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OnePlus 10R 5G Review

OnePlus recently launched the OnePlus 10R 5G smartphone, which has been positioned below the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G. The phone features an all-new MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX CPU, SuperVOOC 150W quick charging capability among other features that are supposed to be the characteristics of the OnePlus 10R. The smartphone also features a 50-MP OIS camera and a 120 Hz fluid AMOLED display. So we’ve been testing this phone for a while now, and here’s what we thought of it in our review of the OnePlus 10R 5G.


OnePlus 10R 5G Specifications

• Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED 10-bit colour display, Full HD+ resolution (2,412 x 1,080 pixels), 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, 360 Hz touch sampling rate, 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut, HDR10+, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (front)
• Software: OxygenOS 12.1 interface, Android 12 operating system
• CPU: 5nm MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX octa-core SoC clocked at 2.85 GHz (Cortex-A78 processor), AI APU 5.0
• GPU: Mali-G610 MC6 Graphics
• Memory: 8 GB OR 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM
• Storage: 128 GB OR 256 GB UFS 3.1 internal storage
• Main Camera: Triple cameras (50 MP f/1.8 Sony IMX766 OIS camera + 8 MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera + 2 MP f/2.4 macro camera), Optical Image Stabilization, 4K Video Recording, dual-LED flash
• Selfie Camera: 16 MP f/2.4
• Others: In-display fingerprint scanner, Face Unlock
• Cellular: 5G network, dual SIM, dual 5G standby support
• Battery: 5,000 mAh battery (2x 2,500 mAh, non-removable)/ 4,500 mAh battery (150W model)
• Charging: 80W fast charging, 150W SuperVOOC fast charging (12 GB + 256 GB model) 

OnePlus 10R 5G Price in India

• ₹38,999 for 8GB RAM and 128GB Storage with 80W Super VOOC Charging
• ₹42,999 for 8GB RAM and 256GB Storage with 80W Super VOOC Charging
• ₹43,999 for 8GB RAM and 256GB Storage with 150W Super VOOC Charging

Look, body and feel

The phone is different than its predecessor when it comes to look, body and feel. On the front, it appears that OnePlus has redesigned things, which does not surprise us at all. The general form has been flattened rather than curved as seen in previous generations, the back and side frames are plastic/polycarbonate constructed, which was unexpected, and there is no trace of glass or metal on the exterior. The flat design has become a trend, similar to what happened with the current some of the other phones in the market. For those who have used prior OnePlus phones before, the lack of a glass or metallic back might make you feel that the 10R 5G a letdown in its sector in terms of aesthetics.

However, the redesign provides a strong grip, and the smartphone is now somewhat thinner with only 8.2 mm and lighter weighing only 186 grams. We received the Sierra Black model, which features a dual-tone design with one textured and one matte-finished, and the Forest Green variant, which has the same design but in a different hue.

The OnePlus 10R 5G has a far superior display, with a 6.7-inch fluid AMOLED and 10-bit colour depth (1B colours). The display has a Full HD+ resolution (2412 x 1080 pixels, 394 ppi), a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a 20.1:9 aspect ratio. The Fluid OLED display has an adaptable refresh rate of 60 Hz, 90 Hz, and 120 Hz, as well as a touch response rate of 360 Hz (hardware-based) and 720 Hz (software-based).

But the Alert Slider is now missing, which might be a disappointment for many. The right side simply has a power button, whilst the left side has two volume controls. The bottom side features a USB Type-C connector for rapid charging, data transmission, and audio output, as well as a stereo loudspeaker, microphone (with another at the top), and dual SIM tray. The tray allows twin 5G SIM cards with dual standby, although the phone lacks a microSD slot.

