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Blackview set to launch world’s first top-tier rugged tablet with Active 8 Pro

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Blackview set to launch world’s first top-tier rugged tablet with Active 8 Pro

According to surveys, over 90% of people using regular tablets face issues such as screen breakage, liquid intrusion, causing them significant troubles. As a leading manufacturer in the rugged phone market, there has been a growing interest among Blackview global fans in rugged tablets in recent years. Excitingly, according to leakers, Blackview may launch its first rugged tablet, Active 8 Pro, in July, which meets top-level MIL-STD-810H military-grade standard, leading IP68 and IP69K waterproofness, featuring the advanced 6nm Helio G99 chipset, 22000mAh mega battery, quad Harman/Kardon smart-PA BOX speakers, 48MP and 16MP cameras, 10.36-inch 2.4K display, and a complimentary stylus pen, offering users a more rugged lifestyle for work, study, and entertainment.

Outstanding Ruggedness: 

Considering the potential issues that users may encounter when using regular tablets, such as screen breakage, water immersion leading to device damage, Active 8 Pro features Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 screen and has certified top-level military-grade standard MIL-STD-810H, as well as leading IP68 and IP69K waterproofness, Active 8 Pro excels in terms of shockproof, waterproof, dustproof, and scratch-resistant capabilities. 

Gigantic Battery:

Considering users’ needs during long trips and battery consumption is high and charging is not always feasible, Active 8 Pro is equipped with a massive 22,000mAh solid-state battery, providing an astonishing standby time of up to 1,440 hours. Moreover, Active 8 Pro can operate normally within a wide temperature range of -40°C to +60°C.

Top-tier Speakers: 

To provide users with a clear audio experience while listening to music, or watching movies, Active 8 Pro is equipped with top-of-the-line quad Harman/Kardon Smart-PA BOX speakers, with professional tuning by Harman AudioEFX®, Active 8 Pro has undergone dual breakthrough upgrades in both software and hardware.

Top-notch Display: 

To provide users with an excellent visual experience in work, study, and entertainment, Active 8 Pro is equipped with a top-notch 10.36-inch 2.4K large display. In PC mode, Active 8 Pro instantly transforms into a laptop. Additionally, a complimentary stylus is included for precise document editing. Moreover, Active 8 Pro has been certificated by TÜV SÜD for Low Blue Light and offers three eye-care modes to safeguard users’ eye health. 

First-rate Cameras: 

To allow users to capture clearer images, Active 8 Pro is equipped with a first-rate 48MP Samsung® rear camera and 16MP front camera. With the latest ArcSoft® 4.0 algorithm, Active 8 Pro offers a 17% improvement in photography effects. 

Cutting-edge Performance: 

To provide users with a smoother experience, Active 8 Pro is equipped with cutting-edge octa-core MediaTek Helio G99 processor based on 6nm technology, boasting a clock speed of up to 2.2GHz. Additionally, Active 8 Pro comes standard with generous 16GB RAM, 256GB ROM, and supports up to 1TB of TF card expansion, allowing users to enjoy a smoother experience and provides ample memory for their work, study, and entertainment needs.

More Robust Privacy: 

To ensure that enterprise users can handle sensitive information with greater peace of mind while minimizing the risk of data leaks or theft, Active 8 Pro is equipped with DokeOS_P 3.0 based on the latest Android 13, enhancing the overall security of Active 8 Pro.

Among the numerous advantages mentioned earlier, Blackview Active 8 Pro is poised to exceed users’ expectations with its price, however, the confirmation of this claim awaits the highly anticipated global launch on July 10th PST. Click here for further updates and information.

Unihertz Jelly Star mini phone review

Andrew Allen
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Unihertz Jelly Star mini phone review

The Unihertz Jelly Star is a small but powerful Android smartphone that has captured the attention of tech enthusiasts. Despite its compact size, this device packs impressive features and functionality. In this full review, we will explore the strengths and weaknesses of the Unihertz Jelly Star, highlighting its unique selling points and its potential as a powerful tool.

