces an output of 13.2 MP. In this aspect, Xiaomi has a clear advantage.

The difference is also visible in the quality of the images. Xiaomi’s images show more natural whites compared to those from OnePlus. However, despite having a lower megapixel count, OnePlus excels by delivering sharper images upon zooming. This suggests that OnePlus has very effective backend processing, though its images are slightly more contrast, which could be a disadvantage.

In indoor settings, Xiaomi occasionally produces images with slightly more contrast than OnePlus, which was unexpected. Moreover, OnePlus images sometimes appear to have a reddish tinge.

Daylight Telephoto Camera

When it comes to telephoto capabilities, the two phones use different sensors. The Xiaomi is equipped with a Samsung ISOCHELL 50 MP sensor that produces a 14 MP output, whereas the OnePlus has a 64 MP OmniVision sensor with an output of 17.6 MP. Their zoom capabilities also vary. The OnePlus offers a zoom range of 3x and 6x, extending up to 120x, while the Xiaomi provides zoom levels of 3.2x, 5x, and 10x, with a maximum of 60x.

The OnePlus has a higher sensor resolution, which results in sharper images across its entire range. As the zoom level increases, the difference in sharpness between the two phones becomes more apparent. For those who prefer sharper images, the OnePlus would be the better choice. However, when it comes to overall image quality, especially at high zoom levels, there is little to distinguish between the two phones as both generally produce good results. Nonetheless, the OnePlus shows some inconsistency in tonal range as the zoom increases, an issue that is not present in the Xiaomi. The Xiaomi may not capture the sharpest images, but it maintains more consistent quality.

Lowlight Main Camera

Recently, there has been an increase in people taking pictures in low light settings, such as during dinners and social outings. In these situations, the Xiaomi’s performance is comparable to the iPhone, as it tends to produce more neutral and natural images. On the other hand, the OnePlus tends to saturate the pictures, which might be preferred by some users because it makes the colours more vivid, and many people like such vibrant pictures.

When it comes to details and sharpness, both the Xiaomi and the OnePlus perform similarly, though the OnePlus might have a slight advantage.

Lowlight Wide Camera

In terms of performance in low-light conditions, both cameras are decent. However, the OnePlus tends to oversaturate the pictures more than the Xiaomi, affecting the visibility of shadows and highlights. Despite this, the OnePlus still produces sharper images in this category.

It’s important to note that the overall performance of both phones varied. Sometimes, the Xiaomi’s images were overexposed, while at other times, the OnePlus’ images were underexposed. Therefore, neither phone delivered flawless results in this segment.

Lowlight Telephoto Camera

Much like its performance in daylight telephoto shots, the OnePlus produces a much sharper image. As one zooms in further, this becomes more evident. At the maximum zoom range of each phone, the images tend to be blurry, yet they appear significantly clearer on the OnePlus.

Although it was anticipated that the OnePlus might display varying colour tones in this aspect, the actual performance was surprisingly better than expected.

Portraits

Xiaomi has consistently performed well in portrait photography over the years, and this was also true for the Xiaomi 13 Pro, which received positive reviews. The brand’s portrait mode, although good, takes a unique approach by incorporating Leica filters, which might be confusing to new users who could initially think there are only two shooting options available.

Both Xiaomi and OP deliver high-quality images that are sharp, well-saturated, with good edge detection and bokeh effect. However, Xiaomi’s portraits are particularly appealing, especially in how they handle skin tones, making them appear more natural, saturated, and warm, thus pleasing to the eye. In contrast, OP offers better blur and sharpness, especially at higher focal ranges, but sometimes struggles with inconsistent tonal ranges.

Front Camera

Both phones feature a 32-megapixel front camera; however, the OnePlus offers only a single setting for taking pictures, while the Xiaomi 14 provides options for both wide-angle and standard (1X) shots. An interesting feature of the Xiaomi 14 is that it uses a timer when the volume down button is pressed to take a picture.

In terms of image quality, the OnePlus produces more natural-looking photos, whereas the Xiaomi enhances the exposure to make the images appear more striking. The Xiaomi 14 also has skin smoothing turned on by default, which users may want to disable for a more natural appearance. When capturing portraits, both phones deliver good detail and edge detection, but the Xiaomi slightly outperforms in terms of the sharpness of the details.