OnePlus 10R 5G camera

The OnePlus 10R boasts three rear cameras; the primary camera has been enhanced, but the secondary cameras appear to be toned down in comparison to its predecessor. On paper, the OnePlus 10R 5G features a 50-megapixel camera with the Sony IMX766 sensor (against the 48 MP IMX586 sensor on the OnePlus 9R), however it has a downgraded 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle and 2-megapixel macro camera. The 16 MP selfie camera looks to be the same as previous versions. The phone lacks a telephoto lens, but it does have OIS, which is really useful in photography. The camera has optical image stabilisation (OIS), electronic image stabilisation (EIS), 4K video recording (at 30fps), 1080p slow-motion recording and a dual-LED flash. The camera app is well-designed, making it simple to find what you want. The UI has a 50-megapixel camera mode, portrait mode, Pro, Pano, Macro, Slow-mo, Time-lapse, Dual-View Video, Movie, AI filter, HDR, and Night mode.

Day-light performance


The camera worked admirably in terms of day-light images. The photographs captured by the OnePlus 10R were excellent. However, we found the images to be too sharpened and overly saturated sometimes. Also, the camera functioned well in portrait mode, with the backdrop blurring nicely and the edge recognition working decently.





Low-light performance






When it comes to low-light performance most phones don’t deliver a stellar performance owing to their tiny sensors. But in this case the visuals were detailed and sharp. However, the photographs captured in nightscape mode displayed some colour fringing.  




Macro Mode

Though the macro mode was absent from the OnePlus 10 Pro, carrying over this functionality from the OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 10R camera, and Super Macro mode is fantastic. The photographs captured by the OnePlus 10R in macro mode are quite helpful and catch fine details, however when zoomed in, they appear overly sharpened, which takes away from the beauty of the images.




Video performance

The OnePlus 10R can shoot video in 1080p and 2160p (4K). The main wide camera can shoot 1080p video in 30 and 60fps, 4K video in 30fps. The ultra-wide camera can record 1080p and 720p video in 30 and 60fps, and unfortunately there is no 4K on wide camera. All zooming is done digitally. OIS and EIS is available in 30 and 60fps modes. It features two slow motion modes, 1080p at 240fps and 720p at 480fps. The video performance was great and it looked very well detailed and well saturated too. However, when looked closely the videos seems to be over sharpened again and this probably is something which can be solved with future updates from OnePlus.

User Interface

The OnePlus 10R 5G, like the OnePlus 10 Pro 5G and the recently introduced OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G, runs OxygenOS 12.1 on the Android 12 operating system. OxygenOS 12 is OnePlus’s latest custom UI, and it adds a slew of new features to the standard Android 12 interface. OxygenOS is now one of the greatest Android interfaces that is free of bloatware and provides enhanced customisation and functionality. OnePlus guarantees three years of Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches for its OnePlus 10R 5G smartphone, which runs on Android 12.

On top of Android 12, the Oxygen OS 12 includes several customisations and features, as well as security upgrades. One popular feature is the Shelf, which displays a tiling view (or card view) of applications, weather, notes, music, fitness tracking, and other information. There are also traces of OPPO’s ColorOS inside the settings page, as well as a few recognisable features in the camera app, and so on. The user interface is clear, fluid, and lag-free, and the entire experience is pleasant and feels seamless thanks to the 120 Hz refresh rate. The Oxygen OS tweaks and optimisations allow you to customise the UI.

OnePlus 10R 5G performance and battery

The OnePlus 10R 5G comes with the all-new 5nm MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX. The Dimensity 8100-MAX is a flagship SoC from MediaTek. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100-MAX processor runs at 2.85 GHz and is paired with a Mali-T610 MC6 (6-core) GPU for excellent gaming. The CPU is one of the smartphone’s main selling points, along with its 150W (and 80W) rapid charging.

The OnePlus 10R 5G is available in two RAM and storage configurations, as well as one with fast-charging features and a significantly smaller battery. The base model has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, while the top variant has 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. There is no microSD support on the phone. Both of these models allow 80W rapid charging. There is also RAM expansion technology, which allows you to upgrade the RAM to an additional 7 GB, for a total of 19 GB of RAM on the phone (12 GB RAM variant).