We got early access to this Kickstart-backed mini-phone for around 4 weeks. While it still has some of the same limitations as its predecessor, it’s a worthy upgrade to the Jelly lineup.

Design

The Unihertz Jelly Star showcases a compact and sleek design that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Its small size, measuring only a few inches, makes it highly portable and easy to carry around. The size will take you back if you haven’t held it before. The Jelly Star is smaller than a standard credit card. Yeah, it’s that small. When you place it in your pocket it almost fades away and you’d swear you forgot it at home.

The device features a vibrant display that, despite its small size, offers sharp and clear visuals, enhancing the overall user experience. Whether it’s browsing social media, watching videos, or reading text, the Jelly Star’s display delivers surprising quality for its size.

The Jelly Star’s controls mostly live on the right side of the phone. Here you’ll find the power button, the dedicated red action button, and the USB-C charging port. On the opposite side, you have a lone volume rocker. But let’s be honest, the “star” of the Jelly Star are the two LED lights embedded into the backplate, and more on that later.

Encased inside the top LED strip you’ll find the camera array and fingerprint sensor. The small size of the Jelly makes the sensor hard to position at times, but once you get the hang of it, the reader authenticates well.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Unihertz Jelly Star impresses with its capable performance. It is equipped with a powerful MediaTek Helio G99 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage ensuring smooth multitasking and responsiveness. Despite its modest specifications, the Jelly Star handles everyday tasks with ease, including browsing the web, checking emails, and running apps.

The device operates on the Android 13 operating system, offering a familiar and user-friendly interface that allows for customization and access to a wide range of apps through the Google Play Store. It’s a fairly stock build with Unihertz adding in very few alterations.

There’s nothing to write home about here other than the additional options in the menus for setting the actions of the red button on the side and how the LED lights are handled. Here you can manipulate how the LEDs interact with apps and the brightness levels. You can even make the red button utilize them like a flashlight to pair the two features together.

Camera and Multimedia

The Jelly Star surprises with its 48MP camera capabilities, considering its diminutive stature. It features a respectable rear camera that captures vibrant and detailed images. While it may not rival high-end smartphone cameras, the Jelly Star’s camera is more than sufficient for casual photography.

It’s hard to tell on the small display, but the photos in good lighting are pretty decent once you pull them over to a larger screen. The pictures captured have crisp edges and good processing. As with many of the budget Android phones, once you start to lose natural lighting, or add motion, the Jelly Star can struggle. But for a phone meant to add more meaningful and conscious usage, I think it’s adequate.

Battery Life and Connectivity

Despite its small form factor, the Jelly Star manages to offer a decent battery life. With moderate usage, the device can easily last a full day before needing a recharge. It also supports fast charging, ensuring that users can quickly power up their devices when needed. In terms of connectivity, the Jelly Star offers dual SIM support, allowing users to stay connected on multiple networks simultaneously. It also supports 4G LTE, ensuring reliable internet access wherever you go.

User Experience and Accessibility

The Unihertz Jelly Star focuses on providing a user-friendly experience. Its small size may take some adjustment for users accustomed to larger smartphones, but its compactness also makes it convenient for one-handed use.

The device’s physical buttons are well-placed and responsive, enhancing overall usability. Additionally, the Jelly Star offers an accessible experience for individuals with visual impairments, as it features a built-in screen reader and accessibility settings.

Again, the Jelly line is meant to have users have a phone that forces them to slightly disconnect. It’s focused on consumers looking to take a step back from being addicted to their internet devices. Here, the Jelly shines with additional horsepower and new LEDs. You have a powerful, tiny phone when you need it, and can be easily stowed away in a pocket when you don’t.