Video Performance

Both phones can record video up to 8K at 24 fps, though this feature has not been tested as it is unlikely to be used frequently by most consumers in the near future. When recording in 4K, both devices can shoot up to 60 fps. In this mode, the OnePlus generally produces better videos. Video stabilization is effective on both devices, but the Xiaomi tends to display more contrast, which can make some videos look underexposed. This was observed with HDR turned off as well, and some glare was noticeable in the videos shot with the Xiaomi 14.

In low-light conditions, however, the increased contrast in Xiaomi’s videos results in better visual quality. Additionally, the Xiaomi outperforms the OnePlus in terms of flare handling in these settings. It is also worth mentioning that Xiaomi’s sound recording quality is superior.

Overall, the OnePlus is favoured for its better overall performance.

Conclusion

Which phone has the better camera, the Xiaomi or the OnePlus? In this comparison, the Xiaomi 14 seems to have the advantage. It captures neutral photos under most conditions, which is highly appreciated. Additionally, it produces warmer-looking portraits, which seems to be popular among users. Although it doesn’t perform as well as the OnePlus in video recording, its superior macro capabilities contribute to it having a better camera overall.

The choice might differ if considering the overall quality of the phone, where factors like the operating system, usability, and display come into play. However, it’s worth noting that the Xiaomi 14’s user interface has improved significantly with the introduction of Hyper Touch OS. Expectations are that it will continue to get better with future updates.

Instax PAL Review

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Instant printing cameras offer a unique blend of nostalgia and modern technology, allowing users to capture and print photos instantly. These devices cater to a wide range of consumers, from photography enthusiasts who appreciate the tangible feel of printed photos to younger generations seeking the novelty and immediacy that these cameras provide. The new Instax PAL from Fujifilm is interesting because it’s different from other instant cameras. It costs ₹10,999 but doesn’t print photos by itself. You need to buy a separate printer called the Square link for another ₹15,000. If you want the camera, printer, and 100 films, it’s all ₹22,000 together. The camera is really small and has a 5MP camera inside. This setup makes you wonder if it’s really worth buying because it’s quite expensive and you need to buy extra things to get it to work fully. This review looks into the Instax PAL to see if it’s a good deal. It’s not common for an instant camera to need a separate printer, so we’ll see if this camera is still a good choice despite the extra cost and effort.

The PAL is packaged in a small, strong box that even includes a neat little void spot for the warranty. Setting it up with other devices is quick and easy, usually done in just a few minutes. The black colour option looks sleek and stylish, though it can be a bit hard to read because of this. Despite worries about it getting scratched, it holds up well, although it does attract a lot of fingerprints.

Here are three key points to understand about this device:

It comes with a small 1/5-inch sensor and isn’t protected against weather conditions.
On the top, you’ll find buttons for turning it on/off and selecting modes, and at the bottom we have a Link/Fun button that lets you print photos directly to a printer.
The device can be charged with a USB Type C cable, has a spot for attaching to a tripod, and can use a micro SD card for extra storage. It can also hold 50 photos in its built-in memory.

The best part about the PAL is how easy it is to use; it’s practically fool proof. For example, when set in Link mode, it prints straight to the printer without any complicated steps. There’s also a Fun mode for other features. The printing process is straightforward – just a simple action.

Fujifilm has made the PAL more enjoyable by adding small, fun details like custom sounds for capturing photos, and when turning the camera on or off. These little additions are aimed at making the camera more appealing to its target audience, and they do add a charming touch. However, there are a few downsides. The remote display on the phone is of very low quality, though the actual printouts look much better. The printer’s charging port can be tricky to open, and because the camera is point-and-shoot, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re capturing. This can lead to wasting film if you print directly without checking.

Apps

Fujifilm has made a great app for the Instax PAL camera, making it easy and fast to connect. Unlike other apps that can be complicated and put people off, this one is simple and lets you do a lot, like editing photos and making animations. However, you need to download two different apps – one for the camera and another for the printer, which is a bit inconvenient. It would be better if just one app could handle everything. Even though you can print directly from the camera using a special mode, the process involves switching to the printer app to print. This feature could be fun for events like kids’ birthday parties where you want to make special keepsakes for guests. Just remember, transferring a photo from the camera to your phone takes about 15 seconds, and it can take a while if you’re moving a lot of pictures at once.

Results

But what about the photo quality? With a 1.5 MP sensor, don’t expect stunning images. However, using the camera is quite fun. Watching the photo print and slide out brings a unique joy. The picture quality is decent enough for snapshots of family, vacations, pets, etc., perfect for decorating fridges or desks. It’s unclear, though, how often people will use it, considering the cost of paper and media.