The performance of this phone is really impressive, it handles games and other apps very smoothly and is free from lags on default settings. Even on max graphics settings, the apps were running smoothly without any heating issues. When it comes to battery performance the phone can last an entire day of normal usage in one charge.

According to OnePlus India, the 4,500 mAh battery can be charged in 10 minutes and provide a full day of power. The 80W charger charges the phone from 0% to 100% in around 32 minutes. The phone will charge in less than 18-20 minutes with the 150W charger.

Conclusion

The OnePlus 10R 5G sports a beautiful 10-bit Fluid AMOLED display, a flagship-grade performance with its Dimensity 8100-MAX CPU, and one of the quickest charging speeds in the industry with 150 watts. On top of that, features like RAM expansion, dual speakers, robust gaming performance and OxygenOS benefits make the smartphone an all-around standout in its class. 

In terms of camera performance, the phone was pretty ordinary; photos were sharp and may be too sharp sometimes and low-light shots exhibited considerable colour fringing. However, this is something that may be resolved with future OnePlus updates. Though you will miss the earlier OnePlus feel due to the new OS and the absence of the alert slider from the phone. If you want to continue with the OnePlus brand, you can’t go wrong with the OnePlus 10R 5G; it offers everything you need.

Nikon Z9 Review

In this video we review the newly launched Flagship Nikon Z9, which is the latest instalment of the Nikon Flagship Mirrorless Camera from the Z Series. We tested the camera in detail with sample images and video. The price of the camera is Rs. 4,75,000 (body only) and we tested it using two new lenses, the Nikkor Z 24-70mm F/4 and the newly launched Nikkor Z 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 Lens Review

In this video we review the newly launched Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 G2 Lens for the Sony Mirrorless Fullframe body. The lens is priced air Rs. 82,000 and is in direct comparison to the Sony 24-70mm F/2.8 G Master lens which cost Rs. 1,67,000.
We test the lens to see its performance in daylight, lowlight and more. See if you should invest in this standard zoom lens or not.

OnePlus Nord 2 PAC-MAN Edition: What’s Best & Which One to Buy?

OnePlus recently launched their latest Nord 2 PacMan Edition phone in India and this launch marks the first time that they are launching a game themed phone. The OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition is only available in one option: 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for a price of Rs. 37,999, which is Rs. 3,000 more than the OnePlus Nord 2 of the same variant. And with the consumers finding value for money an important factor to choose between products they buy these days, in this video we will tell you what’s different between the 2 phones and which should you buy?


The Design
When it comes to design, the first thing you will notice when it comes to the phone is a noticeable difference. The rear panel of the Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition is carved with the Pac-Man gamified concept. And it’s not only the back that has a gamified concept, everything from the box to the cover exudes this theme. The box contains a concealed chamber at the bottom that reveals the phone’s special cover which also has the Pac-Man theme carved on it.


The phone’s rear panel has been updated with radium and glows in the dark with a green neon Pac-Man maze that looks incredibly cool. In addition, the phone now features a new blue colour alert slider on the right, which OnePlus has been famous for a long time.


The User Interface
When it comes to the user interface, this is what we liked the most about the phone since it is both inventive and appealing. The entire UI of the phone is built on a Pac-Man gamified concept, and once you get your hands on it, it’s impossible to go back to any other phone. This phone is incredibly alive and colourful, from the start of the phone through the theme, wallpaper, fingerprint animation and hidden easter eggs as well.


Looking at the amount of work that has gone into the OS in terms of UI design for this edition has really surprised us. The company has made significant improvements to the UI, including icons, animation and a style that gives the phone a vintage vibe. Also, when charging, the phone displays a fun animation of Pac-Man running behind the pellets, which are very cool touches.

The phone also comes with PAC-MAN 256 pre-installed, and as you play more and reach new levels and highscores, the phone will unlock hidden features such as new wallpapers, themes, and so on. The game is extremely addictive, transporting you back to a time when the game was a popular pastime.