Conclusion

The Unihertz Jelly Star defies expectations with its compact size and surprising performance. Despite its diminutive stature, this Android smartphone delivers a powerful and capable user experience with a fun LED light system. From its sleek design to its impressive display, the Jelly Star offers a unique proposition in the smartphone market.

While it may not cater to those seeking the latest flagship specifications, its portability, and functionality make it an appealing choice for individuals looking for a secondary device or those who prefer a more compact smartphone experience. The Unihertz Jelly Star proves that great things can indeed come in small packages.

Right now, the Jelly Star is available for pre-order on Kickstarter. This early bird pricing can snag you this fun little phone for just $139 with other packages reaching $1510.

Pre-order the Unihertz Jelly Star from Unihertz

Asus continues its legacy of compactness with the Asus Zenfone 10 smartphone

Abhinav Fating
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Asus continues its legacy of compactness with the Asus Zenfone 10 smartphone

Asus’s Zenfone 9 (which was launched last year) flagship smartphone was pretty famous for its compactness. There is no doubt, Asus continues its legacy of compactness with the Asus Zenfone 10 smartphone -the successor to the Zenfone 9. Asus unveiled its latest compact Zenfone 10 flagship Android smartphone which looks even more appealing compared to its predecessor. Design-wise, not a single thing changed on Zenfone 10, yeah it is now more powerful and sturdier.

Indeed, the Zenfone 10 smartphone is smaller than the rival flagship smartphones. But the power it inherits- Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor makes this tiny smartphone a powerful beast that can give head-to-head competition to its rivals present in the market such as Samsung Galaxy S23, iPhone 14, and Pixel 7. It packs up to 16GB RAM and ample 512GB storage. 

Asus continues its legacy of compactness with the Asus Zenfone 10 smartphone

A compact 5.9-inch 144Hz FHD+ AMOLED display with HDR10+ technology offers more vibrant and realistic colors that provide an immersive viewing experience. Asus brings notable improvements to the Zenfone 10- the 15W Qi wireless charging is a new addition, and IP68 water and dust resistance rating and improved solid-sounding speakers. It has a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection on top and the polycarbonate back embedded in metal chassis offers great protection from accidental falls and scratches. 

A small packet houses a 4,300mAh battery that offers day-long juice on a single charge. It has 30W fast charging support to refill the tank quickly. Asus offers five beautiful color options for the Zenfone 10- Eclipse Red, Aurora Green, Midnight Black, Comet White, and Starry Blue all look great. Speaking of software, the device runs on Zen UI based on Android 13 out of the box. You’ll get only two major OS updates (up to Android 15) and four years of security updates. 

Asus continues its legacy of compactness with the Asus Zenfone 10 smartphone

In comparison with Zenfone 8 and 9 (169 grams), the Zenfone 10 gains 3 grams weight- weighs 172 grams. A 32MP improved front-facing camera captures great low-light shots while the rear dual rear camera setup features a 50MP Sony IMX766 with six-axis gimbal stabilization 2.0 paired with a 13MP ultrawide shooter that offers 120° of the field of view.

Asus continues its legacy of compactness with the Asus Zenfone 10 smartphone

Asus Zenfone 10 is offered in three variant options- the base variant 8/128GB kicks off at €799, the 8/256GB is priced at €849, and the high-end 16/512GB variant retails at €929. The smartphone is now available for purchase via Asus, Amazon, and other retailers in US, Europe, and UK.

Five great early Prime Day sales

Andrew Allen
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Five great early Prime Day sales

Amazon’s massive Prime Day has officially been announced for July 11 and 12. The yearly discount campaign is a great way to snag retail items for a much lower price. Even though it’s a few weeks away, you can get some fantastic price cuts right now.

Here are five of our favorite reduced-priced tech items you can buy today.

50% off the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet

The Fire HD 10 from 2021 is literally half off right now with Prime. This tablet is a great addition to any house looking for a browsing and media consumption tablet. The full 1080p HD screen is good enough for most folks who want a casual device. At just $75 this tablet is a steal.