A quick tip: After taking a photo and it starts printing, give it a few minutes to fully develop. The photo might not look great right away, but with a little patience, it will improve. Don’t toss it out too soon thinking it didn’t work.

Conclusion

The Instax PAL, priced at 11k, raises the question: Who would buy this, especially when you can get an action camera that’s also small but does more for a similar price? Considering you need to spend an extra 15k for the printer and cartridge, it seems pricey.

However, for those who already own an Instax printer, the PAL could be a great addition. It’s a small, easy-to-carry camera that lets you print photos on your existing printer, meaning you don’t have to carry a big camera on trips.

It seems like the Instax PAL is more appealing to people who are already part of the Instax world. For newcomers, the total cost might not seem worth it just for the experience. But, it’s hard to ignore that this camera is fun and unique to use.

OnePlus Buds 3 Review

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What can be considered as good sound is subjective, but with the slew of phones getting launched in the budget category, earbuds are also a category that has heated up in the past few years. OnePlus, who entered this segment a few years back have had some products that’ve done well in the market, while others that haven’t. They recently launched the OnePlus Buds 3 at a price of ₹5,499, which offers features that aren’t available in this segment. Does it deliver a punch in this segment? Let’s find out.

Design and Specs

**OnePlus Buds 3 – Metallic Grey or Splendid Blue**

The OnePlus Buds 3 are available in Metallic Grey or Splendid Blue, featuring a metal construction with a dual matte plus glossy finish that strikes a balance between style and subtlety. These stem-cell design buds offer IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. Their stems are slightly curved inwards and with the rubberized ear tips, they are comfortable for prolonged periods.

The stems are equipped with capacitive touch controls, allowing users to swipe up or down to adjust the volume, tap once to answer calls or skip tracks, and long-press to switch noise cancellation modes. However, they lack a default gesture for pausing or playing music, which can be customized Bluetooth settings on OnePlus or Oppo devices. The touch controls on the OnePlus Buds 3 are responsive and reliable, although they can be a bit unresponsive at times.

The design of the case is similar to the Pro series and features the OnePlus logo, pairing button and the Type-C charging port at the back. Each bud weighs approximately 5 grams, with the case contributing an additional 40 grams.

In terms of technical specifications, the Buds 3 are equipped with 10.4mm dual drivers and support Bluetooth 5.3, along with the LHDC 5.0 audio codec, in addition to standard SBC and AAC codecs, making them compatible with a wide range of Android and iOS devices. They also feature multiple device pairing and Google’s Fast Pair for a quicker connection process with Android devices.

Sound Quality

The OnePlus Buds 3 offer good audio quality, producing a bass-heavy sound with minimal distortion. There’s no need to turn the volume up high to enjoy the deep sounds. Sometimes, they play the deeper and middle sounds too loudly, but they usually work well with musical instruments and the singing sounds quite balanced. It’s advisable to adjust the EQ settings for a better experience across different types of music.

The microphone quality on the Buds 3 is commendable, providing clear call audio even in outdoor environments. This ensures that conversations are easily understandable by the person on the other end.

In terms of active noise cancellation, the Buds 3 perform satisfactorily for their price range. While audio quality is best with noise cancellation off, turning it on significantly reduces background noise. The transparency mode is also effective, allowing for awareness of surroundings without needing to remove the buds.

The Buds 3 excel in syncing audio and video, including high-bitrate content, and their gaming mode reduces latency for a seamless gaming experience. The feature that pauses and plays audio upon removing and reinserting the buds works smoothly, enhancing user convenience.

Battery

The OnePlus Buds 3 boast remarkable battery performance, delivering around 7.5 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled. When ANC is turned off, users can enjoy an extra 3 hours of usage. For daily listeners, charging the case once a week suffices. These results are especially notable when using the LHDC codec on OnePlus devices, enhancing the overall listening experience.

Conclusion

For the price of Rs. 5,499 and with offers the OnePlus Buds 3 are a pretty good product. And you can see an improvement in audio quality and tuning as well, indicating that the company is listening to the feedback and also heading in the right direction. Although they haven’t reached perfection yet. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is effective, the microphone delivers clear sound, the earbuds fit comfortably in the ear, and they boast impressive battery life. We give our thumbs up to the OnePlus Buds 3 and surely recommend them for anyone looking for quality earbuds.