The Camera
The OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition has the same camera and specifications as the OnePlus Nord 2. Though it has a new filter called Paconomaly that adds a lot of fun to shooting photographs with little Pac-Man and Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde (4 Ghost of Pac-Man) in the filter. Also, instead of the yellow colour theme from the Nord 2, the camera now has a blue colour Pac-Man theme. Aside from the filter and colour, the camera area has no surprises.



The Specs

The specifications, like the camera, are empty of surprises. Everything about the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition is identical to that of the OnePlus Nord 2. The phone has a Dimensity 1200 CPU from MediaTek, a 90 Hz AMOLED display panel, and a 4500 mAh battery with 65W rapid charging. In terms of performance, the phone performs admirably for a phone in this price range. And it is not expected to be premium in terms of performance, as no smartphone in this price bracket is.


The Price

Finally, let’s talk about the most crucial aspect: the pricing. The OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition is only available in one option: 12GB RAM and 256GB storage for Rs. 37,999, which is Rs. 3,000 more than the OnePlus Nord 2 of the same variant.


Conclusion

The most important question is whether you should get the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition or the OnePlus Nord 2. We think that you should take that extra dip into your wallet for Rs. 3000 and get Pac-Man Edition since that extra money is definitely worth it and will also offer you a really nice UI, design, a Pac-Man vibe that you will understand once you have it in your hands.

It also feels entirely distinct from the Oxygen OS, which is an icing on the cake. In terms of design, it feels more luxurious than the standard OnePlus Nord 2. So don’t think about it too much and spend that additional money on the phone so you can have your Pac-Man as soon as possible.


Fujifilm X-E4 Review

The Fujifilm X-E4 is a lightweight, rangefinder-style camera with a 26MP APS-C sensor that works with the company’s X-mount lens family. The X-E4 is marketed as a fun-to-use and compact photography companion, and it is the smallest X-mount camera on the market, inviting you to carry it with you everywhere you go.

The X-E4 inherits a lot of the goodies from the most current Fujifilm cameras, including improved autofocus, respectable video specifications, and very outstanding burst shooting rates, thanks to Fujifilm’s newest sensor and CPU combination. And if you shoot JPEG, you now have access to eighteen of Fujifilm’s outstanding film simulations.

The X-E4 is priced at Rs 74,999 for body only. The X-E4 is similar to the Fujifilm X-S10 and much like the X-T4 except for the lack of image stabilization. Is it good enough to be considered for your future camera purchase? Let us check.

Key specifications:
  • 26MP APS-C sensor with X-Trans colour filter array
  • 3.0″ tilting touchscreen with 1.62M dots (can tilt up 180 degrees)
  • 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder, 0.62x magnification
  • DCI 4K/30p, 4:2:0, 8-bit internal video recording (4:2:2 10-bit over HDMI out)
  • Full HD video at up to 240p, for 10x slow motion
  • 8 fps burst shooting with mechanical shutter (20 fps with electronic)
  • CIPA rated to 460 shots per charge (NP-W126S battery pack)
  • 121mm x 73mm x 33mm
  • 364g (12.9oz)



Look, Body & Feel

Just as the X-E3 experienced a small reduction in size and control points when compared to the X-E2, so does the X-E4 when compared to the X-E3. The camera body is somewhat smaller (but slightly heavier) than the previous generation.
When it comes to the grip the body is quite uncomfortable to use as it feels like you are holding a bar of soap. But you can’t really excpet much from a vintage style camera. Also after using the MHG-XE4 hand grip and TR-XE4 thumb grip, it it was quite comfortable to hold the camera and shoot. The camera looks attractive, the leather look feels nice in hand and the alloy top plate looks beautiful. Overall the camera  feels solid in hand. The camera is designed very minimalistically by Fujifilm to make it look more compact and easy to carry on the go. Buttons and dial placements are comfortable and easy to operate.

Image Quality
We have been using this camera around a week and shot some images in different lighting conditions, let’s see how it performs.