The model on sale is the 32GB storage denim edition. Internally, you have 3GB RAM, an octa-core processor, and a battery that can last up to 12 hours of use. While it doesn’t have full Google Play Store app support, for most tablet needs you should be able to find all your most-used apps without issue.

Purchase the Amazon Fire HD 10

69% off the eero 3-pack mesh router

If half-off wasn’t enough Amazon has also cut the cost of the basic eero 3 mesh router system to only $150. That’s 69% lower than the full retail price. While these don’t have the latest WiFi 6 protocol, it could be one of the cheapest ways to add the innovators in mesh routing networks to your home.

This extendable eero WiFi setup allows you to have multiple routers synced together. These linked devices will create a more stable network across larger homes for exceptional coverage. They also play nice with Amazon Echo and smart homes with software integrations built into the companion app.

Purchase the eero 3-pack mesh router system

75% off the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series 43-inch TV

The biggest price reduction on our list is for the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series TV. This 43-inch TV powered by Amazon’s Android operating system is hard to beat at just $100. Yep, you read that right, this 4K UHD panel television is just 100 bucks.

Add full Alexa skills and smart home features and you have a combination you may not want to pass up. All your favorite apps are there as well. Netflix, Plex, Prime Video, Disney+, and pretty much any other top-tier streaming service will be readily available.

Purchase the Amazon Fire TV Omni Series 43″ TV

55% off JBL Live 660NC headphones

With all these great media devices, you might need a good pair of headphones. Look no further than the JBL Live 660NC. These JBLs offer great sound powered by 40mm drivers in the over-the-ear design. Add active noise cancellation and for $90, you’d be hard to find a better deal on ANC headphones.

Other specs include voice assistant support, dedicated action buttons for play/pause, and taking calls with a fantastic mic array for crisp reception. Battery life is great too with an estimated 50 hours of mixed usage.

Purchase the JBL Live 660NC headphones

$40 off the Anker 737 power bank

Lastly, now that you have all this great tech at home, maybe you need extra juice while on the road. Anker’s new 737 power bank is currently $40 off on Amazon. This 24,000mAh battery pack is a great addition to your travel gear.

The 3-port charger is power packed as well. This small device is capable of pushing out 140 Watts of power. This should be more than enough for any portable tech in your pack including phones, tablets, or even laptops. It’s worth noting that this discount requires you to check the coupon box before adding it to your Amazon cart.

Purchase the Anker 737 power bank

Vikings Go To Hell: The Best 3D Slot Around?

AndroidGuys
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Vikings Go To Hell: The Best 3D Slot Around?

The world of slot gaming is a truly vast one with a game based around almost every subject imaginable. Whether you want Halloween slots or Christmas slots; slots set in the jungle or slots set in the depths of the city; slots from every corner of the world or from outer space, someone has made one. However, today we’re going to take a look at one slot game in particular, a game that’s been delighting slots fans with its 3D graphics and endless special features: Vikings Go To Hell.

Who Made It?

Yggdrasil is the maker of this 25-pay-line game. If you’re wondering where they got the inspiration for their name from, it’s the great sacred tree of Norse cosmology, meaning that if there was ever a gaming company well suited to creating a genre-defining Viking game, it’s probably Yggdrasil. They’ve got numerous other fan-favorite slot games in their library, including Devour the Weak, Enchanted Waters, and Shaker Club. However, today we’re going to be focusing on their most Viking offering to date.

How To Play

Vikings Go To Hell is available on a plethora of different casino sites, so check if it’s on your favorite first of all. If you’re looking to try out the game, or just play casino games in general, then finding yourself a bonus couldn’t be simpler. All of the best sites offer sign-up bonuses which range from free spins through to no deposit bonuses so that you can play slot games for less money. With this particular game, you could snag up to 25 free spins, which is more than enough to give you a feel for the game before you wager your own money on it.