Daylight: The Fujifilm X-E4 is equipped with a 26 megapixel APS-C sensor. The sample photos visual quality was amazing and appealing to the eye. The photos taken in daylight were well exposed, and the colours were quite realistic. To grab and retain the subject, the focusing was rather bit slow. When zoomed in, the images were crisp and clear.




Lowlight: When it came to low-light photography, the photos captured by this camera were adequate but not exceptional. The colors were vibrant, but the pictures were less sharp and lacking in detail when zoomed in. Although, in low-light circumstances, the camera was hunting to focus in subject. Overall, the photos taken in lowlight conditions with this camera were mediocre.




ISO Performance: When it comes to ISO, the Fujifilm X-E4 performs admirably. Until ISO 3200, the photographs captured with this camera had less noise in them. Anything beyond 3200 ISO produced noise, and the photos began to lose clarity.




Video Quality

The X-E4 may not appear to be a natural choice for video work due to its rangefinder-style design, but it is really quite capable. It can capture 4K video at 24 or 30 frames per second, and Full HD video at up to 240 frames per second.

The camera can gather internal 8-bit logs as well as external 10-bit logs through the Micro-HDMI connection. If you want to avoid the trouble of colour-grading in post, the Eterna/Cinema profile, which delivers flat contrast and rich tones, may be exactly what you need.

There is no specific video record button, however this function can be assigned to one of the three custom buttons. When shooting video, AF settings are more limited than when taking stills. While face and eye detection are still available for human subjects, the usual autofocus subject tracking mode in which you place the AF box over your subject and start auto focusing to lock on it is missing. Face and eye detect works well, however the camera will sometimes lose the subject, resulting in a focus break. The cameras also lacks in-body stabilization.

The footage captured with the X-E4 was rather amazing. The video quality was very well exposed, the colours were vibrant, and the details were excellent in both 4K and Full HD.


Conclusion

The X-E4 is a sleek camera with great image quality and a bunch of good functions. It’s the brand’s smallest X-mount option and an excellent choice for street, travel, and hobby photographers. The images are sharp and crisp and the camera can also capture videos well, however the camera lacks in-body stabilisation which could be a challenge for the users. Another area of concern is the AF tracking and grip where other competitors provide a comfortable grip and better AF tracking using face/eye recognition. But overall, the camera is a fantastic option, and if you’re looking for a compact option around Rs. 75,000 for travel or street photography, you should definitely consider the Fujifilm X-E4.

Nikon Z fc Review

Nikon’s new Z fc mirrorless camera is the company’s second APS-C mirrorless camera, after the Z50, which was released in January 2019. The Z fc has a much more conventional, vintage look than the Z50, with several distinctive physical controls on the body, including separate dials for regulating ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation. Nikon Z fc has a 20.9 megapixel APS-C sensor, 209 AF pixels, an expandable ISO range of 100 – 51200, 11fps burst shooting AF/ AE tracking, an EXPEED 6 processor, an LCD with an LCD touch-angle, a 2360k-dot EVF, 4K UHD video recording at 30p, Live Streaming Supports, Snapbridge and Wi-Fi, and a lighter body. The Z fc has the same Z lens mount as Nikon’s full-frame sensor cameras, thus it can use the same Z branded FX lenses, but with a 1.5x crop factor. The Nikon Z fc is now available for Rs. 84,995 for the body only, Rs. 1,05,995 with the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) Lens, and Rs. 97,995 with the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR (Silver) Lens. Look, Body and Feel The camera is as antique as they get in terms of style, body, and feel, and the look indicates that it is a tribute to the Nikon F series designs, such as the Nikon FM1, 2, and FE. And talking about Nikon’s F series, which looked great and performed admirably. So, it is clear that Nikon is aiming to appease those individuals in this case as well, and of course, with the success of Fuji, who has truly nailed the vintage look with outstanding performance, you can be sure that this will be popular with customers. In terms of build quality, the Nikon Z fc features a magnesium body as well as aluminum utilised in the camera, which feels good and sturdy. It weights around 445 gms with the batteries and lens and feels great and substantial in the hand. Although it lacks side grips, the relatively bulky design provides a greater grip than normal. Top: The top has a well-organized arrangement, with the On/Off button on the right, as well as the shutter and exposure compensation dials. There’s also a dedicated video recording button, which is a great addition, as well as a tiny display that indicates the camera’s aperture. The ISO dial, as well as the modes toggle, are located on the left. Although the camera has a hot shoe, it does not have a pop-up flash. Rear: At the back, there’s a 3-inch completely articulating screen with a 1040k resolution, as well as a playback/delete button and a view switcher. The shutter ring is located on the right, with other recognizable controls like as the info and 4-way toggle buttons. Front and Side: On the front, there is a stunning clean design that flashes the name Nikon and the Z fc at you. Nikon has also utilised the same typeface as they used on the F series camera, which is a clever technique to use. There is one custom button as well as the aperture ring. On the side, there is a Mini HDMI port as well as a USB charging C port. Bottom: At the bottom, there is a battery slot as well as one SD card slot that supports UHS 1. Nikon excels in the camera design sector overall. It is a retro-style camera, but it also contains all of the necessities that consumers require. Typically, manufacturers keep such designs simple, which means you have to go the extra step of utilising the fast menu to access functions. Sensor, EVF and Battery When it comes to the sensor, this camera practically has the same sensor as the Nikon Z50, and most people mistake it for a Z50 with a different appearance. It is equipped with a 21-megapixel APS-C sensor and 209 autofocus points in the single-point AF mode. The camera is driven by the same Expeed 6 processor as the Z50. The EVF is an OLED display that fills the whole frame and has a resolution of 2.3 million dots. Unfortunately, there isn’t much clarification on the refresh rate yet, but in our testing, we didn’t notice any latency in anything. The Z fc use the same battery as the Z50 and, according to the CIPA certification, can provide 300 photos per charge. However, it can be charged through USB Type-C, which is a nice thing because it lessens the strain of charging. Autofocus Tracking The autofocus tracking is borrowed from the Z series, which employs a large AF-Area to track the target. The technology works well in both the Z series and this camera. Image Quality
The camera is and functions similarly to any other Nikon camera in terms of image quality. It produces pictures that are crisp and clear. The saturation and tone range are good and attractive to the eye, as everyone is accustomed to with Nikon images. The low-light photos are also quite nice, but it does search for focus occasionally, very little, but most of the time it is bang on.
ISO Performance In terms of ISO performance, the camera produces photos that are easily acceptable up to 3200. However, as the example photos show, noise begins to appear at 6400.
Video Performance In terms of video capability, the camera can shoot 4K at up to 30 fps, but it lacks integrated image stabilization, which may be a disadvantage given that it is likely aimed at vloggers. The good news is that it shoots 4K without cropping. It also does not have the ability to watch on an external output, although this should not be a problem because most vloggers or users of this camera would not utilise such things. The camera’s video performance is excellent. It focuses quickly, produces high-quality results, and there isn’t anything to complain about in this department. Conclusion So, what are our thoughts on the Nikon Z fc? In terms of style, appearance, and usage, it ranks quite high on our list. In terms of performance, it can undoubtedly offer nice sharp photos as well as good video. It does not allow you to shoot with an external screen, but we do not believe that most customers in this category are searching for it. However, when it comes to the price, users could find that slightly steep. The Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR (Silver) lens kit costs Rs. 97,995, while the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 (SE) kit costs Rs. 1,05,995, and with the body alone costing Rs. 84,995 the overall price of the camera + lens starts fringing towards an entry-level full frame camera, like as the Z5. Apart from this while the performance of the F/2.8 28mm is excellent, it isn’t the fastest lens or offers the shallowest depth of focus. The camera could present a much better performance in combination with a faster lens, say a f/1.8? So, as time passes and the price of this camera begins to fall gradually, the combination of the faster lens along with its capability will make this a much better investment.