The Basics

Vikings Go To Hell is a slot that offers an incredible range of bonus features. It has a great range of betting amounts that can be placed. This makes it suitable for players on a super tight budget, as well as high rollers. Plus, with the ability to play on mobile or computer, you can take the game with you if you choose to. There’s an autoplay option for those who prefer to play more casually, and a max bet button too if you’ve got an endless bankroll.

The Numbers

Knowing about RTP is essential when playing slot games (Unsplash)

If you’re serious about looking after your bankroll and getting the maximum play time for your money then knowing about the numbers is essential. The most important is the return to player percentage, which describes how much of your stake on average you will win back. In the case of Vikings Go to Hell, this is 96.1%, meaning for every £10 you wager, you could potentially get as much as £9.61 back.

This is a fairly generous RTP, especially for a game with so many bonus features. It is worth remembering that, although RTPs are rigorously tested, they even out over a very long time. On low-volatility games, they’re likely to be a pretty accurate representation over as little as 100 spins, but as the volatility goes up, so too does the number of spins you’ll have to play in order to see an accurate reflection of the RTP.

Redmi unveils its first smartphone with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset

Abhinav Fating
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Redmi unveils its first smartphone with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset

Recently, Qualcomm unveiled its new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset for mid-range smartphones is now officially available in China. Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 12R is the first device to debut with Qualcomm’s latest mid-range chip. The Note 12R now goes official in the Chinese markets and there are no words yet on the international availability. The Note 12R has most of the same specs as the Redmi 12 which was launched recently in China. 

Redmi Note 12R arrives in four variant options- the base variant starts at CNY 999 (~$140) for a 4/128GB variant and goes up to an 8/256GB variant which is priced at CNY1,799 (~248). The smartphone comes in Time Blue, Midnight Black, and Sky Fantasy color options and is now available in China via Xiaomi China’s official website. 

Also Read: Redmi Note 12 Pro+ review

Under the hood, the Note 12R is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset paired with Adreno GPU, up to 8GB RAM, and 256GB internal storage which is further expandable via microSD card. It runs on Android 13 based on MIUI 14 out of the box. 

Redmi unveils its first smartphone with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset

The smartphone packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging tech. You’ll get a dual rear camera setup, featuring a 50MP primary lens coupled with a 2MP depth unit. There is a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies and video chats. Moreover, the Note 12R flaunts a 6.79-inch FHD+ LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate support. 

Anker PowerHouse 767 review

Andrew Allen
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1
Anker PowerHouse 767 review

Anker, a favorite of ours for years, has been expanding into cinematic and security markets, but the company’s legacy is built on charging devices. The pinnacle of this lineup is the PowerHouse. I’ve been using the new PowerHouse 767 over the last month and it takes no time to see why this battery station sits at the top of the Anker series.

Design

The Anker PowerHouse 767 has a somewhat quirky design that could be mistaken for a camping cooler. While it most certainly needs to be included on your next camping trip, it’s full of GaNPrime battery technology instead of iced beverages. Internally, the PowerHouse contains 2048Wh of capacity capable of 2400Watts of output.

The front of the PowerHouse 767 is peppered with pretty much any AC output you could need away from your home’s power grid. Here you’ll find four 120V 3-prong outlets, two DC conversion car chargers, three USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports. Lastly, the largest plug is a 30-Amp RV sure power plug for powering your entire camper or van away from lined power.

Above the port arrays are a few controls and a large LED-backlit display for current outputs and capacity levels. The AC and car charger ports have a dedicated power button to turn them on and off. There’s also a button for turning on power saving mode and a Bluetooth button. Power saving mode allows the PowerHouse 767 to intelligently turn the unit completely off when it detects no outputs sourcing power from the battery after 15 minutes.

The display is bright and gives a glanceable dashboard for pertinent information while using the PowerHouse 767. Data includes the capacity of the battery pack remaining, outputs connected, and how long the battery is estimated to last with those items charging. It’s a great way to keep an eye on the performance in real-time.

One negative is weight. This thing is close to 70 pounds of awkwardness. Thankfully, Anker has included a wheeled design that functions much like luggage. Extending out a telescoping handle allows you to roll the PowerHouse around much easier than muscling it with the two molded handles.

Performance

I’ll start with this thing is amazing. Good luck killing this unless you’re working completely off the grid and powering a full RV setup. Otherwise, this can give you household capable power for pretty much any task. It’s astounding this is all packed in something you can carry in your car trunk.

I’ve used almost any device I’ve got access to in my home short of my washer and dryer. The PowerHouse 767 has allowed me to go on a long camping trip without wanting any other power source. This kept me and my wife going with a 12-cup coffee maker, hair dryer, electric griddle, and 15-inch fan for three days with zero issues.

We also occasionally power up a strip of LED lights and recharge our phones, portable lanterns, and Thermacell mosquito packs. I mean, I can’t tell you how impressed I am with this battery pack. If you pair this with Anker’s solar panels, you could legit live completely off the grid for months at a time in my mind.

And that’s the intent. The PowerHouse 767 is tuned to support the RV/camping enthusiast. With such, you can literally power most devices you’d want in a mobile home setup, while installed inside the camper. The peak of the PowerHouse’s power, however, is that in a pinch away from shore power at a campsite, the pack can function in this fashion.

The largest power output on the front of the 767 is supposed to function as shore power in an off-grid situation. This TT-30 port can keep the entire van or RV functioning via the output with up to 2400 Watts of total output. This should run the interior fridge, lights, and small appliances with no problem for at least a few days.

Need more power? Look no further than the final port on the back of the PowerHouse 767. This proprietary option can allow you to extend the battery pack by daisy chaining the company’s PowerHouse 760 expansion pack bringing the full capacity from 2048Wh to a whopping 4096Wh.

Charging

The PowerHouse 767 can be charged via a 120-volt plug with the included power adapter or Anker’s solar solution. I wasn’t able to test the solar option but found the quick charging of the wall adapter to be fantastic. You can take the pack from around 10% to 40% in around 30 minutes and the full top of the unit in less than 90 minutes.

I did notice in the docs that you can’t use solar and AC power at the same time to charge. This is a bit of a letdown for those with RV or van conversion aspirations. Having solar while off the grid and shore power while on a campsite would be the preferable setup. Many mobile living solutions will tuck away the PowerHouse 767 in a nook somewhere that may not make unplugging solar to change to shore an easy task each time.

Last, I’d have loved to see at least one of the USB-C ports be dual input/output to top off the power banks via this universal protocol as well. The wall adapter has a proprietary connection from Anker, and while this is available now, you never know about the future. Having a more readily available backup solution your probably already own would have made this a better fit for Anker. Especially when they are also spearheading USB-C power charging solutions on a regular basis.

Conclusion

Anker has nailed the PowerHouse 767 for the nomadic lifestyle. With a compact, although hefty, design, this power-packed battery can serve to keep a lifestyle on the go that resembles almost anything you’d do at home. You can truly live off-grid with all your normal amenities thanks to Anker.

The final hangup for some consumers might be the price. At $2,000 it’s a serious purchase, but I’d argue you’re still getting value. Most other solutions may be cheaper, but they may not offer the versatility or internal capacity of the PowerHouse 767. Add in the solar hookups, TT-30 shore power port, and the fact you can double the total runtime with the expansion pack later if needed, and I think Anker has a clear winner in this category.

Best Gaming Monitor Deal -You can save $100 on the LG UltraGear 32-inch QHD monitor

Abhinav Fating
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Best Gaming Monitor Deal -You can save $100 on the LG UltraGear 32-inch QHD monitor

It’s very rare to get a win-for-win deal on a gaming monitor which offers a great display with a high refresh rate and incredible performance. We found the deal that you probably won’t want to miss it. The deal comes from the house of LG, the LG’s UltraGear 32-inch QHD gaming monitor is now available at the best possible price. You can save straight $100 on LG’s 32-inch gaming monitor when you buy it from Best Buy. 

The  LG UltraGear 32-inch QHD monitor is priced at $499.99 USD but thanks to Best Buy’s offer- the gaming monitor is now available for $399.99 USD instead of $499.99 USD. That’s a big 20% off getting at the gaming monitor which is rare. So if you are looking to buy a perfect gaming monitor then this is the monitor you can look up to. The deal is valid till July 4th on Best Buy, hurry up Grab this golden deal, and be the proud owner of LG’s UltraGear 32-inch QHD gaming monitor that will take your gaming experience to the next level.

 Features that make the LG UltraGear 32-inch an ideal gaming monitor

  • Big 32-inch QHD panel with a high 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time

What matters the most when you consider a gaming monitor? A high refresh rate panel with fast response time and great display quality, isn’t it? LG UltraGear monitor offers a big 32-inch QHD panel with a whooping 165Hz refresh rate and a quick 1ms response time. The QHD display offers a crisp, clear, and immersive picture quality. On the other hand, the high 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time ensure smooth and responsive gameplay without any lag, ghosting, or stuttering issue.  

  • HDR10 Support

The monitor has HDR 10 and wide DCI-P3 98% color gamut support that offers more realistic and vibrant colors and a comfortable viewing angle during gaming.  

  • Adaptive Sync Technology

 LG UltraGear 32-inch QHD monitor supports AMD Free Sync and NVIDIA G-Sync technologies.  Having Adaptive sync technology support in the gaming monitor is a great advantage that synchronizes the refresh rate of the panel with a frame rate of GPU, resulting in, the monitor offers lag-free gameplay.  

Nokia announced the G42 5G First User-Repairable Smartphone

Abhinav Fating
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Nokia announced the G42 5G First User-Repairable Smartphone

User-Repairable smartphone, hmm Sounds good, isn’t it? Yes, HMD Global the maker of Nokia phones unveiled its new entry-level 5G smartphone the Nokia G42 that can be repairable by users. Although it’s not HMD’s first time bringing a smartphone that is repaired by users, HMD launched the Nokia G22 earlier this year which also has the same functionality. 

Now, Nokia is continuing its smartphone user repairable trend with the G42 5G. Yes, the G42 5G is indeed the brand’s first user-repairable smartphone with the latest 5G connectivity. You can replace the Phone’s display, battery, back cover, and charging port by yourself, using simple tools. HMD is teaming up with iFixit to provide all replacement parts which will be available for the next five years and even the firm also offering a professional repair service if you would prefer. 

Reparability, Isn’t it a standout feature of the Nokia G42 5G smartphone? That will extend the lifespan of the smartphone beyond the normal range. But if you are someone who usually changes the smartphone after 2-3 years then the reparability feature doesn’t make any sense to you. Nokia uses a new purple finish for the G42 5G which makes the smartphone’s plastic back more catchy and attractive. 

Speaking about features, HMD packs pretty decent features in its entry-level Nokia G42 5G smartphone. The G42 5G sports a 6.5-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top to prevent accidental falls and scratches. You’ll get a triple rear camera system, featuring a 50MP primary sensor with a 2MP macro and a 2MP depth unit as supportive cameras and it has a 8MP front-facing camera for video chats and selfies. 

Nokia G42 5G draws power from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage which is further expandable up to 1TB via microSD card. In terms of updates, Nokia promises two major OS updates and three years of security updates. 

It packs a removable 5,000mAh battery with 20W wired fast charging capabilities. HMD says it can offer up to three days (with light usage) battery life on a single charge. Other notable specs include an IP52 rating for splash resistance, NFC support, a 3.5mm headphone jack, WiFi 6, Bluetooth v5.1, and USB Type C for charging and data transfer. 

The Nokia G42 5G kicks off at $199, €249, and £199 for the 6GB/128GB variant and is now available to buy from the Nokia website in the US, Europe, and UK. You’ll get two Purple Finish and Grey Finish color options.

Antop Smart Bar and Mini Big Boy over-air-antenna review

Andrew Allen
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1
Antop Smart Bar and Mini Big Boy over-air-antenna review

Believe it or not, football season is quickly approaching. One of the easiest, and most cost-effective, ways to view this competitive sport is via over-the-air antennas. Yes, your local broadcasting networks are still pushing free television to your region despite the age of streaming. Antop is a leader in this industry offering a great lineup of options and allowing us a few weeks with the Antop AT-500SBS Smart Bar and AT-406BV Mini Big Boy receivers.

Design

These two great HDTV antennas are both encased in a plastic shell. They can feel slightly cheap, but I don’t think it detracts from the overall presentation. The Smart Bar (I’ll be leaving off the numerical conversations from here) is an elongated design similar to an audio soundbar. The included stand allows the Bar to be orientated in vertical or horizontal seating.

The Mini Big Boy hearkens back more to traditional “rabbit-eared” antennas of old. You have a small box around the size of a shoe box but thinner with movable plastic antenna extenders sticking out the rear of the Big Boy. At the bottom is a removable cradle to keep the Mini Big Boy upright and standing.

Both antennas are aesthetically pleasing in a sense. Are they plastic “boxes”, sure, but I’d wager that these would blend into most decor without being a huge eyesore. In a perfect world, you’d like them hidden behind the television, but sitting out in the open isn’t a deal breaker.

Setup

Installation of both of these Antop antennas is roughly the same with similar tech. Both offer VHF-enhanced signal capability, 4G LTE filtering, and inline signal boosters. The booster on the Smart Bar allows you a dial to increase or decrease your needs while the Mini Big Boy only has an off-and-on switch. Either of the antennas is rated to allow for up to 80 miles of signal coverage.

Getting these hooked to your TV is simple. You have a dual-lined coaxial setup where you connect the booster to each antenna and then the booster to your television. You can then decide how to mount the Smart Bar or Mini Big Boy. Both can be standalone with the included stand but the Big Boy also has additional hardware to give you the ability to place in an attic rafter or outside the home.

Once you have the antennas installed, you need to then take the setup to your TV. Models and brands offer different ways to get there, but the result is the same. My Roku TV from TCL has a menu option to scan for OTA channels in a few steps and then goes thru pinging the broadcast towers in your area. After the scan is over, you are presented with the results and can immediately start watching.

Daily use

Normal usage has been mixed for me and will be variable in everyone’s environment. I’m roughly 35 miles from all the major network stations in my region. I’ve successfully been able to watch 4-5 that should be picked up. For me, that’s enough as the last option is PBS and not something I’m concerned with. I’m generally only interested in the sports broadcasts that I should currently be able to now watch for free with the Smart Bar and Mini Big Boy.

Performance was similar with both the Smart Bar and Mini Big Boy. I’d give the slight edge to the Smart Bar and my guess is the dial booster is able to pull a bit more. HDTV over the air is a great option but does come with environmental restrictions you may encounter. Both the placement in your home and outside interference like electrical lines or weather can create issues.

Final thoughts

Antop has two quality OTA antennas for consumers to consider with the Smart Bar and Mini Big Boy. If you want to add free broadcast network coverage to your living room you should keep both of these in mind while shopping.

Check out the links below if you think the Antop Smart Bar or Mini Big Boy is what you need to add to your entertainment center. Both units will set you back $100 at its current pricing while the Smart Bar will cost up to $120 in different color variants than black.

Purchase the Antop Mini Big Boy

Purchase the Antop Smart Bar

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